Fedor Zinchenko
Encyclopedia
Fedor Matveevich Zinchenko (Russian
: Фёдор Матвеевич Зинченко; 19 September 1902, Stavskovo, Tomsk Oblast
, Russian Empire
- 15 October 1991, Cherkasy
, Ukrainian SSR
) was a Soviet officer who commanded the 150th Rifle Division's 756th Regiment during the Storming of the Reichstag. The soldiers under his command raised the Victory Banner
.
at 1924, becoming a member of the Communist Party
two years later. On 1930, he graduated from the Vladivostok Infantry School. He was appointed military commissar for the Leningrad
Military Communications School. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the school was evacuated to Bashkiria
. Zinchenko was appointed staff commissar of the 171st Rifle Division on November 1941. The unit was sent to the front at early 1942. On May 1944, after completing infantry officers' training, he was assigned to command the 756th Regiment, with which he fought in the Baltics and in Berlin.
was handed to its commanders. After heavy combat in the streets, the Regiment's soldiers crossed the Spree
in the direction of the Reichstag
.
On 30 April 1945, shortly before 10:00, Zinchenko ordered his intelligence officer, Captain Kondrashev, to select two scouts who will carry the Banner. Few minutes later, the entire scouts platoon appeared, each begging to perform the task. After some prodding from the Colonel, Kondrashev selected Yegorov
and Kantaria
. On 12:00, a massive artillery strike hit the Reichstag. Then, the 150th and 171st Divisions' soldiers attacked. After a bitter fight inside the building, and after several other Victory Banners were placed and destroyed, Kantaria and Yegorov - together with the 756 Regiment's 1st Battalion deputy commander for political affairs, Lieutenant Alexei Berest
- hoisted their flag on the Reichstag's roof roughly at 03:00, 1 May 1945, attaching it to Wilhelm I's equestrian statue.
on 31 May. All his three brothers died in battle. He retired from the army at 1950, and lived to see the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was officially disbanded shortly after his death.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Фёдор Матвеевич Зинченко; 19 September 1902, Stavskovo, Tomsk Oblast
Tomsk Oblast
Tomsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It lies in the southeastern West Siberian Plain, in the southwest of the Siberian Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Tomsk. Population:...
, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- 15 October 1991, Cherkasy
Cherkasy
Cherkasy or Cherkassy , is a city in central Ukraine. It is the capital of the Cherkasy Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Cherkasky Raion within the oblast...
, Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
) was a Soviet officer who commanded the 150th Rifle Division's 756th Regiment during the Storming of the Reichstag. The soldiers under his command raised the Victory Banner
Victory Banner
The Soviet Banner of Victory is the banner raised by the Red Army soldiers on the Reichstag building in Berlin, on April 30, 1945. It was raised by three Soviet soldiers: Alexei Berest, Mikhail Yegorov, and Meliton Kantaria, from Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia respectively.The Victory Banner, made...
.
Early life
Born to a peasant family, Zinchenko joined the Red ArmyRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
at 1924, becoming a member of the Communist Party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
two years later. On 1930, he graduated from the Vladivostok Infantry School. He was appointed military commissar for the Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
Military Communications School. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the school was evacuated to Bashkiria
Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
The Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the former Soviet Union. Currently it is known as Bashkortostan....
. Zinchenko was appointed staff commissar of the 171st Rifle Division on November 1941. The unit was sent to the front at early 1942. On May 1944, after completing infantry officers' training, he was assigned to command the 756th Regiment, with which he fought in the Baltics and in Berlin.
Battle of Berlin
On 22 May 1945, the Regiment - as part of the 3rd Shock Army - reached the German capital. At the same day, the flag which would become the Victory BannerVictory Banner
The Soviet Banner of Victory is the banner raised by the Red Army soldiers on the Reichstag building in Berlin, on April 30, 1945. It was raised by three Soviet soldiers: Alexei Berest, Mikhail Yegorov, and Meliton Kantaria, from Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia respectively.The Victory Banner, made...
was handed to its commanders. After heavy combat in the streets, the Regiment's soldiers crossed the Spree
Spree
The Spree is a river that flows through the Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin states of Germany, and in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic...
in the direction of the Reichstag
Reichstag (building)
The Reichstag building is a historical edifice in Berlin, Germany, constructed to house the Reichstag, parliament of the German Empire. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire. During the Nazi era, the few meetings of members of the...
.
On 30 April 1945, shortly before 10:00, Zinchenko ordered his intelligence officer, Captain Kondrashev, to select two scouts who will carry the Banner. Few minutes later, the entire scouts platoon appeared, each begging to perform the task. After some prodding from the Colonel, Kondrashev selected Yegorov
M. A. Yegorov
Mikhail Yegorov, along with Meliton Kantaria, was one of the two soldiers credited with raising the Soviet flag over the Reichstag on the 2 May 1945 after the Battle of Berlin.- See also :*Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima...
and Kantaria
Meliton Kantaria
Meliton Varlamovich Kantaria or Kantariya , Hero of the Soviet Union , was a Georgian sergeant of the Soviet Army credited to have together with M. A...
. On 12:00, a massive artillery strike hit the Reichstag. Then, the 150th and 171st Divisions' soldiers attacked. After a bitter fight inside the building, and after several other Victory Banners were placed and destroyed, Kantaria and Yegorov - together with the 756 Regiment's 1st Battalion deputy commander for political affairs, Lieutenant Alexei Berest
Alexei Berest
Oleksi Prokopovich Berest was a Soviet political officer and one of the three Red Army soldiers who hoisted the Victory Banner.-Early life:Born to an impoverished...
- hoisted their flag on the Reichstag's roof roughly at 03:00, 1 May 1945, attaching it to Wilhelm I's equestrian statue.
Later years
After the war, Zinchenko was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet UnionHero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
on 31 May. All his three brothers died in battle. He retired from the army at 1950, and lived to see the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was officially disbanded shortly after his death.