Vasily Bantsekin

Vasily Nikolayevich Bantsekin (; 14 January 1923 – November 1943) was a Red Army soldier during World War II and a Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for his actions during Operation Kutuzov and the Chernigov-Pripyat Offensive.

Early life Bantsekin was born on 14 January 1923 in Lashino village in Yegoryevsky District, Moscow Oblast to a peasant family of Russian ethnicity. In 1933, his family moved to Syzran. He graduated from high school and worked as an apprentice fitter in an automobile garage. Bantsekin became an electrician at the Syzran food concentrate factory.

World War II On 26 June 1942, Bantsekin was drafted into the Red Army. He was initially assigned to the 380th Reserve Rifle Regiment. In February 1943, he was sent to the Central Front with the 109th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 37th Guards Rifle Division. Bantsekin joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He became a telephonist for the regiment and fought in the Battle of Kursk. During Operation Kutuzov, Bantsekin reportedly was completing the repair of telephone lines when he was surrounded by a 15-man German detachment. Engaging them in combat, he killed nine and caused the remainder to retreat on 9 August while on the outskirts of Dmitrovsk. On 10 August, Bantsekin provided telephone communications from the company commander to the battalion commander during the repulse of German counterattacks. While repairing the line, he reportedly came under mortar fire twelve times. and the Order of Lenin posthumously on 15 January 1944.