Kelps, George Frantsevich

Georgy Kelps was born in 1920 in the Ryabinka forest cordon near the village of Mordasy (now the Forest District of the Tver Region ). After graduating from a seven-year school, he worked as a forester. In June 1941, Kelps was called up for service in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army . Since November of that year - on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. He took part in the battles on the Western , North-Western and 3rd Belorussian fronts. By February 1945, Sergeant Georgy Kelps was commanding the guns of the 89th artillery regiment of the 62nd Rifle Division of the 31st Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front . Distinguished during the liberation of Poland ^[1] .

On February 8, 1945, Kelps and his comrades were surrounded by a fierce battle with more than an infantry regiment, eight tanks and an artillery battery. In that battle, the entire calculation of Kelps died, but he, despite four injuries received, continued to fire, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. When his gun was destroyed, Kelps continued to shoot from a machine gun until he died of blood loss. He was buried in the village of Zelenice , five kilometers south of the Polish city of Gurovo-Iławieck ^[1] .

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 19, 1945, for “exemplary performance of command missions in the battles for the liberation of Poland and the courage and heroism shown at the same time”, Sergeant George Kelps was posthumously awarded the high rank of Hero of the Soviet Union . He was also awarded the Orders of Lenin and World War II 2nd degree, a medal ^[1] .

In honor of Kelps named street in the village of Forest ^[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.
• Dolgov I.A. Golden Stars of Kalininians. Prince 2. - M.: Moscow Worker, 1984.