Ivan Turkenich
Encyclopedia
Ivan Vasilyevich Turkenich (Russian: Иван Васильевич Туркенич) (January 15, 1920 – August 14, 1944) was a Ukrainian partisan, one of the leaders of the underground anti-Nazi organization the Young Guard
, which operated in Krasnodon
district during the German-Soviet War between 1941 and 1944.
district. His father was a miner. After graduation from the 7th grade Ivan was matriculated to Voroshilov pedagogical institute. In March 1938 he became a member of the Komsomol
(Комсомол). In 1938 Ivan studied in Sevastopol
railroad trade school. In 1940 he began his studies in anti-aircraft artillery military academy.
In June 1941, Turkenich graduated from the academy and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Red Army
. From May to June 1942 he was a deputy executive officer (помощник начальника штаба) in the 614th anti-tank artillery regiment. In one of its engagements he was captured by Germans, escaped from imprisonment and joined the anti-Nazi resistance in occupied Krasnodon
(Краснодон). He became one of the leaders of the Young Guard
(Молодой Гвардия) – Komsomol resistance organization.
When the Young Guard was compromised and most of its members arrested by Nazis, Ivan Turkenich managed to escape. He crossed the front lines and rejoined the uniformed Red Army
. He was promoted to command a mortar
battery in the 163rd regiment. On August 13, 1944 Ivan Turkenich was mortally wounded in a battle near Głogów, Poland. He died in the field hospital a day later on August 14, 1944.
For his leadership and bravery Ivan Turkevich was awarded the Order of Red Banner, the Medal of Partisan of the Patriotic War (1st degree), and the Order of the Patriotic War
(1st degree). In 1990 Ivan Turkevich was also awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union
.
Young Guard (Soviet resistance)
The Young Guard was an underground anti-fascist Komsomol organization, in the German-occupied Soviet city of Krasnodon . They were active during the Great Patriotic War until January 1943. They carried out several acts of sabotage and protest before being betrayed to the Germans...
, which operated in Krasnodon
Krasnodon
Krasnodon is a city in the Luhansk Oblast of south-eastern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Krasnodonskyi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast....
district during the German-Soviet War between 1941 and 1944.
Background
Turkenich was born on January 15, 1920 in the New Liman settlement of the Petropavlovsk region of the VoronezhVoronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
district. His father was a miner. After graduation from the 7th grade Ivan was matriculated to Voroshilov pedagogical institute. In March 1938 he became a member of the Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
(Комсомол). In 1938 Ivan studied in Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
railroad trade school. In 1940 he began his studies in anti-aircraft artillery military academy.
In June 1941, Turkenich graduated from the academy and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. From May to June 1942 he was a deputy executive officer (помощник начальника штаба) in the 614th anti-tank artillery regiment. In one of its engagements he was captured by Germans, escaped from imprisonment and joined the anti-Nazi resistance in occupied Krasnodon
Krasnodon
Krasnodon is a city in the Luhansk Oblast of south-eastern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Krasnodonskyi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast....
(Краснодон). He became one of the leaders of the Young Guard
Young Guard (Soviet resistance)
The Young Guard was an underground anti-fascist Komsomol organization, in the German-occupied Soviet city of Krasnodon . They were active during the Great Patriotic War until January 1943. They carried out several acts of sabotage and protest before being betrayed to the Germans...
(Молодой Гвардия) – Komsomol resistance organization.
When the Young Guard was compromised and most of its members arrested by Nazis, Ivan Turkenich managed to escape. He crossed the front lines and rejoined the uniformed Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. He was promoted to command a mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
battery in the 163rd regiment. On August 13, 1944 Ivan Turkenich was mortally wounded in a battle near Głogów, Poland. He died in the field hospital a day later on August 14, 1944.
For his leadership and bravery Ivan Turkevich was awarded the Order of Red Banner, the Medal of Partisan of the Patriotic War (1st degree), and the Order of the Patriotic War
Order of the Patriotic War
The Order of the Patriotic War is a Soviet military decoration that was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisans for heroic deeds during the German-Soviet War, known by the former-Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War.- History :The Order was...
(1st degree). In 1990 Ivan Turkevich was also awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
.
External links
- (Russian) Иван Васильoвич Туркенич at www.peoples.ru http://www.peoples.ru/military/hero/ivan_turkenich/index.html