Donskikh, Alexander Ivanovich

Alexander Donskikh was born on February 23, 1918 in the village of Verkhnebobrovka (now the Kosikhinsky district of the Altai Territory ) into a peasant family. Since 1931, he and his family lived in the Starokuznetsk district of the Novosibirsk region (now the Novokuznetsk district of the Kemerovo region ). He graduated from five classes of the school, after which he worked at the state farm . Since 1935, he lived in Stalin (now Novokuznetsk ), worked as a carriage-shovel at the mine. In 1938, Donskoy was called up for service in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army . He served in the Far East . In 1940 he was demobilized, worked as a gunner of the armed guard at a mine in Stalin. In July 1941, Donskoy was re-drafted into the army. For two years he served as the foreman of a rifle company guarding the mines ^[1] .

Since December 1943 - on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. He participated in the liberation of the Byelorussian SSR and Poland . During the war, three times was wounded and shell-shocked. Repeatedly distinguished himself in battles. By the summer of 1944, Senior Sergeant Alexander Donskikh commanded a rifle platoon of the 740th Infantry Regiment of the 217th Infantry Division of the 48th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front . Distinguished during the Belarusian operation ^[1] .

The Donskoy platoon, being part of the advanced divisions of the division, was one of the first to go to the Ola River southeast of the village of Mikulichi in the Bobruisk district of the Mogilev region of the Belorussian SSR . By that time, all bridges over Ola, except for one, were blown up. The Donskoy platoon, stealthily approaching the bridge, attacked the guards and managed to capture and clear the remaining bridge. The enemy launched two counterattacks, but both were successfully repelled ^[1] .

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 24, 1945 for "courage and heroism shown at the front of the struggle against the German invaders," Senior Sergeant Alexander Donskikh was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal number 6101 ^{[ 1]} .

In early 1946, the rank of Lieutenant Donskoy was demobilized. He lived in Stalin, worked as the head of the militarized guard at the mine. Since 1965, he lived in the city of Nazarovo, Krasnoyarsk Territory , worked at the Nazarovskaya TPP motor depot. He died on July 29, 1983, was buried in Nazarovo ^[1] .

He was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner , World War 2 degree, a number of medals ^[1] .

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• Battle glory of Altai. - Barnaul: Altai book. ed., 1978.
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• Kuznetsov I.I., Joga I.M. Golden Stars of Altai. - Barnaul, 1982.
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