Matvey Kuzmin

Matvey Kuzmich Kuzmin (Russian: Матвей Кузьмич Кузьмин; 3 August 1858–14 February 1942) was a Russian peasant-patriot who was killed in World War II. He was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union on May 8, 1965, becoming the oldest person named a Hero of the Soviet Union^[1] based on his age at death.

Early life

Kuzmin was born in 1858 in the village of Kurakino, in the Velikoluksky District (then Uezd) of Pskov Oblast. He was a self-employed farmer who refused to join a kolkhoz^[2][3] or collective farm, while continuing to hunt and fish on the territory of the kolkhoz "Rassvet" (Russian: Рассвет, 'Dawn'). He was considered a "counter-revolutionary" (kontrik); and was nicknamed "Biriuk" (lone wolf).^[2][3]

Malkino Heights

Kuzmin's home region was occupied by the forces of Nazi Germany in World War II. In February 1942, he helped house a battalion of the 1st Mountain Division ("Edelweiss") in the village of Kurakino. The German battalion was ordered to pierce the Soviet defense in the area of Velikiye Luki by advancing into the rear of the Soviet troops dug in at Malkino Heights.

On February 13, 1942, the German commander asked the 83-year-old Kuzmin to guide his men and offered Kuzmin money, flour, kerosene, and a "Three Rings" hunting rifle. Kuzmin agreed, but on learning of the proposed route, sent his son Vasilij to Pershino (6 km. from Kurakino) to warn the Soviet troops and to propose an ambush near the village of Malkino. During the night, Kuzmin guided the German units through meandering paths, leading them to the outskirts of Malkino at dawn. There the village defenders and the 2nd battalion of 31st Cadet Rifle Brigade of the Kalinin Front attacked. The German battalion came under heavy machine gun fire and suffered losses of about 50 killed and 20 captured.^[4] Kuzmin was shot and killed by a German officer during the skirmish. Three days later Kuzmin was buried with military honors. Subsequently he was reburied at the military cemetery of Velikiye Luki.^[2][3]

Legacy

Kuzmin's death became known through an article in Pravda, by Boris Polevoy. Polevoy was a military correspondent in that area and attended Kuzmin's funeral.^[2][3] In 1948 Polevoy wrote the children's story The Last Day of Matvey Kuzmin,^[5] which is still included in Russian school readings for third grade.

Kuzmin's self-sacrifice, which was compared with that of Ivan Susanin, earned him the posthumous honour of being named a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Throughout the USSR streets were named in his honour. A Soviet naval trawler was also named for him.

In 1943 a statue to him was raised in the Moscow Metro station Izmailovsky Park (now Partizanskaya), designed by the Soviet sculptor Matvey Manizer.

See also

• Ivan Susanin
• Toropets-Kholm Operation

References

1. ^ War Heros (Russian)
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Boris Polevoy. The most memorable: history of my reportings (Полевой Б. Н. «Самые памятные: Истории моих репортажей». — М.: Мол. гвардия, 1980, стр. 173—179). (Russian)
3. ^ ^{a b c d} From military diaries of Boris Polevoy(Russian)
4. ^ Совершить невозможное: О известных и неизвестных героях Великой Отечественной. «История». № 08 от 2005 г. (Russian)
5. ^ All School Program in Literature - 3rd Grade (in Russian) The Last Day of Matvey Kuzmin

External links

• В День всех влюбленных погиб псковский Иван Сусанин - - www.Museum.ru - at www.museum.ru
• Ships and Shipping Companies Database - WORLD SHIPPING REGISTER - Index at www.e-ships.net
• Moscow Metro / Lines & Stations / Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line / Partizanskaya at engl.mosmetro.ru

Persondata
Name	Kuzmin%2C Matvey
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1858
Place of birth
Date of death	1942
Place of death