The 44 Non-Soviet Heroes Of The Soviet Union.

[Taz]

Art,

That is great!
I also got a Mail back today with no S/N,s at the moment but a lot of info, Here it is,

Dear Sir,

I'm sorry but I don't know the exact numbers of the Gold Star Medals. But I'll look into some materials and I will let you know if I find something.

There were 6 HSU awarded Czechoslovak soldiers during 1941-1945:

1. Otakar Jaros (1.8.1912 - 8.3.1943)
- first foreigner awarded with HSU in WW2
- awarded 17th April 1943 in memoriam for the bravery during the fight for Ukrainian town Sokolovo

2. Josef Bursik (11.9.1911 - 30.6.2002)
- awarded 21th December 1943 with Sochor and Tesarik for bravery during the liberation of Kiev
- after 1948 persecuted by Communists, 1949-1955 in prison
- 1955 went to exile
- in 1968 returned his Soviet awards at Soviet embassy in London as protest against the Soviet Occupation of Czechoslovakia in August 1968
- in books published in Communist Czechoslovakia till 1989 his name was not mentioned in the list of Czechoslovak HSU

3. Antonín Sochor (16.7.1914 - 16.8.1950)
- awarded 21th December 1943 with Bursik and Tesarik for bravery during the liberation of Kiev
- after the Communists took power (1948) he died in strange circumstances ("car accident")

4. Richard Tesarik (3.12.1915 - 27.3.1967)
- awarded 21th December 1943 with Bursik and Sochor for bravery during the liberation of Kiev
- after the Communists took power forced to leave the Army

5. Jan Nalepka-Repkin (20.9.1912 - 16.12.1943)
- awarded 2nd May 1945 in memoriam for the bravery during the fight for Ukrainian town Ovruc

6. Stepan Vajda (17.1.1922-6.4.1945)
- awarded 10th August 1945 in memoriam for the bravery during the fight for Polish town Tworkov

After WW2 another 3 Czechoslovaks were awarded HSU:

7. Ludvik Svoboda (1895-1975)
- awarded 24th November 1965
- during WW2 Chief Commander of the Czechoslovak Army in the Soviet Union
- 1968-1975 Czechoslovak President
- only in 1992 was published the second volume of his memoirs Cestami zivota II. (Paths of Life II.). In the book he very openly described the disruptive role of Communists in the Czechoslovak Army on Eastern front. The book was written in 70's, but Communist Party forbade its publishing. It was really ironic: President of the State was not allowed to publish his own memoirs :-))

8. Vladimir Remek
- awarded 16th March 1978
- first Czechoslovak astronaut

9. Gustav Husak
- awarded 9th January 1983
- during WW2 in Slovak communist resistance, active during Slovak National Uprising 1944
- 1954 sentenced to several years in prison as "bourgeois nationalist"
- after the Soviet occupation in 1968 the main Soviet Quisling in Czechoslovakia
- 1975-1989 Czechoslovak President

For more on HSU look to this article (but only in Czech):
http://www.fronta.cz/index.php?sekce=2150&clanek=124

Best Regards,

Vojtěch Šír (aka egli)

Christer,

Thanks for the pic ;)

Eddie.

[Taz]

Name, Country, Rank etc, Award Date, S/N.


