The Combat Path of a Common Soldier Ivan Ivanovich Cherkasov

Abstract

This work is the first attempt to restore the combat path of a common soldier Ivan Ivanovich Cherkasov. He fought on the Northern, Leningrad, 3rd Baltic, and 1st Ukrainian fronts. The work is based on a wide range of archival materials, most of which are introduced into the scholarship for the first time. Documents from the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense, and the National Archive of the Republic of Karelia, Folklore Archive of the Institute of Language, Literature and History of the Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences National Archives of the Republic of Karelia, Central State Archives of Historical and Political Documents, Central State Archives of St Petersburg were used in the study. In conclusion, the author states that Ivan Ivanovich Cherkasov in the rank of a common soldier witnessed almost the entire Great Patriotic War — as a shooter in the combat composition of rifle units, in the infantry (the only exception was the period from August to September 1941 when soldier Cherkasov was the commander of a mortar crew). The service in army units was interrupted five times by wounds received in battles, and each time Ivan Ivanovich got back in line. His combat career began in the 2nd Leningrad Division of the People’s Militia; then there were the 168th and 128th rifle divisions. He served in the latter from the summer of 1942 to May 1945.