Shabsa Mashkautsan

Shabsa Mendelevich Mashkautsan (; ; January 6, 1924 – September 19, 2022) was a Soviet soldier and a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Biography Shabsa (Shapsa) Mashkautsan was born in Orhei, Bessarabia (then in Romania, now in Moldova) to Bessarabian Jewish parents, house painter Mendel and Rakhel. In his Russian documents his name was written as Shabsa or (earlier) Shapsa. In June 1940, Bessarabia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union. When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Shabsa was evacuated to Shpakovsky District, Ordzhonikidze Krai (now Stavropol Krai). He volunteered to a rifle battalion in reserve, which attached to the 50th Reserve Infantry Regiment. In February 1942, he was drafted to the 530th Tank-Destroyer Artillery Regiment, 28th Army, 1st Ukrainian Front, where he served to the end of the war.

Decorations Golden Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union (27 June 1945) Order of Lenin (June 27, 1945) Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (11 March 1985) Medal "For Courage" (twice, June 10, 1944 and September 14, 1944) Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus" Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" Medal "For the Capture of Königsberg"