1. Volkan S Goranov, (Zachariev, Z.S.), ?, Bulgaria 31/12/1936, #21

2. Primo Gibelli ,(Primo Andzhellovich Dzhibelli), Italy, Pilot/Test Pilot/Instructor, 31/12/1936 #?

3. Otakar Jaroš , Czechoslovakia, 1st Lt, 18/4/1943 #?

4. Vladislav W Wysotsky, Poland, Captain, 11/11/1943, #?

5. Aniela Tadeushevna Krzywo, Poland, Private (Nurse, Riflewoman, MG Gunner) , 11/11/1943, #?

6. Julius Hiobner,( Juliusz Samsonovich Hibner) , Poland, Lt.Col ?, 21/12/1943, #2232

7. Antonín Sochor, Czechoslovakia, General, 21/11/1943, #?

8. Richard Tesařík, Czechoslovakia, Tank Commander, 21/12/1943, #1693

9. Josef Buršík, Czechoslovakia, Tank Commander, 21/12/1943, #1692

10. Marcel Albert, France, Commandant, Pilot/ Normandie-Niemen, 27/11/1944, #?

11. Roland de la Poype, France, Capitain, Pilot/ Normandie-Niemen, 27/11/1944, #?

12. Jan Nálepka (Repkin), Czechoslovakia , Guerrilla Commander, 2/5/1945, #?

13. Jacques Andre, France, Colonel, Pilot/ Normandie-Niemen, 4/6/1945, #6656

14. Marcel Lefèvre, France, Lt, Pilot/ Normandie-Niemen, 4/6/1945, #?

15. Stěpan Vajda, Czechoslovakia, Tank Commander?, 10/8/1945, #?

16. Ruben Ruis Ibarruri, Spain, Captain, 23/8/1956, #?

17. Ramon Lopez (Merkander,Ramon), Spain, NKVD Agent, 31/5/1960,#11089

18. Fidel Castro, Cuba, President, 23/5/1963, #11124

19. Walter Ulbricht, Germany (GDR), Chancellor, 29/6/1963, #11184

20. Janos Kadar, Hungary, Head of State, 3/4/1964, #11218

21. Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria, President, 30/4/1964, #11221

22. Gamal Abdul Nasser, Egypt, President, 13/5/1964, #11224

23. Hakim Abdel Amer, Egypt, Field-Marshal, 13/5/1964, #11225

24. Fritz Schmenkel, Germany (GDR), Soviet partisan, 6/10/1964, #?

25. Ludvík Svoboda, Czechoslovakia, Politician, 24/11/1965, #10708

26. Vladimir Stoyanov-Zayimov, Bulgaria, General, 30/5/1972, #?

27. Todor Zhivkov, Bulgaria, Head of State, 31/5/1977, #11281

28. Vladimír Remek, Czechoslovakia, Cosmonaut, 16/3/1978, #11299

29. Miroslaw Hermaszewski, Poland, Cosmonaut 5/7/1978, #11301

30. Sigmund Jähn, Germany (GDR), Maj.Gen, Cosmonaut, 10/9/1978, #11303

31. Georgi Ivanov, Bulgaria, Cosmonaut, 13/4/1979, #10749

32. Bertalan Farkas, Hungary, Cosmonaut, 30/6/1980, #11441

33. Pham Tuan,N. Vietnam, Lt. Gen, Cosmonaut, 31/7/1980, #11444

34. Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, Cuba, Cosmonaut, 26/9/1980, #11445

35. Gurragcha Zhugderdemidiyn, Mongolia, Cosmonaut 30/3/1981, #11454?

36. Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, Rumania, Air Fleet Gen,Cosmonaut,22/5/1981, #11455?

37. Jean-loup Chretien, France, Brig. Gen, Cosmonaut, 2/7/1982, #?

38. Erich Honecker, Germany (GDR), Chancellor, 25/8/1982, #11480?

39. Gustav Husák, Czechoslovakia, Head of State, 9/1/1983, #11490

40. Rakesh Sharma, India, Sq. Leader, Cosmonaut, 11/4/1984, #11510 or #11557?

41. Muhammed Ahmed Faris, Syria, Cosmonaut, 30/7/1987, #?

42. Erich Mielke, Germany (DDR), Stasi- General, 25/12/1987,#11561, or #11562 ?

43. Aleksandr Panayatov Aleksandrov,Bulgaria,Cosmonaut 17/6/1988, #11578

44. Abdul Ahad Mohmand, Afghanistan, Cosmonaut, 7/9/1988, #11584


Updates when available.

Eddie/Christophe/Kim/Art/Tal.

[Taz]

Guys,
Here is an interesting conflict of Details.

Here is the post from Mark. ( Thanks again Mark :) )

I have just looked in Henry Sakaida's book 'Heroines of the Soviet Union' she is listed as a machine gunner. Here are the details from the book.
Private Aneila Tadeushevna Kzhivon, Polish, (1925-12/10/43) Awarded HSU 11/11/43
Only non Soviet female HSU Sacrificed her life to save her wounded comrades
and important headquarters documents when their truck was attacked by German planes.
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And here is Information from Al-Muell ( Thanks again Al :) )

Aniela Krzywoń - 1925-1943
Szeregowiec (riadovoy) nurse in 1st fusilier komp., 1st bat. (E. Plater) 1st Inf. Div. (T. Kościuszko). Died in the battle of Lenino trying to save documents (other source says about saving wounded) from burning car of the div. hq. during a german bombardment.
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In the list I had Aniela listed as a Medic and then changed it after Mark's reference to Henrys Book to MG Gunner.

