Vasily Petrov
 5. 3. 1922 - 15. 4. 2003Vasily Petrov was a brave artillery officer; the Great Patriotic War veteran (the 1st group). He was born on March 5 (from other sources - June 22) in 1922 in Dmitrievka, Azov district of Zaporozhye region in a peasant family. Russian. A member of the CPSU (B) since 1945. In 1939, after graduating from high school, was enrolled in Sumy Artillery School which he graduated form in 1941. Participated in the Great Patriotic War from June 1941. Commanding the artillery units, he showed great courage and military valor. His units destroyed much of the enemy’s equipment and manpower. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet dated 24 December 1943 for successful crossing of the Dnieper on September 23, 1943, and holding a bridgehead, for displaying courage and fortitude, Deputy commander of the 1850th Fighter antitank artillery regiment (the 32th Fighter antitank artillery brigade, the 40th Army, the Voronezh Front) Captain Vasily S. Petrov was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (# 3504). When crossing the Dnieper Vasily Petrov was seriously wounded, and having lost both hands, more than a year was at hospital, but in December 1944 he returned to active duty. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on June 27, 1945 for holding a bridgehead on the Oder, near Niski (Germany) on April 19-20, 1945, Commander of the 248th Guards Fighter antitank artillery regiment (the 11th Guards Fighter antitank artillery brigade, the 52nd Army, the 1st Ukrainian Front), Major Petrov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (# 6091). After the war, Vasily Petrov served in the army headquarters, was deputy commander of the artillery and missile forces of the Carpathian Military District. In 1954 he graduated from Lvov State University. Successfully passed his Ph.D. defense. After the dissolution of the USSR he served as deputy commander of the Missile Forces and Artillery of the Chief Command of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of the Ukraine. Colonel-General of the Ukrainian army, Valily Petrov died on April 15, 2003. He was buried at Baikovoe cemetery in Kiev. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, the Order of the Red Banner, the 1st Class Order of the Patriotic War, three Orders of the Red Star, medals, and the Russian Order Peoples’ Friendship, the Ukrainian Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, and foreign orders. A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, V. Petrov was installed in Tambov. |