Valentin Ivanovich is 86 years old. He works at the Scientific Institute of Healthcare as a medical engineer. equipment. He began his military career as a driver-mechanic on a T-34 tank. He graduated from the service as the chief of intelligence of the Taman Guards Motorized Rifle Division. The biography is legendary.
The first T-34 tanks were "damp" and had many shortcomings. In fact, it was difficult (not immediately) to turn on the transmissions … and the radio operator sometimes helped. The tower was welded and mounted on balls. The balls were visible, and even through the crack the surrounding landscape was slightly visible. The tank was the commander's. There were three tankers in the tower.
Once a German plane flew by. I fired at the tank. The shell accidentally disappeared into the space between the turret and the hull. The tower was blown off, and she drove off. Three tankers were simply cut off. Then the revision was made, and the space between the turret and the hull was covered with armor.
Once in Germany he had to go on a training tank "in a cut", it was funny …
One division commander asked him, "Do you know the Sherman tank?"
- I know.
- Well, we have one without a tower. We must tamp the road.
- Good.
Well, he began to go there and back - to ram stones. And the Sherman tank is high, the rear view is poor. And then the jeep of the division commander drove up smartly. Well, his tanker also moved … The division commander did not scold him much …
Although I don't like the Shermans, the Americans staffed them thoroughly. And it was lined with rubber inside, and there was more space, and there were chess boards with holes for the pieces so that they would not fall off. There was a set of tank overalls. Many pockets and everything with a zipper. In those days, lightning was a novelty. Cool, in short.
The tankers kept their overalls. And when they were on the commander's 34-ke, they were hit by a sub-caliber shell in the engine. The engine began to smoke. The tank commander gave the command to leave the car and watch. They lie in a funnel. The tank is smoking. And one mechanic is not enough. They run up to the hatch, and the fur caught on the wings with this fucking lightning and not from a place. The Americans made very high quality overalls. Well, he pulled it out of the hatch, tearing the suit with difficulty. The tank did not explode, it was then sent for repairs.
Such are the stories. There are still people who remember …
And our task is to convey to young people, historians, just people, how people really fought.