Maybe someone has further details as to which version is correct ( Henry prehaps?)
Maybe they are both correct and she was a Nurse and during the attack manned an MG.

Here are some other Interesting details from Al-Muell.

Władysław Wysocki- HSU.

Born in 1908, died 12.10.1943. Porucznik (leutienant) since 1939, imprisoned in USSR, joined the army (polish army in USSR) in 05.1943. served in the infantry and died somewhere near Lenino when he had the rank of Capitan, but I have no info on when he was promoted.
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BTW for this Battle in which the Polish HSU's fought there was a special Polish Medal awarded.
The Battle of Lenino Cross ( Krzyz Bitwy pod Lenino)
Ribbon colours: Yellow with dark blue edges and a white and red central stripe.
Instituted: By act of Parliament of May 26, 1988.
Awarded to veterans of the Battle of Lenino (now in Byelorussia), fought on October 12, 1943 - the first battle in which the troops of the Polish People's Army, created 1943 in the Soviet Union took place. October 12 was celebrated in People's Poland as a memorial day of the People's Army.
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The fights near Lenino lasted two days. The Poles resisted all the counter-attacks. On 14 October morning the division was withdrawn to the rear. It sustained heavy casualties: 512 killed, 1776 wounded and 663 missing in action - almost 25% of the original file.6 According to some historians those casualties resulted from overestimation of own forces, especially their combat experience, as well as weak artillery support. The success was seen rather in the political and propaganda plane - as the manifestation of the Polish participation in the Germano-Soviet war, and the basis for further alliance between the Red Army and the Polish People's Army.
Three soldiers - Aniela Krzywoń, Juliusz Hibner and Władysław Wysocki - became dignified with the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.




Eddie.

[Taz]

Juliusz Samsonovich Hibner was born in 1912 in Grzymalow Tarnopolski, Poland. After becoming a Soviet citizen and joining the Red Army, he fought with the Russian forces in the Spanish Civil War. When World War II broke out he joined the Kosciuszko 1st Polish Division, and rose to command an infantry regiment. In recognition of his distinguished military service he was awarded the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union".

Article from April 2, 2000.

Juliusz Hibner, who died six years ago, was also unwilling to talk about his order and title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Even his obituary didn't mention it. This was partly because he had supposedly received this highest Soviet distinction posthumously. In the Battle of Lenino, Polish forces established in the Soviet Union by Polish communists fought side by side with the Red Army. The event later became part of communist Poland's state mythology, and Stalin decided to honor three people killed in the battle: a woman (riflewoman Aniela Krzywoń was chosen), a prewar Polish Army officer (Capt. Władysław Wysocki) and a prewar communist (Hibner). The news of Hibner's death, who did sustain heavy injuries in battle, was premature. Through the rest of the war, Hibner had to put up with teasing from his colleagues. This has been confirmed by Col. Józef Światło, a high-ranking security official who escaped to the West in 1953 and passed on a lot of top-secret information to U.S. intelligence.

Note that in this article Aniela Krzywoń is described as a Riflewoman!

Aniela Krzywoń ---- Riflewoman, Nurse and Machine Gunner :confused:

Eddie.

[Al-muell]

Originally Posted by Taz

BTW for this Battle in which the Polish HSU's fought there was a special Polish Medal awarded.
The Battle of Lenino Cross ( Krzyz Bitwy pod Lenino)
Ribbon colours: Yellow with dark blue edges and a white and red central stripe.
Instituted: By act of Parliament of May 26, 1988.
Awarded to veterans of the Battle of Lenino (now in Byelorussia), fought on October 12, 1943 - the first battle in which the troops of the Polish People's Army, created 1943 in the Soviet Union took place. October 12 was celebrated in People's Poland as a memorial day of the People's Army.


Eddie.

