The last Hero of the Soviet Union living on the territory of Belarus, Ivan Kustovdied at the age of 98. This was announced on Thursday, March 3, by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
“A man of unbending will and boundless personal courage has passed away, whose whole life was the clearest example of service to the motherland, people, loyalty to high ideals and civic values. We have lost a worthy representative of the legendary generation of heroes-liberators, a real son of our homeland,” Lukashenka expressed condolences to the veteran’s family and friends.
During the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kustov participated in the liberation of Ukraine, Moldova and Poland.
AiF.ru provides a biography of the legendary front-line soldier.
Ivan Kustov.
Dossier
Ivan Ilyich Kustov was born on January 31, 1924 in the village of Manchazh, Sverdlovsk Region.
After graduating from junior high school, he worked on a collective farm.
In August 1942, Ivan Ilyich was called up for military service to the Red Army. From October of the same year, he fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War.
In 1943 he graduated from the Sverdlovsk Infantry School. At the age of 19, he led a platoon of fines.
Kustov distinguished himself during the liberation of Poland. On January 14, 1945, already the commander of a rifle company of the 1052nd rifle regiment of the 301st rifle division of the 9th corps of the 5th shock army of the 1st Belorussian Front, he led the offensive battle.
Together with his unit, Kustov managed to break through the enemy defenses while crossing the Pilica River near the village of Vyboruv near the city of Magnuszew in Poland.
“Inspiring the soldiers of the company with his personal bravery and courage, the twenty-year-old company commander was the first to break into the enemy's trench and started hand-to-hand combat. The Nazis could not withstand the mortal blow of Kustov's rifle company, and began to gradually retreat. With the mastery of the height marked «125.7» the first position of the enemy’s defense was broken through,” the Heroes of the Country website writes off Kustov’s feat. .jpg” height=”425″ width=”640″ style=”display: block;” />
Ivan Ilyich Kustov. YouTube frame/Dmitry Kustov
During the pursuit of the enemy, Kustov's soldiers repulsed several attacks. And on the night of January 15, they crossed the Pilica River on fragile ice, captured and held a bridgehead on the western bank of the river until the entire regiment approached.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 27, 1945, for “courage and heroism shown in offensive battles and during the crossing of the Pilica River” Captain Ivan Kustov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (number 3142).
He was also awarded numerous orders: Lenin, B. Khmelnitsky III degree, two Orders of the Patriotic War I degree, two Orders of the Red Star, the Order “For Service to the Motherland” III degree, as well as commemorative medals.
Ivan Ilyich was wounded several times in battles on three fronts: the Southern, 1st Belorussian and 3rd Ukrainian. On the personal account of the commander – 25 captured and 27 killed soldiers of the German army.
After the end of the war, Kustov continued to serve in the Soviet Army. In 1979, with the rank of colonel, he was transferred to the reserve. Worked at the Institute “Belpromproekt” head of the civil defense headquarters. He lived in Minsk.
In an interview with the media, Ivan Kustov said that a strong belief in victory, as well as a powerful front-line brotherhood, helped him overcome difficulties with optimism .
“We fought as best we could. Faith in victory and pride in our great country helped to overcome hardships,” said the Hero of the Soviet Union.
In 2021, on the eve of the 76th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, under the windows of the house (in which Ivan Kustov together with his wife), an impromptu concert was held with the participation of a military band.
Sources of information: president.gov.by/, belros.tv/, warheroes.ru/