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Fedor ZinchenkoSoviet military leader, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel
Date of Birth: 19.09.1902
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Content:
- Early Life and Career
- World War II
- Berlin Operation and Reichstag Assault
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Post-War Life
- Awards
Early Life and Career
Fyodor Matveyevich Zinchenko was born on September 19, 1902, in the village of Stavkovo, now part of the Krivosheinsky district of the Tomsk region, to a peasant family. Ukrainian by nationality, Zinchenko joined the Red Army in 1924 and the Communist Party in 1926. He graduated from the Vladivostok Military Infantry School in 1930. From 1938, he served as the military commissar of a battalion at the Leningrad School of Communications.
World War II
Zinchenko was deployed to the front lines of the Great Patriotic War in March 1942. After completing the Vystrel officer training courses in the spring of 1944, he was appointed commander of the 756th Rifle Regiment (150th Rifle Division, 3rd Shock Army, 1st Belorussian Front).
Berlin Operation and Reichstag Assault
During the Berlin Operation, Zinchenko's regiment, despite fierce resistance from the enemy, overcame German defenses and reached the Reichstag area by April 29th. On April 30th, 1945, the soldiers of the 756th Rifle Regiment, acting jointly with units of the 380th Rifle Regiment, stormed the Reichstag and secured the first floor. Zinchenko was appointed commandant of the Reichstag by his divisional commander, Major General V. Shatilov.
Early on May 1st, soldiers of Zinchenko's regiment, Alexei Berest, Mikhail Yegorov, and Meliton Kantaria, hoisted the division's assault flag over the Reichstag, which subsequently became known as the Victory Banner.
Hero of the Soviet Union
For his leadership, combat prowess, and bravery, Zinchenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 31st, 1945. He was the only one of five brothers to survive the war.
Post-War Life
Zinchenko retired from the military in 1950 and lived in the city of Zolotonosha, Ukraine. In 1981, he moved to Cherkassy. He was elected as a deputy to the Cherkassy City Council in the 1980s. Zinchenko passed away on October 15th, 1991.
Awards
Zinchenko received numerous awards, including:- Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union
- Order of Lenin
- Two Orders of the Red Banner
- Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class
- Order of Kutuzov, 3rd Class
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class
- Order of the Red Star
- Jubilees of the Great Patriotic War
- Medals for the Capture of Berlin and Liberation of Warsaw
- Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR
- Foreign awards, including the Order of Virtuti Militari from Poland
