Fourth part of the Wargaming series with Russian veteran memories about the Second World War. This time with former radio and telegraph operator Vasilij Yakovlevich Goncharov, who will talk about his job as a radio operator of the combat unit and his trial by fire during the Lake Balaton operation.
English subtitles are available.
Vasilij Yakovlevich Goncharov served the entire war in the 1st Mechanized Corps of the 9th Zaporozhie Guards Tank Brigade (holders of Order of Kutuzov and Order of Suvorov) in a communications platoon and company. While working as a telephone operator during the fights around the city of Székesfehérvár from 28th of January to 4th of February 1945, he kept the line open between the battalion and brigade HQ working constantly under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. During one day of fighting, he personally repaired the phone line 20 times, allowing the troops to be commanded smoothly. For making a difference in the Balaton fighting, he recieved an Order of the Red Star.
Please pay attention: This is the third time I am leaving the comments open. This man is a veteran, who fought in the actual war and whatever you think about Russia, he deserves respect. Last time, I asked you and I am asking you again not to bash Russians, Ukraine, Crimea, Stalin and whatever here, keep that stuff for the time when Wargaming decides yet again to promote Stalin somewhere. If you can’t keep yourself from this at least this time, I will not only start handing out RO bans (or permabans in worst cases), but next time, the comments will be closed.
please note I’m not bashing anyone (or anything). also, please remove if this causes an arguement
but it’s about time they interviewed some other allied troops (or even axis, but I bet they won’t go that far). such as brit, French etc? don’t suppose anyone else thinks they should do that…
Well… on Wednesday, me and a couple of other guys are going to spend a day with our (Czechoslovak) veterans, both western and eastern. I am not sure how exactly will it go, but it’s possible we might make a video like this as well.
I actually wouldn’t mind if they interviewed old German soldiers as well.
hope you put up the vid SS, would be nice to see things from a slightly forgotten point of view
Come on SS, you know the nationalist pressure WG is under to satisfy their Russian player base. Wasn’t it SerB who said that about Russian-serving companies? It’s a little surprising how they can get away with restoring the Maus instead of some Soviet vehicle.
And as far as comment civility goes, good luck with that. :-) There are so many people on the Internet that surely it can scrounge up enough dickbags to pollute your comment section considering it is free entry. Kind of like how WoT has so many potatoes.
You are juuust barely on the good side. Be careful how edgy you are about the wot potatoes and all that, let alone the conspiracy theories ;)
What this site now needs I think is an admin. Not a paid one, a few volunteers who have a lot of free time and are not complete nutjobs with editing and banning powers should do.
Actually there was a series on National geographic called “tankies” or something like that that was about British and U.S. tankers (I think. Definitely british).
I recall one of the episodes where a former Crusader driver talks about how they saw Pz.IIIs approaching in the desert and just fucked off xD they were having none of those panzers that day.
Nice interviews, although I would preferred them to be longer, to tell a little more story. I always enjoy to hear/watch war stories from real war veterans. It gives you insight of what if was like there.
Honest question: back then, didn’t they use those small ribbons that people use now to show awards and stuff like that? Or is it just how the Russian army gives/gave awards?
Using all those medals for important occasions seems rather cumbersome.
I think it’s a Russian/Eastern Bloc thing. Ribons are western thing.
Hmmm… ribbons do look quite convenient to me. You still get the medal which you can store some place of hang on a wall, while you use the ribbon on your uniform to represent that medal.
Still, all those medals do make him look more badass XD
They have 2 types of medals, 1 small for war and 1 bigger for ceremonies, I have WW2 Soviet Guard insignia in both version.
You will see tons of such medals for sale on most flee markets in the eastern bloc. Or just check e-bay for comunist era medals.
Here in Serbia you get both, small Ribon and a Medal. At least it was like that from my grandmother and grandfather.
Long story short: you may use both because each award has its own ribbon. But ribbons are readable only for professionals, most people have no idea what each ribbon means. That’s why veterans wear their medals on uniform.
Several (all?) badges have two variants — one full scale for military uniform, another smaller for civilian suit. Veterans wear military uniforms and that’s the reason why they are wearing all this stuff.
These are simple men, farmers, steel workers, carpenters, salesmen, poets, singers and so on, forced to wage a war created by mad men. These simple men faced an inferno, made unbelievable sacrifices and seen their loved ones die in front of their eyes. And in spite of all the hardships they did their job admirable. They have my full respect, be it russian, german, polish, french, english, romanian, italian or japanese!
you forgot the mad yanks :P
The 1st Guards Mechanized Corps were standardised to Lend Lease M4′s rather than T-34′s. Hence the first frame showing a tank is that of a M4.
So unlike WG US, the picture is of the right tank.
I know it’s not gonna happen, but otto carius is still alive and he’s even been interviewed by a mod on the spanish wot forum.