Nesterov, Kuzma Konstantinovich

He was born on November 12, 1923 in the family of a prosperous peasant in the village of Zotino , Yartsevo district , which belonged to the city of Yeniseisk until the 1960s. Now it is Turukhansky district , Krasnoyarsk Territory .

Kuzma Konstantinovich's father was engaged in hunting, fishing, and hunting for fur. The whole family in which there was prosperity lived by this craft. In 1933, when Nesterov was 10 years old, the family was dispossessed at the initiative of local activists. First, parents, three brothers and a sister were kicked out of the house, and later they left the family the first floor of a two-story house, and on the second floor they made a collective farm office. Before leaving for the army, Kuzma lived with his parents, as he was the youngest in the family.

In January 1941, Kuzma went into the army, becoming the only member of the Nesterov family who served. He was enrolled in the 168th division, mortar company 402 rifle regiment.

The beginning of the war found the 402nd regiment in the summer camp at military exercises. Nesterov was loading a mortar. Young fighters were trained in shooting at moving tanks, eye-tracking the distance to a moving target. On June 22, instead of the usual morning exercises, announcing the general construction, the regiment commander spoke about the attack of Nazi Germany on the USSR. After the rally, the summer camp was quickly curtailed, and the regiment returned to the winter apartments.

The regiment, in which Nesterov K.K. served, until 1944 took part in heavy bloody battles near Leningrad. The military command of Nazi Germany hoped to seize Leningrad with the help of Finnish troops in the north and German troops from the west. The city was blockaded and held until 1944.

During the advance of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts, the calculation of Sergeant Nesterov Kuzma was supported by mortar fire from a rifle platoon. The mortars followed the infantry along the loose snow, carrying an 82 mm barrel and a plate. Mines were dragged with drags, and Sergeant Nesterov Kuzma constantly encouraged the fighters and pulled drags himself. Near the village of Pogorelovka, which was located in an open area, a battle ensued with the White Finns. To approach her did not give machine-gun fire, beating their extreme home.

Calculation of Nesterov Kuzma, installing a mortar, opened fire on a firing point. Only after the destruction of the enemy machine gun was the unit able to rise to the attack. Street fights ensued. Nesterov’s mortar men barely managed to equip a new firing position when the enemy launched a counterattack in order to knock out a platoon from the village.

Five attacks during the day were repelled by platoon fighters thanks to the well-coordinated firing of the sergeant’s combat crew. Under the pressure of the Soviet troops, the Nazis retreated to the west, but they offered strong resistance at all advantageous lines. A difficult battle broke out over a height of 556. From its top, enemy machine guns hit. Nesterov Kuzma opened fire on the top, and when our soldiers went on the attack, Kuzma moved the fire to the opposite side of the hill to prevent enemy reinforcements. Here Sergeant Nesterov was wounded, but he bandaged his hand and with his calculation left behind the rifle division. April 24, 1944 for this battle Kuzma Konstantinovich was awarded his first Order of Glory III degree.

June 1944 was marked by battles for the Vyborg highway. The enemy at all costs wanted to stop the Soviet offensive on this line. The rifle platoon, where Nesterov’s crew was located, was given the task of attacking where the enemy’s resistance was the most fierce. Even the Soviet air raid could not suppress the enemy firing points, which did not allow the infantry to rise. Only mortar fire of Kuzma’s calculation was crushed by enemy fire, and the village was liberated after a short battle. But the second half of the day passed in the battles for this village, which the Germans wanted to return. At the Kuzma’s crew, mines ran out, and the soldiers prepared for hand-to-hand combat.

Courage and determination helped to win this fight. Sergeant Nesterov personally destroyed six enemy soldiers. The commander of the 21st army signed a decree awarding Nesterov K.K. with the Order of Glory of the II degree for courage and courage in battle. 168 division after breaking the blockade of Leningrad was understaffed and transferred to the Baltic states, where there were very heavy battles. Mortars were always in the forefront of the offensive and took part in small and large battles.

Kuzma Konstantinovich talked about one battle for a small farm of 3 houses. The calculation, having spent all the mines, could not support the rifle platoon in the battle for the possession of this farm. The Nazis launched a counterattack. The superiority in manpower was on their side. Then sergeant Kuzma raised the calculation in the attack. Three fighters ran along a small hollow to strike from the flank. Jumping into enemy trenches, fighters from machine guns opened hurricane fire. The Nazis began to run away. In this battle, Nesterov Kuzma was wounded. He was taken to the medical unit, and then to the hospital, where he found out about the victory.

The third Order of Glory of the 1st degree Nesterov Kuzma received for courage, resourcefulness, the will to win.

After the hospital, Nesterov Kuzma Konstantinovich returned to the village of Vorogovo, where his parents lived. Three brothers also returned from the war. Stepan Konstantinovich and Vasily Konstantinovich soon died of wounds.

• Nesterov, Kuzma Konstantinovich (Russian) . Site " Heroes of the country ".