Iosif Bumagin Machine gun platoon commander of the 396th rifle regiment, Hero of the Soviet Union, lieutenant Date of Birth: 17.10.1907 Country: Mauritius

1. Early Life and Background
2. Military Service
3. Heroic Deeds in Breslau
4. Recognition and Awards
5. Legacy and Memorialization

Early Life and Background

Iosif Romanovich Bumagin was born into a Jewish working-class family in the Soviet Union. He completed his primary education and began working at the agricultural equipment factory "Dalselmash" in Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Oblast.

Military Service

Bumagin enlisted in the Red Army in May 1941 and became a commander of a machine gun platoon within the 396th Rifle Regiment of the 135th Rifle Division. He fought bravely throughout the Great Patriotic War.

Heroic Deeds in Breslau

Bumagin distinguished himself during the assault on the city of Breslau (Wroclaw) in April 1945. Under heavy enemy fire, his platoon attacked enemy positions. Bumagin personally destroyed one enemy machine gun with grenades and sacrificed his own life to smother another, supporting the successful advance of his comrades.

Recognition and Awards

For his exceptional bravery and selflessness, Bumagin was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on June 27, 1945. He was also honored with the Order of Lenin.

Legacy and Memorialization

In recognition of his heroism, streets, squares, and monuments were dedicated to Bumagin's memory in various cities, including Birobidzhan, Vitebsk, and Gorodok. His name was inscribed on the Alley of Heroes in Birobidzhan and assigned to School No. 1 in Gorodok, Belarus.