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Semen AvdoshkinParticipant of the Great Patriotic War, commander of the machine-gun company of the 1178th rifle regiment of the 350th rifle division of the 13th army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Hero of the Soviet Union, senior lieutenant.
Date of Birth: 15.08.1918
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Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Military Service
- Heroism at the Vistula River
- Recognition and Post-War Life
- Legacy
Early Life and Career
Semen Yegorovich Avdoshkin was born on August 15, 1918, in the village of Voлосоvo, now known as Voлосоvo-Zvyagino, in the Kozelsky District of the Kaluga Region. After completing primary school, he worked in a collective farm. From 1933 to 1939, he worked as a grinder, mechanic, and turner in several towns in the Moscow Region and Rybinsk.
Military Service
In November 1939, Avdoshkin was drafted into the Red Army. He entered the frontline in June 1941. As the commander of a machine gun company in the 1178th Rifle Regiment of the 350th Rifle Division, he took part in the Great Patriotic War.
Heroism at the Vistula River
On July 29, 1944, Avdoshkin's machine gun company crossed the Vistula River at Lonżak, Poland. Despite enemy fire, they sank a ferry and three boats carrying German soldiers. Establishing a bridgehead, the machine gunners neutralized two infantry platoons, destroyed eight vehicles, and captured enemy weapons and prisoners.
Throughout the battle, Avdoshkin led from the front, personally killing 12 enemy soldiers and two officers. His company's actions allowed other parts of the regiment to cross the river with fewer casualties.
Recognition and Post-War Life
For his extraordinary courage and leadership, Avdoshkin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on September 23, 1944. After the war, he retired and lived in Sterlitamak, Bashkiria, where he worked as an expediter and a fire safety inspector.
Legacy
Semen Yegorovich Avdoshkin died on March 9, 1963. He is buried in Sterlitamak. His bravery and sacrifice during the Great Patriotic War earned him eternal recognition as a hero of the Soviet Union.
