Matvey Kuzmin
Encyclopedia
Matvey Kuzmich Kuzmin was a Russian peasant-patriot
who was killed in World War II
. He was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union
on May 8, 1965, becoming the oldest person named a Hero of the Soviet Union based on his age at death.
(then Uezd) of Pskov Oblast
. He was a self-employed farmer who refused to join a kolkhoz
or collective farm, while continuing to hunt and fish on the territory of the kolkhoz "Rassvet" . He was considered a "counter-revolutionary" (kontrik); and was nicknamed "Biriuk" (lone wolf).
in World War II. In February 1942, he helped house a battalion of the 1st Mountain Division ("Edelweiss") in the village of Kurakino. The German battalion was ordered to pierce the Soviet defense in the area of Velikiye Luki
by advancing into the rear of the Soviet troops dug in at Malkino Heights.
On February 13, 1942, the German commander asked the 83-year-old Kuzmin to guide his men and offered Kuzmin money
, flour
, kerosene
, and a "Three Rings" hunting rifle. Kuzmin agreed, but on learning of the proposed route, sent his son Vasilij to Pershino (6 km. from Kurakino) to warn the Soviet troops and to propose an ambush
near the village of Malkino. During the night, Kuzmin guided the German units through meandering paths, leading them to the outskirts of Malkino at dawn. There the village defenders and the 2nd battalion of 31st Cadet Rifle Brigade of the Kalinin Front
attacked. The German battalion came under heavy machine gun
fire and suffered losses of about 50 killed and 20 captured. Kuzmin was shot and killed by a German officer during the skirmish. Three days later Kuzmin was buried with military honors. Subsequently he was reburied at the military cemetery
of Velikiye Luki
.
, by Boris Polevoy
. Polevoy was a military correspondent in that area and attended Kuzmin's funeral. In 1948 Polevoy wrote the children's story The Last Day of Matvey Kuzmin, which is still included in Russian school readings for third grade.
Kuzmin's self-sacrifice, which was compared with that of Ivan Susanin
, earned him the posthumous honour of being named a Hero of the Soviet Union
.
Throughout the USSR streets were named in his honour. A Soviet naval trawler
was also named for him.
In 1943 a statue to him was raised in the Moscow Metro
station Izmailovsky Park (now Partizanskaya
), designed by the Soviet sculptor Matvey Manizer
.
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
who was killed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero 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 May 8, 1965, becoming the oldest person named a Hero of the Soviet Union based on his age at death.
Early life
Kuzmin was born in 1858 in the village of Kurakino, in the Velikoluksky DistrictVelikoluksky District
Velikoluksky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 24 in Pskov Oblast, Russia....
(then Uezd) of Pskov Oblast
Pskov Oblast
Pskov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Pskov Oblast borders the countries of Estonia and Latvia, as well as Belarus. It is the westernmost federal subject of contiguous Russia . Its major cities are the administrative center Pskov and Velikiye Luki . Area: 55,300 km²...
. He was a self-employed farmer who refused to join a kolkhoz
Kolkhoz
A kolkhoz , plural kolkhozy, was a form of collective farming in the Soviet Union that existed along with state farms . The word is a contraction of коллекти́вное хозя́йство, or "collective farm", while sovkhoz is a contraction of советское хозяйство...
or collective farm, while continuing to hunt and fish on the territory of the kolkhoz "Rassvet" . He was considered a "counter-revolutionary" (kontrik); and was nicknamed "Biriuk" (lone wolf).
Malkino Heights
Kuzmin's home region was occupied by the forces of Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in World War II. In February 1942, he helped house a battalion of the 1st Mountain Division ("Edelweiss") in the village of Kurakino. The German battalion was ordered to pierce the Soviet defense in the area of Velikiye Luki
Velikiye Luki
Velikiye Luki is a town on the meandering Lovat River in the southern part of Pskov Oblast, Russia. It is the second largest town in Pskov Oblast; population: The town is served by the Velikiye Luki Airport....
by advancing into the rear of the Soviet troops dug in at Malkino Heights.
On February 13, 1942, the German commander asked the 83-year-old Kuzmin to guide his men and offered Kuzmin money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
, flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
, kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
, and a "Three Rings" hunting rifle. Kuzmin agreed, but on learning of the proposed route, sent his son Vasilij to Pershino (6 km. from Kurakino) to warn the Soviet troops and to propose an ambush
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
near the village of Malkino. During the night, Kuzmin guided the German units through meandering paths, leading them to the outskirts of Malkino at dawn. There the village defenders and the 2nd battalion of 31st Cadet Rifle Brigade of the Kalinin Front
Kalinin Front
The Kalinin Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. This sense of the term is not identical with the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front may operate within designated boundaries.The Kalinin Front was...
attacked. The German battalion came under heavy machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
fire and suffered losses of about 50 killed and 20 captured. Kuzmin was shot and killed by a German officer during the skirmish. Three days later Kuzmin was buried with military honors. Subsequently he was reburied at the military cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
of Velikiye Luki
Velikiye Luki
Velikiye Luki is a town on the meandering Lovat River in the southern part of Pskov Oblast, Russia. It is the second largest town in Pskov Oblast; population: The town is served by the Velikiye Luki Airport....
.
Legacy
Kuzmin's death became known through an article in PravdaPravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
, by Boris Polevoy
Boris Polevoy
Boris Nikolaevich Polevoy was a notable Soviet writer. He is the author of the book Story of a Real Man about a Soviet World War II fighter pilot Alexei Petrovich Maresiev ....
. Polevoy was a military correspondent in that area and attended Kuzmin's funeral. In 1948 Polevoy wrote the children's story The Last Day of Matvey Kuzmin, which is still included in Russian school readings for third grade.
Kuzmin's self-sacrifice, which was compared with that of Ivan Susanin
Ivan Susanin
Ivan Susanin was a Russian folk hero and martyr of the early 17th century's Time of Troubles.-Evidence:In 1619, a certain Bogdan Sobinin from Domnino village near Kostroma received from Tsar Mikhail one half of Derevischi village. According to the extant royal charter, these lands were granted...
, earned him the posthumous honour of being named a Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero 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:...
.
Throughout the USSR streets were named in his honour. A Soviet naval trawler
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
was also named for him.
In 1943 a statue to him was raised in the Moscow Metro
Moscow Metro
The Moscow Metro is a rapid transit system serving Moscow and the neighbouring town of Krasnogorsk. Opened in 1935 with one line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. As of 2011, the Moscow Metro has 182 stations and its route length is . The system is...
station Izmailovsky Park (now Partizanskaya
Partizanskaya
Partizanskaya , known until 2005 as Izmailovskiy Park, is a station on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line of the Moscow Metro. It was built during World War II and is dedicated to the Soviet partisans who resisted the Nazis. The name was changed on the 60th anniversary of Soviet victory to better...
), designed by the Soviet sculptor Matvey Manizer
Matvey Manizer
Matvey Genrikhovich Manizer was a prominent Russian sculptor. Manizer created a number of works that became classics of socialist realism.- Life :...
.
External links
- В День всех влюбленных погиб псковский Иван Сусанин - - www.Museum.ru - at www.museum.ru
- Ships and Shipping Companies Database - WORLD SHIPPING REGISTER - Index at www.e-ships.net
- Moscow Metro / Lines & Stations / Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line / Partizanskaya at engl.mosmetro.ru