On the left, in the foreground, commander of the 257th Rifle Division of the 3rd Shock Army Colonel AnatOly DyAkonov is depicted, and the artilleryman of the division is next to him. The photo was taken in 1942 near the village of MArkovo.
Anatoly Dyakonov was a student of the famous Soviet and Polish commander Konstantin Rokossovsky. In 1929 he was drafted into the Red Army, and he devoted his entire life to the military profession. In 1939 Dyakonov took part in battles against Japanese militarists on the Khalkhin Gol River. In March 1940, in the battles for the Tuppura island, he and a group of soldiers went to the rear of the enemy, took up and held positions on the island, ensuring the accomplishment of the battalion’s combat mission. For this feat, Anatoly Dyakonov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The island is now called Vikhrevoy. It is located at the entrance to the Vyborg Bay from the west. To the northwest, the island stretches for a length of 1.6 km, and its width is about 800 m.
When the conflict extended to the Eastern front during World War 2 he was a student of the Frunze Military Academy, from where he went to the front in November 1941. At the end of January 1942, Colonel DyAkonov was appointed commander of the 257th Rifle Division, which, as a result of tough battles, had just reached the outskirts of VelIkiye LUki. By order of the command, the rifle division assumed the defense on the outskirts of VelIkiye LUki and began to intensively prepare for the upcoming assault on the city. This photograph was taken during this period. In the photo, DyAkonov ponders the battles during the capture of the city of VelIkiye LUki and draws up an operation plan.
The 257th Rifle Division played a decisive role in the liberation of VelIkiye LUki. A fundamental innovation in tactics was the fact that the officer organized shock troops and used large artillery assets in street battles.
Anatoly Dyakonov was a student of the famous Soviet and Polish commander Konstantin Rokossovsky. In 1929 he was drafted into the Red Army, and he devoted his entire life to the military profession. In 1939 Dyakonov took part in battles against Japanese militarists on the Khalkhin Gol River. In March 1940, in the battles for the Tuppura island, he and a group of soldiers went to the rear of the enemy, took up and held positions on the island, ensuring the accomplishment of the battalion’s combat mission. For this feat, Anatoly Dyakonov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The island is now called Vikhrevoy. It is located at the entrance to the Vyborg Bay from the west. To the northwest, the island stretches for a length of 1.6 km, and its width is about 800 m.
When the conflict extended to the Eastern front during World War 2 he was a student of the Frunze Military Academy, from where he went to the front in November 1941. At the end of January 1942, Colonel DyAkonov was appointed commander of the 257th Rifle Division, which, as a result of tough battles, had just reached the outskirts of VelIkiye LUki. By order of the command, the rifle division assumed the defense on the outskirts of VelIkiye LUki and began to intensively prepare for the upcoming assault on the city. This photograph was taken during this period. In the photo, DyAkonov ponders the battles during the capture of the city of VelIkiye LUki and draws up an operation plan.
The 257th Rifle Division played a decisive role in the liberation of VelIkiye LUki. A fundamental innovation in tactics was the fact that the officer organized shock troops and used large artillery assets in street battles.
As a reward for the steadfastness, courage and heroism shown at the walls of the ancient town on the Lovat River, on April 18, 1943 the 257th Rifle Division was transformed into the 91st Guard Division.
AnatOly DyAkonov himself received the Order of SuvOrov (second degree) for the operation, which was called VelikolUkskaya after its location, and was promoted to the rank of Major General. On May 8, 1965, the combat leader was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Velikiye Luki.
AnatOly DyAkonov himself received the Order of SuvOrov (second degree) for the operation, which was called VelikolUkskaya after its location, and was promoted to the rank of Major General. On May 8, 1965, the combat leader was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Velikiye Luki.
