The photo shows Alexander Nikandrov – the Hero of the Soviet Union. Nikandrov has been serving in the Navy since 1934. He served five years on the torpedo-boat destroyers of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. After his transfer to the reserve force in 1939, Aleksandr Nikandrov worked at an integrated timber mill in Kandalaksha, Murmansk oblast.
With the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War in June 1941, he was again called into the Red Army. He was sent to the Northern Fleet. Here Nikandrov served in the 181st Independent Reconnaissance Detachment. As part of the detachment he lead the detachment and platoon, participated in the defense of the Soviet Arctic.
Alexander Nikandrov was involved in many combat operations, including the capture of German companies at Cape Crescent during the landing at Liinahamari in October 1944.
In the spring of 1945, North Sea fleet reconnaissance operatives were sent to the Pacific Fleet, where they participated in the Soviet-Japanese War in August 1945. At the same time, Alexander Nikandrov was appointed platoon commander o of the 140th Independent Reconnaissance Detachment of the Pacific Fleet. On 13 August 1945, his detachment landed at the north Korean port of Seishin (Cheongjin).
The soldiers seized the railway bridge and cut off the Japanese forces from retreating. However, the enemy formations managed to encircle the Soviet military. Nikandrov’s platoon repelled the enemy attacks for several days, and then managed to break the encirclement ring.
On 15 August 1945, Nikandrov participated in repelling several enemy attacks, providing a landing for the Marines at the port.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 14 September 1945, Alexander Nikandrov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and “Gold Star” medal for the exemplary performance in combat missions on the front of the struggle against the Japanese militarists and for his courage and heroism in doing so. He was demobilized in 1945. By this time for his military service he was already awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, the Medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic”, and other medals.
With the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War in June 1941, he was again called into the Red Army. He was sent to the Northern Fleet. Here Nikandrov served in the 181st Independent Reconnaissance Detachment. As part of the detachment he lead the detachment and platoon, participated in the defense of the Soviet Arctic.
Alexander Nikandrov was involved in many combat operations, including the capture of German companies at Cape Crescent during the landing at Liinahamari in October 1944.
In the spring of 1945, North Sea fleet reconnaissance operatives were sent to the Pacific Fleet, where they participated in the Soviet-Japanese War in August 1945. At the same time, Alexander Nikandrov was appointed platoon commander o of the 140th Independent Reconnaissance Detachment of the Pacific Fleet. On 13 August 1945, his detachment landed at the north Korean port of Seishin (Cheongjin).
The soldiers seized the railway bridge and cut off the Japanese forces from retreating. However, the enemy formations managed to encircle the Soviet military. Nikandrov’s platoon repelled the enemy attacks for several days, and then managed to break the encirclement ring.
On 15 August 1945, Nikandrov participated in repelling several enemy attacks, providing a landing for the Marines at the port.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 14 September 1945, Alexander Nikandrov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and “Gold Star” medal for the exemplary performance in combat missions on the front of the struggle against the Japanese militarists and for his courage and heroism in doing so. He was demobilized in 1945. By this time for his military service he was already awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, the Medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic”, and other medals.
