Soviet Young 'Un

[slava1stclass]

To all:

You won't find an awardee of the Medal for Combat Service much younger than this.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[Ulsterman]

wow-all of what, 11?

In Merridales' book she has a significant amount of information about these "children of the regiment", who also fought in the Red Army.

Interestingly, HiWis as young as this were also awarded the German KVkx.

[Lapa]

That's always impressive. I remember seeing once a picture of a 10~12 year-old proudly wearing an Order of the Red Star!

Marc

[Riley1965]

WOW!!! That's a GREAT photo!!! And I thought that I looked too young in my Basic Training photo

Doc

[Ferdinand]

Here are two more young boys, both with a Bravery Medal.

[Christian Zulus]

Gentlemen,

is that young boy a sergeant of the Soviet airforce ?

There had been thousends of these (very young) children in the GPW with a Glory, RS, medals etc., but I never noticed a sergeant 10-years-old ...

Best regards

Christian

Edited January 30, 2008 by Christian Zulus

[Guest Rick Research]

Since the tiny kid in the first photo is wearing the uniform of an air force Sergeant, I suspect that he is wearing a "toy" uniform with the awards of his dead father or brother. The other two are frontline "sons of the regiment" but even the first one with a stripped down pre-1943 officers gimnastyorka has no "rank." I would also wonder whether such small arms could have actually fired the submachine guns they are so gleefully posing with-- possibly FOR the photos.

[Christian Zulus]

he is wearing a "toy" uniform with the awards of his dead father or brother.

Was that common and allowed in the CCCP ?

Best regards

Christian

[new world]

Young boys in the photos most likely are members of partizan units.

Teenagers participated in Great Patriotic War on many fronts:

- as partizans,

- in regular army - so called "regiment sons" (sin polka),

- in the navy - as "yungas".

Many of them were awarded, some even with HSU titles.

Their heroic deeds were widely publicized amoung Soviet youth (so called Hero Pioneers). There were numerous books about them as well.

As for taking part in fighting, yes many of the young soldiers fought just like their adult comrades.

Willaim

[Ed_Haynes]

Nice and powerful images. Thanks everyone!

[koopyetz]

Gentlemen:

I came across a book titled "Son of the Regiment" by Valentin Kataev ( 1945 ) . The story was translated into English on a internet site. I found the site by typing in the book title into google. The artwork captured my interest as I enjoy doing artwork. I like the pen and in illustrations. I believe it is a childrens book.

P.S.

I added one of my own drawings for the forum to see.

Regards

Rick

[slava1stclass]

To all:

A couple more "young 'uns."

Regards,

slava1stclass

[koopyetz]

stava 1st class:

Was there anything written on the back of the photos to tell us something about the individuals . The time frame, any unit, their ages and names.

Thank you

[slava1stclass]

stava 1st class:

Was there anything written on the back of the photos to tell us something about the individuals . The time frame, any unit, their ages and names.

Thank you

koopyetz,

No, there was not.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

No further info.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[Guest Rick Research]

The left-hand boy in the pair above appears to have a Major's star on his shoulder board. Like the "air force sergeant" that started this, some of these kids must presumably be wearing the uniforms and awards of a dead parent/sibling OR in a "toy" uniform...

Unless somebody is seriously prepared to "argue" that the Soviet Union had 12 year old Majors?

This is NOT a 7 year old Unteroffizier with a 1914 Iron Cross....

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

There is only so much combat a young 'un can take before hitting the bottle.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[JimZ]

Unless somebody is seriously prepared to "argue" that the Soviet Union had 12 year old Majors?

Bet Stalin did not see that coming during the purges!

Some very interesting oictures otherwise!

Jim

Edited March 23, 2009 by JimZ

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Combat decorated.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

And they keep getting younger...

Regards,

slava1stclass

[kapten_windu]

wow, they served in young ages?!

i can't imagine if it is me..:lol:

[ph3s]

QUOTE (Rick Research @ Jan 31 2008, 00:58 ) he is wearing a "toy" uniform with the awards of his dead father or brother.

Was that common and allowed in the CCCP ?

Best regards

Christian

I don't think so, the guy on the photo is actual sergeant imho , would try to find more info about this person.

and another photo, just to keep thread going Mikhail Belski , second bravery got for Japan

Edited December 1, 2010 by ph3s

[ph3s]

Here is another young sergeant Adel Litvinenko , no toy uniform, proper rank in RKKA and real Order of Red Star, awarded in 1942, in 1944 she had 3 ORSs, do i need to mention that PPsH is also a real one? and yes she is a female

http://razdori.livej...%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE

Edited December 2, 2010 by ph3s

[FrontlineAntiques]

The photos are very cool - but to be honest are also very sad.

If these are genuine combatants, just think of what thy must have done/witnessed. It can be difficult for grown men and women to deal with the realities of war, let alone small children.

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Guards Corporal N. N. Leontyev.

Regards,

slava1stclass