Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya is a Red Army fighter, thrown behind enemy lines in 1941 as part of a reconnaissance and sabotage group with the goal of destroying the enemy in ten settlements. Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously).
Each generation of Russians has its own heroes, ready to stand up for its defense in difficult times for their homeland. One of the most difficult trials was the Great Patriotic War. This was a test of loyalty and devotion to the homeland, as well as the fortitude and fortitude of the Russian people. Not only the adult generation, but also very young ones, such as 18-year-old Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, fought for the right to freedom and life. Her feat became an example of dedication and courage, serving as an example for many generations of Soviet people. She knew that she was going to certain death, but she simply could not do otherwise. The girl paid too high a price for the freedom of her Fatherland she gave her life. And her homeland adequately noted her feat Zoya was the first to receive the title Hero of the Soviet Union during the war.
Childhood[]
The birthplace of Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya is a small village with the poetic name Osinov Gai, not far from Tambov. It was there that on September 13, 1923, the biography of the girl began, who later became an example of courage and dedication. Zoya's parents, Anatoly and Lyubov Kosmodemyansky, taught at school.
Anatoly belonged to the clergy, at one time he attended a theological seminary. His father's name was Peter Kozmodemyansky (the surname came from the name of the church of Kozma and Demyan), he was a priest of the local church. Peter did not accept Soviet power, provided assistance to the counter-revolution, for which in 1918 he was captured by the Bolsheviks and drowned in a pond. His body was accidentally discovered six months later and interred on the church grounds.
Until 1929, the Kosmodemyanskys lived in Osinov Gai, and then left for Siberia to escape denunciation. They settled in the small village of Shitkino, not far from Irkutsk, where they lived for more than a year. With the help of Olga, Lyubov Kosmodemyanskaya's older sister, they managed to settle in Moscow. The woman worked in the People's Commissariat for Education and managed to put in a good word for her family. They lived on the very outskirts of the capital, next to Timiryazevsky Park. In 1933, the father of the family underwent intestinal surgery, after which he died. Since then, caring for Zoya and her younger brother Sasha fell entirely on the mother’s shoulders.
Zoya studied at school No. 201, where she completed nine classes. Now this is a gymnasium, which is named after Zoya and Alexander Kosmodemyansky. Her report card showed exceptionally excellent grades; most of all, the girl was interested in literature and history, and dreamed of studying at the Literary Institute. Zoya had a straightforward character, so she did not get along well with her peers. In 1938 she joined the Komsomol.
The girl’s condition was aggravated by acute meningitis, which she contracted at the end of 1940. The recovery was difficult; for complete rehabilitation she was sent to the Sokolniki sanatorium. It was there that she saw Arkady Gaidar, her favorite writer, and even became friends with him.
The girl never managed to enter the coveted university; the war began. Zoya decided that she would not stand aside, and on October 31, 1941, among two thousand of the same Komsomol members, she was already standing under the recruiting station, which operated in the Colosseum cinema. There they recruited cadets for the sabotage school. They didn’t want to take a fragile girl who had just recovered from meningitis, but Zoya turned out to be very persistent. And although first of all they took athletes - hardy, strong, able to overcome any difficulties, Zoya was still accepted.
Zoya underwent training and was enlisted in the sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Western Front. Together with other saboteurs, the girl found herself behind enemy lines on a trial mission, which involved mining a road near Volokolamsk. The group did a great job with it.
The exploit of Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya[]
The demolitionists were given a new task - to destroy ten settlements in which the Germans lived within 5-7 days. These 10 ordinary villages were supposed to be empty, but the villagers did not have time to evacuate from there. Each of the squad members received Molotov cocktails. The partisans acted in accordance with Stalin's decree number 0428, which proposed a “scorched earth” policy for the enemy. The Nazis were advancing in all directions, they had to be stopped by any means, and for this it was supposed to leave them without a roof over their heads and objects of vital activity.
Many considered this order from Stalin to be cruel and unreasonable, but there was no other choice. The Germans were on the outskirts of the capital, and it was necessary by all means to prevent the capture of Moscow. The demolition scouts went on a mission on November 21, 1941, just when the battles for Mozhaisk, Volokolamsk, and Tikhoretsk were taking place.
To carry out Stalin’s order, 2 groups were formed, each consisting of ten people. The first was headed by 19-year-old B. Krainov, the second by 18-year-old P. Provorov. Zoya joined the second group. Not far from the village of Golovkovo, the scouts were ambushed. The losses were significant - some of the soldiers died on the spot, some were captured. The few remaining fighters united into one group, led by Boris Krainov. They sat out in the forest and then decided to carry out the task.
On November 27, 1941, Boris Krainov, Vasily Klubkov and Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya approached the village of Petrishchevo, which was used by the Nazis as a transport interchange.
The partisans agreed to gather at a designated place to coordinate further actions. Krainov came to the meeting place, but did not wait for anyone, and went back to the camp. Klubkov was captured. Zoya continued to complete the task - alone.
Captivity and torture[]
On the evening of November 28, a young saboteur approached the barn of the headman of the village of Sviridov, where the Nazis spent the night, but she was noticed. The headman raised the Germans, who grabbed the brave girl. During the arrest, Zoya did not have the opportunity to shoot back; the girl gave her weapon to her friend Klava Miloradova, who was the first to go on a mission. Miloradova's pistol did not work, and Zoya gave her hers.
Kosmodemyanskaya was brought to the house of the Kulik family, who then told how it all happened. Three fascist officers and an interpreter were present at the interrogation. They stripped Zoya and began beating her with belts, then they took her naked out into the cold. Vasily and Praskovya Kulik said that Zoya did not utter a word, even after the most terrible torture. She only said her name - Tanya. The mystery with this name was revealed later. It turned out that Zoya always admired Tatyana Solomakha, a participant in the civil war, and she wanted to be like her.
Witnesses also said that two village residents, Solina and Smirnova, whose houses were set on fire by the partisans, helped the fascists torture the girl. These women were later convicted under Article 193 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR and shot as accomplices of the fascists.
Death[]
Early in the morning of November 29, 1941, Zoya was dragged out into the street. The girl was severely beaten, her legs were frostbitten. She was led to a pre-prepared gallows; on her chest dangled a sign that read in Russian and German - house arsonist. Not only Germans, but also local residents gathered for the execution; the Nazis clicked their cameras, and at that time she made an appeal to the villagers. The girl urged them not just to stand and watch, but to go and fight as part of the army. She said that she would definitely be avenged, and that it was impossible to defeat the Soviet Union.
Where did this girl find so much courage, standing at the grave, not to ask for mercy, not to think about herself, that life at 18 is just beginning, but to call on everyone to selflessness. When the noose was already dangling around her neck, Kosmodemyanskaya uttered words that became legendary. She said that it would not be possible to hang everyone, and that she would definitely be avenged. These were her last words.