What can be done in 21 years? Most by this time say goodbye to school, start working or just get a new speci alty. Someone by the age of 21 manages to get married, give birth to children. But many people have a feeling that there is a whole life ahead, you can take your time - after all, you are only 21. All accomplishments, achievements - all the most important - it is over there, around the corner, it will still be.
Natasha Kovshova at the age of 21 became a Hero of the Soviet Union. But only this title was awarded to her posthumously.
A family that lost many
The civil war brought devastation and death to many families. Natasha's family was no exception. The girl's mother, Nina Dmitrievna Aralovets, was born into a large Bashkir family. Her father was a village teacher, a revolutionary, one of the first chairmen of the village council Dmitry Aralovets. He died before the birth of Natasha - in 1918. I had to pay for my views not only with my own life, but also with the lives of my young sons. Natasha's grandfather and her two uncles, mother's brothers (theywas 17 and 19 years old), executed by the Whites. Nina, at that time a fifteen-year-old girl, was thrown into prison, after her release she became a zealous revolutionary and leader of the local Komsomol members.
The paternal line was not bypassed by misfortune. So, in 1920, her uncle, the hero of the Civil War Vitaly Kovshov, died - the girl did not have time to recognize him. Much more painful for the girl was the loss of her father.
Natasha Kovshova lost her father at the age of seven. Venedikt Kovshov also fought on the side of the "Reds" in the Civil War, but his sympathy for Trotsky ruined him. He participated in the Trotskyist opposition, was expelled from the party and arrested, spent more than ten years in the Kolyma camps, then - exile in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The girl never saw him again.
Childhood
From the age of seven, the girl was brought up by her mother - their entire family now consisted of two people. The girl was in very poor he alth, constantly ill. She was unable to go to first grade with her peers. The girl sat down at her desk only at the age of nine, after her mother decided to move to Moscow.
Tempering, physical activity, sports began at school. At the same time, the mother instilled in her daughter a love of books. According to the memoirs of Nina Aralovets, Natasha did not tear a single sheet in the book in her entire childhood - such a careful attitude was instilled in them.
Natasha Kovshova did not like to fight, she tried to resolve all disputes peacefully. The future heroine grew up as a calm, thoughtful and kind child.
Young years
Natashashe studied at school number 281 on Ulansky Lane, now this school is number 1284. After ten classes, the girl decided to enter the Moscow Aviation Institute, closely preparing for exams. At the same time, she worked in the trust organization of the aviation industry "Orgaviaprom" as an inspector of the personnel department; parallel practiced at the dash.
Natasha was taking her last exams at the Aviation Institute - her dream of becoming an engineer and a pilot was getting closer. And then there is the war. Work in the aviation industry made it possible to evacuate, but the girl had a different character. Natasha Kovshova did not hesitate for a minute. She voluntarily goes to the military school of snipers, and since October 1941 she has been on the front lines.
War
Natasha Kovshova, Soviet army sniper, fought on the Northwestern Front. She went through all the battles with her “combat friend” - Masha Polivanova, with whom she became friends at work at Orgaviaprom. Masha was 2 years younger than her friend, and she, like Natasha, enrolled in the sniper school voluntarily. In the very first months of the war, Polivanova lost two of her brothers.
The tandem, formed from two young girls, made a significant contribution to the cause of the common victory over fascism. According to a number of historians, Natalya Kovshova accounted for 167 soldiers and officers of the German army, and Maria Polivanova accounted for 140. In addition, they also had the feat of rescuing the commander from the battlefield - under heavy fire they were able to carry the regiment commander S. Dovnar.
In the spring of 1942, the girls turned into seasoned, experienced snipers - theyalready engaged in training newcomers, passing on their experience.
August 13, 1942 Kovshova Natalya Venediktovna and Polivanova Maria Semyonovna were presented for the award with the Orders of the Red Star. Exactly one day before his last battle.
Feat
On August 14, 1942, a battle took place near the village of Sutoki, Novgorod region. The 528th Infantry Regiment led the offensive. Natasha Kovshova was in a sniper group that was tasked with hindering the advance of the Germans with their fire.
No matter how skilled they were, the enemy outnumbered them. Mortars were fired at the snipers, the group commander was one of the first to die. Soon three survived - Natasha Kovshova, Masha Polivanova and the Red Guard Novikov. Novikov was seriously wounded, he could no longer fight, the girls had to shoot back. It couldn't go on for long, running out of ammo.
Further events are known from the lips of the same fighter Novikov. He was the only one who could survive - the Nazis took him for dead.
At some point, a German officer was able to approach them, offered to surrender - and was immediately shot. But now the cartridges have run out, both girls are seriously injured, bleeding, and only 4 grenades from the ammunition.
Two of them girlfriends were able to throw at the approaching Nazis. But the forces were already running out. And, already realizing that this was the end, Natasha and Masha allowed the Fritz to approach them and carefully shook the grenades they had left … Two explosions merged into one.
We will remember
Natasha Kovshova in the photo is a fragile, little girl with a charming smile. So she was, according to the recollections of fellow soldiers. This is how she remained in their memory.
The courage shown by the sniper girl did not go unnoticed. The award has found its hero: By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 14, 1943, Natasha Kovshova is a Hero of the Soviet Union, like her friend Masha Polivanova.
But the girls never knew about it.
