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Michail AshikHero of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 24.06.1925
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- Awards and Recognition
- Post-War Career
- Retirement and Literary Contributions
- Legacy
Early Life and Education
On June 24, 1925, in Leningrad, a young man named Mikhail Vladimirovich Ashik was born to Vladimir and Lyudmila Ashik. In 1941, he completed the 7th grade and enrolled in the Leningrad Marine College, but his academic pursuits were abruptly halted by the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War.
Military Service
During the war years, Mikhail Ashik served as a private in the 387th Division of the 5th Shock Army on the Southern Front. He was wounded in action and after recovering, returned to the front. He later graduated from the junior lieutenant courses of the Southern Front and was sent to Crimea in 1944.
Ashik served as a platoon leader in the 144th Separate Marine Battalion of the 83rd Separate Guards Marine Brigade. He participated in the liberation of Odessa, Bessarabia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia. He also fought in Hungary, Austria, and Czechoslovakia as part of the Danube Military Flotilla. Ashik was wounded three times during the war.
Awards and Recognition
For his valor and bravery, Ashik was awarded numerous medals and honors, including:
- Order of the Red Star for his participation in the crossing of the Dniester Estuary
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III Degree for his role in the Danubepentel landing in Hungary
- Medal "For Courage" and the Hungarian "Star of the Republic" for his part in the storming of Budapest
- Hero of the Soviet Union for his participation in the Danube landing near Esztergom, Hungary
Post-War Career
After the war, the 83rd Marine Brigade was disbanded, and Ashik served as a platoon leader in the 113th Guards Rifle Division. In 1946, he was demobilized and returned to Leningrad. From 1947 to 1949, he attended the Leningrad Officer School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and subsequently served in the internal troops until 1978. During his service, he was awarded the Orders of the Red Star, "For Service to the Homeland in the USSR Armed Forces" III Degree, and the Patriotic War I Degree.
Retirement and Literary Contributions
In 1978, Ashik retired in the rank of colonel. He then worked as a leading engineer at the Kirowski Plant in Leningrad from 1978 to 2002. For over four decades, he dedicated himself to writing, primarily focusing on his experiences in the marine infantry. His books, essays, and articles were published in various military and literary journals, including the Military Publishing House, "Soviet Writer," "Neva," and others.
Legacy
Mikhail Ashik's literary works have preserved the stories of the 305th Marine Battalion and the 144th Separate Marine Battalion in the Great Patriotic War. His contributions to military history and literature have ensured that the heroic efforts of these units will continue to be remembered and honored.
