Star of Soviet cinema that have passed through all the horrors of war

In honor of the 72nd anniversary of the Victory 7days.ru tells about the artists who participated in the great Patriotic war.

Loved by millions the actors of the older generation has left its contribution not only in the Soviet cinema. They are among the millions of other soldiers went to the front to defend the Motherland in the great Patriotic War.

Yuri Nikulin

Yuri Nikulin passed directly through two wars: the Finnish and the Great Patriotic war. It so happened that the one for him flowed smoothly into another. Since his conscription in the fall of 1939, he, without removing, wearing a soldier’s uniform for 7 years. On account of his medal “For bravery”, “For defense of Leningrad” and “For victory over Germany”. He confessed that survived the war thanks to amazing luck. The victory was met in the Baltic States in the rank of Sergeant. In the future, played brilliantly in war films: “They fought for the Motherland” and “Twenty years without war.”

Innokenty Smoktunovsky

In 1943, 17-year-old innocent Smoktunovsky was drafted to the front. Was originally defined as the 75th guards rifle division. In December of the same year was taken prisoner by the Germans, which in the pow camp, in total, spent a month. Luckily, he managed to escape. To recover after his escape he was helped by a Ukrainian family, covered the fugitive. Communication with them innocent supported to the end of life. Finished the war as part of the 102nd guards rifle division with the rank of Junior Sergeant. Participated in the battle of Kursk, crossing the Dnieper, the liberation of Warsaw. The victory was seen in Germany. Received the order of Patriotic war I degree, two medals “For courage”, medal “For victory over Germany”.

Vladimir Etush

Vladimir Etush he graduated from the translation faculty of the Second Moscow pedagogical Institute of foreign languages. At first he served as a Lieutenant of the administrative service, but then got into the infantry regiment. In 1943 was the reserve as a result of severe wounds. Received second disability group.

Anatoly Papanov

Anatoly Papanov got to the front in the first days of the war. He served in the rank of Sergeant and commanded a platoon of anti-aircraft artillery. In 1942 he was wounded in the right leg and spent six months in the hospital. Very young, at 21, became the invalid of the third group and the next few years was forced to walk with a cane.

Zinovy Gerdt

24-year-old Zinovy Gerdt went to the front as a volunteer in June 1941. He served as head of the engineering services of the 81st guards rifle regiment. In 1943, the explosion of a tank shell was wounded in the leg, which is then operated on 8 times. Fortunately, the leg was saved, but it has become shorter by 8 inches, which the actor then all life limped.

Elina Bystritskaya

Elina Bystritskaya got to the front very young. At the beginning of the war she was only 13 years old. “I could muster – I was too small. The youngest of them all. Such as I, a civilian, had a few people. We were very friendly. Those who are alive, still keep in touch…” — says Elina. Bystritskaya served as a nurse in the front-line mobile hospital where he worked as her dad. Awarded the order of Patriotic war II degree, the medal “For victory over Germany”.