Irina Levchenko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irina Nikolaevna Levchenko
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| Native name |
Ирина Николаевна Левченко
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| Born | 15 March 1924 Kadiivka, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 18 January 1973 (aged 48) Moscow, Russia SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Buried |
Novodevichy Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Service/ |
Red Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1958 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union Florence Nightingale Medal |
Irina Nikolaevna Levchenko (Russian: Ири́на Никола́евна Ле́вченко; born March 15, 1924 – died January 18, 1973) was an amazing woman. She started as a nurse in the Red Army during World War II. Later, she became a tank officer.
Irina was given the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1965. This is one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union. She was also the first Soviet woman to receive the Florence Nightingale Medal. This award is given for exceptional courage and devotion to helping others.
Contents
Early Life & Family
Irina Levchenko was born in Kadiivka on March 15, 1924. Her family was Russian. She grew up in Artyomovsk. In 1941, she finished ninth grade in Moscow.
Her grandmother, Mariya Zubkova-Saraeva, was also a brave woman. She received the Order of the Red Banner. This was for her service during the Russian Civil War.
World War II: From Nurse to Tank Officer
When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Irina wanted to help. She first worked for the Red Cross. In July 1941, she joined the military. She wanted to help wounded soldiers on the front lines.
Serving as a Nurse
Irina first worked in a medical battalion. Soon, she became a nurse with the 744th Infantry Regiment. She saw action during the battle for Smolensk. In October 1941, she was wounded and shell-shocked. She stayed in the hospital until December.
After recovering, she served briefly in a tank battalion. By January 1942, she joined the 1st Battalion of the 39th Tank Brigade. She was still a medic, but she also learned about tanks. She even learned how to load a T-60 tank gun!
She served in Crimea until March 1942. During the battle for Kerch, she helped many wounded soldiers. She even captured an enemy soldier and brought him to her unit. On March 26, she was badly wounded again. She was in the hospital until May. As a nurse, she saved and helped 168 soldiers.
Becoming a Tank Officer
After her recovery, doctors wanted her to leave the military. But Irina insisted on staying with the tank forces. She wanted to go to tank school! It was hard to get permission. She met with General Yakov Fedorenko. He finally agreed if she could get a medical certificate.
Irina had injuries from battle. She was even considered an invalid. Her right arm was almost amputated. But she convinced a medical officer to give her the certificate. In July 1942, she joined the Stalingrad Tank School. The school moved to Kurgan because of the war. She trained very hard, ignoring the pain in her arm.
She graduated in March 1943. She became an assistant chief of staff. She helped prepare new tanks for the front lines. Later, she was a liaison officer. She was wounded again in September during the battle for Smolensk. She woke up in a Moscow hospital. She learned the Red Army had retaken the city.
From October 1943 to April 1944, she worked in tank force training. Then, she became a liaison officer for the 3rd Tank Brigade. She fought in Moldova and was wounded again in May 1944. After recovering in Odessa, she returned to the front. She participated in battles in Moldova, Bulgaria, and Hungary. She was wounded for a fifth time in December 1944.
Her injury was serious. She was out of action until February 1945. Then, she joined the 8th Mechanized Corps. She took part in the East Pomeranian and Berlin operations. These were major battles at the end of the war.
After the War
Irina stayed in the military after the war ended. She attended the Military Academy of Armored and Mechanized Forces. She graduated in 1952 with an engineering degree. She then worked as a military representative at a factory.
In 1955, she graduated from history studies. She became a researcher for a magazine called "Voennaya mysl" (Military Thought). She retired from active duty in 1958. She was a lieutenant colonel.
Irina continued her writing career. She became a member of the Writer’s Union of the USSR. In 1959, she married the poet Yevgeny Dolmatovsky. They had a daughter named Olga in 1960.
In February 1966, she visited North Vietnam. She met with leaders like Ho Chi Minh. She also met soldiers fighting American attacks. This trip inspired her 1967 book, Дочери Вьетнама (Daughters of Vietnam).
Irina Levchenko lived in Moscow. She passed away on January 18, 1973. She was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Awards and Recognition
Irina Levchenko received many important awards for her bravery and service:
- Hero of the Soviet Union (May 6, 1965)
- Order of Lenin (May 6, 1965)
- Three Order of the Red Star (September 7, 1944, May 20, 1945, December 30, 1956)
- Medal "For Military Merit" (November 19, 1951)
- Florence Nightingale Medal (May 12, 1961)
- Other campaign and jubilee medals
See also
- List of female Heroes of the Soviet Union
- Aleksandra Samusenko
- Mariya Oktyabrskaya
- Aleksandra Boiko
