The number of Young Guards to whom a monument will be unveiled in Moscow has increased by decision of the President

Among others, an undeservedly forgotten hero will be immortalized

The day of November 7 during the Great Patriotic War was marked by one of the most “daring” actions against the German occupiers, staged on the Soviet territory they captured. Its organizers were members of the underground group “Young Guard” from Krasnodon. A monument in honor of these heroes will soon be opened in Moscow. A preliminary display of the sculptural model of the monument took place.

The underground Komsomol organization “Young Guard,” created in Nazi-occupied Krasnodon, included 71 people, most of whom were about 18 years old. Among the most daring performances of the Young Guards was their demarche on November 7, 1942, which marked the 25th anniversary of the October Revolution. On the occasion of this anniversary, the guys managed to place eight red flags on the tallest buildings in the city, where the Germans seemed to feel like complete masters. By carrying out such a risky action, young underground fighters gave the residents a sign: in Krasnodon there is a force that resists the fascist invaders.

Alas, two months later the Young Guard was defeated. Almost all of its participants were arrested and tortured. 55 young men and women were brutally executed.

The history of this resistance group became widely known after the Red Army liberated Krasnodon on February 14, 1943. The first reports about her appeared in local newspapers; on September 15, Pravda published Alexander Fadeev’s essay “Immortality,” and later he wrote the novel “The Young Guard.”

More than half a century ago, it was decided to perpetuate the memory of the Young Guards in Moscow. There was even an opening of the foundation stone for the future monument in the park between Bobruiskaya, Molodogvardeyskaya and Yartsevskaya streets. The mother of one of the leaders of the Krasnodon youth underground, Oleg Koshevoy, took part in that solemn ceremony. But for a number of reasons the monument was never created. Only this year, the Russian Military Historical Society, on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, began implementing such a project.

The images of the main characters of The Young Guard were created by sculptor Mikhail Baskakov. According to the approved project, a sculptural group of seven figures should be made for this monument: six Heroes of the Soviet Union (Ulyana Gromova, Lyubov Shevtsova, Ivan Zemnukhov, Oleg Koshevoy, Ivan Turkenich, Sergei Tyulenin) and one Hero of the Russian Federation (Viktor Tretyakevich).

Recently, the finished full-size model was presented for the first time by the author for inspection by the heads of the Russian Military Historical Society, representatives of city authorities, and journalists.

Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Russian Military Historical Society, who took part in the presentation, noted an important feature of just such a composition of the monument:

– Last year, by decision of the President of Russia, the seventh Young Guard member, undeservedly forgotten in his time, Viktor Tretyakevich, was awarded the title “Hero of Russia.” Back in the 1950s, it was established that he was the victim of a slander. The Ukrainian police deliberately, to protect themselves, falsely accused him. An absolutely heroic guy, one of the founders of the underground youth organization “Young Guard”. This is the first sculptural image of Viktor Tretyakevich, the first monument… It is no coincidence that he is the seventh in this galaxy of brave, fearless people who died a terrible death. After torture and torture, these guys were thrown alive into a mine in Krasnodon. The sculpture conveys their images: young, beautiful – as they really were. This is how they will forever remain in our memory.

The model of the monument to the Heroes of the Young Guard was also inspected by Yuri Galkin, the great-nephew of the Hero of the Soviet Union Sergei Tyulenin.

– Unfortunately, many children now do not know about the Young Guard organization. And it’s very right that the novel “The Young Guard” was returned to the school curriculum this year,” he emphasized. “It’s great that children will know who the Young Guards are who gave their lives for their Motherland in the city of Krasnodon. Many thanks to the sculptor who put his heart into this majestic monument to the heroes. It’s great that such a monument will stand on Molodogvardeyskaya Street. I keep in touch with the relatives of the other Young Guard members, I am familiar with the families who live in the LPR and the Moscow region. For all of us, the appearance of such a monument is a great event.

The sculptures demonstrated by the author, which are currently made of plastic material, will be cast in bronze at the next stage of work. The opening of the monument to the heroes of the Young Guard in the capital is scheduled for 2024.