Zavadskiy V.G. was born on 13 January 1919 in the village of Cherkassovo, Orsha district, Vitebsk region, in a family of railway workers. Belarusian. Before the war he received secondary education.

In the Soviet Army since 1939. On the eve of the war, in 1940, he graduated from the Engels Military Aviation School.

He finished the war with the rank of major. Continued service in the army until 1955. In 1956 he graduated from the Kharkiv Engineering-Economic Institute. Worked as an economist at a machine‑building plant in the city of Pervomaisk, Nikolaev region.

Died on 20 June 1992.

Olkhovsky N.I. was born on 10 October 1909 in the village of Mezhyevo, Orsha district, Vitebsk region, in a peasant family. He completed one year of a pedagogical technical school in Orsha.

“On the second day of the German offensive on the Kursk‑Belgorod direction on July 6, 1943, Major Olkhovsky shot down five German aircraft in a single day of combat. In battle Nikolai Ivanovich always emerged as the victor. He was not intimidated by the enemy’s numerical superiority…”

Under the command of the guard lieutenant colonel Olkhovsky, the pilots of the 178th fighter aviation regiment shot down 560 German aircraft in air battles. Comrades called him “Dad” — for his kindness, fairness and paternal care for subordinates.

After the war he continued to serve until 1953 as a lieutenant colonel. He lived and worked in Moscow. He died on August 26, 1978.

Serzhantov I.Y. was born in the village of Yakovlevichi, Orshansky District, Vitebsk Region on February 17, 1919, in a poor peasant family. His father died early, and five children were left without a breadwinner.

From the age of six, Ivan went to the pasture in the neighboring village to earn money for textbooks and clothing. He studied eagerly and well, and after lessons he was hired again as a shepherd, trying to help his mother.

«His inseparable friends, — recalls Ivan's sister, Ekaterina Yakovlevna, — were books».

Since childhood he dreamed of becoming an aviator. After completing 7 grades, in 1937 he entered the vocational-technical school of the Orsha linen combine, mastering the profession of a weaver. In the same year he began training at the Orsha aeroclub, then underwent training at the Odessa aviation school.

In the Red Army since 1938. In 1941 he graduated from the Chuguev Military Pilot School. From 1941 he served on the Southwest Front. Pilot of the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (8th Air Army, Southern Front), candidate member of the CPSU, Guards lieutenant.

He died of wounds on April 29, 1943. He is buried in Rostov-on-Don.

Anatoly D. was born on July 19, 1919 in the village of Churilovo, Orsha district, Vitebsk region, in a peasant family. Belarusian. Secondary education. Worked as an inspector in the Orsha district supply department.

After the war he was awarded in the Kremlin, returned to Orsha. Worked in a supply organization, became its manager.

Died on September 9, 2010.

M.D. Siyanin was born on December 17, 1901, in the village of Zabolotye, Orsha district, Vitebsk region, in a peasant family.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated November 17, 1943, Colonel M.D. Siyanin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union together with the Order of Lenin and the Medal “Gold Star”.

He died on October 1, 1973. He was buried in Orsha.

Dudchik P.A. was born on 12 July 1918 in the village of Kazyonnyye Porshni, Orsha district, Vitebsk region. Belarusian. After completing incomplete secondary school, he worked as an accountant in a kolkhoz, secretary of the village council (1934-1938).

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on 29 June 1945, for exemplary fulfillment of combat tasks and displayed courage and heroism, Captain Dudchik P.A. was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1950 he graduated from the Higher Officer Staff School. Until 1959 he served in the Soviet Army with the rank of colonel. After retirement he worked as chief of staff of civil defense at the Minsk automobile plant.

Died on 17 April 1994.

Pustelnikov S.S. was born on 10 February 1921 in the village of Svistelki, Orsha district, Vitebsk region, in a peasant family. He completed seven‑year school and worked in Orsha railway workshops.

For courage and heroism displayed while defending the State border of the USSR, private Pustelnikov S.S. was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 31 March 1945.

Buried in the village of Potorytsia, Sokoly district, Lviv region.

Zaslonov K.S. was born on 7 January 1910 in Ostashkovo, Tver region. One of the organizers and leaders of the party underground and partisan movement in the Vitebsk region during the Great Patriotic War.

For courage and skillful leadership of the partisan struggle, by decree of 5 September 1942 K.S. Zaslonov was awarded the Order of Lenin. 7 March 1943 he was posthumously granted the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Initially buried in the village of Kupovat. In 1947 reburied at the Station Square in Orsha.

Garanyn A.D. was born on 28 March 1921 in the village Plotnikovo, Orda district, Novosibirsk region, in a peasant family. He completed 7 grades, after which he moved to Novosibirsk. There he graduated from the factory apprenticeship school and worked as a turner and miller at the V.P. Chkalov aviation plant. At the same time he studied at the Novosibirsk aeroclub.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 31 December 1942, for exemplary performance of combat missions and displayed courage and heroism, Guard Captain Garanin A.D. was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the “Gold Star” medal.

Killed on 28 June 1943 at the age of 22.

