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Andrey AndreevFisherman, guide of Konstantin Olshansky's detachment during the liberation of Nikolaev from German troops. He died in battle. Andreyev was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Date of Birth: 19.12.1913
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Content:
- Early Life
- World War II
- Underground Resistance
- Liberation of Mykolaiv
- The Landing
- Bloody Fighting
- Recognition and Legacy
Early Life
Andrey Andreev was born on December 19, 1913, in the village of Bogoyavlensky (now Oktyabrsky, Mykolaiv). Orphaned by the Spanish flu, he was raised by fishermen and eventually became a fisherman himself.
World War II
At the onset of World War II, Andreev joined the Red Army as a signalman. He fought in the defense of Odessa but was wounded and captured as a prisoner of war. He escaped and attempted to reach the front lines but was apprehended and nearly sent to Germany for labor.
Underground Resistance
Andreev managed to escape again and lived in hiding for almost a year. He continued to resist the German occupation by sabotaging fish catches and refusing to build fortifications.
Liberation of Mykolaiv
In 1944, Andreev encountered a Soviet tank platoon and guided them to the Mykolaiv highway. He then assisted in repairing boats for a Soviet landing operation.
The Landing
On March 25, 1944, Andreev and six other fishermen volunteered as guides for a landing party led by Captain Konstantin Olshansky. Andreev piloted Olshansky's boat and directed the landing of 68 Marines.
Bloody Fighting
The landing party faced intense fighting for two days, repelling 18 attacks and eliminating over 700 German soldiers. On March 27, Andreev and Olshansky were killed in action.
Recognition and Legacy
Mykolaiv was liberated on March 28, 1944. Of the original 68 Marines, only eight survived. Andreev was buried among his fallen comrades in the Square of Sixty-Eight Paratroopers. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on May 8, 1965.
