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Vasily AstafyevHero of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 25.10.1919
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Civilian Life (1966-Present)
- - Headed the regional branch of the Russian Peace Fund (1962-1980)
- - Chairman of the Perm Regional Committee of Veterans (1992-Present)
- - Resides in Perm
Early Life and Education
Birth and Family- Born October 25, 1919, in Verkhnyaya Otruba, Tambov Region
- Father: Mikhail Maksimovich Astafev
- Mother: Maria Timofeevna Astafeva
- Wife: Vera Vasilyevna Astafeva (born 1924)
- Sons: Vladimir (born 1947), Alexander (born 1956)
Education and Early Career
- Graduated from Tambov Pedagogical Rabfak in 1938
- Worked as a teacher in Bolshaya Lozovskaya Secondary School (1938-1939)
Military Service
Soviet-Finnish War and Training- Drafted into the Red Army in 1939
- Participated in the Soviet-Finnish War
- Enrolled in Borisov Military Engineering School in 1940
World War II
- Fought on the South-Western, Voronezh, 2nd Ukrainian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts (1941-1945)
- Commanded a sapper platoon, company, and battalion in an infantry division
- Participated in battles near Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, Yassy-Kishinev, Vistula-Oder, and Berlin
Hero of the Soviet Union
- Distinguished himself during the Dnieper crossing in July 1943- Awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (December 20, 1943)
Post-War Career
Military Service (1945-1966)
- Commander of an engineer company (1945-1947)
- Various engineering service positions in anti-aircraft and air defense units
Civilian Life (1966-Present)
- Retired from the military in 1966 with the rank of Colonel- Worked as an engineer in the "Permavtoudor" road construction department (1966-1988)
- Headed the regional branch of the Russian Peace Fund (1962-1980)
- Commanded the "Orlyonok" and "Zarnitsa" military-sports games (1963-1982)
- Chairman of the Perm Regional Committee of Veterans (1992-Present)
Awards and Honors- Order of Lenin (1943)
- Order of the Red Banner (1945)
- Order of the Red Star (1943, 1959)
- Order of Alexander Nevsky (1945)
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (1985)
- Order of Friendship (1999)
- 18 medals
- Elected as a People's Deputy of the USSR (1989)
- Awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Perm and the Perm Region"
Personal Life and Interests
- Enjoys working for the benefit of others
- Loves interacting with youth
- Spends leisure time walking in the city and forest
- Avid reader of Pushkin, Sholokhov, and V. Pikul
- Enjoys Soviet films and singing songs
- Favorite sport: volleyball
- Favorite entertainers: L. Zykina, L. Leshchenko, I. Kobzon, V. Vinokur
