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Pankratov Alexander K. - company political instructor of the 125th Tank Regiment 28th Tank Division of the North-Western Front, junior political officer; the first of the Soviet soldiers who accomplished the feat, which later became known as "the feat of Alexander Matrosov."




Born March 10, 1917 in the village now Abakshino Vologda region Vologda region in a peasant family. Russian. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1940. Since 1931 he lived in the regional center of the city of Vologda, Vologda region, where he graduated from the 7 classes and school trade schools. He worked as a turner, master lathe machine shop at the "North kommunar." He was chairman of the trade union shop, head of the organization Osoaviahima.



In October 1938 Pankratov drafted into the Red Army. Gets the direction of Smolensk, in the 32 th Training Battalion 21 th Tank Brigade. After a while it becomes secretary of the Komsomol organization of the company. Interest in learning draws attention command. In August 1939, he was sent to Gomel. There Pankratov held courses for junior political instructors of the Belarusian Military District. It shows his best side and is one of the most capable, in January 1940, receiving direction in the Smolensk military-political school. In April of the same year joined the ranks of the CPSU (b). January 18, 1941 Pankratov graduated from college with a military rank "junior political officer».



In the days when the Great Patriotic War, Pankratov was in the Baltic States. Baptism of fire for Shaulyai took from 23 to 27 June 1941. In the battle for the defense of Novgoroda in August 1941 he fought in the 28th Armored Division under the command of Colonel ID Chernyakhovsky. Springboard to heavy fighting, apart from the city, has become detached on the right bank of the Volkhov Kirillov Monastery.



High monastery buildings serve as a convenient base from which to adjust fire on positions of the Red Army. On the night of 24 of August 25, the 125th Tank Regiment undertook a covert attack on the monastery with crossing over the river Small Volhovets. However, the German side was ready for it and met the tight defense of the Red Army. The commander of a tank company lieutenant Platonov was killed, the attack ceased. The youngest political instructor Pankratov failed to crawl to reach the enemy machine gun. With a few grenades, he tried to destroy the firing point, but the attempt was unsuccessful - after some time a machine gun firing resumed. Advancing soldiers under heavy fire without many losses was impossible. Then politruk Pankratov rushed an enemy machine gun and closed it by yourself. This gave the soldiers a few seconds for the final throw. Roth, up to the attack, managed to break into the Kirillov Monastery and grab it.



Brave was the first political officer of the Soviet soldiers who closed the enemy machine gun with his body, and ensured the success of his unit. This is the first documented act vindicated this sacrifice. According to various sources a similar feat in the Great Patriotic War was repeated two hundred to four hundred of people. Of these, one hundred thirty four were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
For many years it was thought that the first hero who committed a similar sacrifice, became the Feb. 27, 1943 Alexander Matrosov. Today it is known that a similar feat in the war has made more than 400 people, 58 of them - to Alexander Matrosov.



Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on March 16, 1942 for exemplary performance of command assignments at the front of the struggle against the Nazi invaders and for displaying courage and heroism junior political instructor Pankratov Alexander Konstantinovich was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
He was awarded the Order of Lenin (16/3/1942, posthumously).
Hero obelisk and plaque installed in Veliky Novgorod. School Vologda, ship, street Vologda and Veliky Novgorod are named Alexander Pankratov.

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