Irina Levchenko, who acted as a nurse, initially, but also as a T-34 crew chief until the end of World War II, was one of the greatest heroines of the Red Army.
Irina Levchenko was born on March 15, 1924. She was a student when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. She immediately enlisted as a volunteer nurse and at the age of 17 was assigned, as a nurse, to the 149th Rifle Division of the 61st Army in Bryansk .
In those first tragic, for the Soviets, days, she managed to rescue 168 wounded from the German entrapment, although she was injured twice in her attempt. Since then, Irina decided to join the armored forces to take revenge by fighting the Germans.
Irina Levstenko.
In February 1942, she found herself in the Crimea, as a nurse, attached to the strength of a tank brigade. There he managed not only to save 28 wounded, but also to capture a prisoner. To cover the evacuation of the wounded, he entered a T-60 light tank and opened fire on the Germans, until the wounded were removed.
In some battle, later, the chariot she was riding in was hit and she was seriously injured. He was then nominated for the Red Star award. Due to the trauma, it was decided to retire, but she managed to personally present herself to General Fedorenko and convince him that she is fit for battle. And not only! She managed to convince him to allow her to realize her dream of becoming a charioteer. Read more at the source