Karnachenok N.A. was born in 1922 in the village of Borki, Shklovsky district, Mogilev region, in a peasant family. After completing incomplete secondary school he worked at the Orsha meat-canning combine.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 23 November 1942, for courage and military valor displayed in combat, senior lieutenant Karnachenok N.A. was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Lefevr Marcel was born on March 17, 1918 in Turkuén, France. In the army since 1938. A French volunteer who fought as part of the legendary squadron “Normandie-Niemen” on the side of the Soviet Union.

For the courage and heroism shown in the battles for the liberation of Belarus, the French pilot Marcel Lefevre was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union — one of the rarest awards given to foreigners.

Died on June 5, 1944 at the age of 26.

Semenyuk I.I. was born on 15 February 1917 in the city of Minsk. In 1932 he completed 7 grades, and in 1934 – the factory‑plant apprenticeship school (FZU) in the city of Orsha. He worked as a trainee assistant driver, a mechanic and a repair master for locomotives at the locomotive depot of Orsha station.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 1 July 1944, for exemplary fulfillment of combat missions and displayed courage and heroism of the guard, Captain Ivan Ivanovich Semenyuk was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union together with the Order of Lenin and the Medal “Gold Star” No 2381.

After the war he continued service in the Air Force, graduated from the Higher Officer Flight‑Tactical Courses in Lipetsk (1948) and the Advanced Courses at the VPA in Monino (1955). Since June 1961 the guard’s colonel I.I. Semenyuk has been in reserve.

He lived in Minsk, worked as an operational duty officer of the Civil Defense headquarters. He died on 26 April 1973 and was buried in the Eastern cemetery.

Konovalenko V.O. was born on 22 April 1917 in the village of Skrebki, Vitebsk district, Vitebsk region. He completed 9 grades.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 16 October 1943, for skillful command of the rifle regiment, exemplary execution of combat tasks and displayed courage and heroism, Guards Major Konovalenko V.O. was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Medal “Gold Star” No. 1822.

In the battle near the town of Zhmerynka, Vinnytsia region of Ukraine, Guards Lieutenant Colonel V.O. Konovalenko was seriously wounded in the chest.

Died of wounds on 22 March 1944. Buried in a mass grave in Zhmerynka.

Lazkov N.M. was born on 19 December 1924 in the village of Berëzovka, Tula region. He spent his childhood and youth in the settlement of Kazanovka, Kimovka district. In 1942 he completed 9 grades of school.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 24 March 1945, for bravery and heroism displayed in battles against German-Fascist invaders, Sergeant Lazkov N.M. was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the “Gold Star” medal.

Died on 2 March 1980. Buried in the village of Ruzino, Solnechnogorsk district, Moscow region.

Makeyev Y.A. was born on 7 December 1922 in the village of Likhachevo, Pochinkovsky district, Smolensk region, in a peasant family. He completed 7 grades. He worked as a foreman in a collective farm.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 24 March 1945, for exemplary fulfillment of combat tasks and displayed courage and heroism, Sergeant Makeyev Y.A. was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

After the war, Senior Sergeant Makeyev was demobilized. He returned to his native village, worked as the chairman of a collective farm. In 1948 he moved to the Ukrainian SSR, to the city of Yenakiieve. He worked in a mine.

He died suddenly on 11 June 1957. He is buried in the settlement of Olkhovatka of the Yenakiieve city council.

Nikandrovа A.A. was born in 1920 in the village of Barashkino, Pskov region. She graduated from a seven‑year school and worked in the Krasnogorodsky district Komsomol committee.

Posthumously, Anna Alekseevna Nikandrovа was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Buried in the common grave of Soviet soldiers and partisans in the city of Dubrovno. A monument to the brave girl stands next to the grave.

Smirnov Y.V. was born on September 2, 1925 in the village of Dedushkovo, Kostroma region. The 18‑year‑old youth performed his deed in the first days of the liberating operation “Bagration”.

For his deed, native of the Kostroma land Yuri Smirnov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Buried in the urban settlement of Orekhovsk, Orsha district.

F.A. Stebenev was born on October 3, 1899 in the village of Podsosenye, Vologda region, in a peasant family. He graduated from a primary zemstvo school. He worked as an apprentice in a shoemaking workshop, as well as at a sawmill in Arkhangelsk.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 24 March 1945, Colonel F.A. Stebenev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for skillful command of the regiment, exemplary execution of combat missions, and displayed courage and heroism.

In August 1945 he participated in the Manchurian offensive operation during the Soviet-Japanese War. Since 1946 – in reserve due to health condition.

Died on 8 February 1971 in Moscow.

Yurchenko A.S. was born on January 17, 1923 in the village of Chernysh, Chernihiv district, Chernihiv region (Ukraine) in a peasant family. He completed 7 grades of an incomplete secondary school. He worked on a collective farm.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on 24 March 1945, for the courage and heroism displayed in rescuing the bridge over the Dnieper in the city of Orsha, Red Army soldier Yurchenko A.S. was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the "Gold Star" medal No. 6504.

Died on May 9, 1994 — on Victory Day. Buried in his native village of Chernysh.