Gusev, Maxim Tikhonovich

Maxim Gusev was born on May 5 ( 18 ), 1917 in the village of Arkhangelskoye (now - in the Sosnovoborsky district of the Penza region ). In 1934 he graduated from a seven-year school, after which he worked as an accountant on the collective farm , secretary of the village council. In 1938 he was called up for service in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army , participated in battles on Khalkhin Gol . In 1941 he graduated from the Cherkasy Military Infantry School. Since December 1941 - on the fronts of World War II. He took part in the battles on the Volkhov , Voronezh , 1st Ukrainian , 2nd Belorussian fronts. He participated in battles near Leningrad, Novgorod, Voronezh, the battle of Kursk , the liberation of the Ukrainian SSR , Poland , and battles in Germany . He was wounded three times in battles. By September 1943, Captain Maxim Gusev was assistant chief of staff of the 269th Infantry Regiment of the 136th Infantry Division of the 38th Army of the Voronezh Front. He distinguished himself during the battle of the Dnieper ^[1] .

At the end of September 1943, M.T. Gusev, at the head of a company of machine gunners, reinforced by sappers and scouts, crossed the Dnieper in the vicinity of the village of Lyutezh, Gorodnyansky district, Chernihiv region, Ukrainian SSR. Taking advantage of the surprise, the group captured an important enemy stronghold on the west bank of the river and took up defense. The enemy troops launched a series of counterattacks, but they were all repelled. The group managed to keep the captured bridgehead until dawn. When the 3rd battalion crossed the Dnieper, MT Gusev created a command post and led all units on the bridgehead until the regiment commander arrived. The actions of M. T. Gusev made it possible to successfully maintain the Lutezh bridgehead ^[1] .

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 10, 1944, for "courage and courage shown in crossing the Dnieper, taking and holding a bridgehead on the west bank of the river," Captain Maxim Gusev was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Golden Star medal under the number 4533 ^[1] .

After the war he continued his service in the Soviet Army. In 1950 he graduated from advanced training courses for officers. In 1963, the rank of colonel was transferred to the reserve. He lived and worked in Saratov . He died on November 16, 2000, was buried in the Yelshansky cemetery of Saratov ^[1] .

He was also awarded two orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, orders of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree and the Red Star , a number of medals ^[1] .

• Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. collegium I. N. Shkadov . - M .: Military Publishing , 1987.- T. 1 / Abaev - Lyubichev /. - 911 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN comp., Reg. RCP No. 87-95382.
• Rumyantsev N. M. People of the legendary feat. - Saratov, 1968.