Liliya Ivanihina Member of the underground organization 'Young Guard'. Date of Birth: 03.05.1925 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Liliya Ivanikhina

Liliya Ivanikhina was born on May 3, 1925, in the village of Pervomayka, Krasnodon district. In her childhood, she was described as quiet and calm, but with a great determination and perseverance that set her apart from other children. She attended the Pervomayskaya School No. 6, where she spent a lot of time reading.

Teachers I.M. Znaenko and P.V. Sultan-Bey remember Liliya as a helpful assistant in all school activities. For the themed evening dedicated to T.G. Shevchenko, Liliya, together with her sister Antonina, prepared a literary and musical composition based on the works of the great poet. She also helped struggling students and dedicated a lot of time to working with the pioneers. Her dream was to become a teacher.

In October 1940, Liliya joined the Komsomol. During the war, she continued her studies in school. Along with other students, she collected ears of wheat in the fields of the "Pervomayskiy" collective farm and took care of the wounded in the hospital, which was located in her own school building.

In June 1942, Liliya Ivanikhina graduated from school. Unfortunately, she couldn't be evacuated. In October 1942, she joined the underground Komsomol organization called "Young Guard." To avoid being taken to Germany, she got a job as a German language teacher at the Velikosukhodolskaya Elementary School. There, she established contacts with the local youth and engaged in political agitation, not only among the local population but also among Italian soldiers stationed in the village of Velikiy Sukhodol.

According to witness R.M. Samoshina, an activist of the collective farm movement, Liliya Alexandrovna conducted political agitation and distributed leaflets, updating the villagers with news from Krasnodon, such as the display of red flags during the October celebrations or the burning of the stock exchange.

On January 10, 1943, Liliya was arrested, and after harsh torture and suffering, she was thrown into the pit of mine No. 5 on the night of January 16. She was buried in a mass grave of heroes on the central square of the city of Krasnodon.

Liliya Alexandrovna Ivanikhina was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class, and the Medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War," 1st Class.