Alexei Maresiev feat - the legendary Soviet pilot, who lost both legs during the Second World War - is now known to all.Willpower and the pursuit of life of the hero managed to win first death, and then the disability.Against the sentence seemed to be handed down by fate, Maresiev managed to survive when it saw it impossible to return to the front at the helm of a fighter and yet a full-fledged life.Maresiev feat - a hope and an example to many people who are victims of tragic circumstances, not only in war but also in peacetime.He recalled what he could achieve, who have not lost the strength to fight and belief in themselves.
Maresiev Alexei Petrovich: children and teens
May 20, 1916 in the family of Peter and Catherine Maresjev living in the city of Kamyshin (present Volgograd Region), third son was born.Alex was three years old when his father died of wounds received at the front of the First World War.Mother Catherine Nikitichna, who worked as a cleaner in a factory, had the most to raise the proportion of no easy on the feet of children - Peter, Nicholas and Alexis.
finished eighth grade, Alex Maresiev enrolled in school trade schools, where he received the profession of a locksmith.For three years he worked at the sawmill in your own Kamyshin turner on metal and simultaneously studied at the Workers' Faculty.Even then, he had a desire to become a pilot.
Twice he tried to enter the Flight School, but he returned the documents: a child moved to the severe form of malaria seriously undermined his health is complicated by rheumatism.Few people believed then that Alex will become a pilot - neither the mother nor the neighbors were no exception - but he stubbornly continued to strive towards its goal.
In 1934, the direction of the district committee of the Komsomol Maresiev Kamyshinsky sent to Khabarovsk region for the construction of Komsomolsk-on-Amur.While working as a mechanic-technician, he is also engaged in the flying club, learning lёtnomu case.
Three years later, when Maresiev drafted into the army, he was sent to serve in the 12th aviapogranotryad on Sakhalin Island.From there, he was assigned to the aviation school in the city of Bataisk, from which he graduated with the rank of second lieutenant.There he was appointed as an instructor.Bataisk served up to the war.
beginning of the war and the history of heroism
In August 1941, Alexey Maresiev sent to the front.The first of its sorties took place near the Krivoy Rog.When in the spring of next year, the pilot was transferred to the North-Western Front, to his credit already the number four downed enemy aircraft.
April 4, 1942 during an air battle near Staraya Russa (Novgorod region) was hit Maresiev fighter, and he was wounded.The pilot was forced to land in the forest - in the enemy's rear.
Eighteen days Maresiev Alex desperately fought to the death, making his way to the front lines.When summed wounded and then frostbitten feet, he continued to move on all fours, eating bark, berries, pine cones ... Barely alive, he was found in the woods, two boys from the village of Plav (smooth), Valdai region.The villagers hid pilot at and tried to leave, but the consequences of injuries and frostbite of the feet were too heavy.Maresjev required surgery.
In early May, the aircraft landed near the village.It was piloted by Andrew Dechtiarenko - Squadron, which served Maresiev.The wounded pilot managed to smuggle in Moscow in a military hospital.
merciless verdict of doctors ... and return to the system
Whatever happens next, and there is nothing but one long uninterrupted Maresiev feat.Hospitalized with gangrene and blood poisoning pilot to medical miracle saved lives, but they had to amputate his tibia in both legs.Still in the hospital bed, Alex begins a grueling workout.It is prepared not only to ensure that the rise in the prosthesis and learn to move on them.In his plans - own them so perfectly, to be able to return to the aircraft.Work, he continued, and in 1942 in the resort, making it a runaway success that resulted from his iron will and courage.
early next year Maresiev sent for a medical examination, after which he was assigned to the flight school Ibresinskuyu in Chuvashia.In February 1943, he successfully conducted the first test flight after his injury.All this time he sought a remarkable tenacity sent to the front.
and again in battle!Please
pilot was granted in July 1943.But the commander of the 63rd Guards Fighter Regiment initially afraid to let him go on missions.However, after his squadron commander Alexander the numbers sympathize Maresjev began to take it with him on combat missions, which turned out to be successful, the credibility of the increased capabilities of the pilot.
After Maresiev took to the air on artificial limbs to the war, they were shot down more enemy planes seven.Soon the glory about a feat Maresiev spread across the front.
Around this time, the first meeting with Alexei Petrovich war correspondent of the newspaper "Pravda" Boris Polevoy.The feat of the pilot Maresiev Field inspired to create his famous book "The Story of a Real Man".It Maresiev made a prototype of the protagonist.
Maresiev In 1943 received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
end of the war.Life after her - another feat Maresiev
year later Alexei Maresjev asked to leave the combat regiment and go to the management of universities in the Air Force as an inspector-pilot.He agreed.On his account at this time was eighty-seven sorties and shot down eleven enemy aircraft.
In 1946 Maresiev Alexei Petrovich turned discharged from the Air Force, however, continued to maintain a consistently excellent physical shape.He skated, skied, swimming and cycling.His personal record he set at Kuibyshev, when crossed the Volga (2200 meters) for fifty-five minutes.
Maresiev was very famous in the postwar years, repeatedly invited to various celebrations, and participated in meetings with students.In 1949, he traveled to Paris, participating in the First World Peace Congress.
In addition, he continued to study, graduating in 1952 from the Higher Party School of the Central Committee, and four years later he defended in history thesis.
In 1960, the world saw the book "On the Kursk", whose author was Alex Maresiev (photo below).
lot of time Maresiev dedicated community service.He was a member of the Committee of War Veterans, he was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, moreover, led the All-Russian Fund of disabled war veterans.
Family
Alexey Maresyev married.Galina Maresiev (Tretyakov), his wife, was an employee of the Chief of the Air Staff.They had two sons.Senior Victor (1946), is now managed by the Foundation Maresiev.Junior, Alex (1958), a former disabled since childhood, died in 2001.
Death
Two days before the official birthday of the great pilot, May 18, 2001, at the Theatre of the Russian Army was scheduled concert on the occasion of the anniversary vosmidesyatipyatiletnego Maresiev.For some time before the event starts, Alexei Petrovich there was a heart attack, after which he died.
Alex Maresiev buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.
memory of the hero
fighting and labor merits Maresiev been awarded numerous awards.In addition to the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union and a number of state awards of his homeland, he became a knight of the numerous foreign orders and medals.He also became an honorary soldier of a military unit, an honorary citizen of his native Kamyshin, Orel, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and many other cities.His name is public fund, a number of streets, schools and patriotic clubs and even a small planet.
memory of Alexei Maresjev, his strength of will, cheerfulness and courage that rightfully earned him fame living legend, will remain forever in the hearts of men, serving as a model for the education of future generations.
