Anatoly Pavlovich Shapiro was born 18 January 1913 in the town of Konstantinograd (Ukraine

Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

). Served in the 100th rifle division of the 106th rifle corps. Worked his way up the ranks from a platoon commander to a commander of a separate marines rifle battalion. One of the first soldiers to enter Auschwitz. Injured and shell-shocked in battle. Awarded with two Orders of the Red Star

Order of the Red Star

Established on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the...

, two Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, for the Liberation of Krakow, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree, and numerous medals.

He wrote several books, mostly memoirs about the war. His last book is entitled "Зловещий марафон."

On 21 September 2006, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko

Viktor Yushchenko

Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...

 conferred on Shapiro the title of Hero of Ukraine

Hero of Ukraine

Hero of Ukraine is the highest state decoration that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as of August 25 2011 the total number of awards is 265. The award is divided into two classes of distinction:...

.

Anatoliy Shapiro died on October 8, 2005 and is buried at Beth Moses cemetery in Long Island, NY.