If we are at this topic, there was also another award, or reather an award variation. There was a medal "To Distinguished on the Battlefield of Glory" (Zasłużonym na polu chwały) - I don't remember exactly how did this look like (and other details - I had a book on polish awards but can't find it now), but I am sure that "Lenino variation) had polish and soviet flags added (on medal, not on ribbon).

Where did You find this info about Hibner? I suppose that what I have found about KBW general is wrong. :( ...

[Taz]

Primo Gibelli aka 'El Cordero'.

Was born 1883 on the outskirts of Milan.
Italian lyotchik(?)-Bomber Pilot,
Hero of Soviet Union (1936, posthumously).
One of the founders of the Communist Party of Italy.
Became a Citizen of the USSR in 1921
Aircraft Pilot since 1922. Since 1933 worked in the scientific research institute of the Air Forces. A participant of the civil war in Spain.
He was taken prisoner and tragically lost.(?)
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ESCUADRILLA MALRAUX

This Squadron made it's debut in August 1936.
In the Spanish squadron led by Malraux there were not only the
foreign fighter pilots of group 11 commanded by Getafe flying Nieuport 52's of
which the Spanish Captain, Antonio Martin-Luna Lersund was part of there were many more.
Also in this fighter squadron were the British Pilots Cartwright, Collins and
the Italian Locatelli.
The Bomber squadron was based in the aerodrome of Alcala de Henares. Stationed there were the Soviet pilots, French Pilot Maurice Moulinet, English Pilot Smith-Piggot, the Hungarian Akos Hevesi and Italian Primo Gibelli.

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Another article reports the shooting down a Potez 54 'A'. Piloted by the Italian pilot Primo Gibelli, aka 'El Cordero' who was killed in this type of aircraft.
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here some additional info from Kim.

It turns out that he was not captured and tortured. He died in a plane crash. After this he was put in a box and dropped on the republican airfield. He was then used in the propaganda war.
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Another report says that he was shot down whilst defending Madrid.
Gibelli and the crew bailed out but all apart from Gibelli were shot on the spot. He was captured by Republican infantrymen and then tortured to death.
His severed head wrapped in a cloth together with the remains of his body, clearly showing signs of torture was dropped by plane in a dark box over Madrid to serve as a warning and for propaganda.
The USSR Archives state that he did not break under Torture and for this Bravery was Awarded postumously the Titel HSU.

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Eddie.

[Al-muell]

Born: 15.09.1941, Lipniki, Volynia, "Eastern Poland" (Ukraine now?).
Started flying in 1960, in 1961joined Aviation Officer School in Dęblin.
As a commander of 11th fighter rg. was submited as a candidate for cosmonaut (at the rank of pułkownik (colonel)). In 1976 he was selected "board engeneer" on Soyuz-30 ( commander: P.I. Klimuk, 27.061978).
One week on Salut-6. landing: 5.07.1978.
1988 - promoted to general (generał brygady, equivalent of soviet gienieral-maior)
Member of WRON (Wojskowa Rada Ocalenia Narodowego - Military Council of National Salvation, official polish "junta" "government" 1981-1983).
1991-1992 - Vice-commander of Air forces;
Currently retired.
Member of ASE.
The first and, so far, the only polish cosmonaut

[Nota Bene]

Guys,

Just an idea - there is a Normandie-Neman museum in France, and the french also have a bunch of veterans organizations. Maybe one of our French members could help us out with the numbers? I think it's worth a shot.

Alexei

[Taz]

Hi Alexei,
We are working on just that ;) Here is one of the replys I got Today from France.

Dear sir,

I'm sorry but we dont have the Award numbers of these Gold stars. I think you can write to M. Yves Donjon who knows very well the Normandie Niemen history at this mail adresse :..............

Best Regards.

yours faithfully,

Vladimir Trouplin,
Conservateur du Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération

On Sunday I posted about ten Mails all over Europe including France, Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic.
I haven't got replys to all of them yet but I'm still hoping :)

Eddie.

[Taz]

was born in in Fiume (now called Rijeka, Croatia) in 1912.
He worked in a factory and as a result of trade union activities became a member of the Hungarian Communist Party in 1935.
During the Second World War Kadar was a member of the Czech Resistance movement. The Red Army invaded Hungary in September 1944. It set up an alternative government in Debrecen on 21st December 1944 but did not capture Budapest until 18th January 1945.

Eddie.