Mikhail Surkov

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In this Eastern Slavic naming convention, the patronymic is Ilyich and the family name is Surkov.
Mikhail Ilyich Surkov
Mikhail Ilyich Surkov.jpg
BornBol'shay Salyr' 1921
Died1953 (age 31-32)
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service/branchInfantry
Years of service1941–1946
RankStarshina
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsOrder of Lenin
Order of the Red Star
Medal "For Courage"

Mikhail Ilyich Surkov (Russian: Михаил Ильич Сурков; 1921 – 1953) was a Soviet sniper in the 4th Rifle Division of the Red Army during World War II. He was born in a Siberian town of Bol'shay Salyr' next to Krasnoyarsk and hailed from a family of hunters and fur-trappers.[1]

According to some Soviet newspapers, Surkov had 702 confirmed kills during World War II,[1] a total which would make him the most effective sniper of the European conflict.[2] The top Soviet sniper is officially Ivan Sidorenko, who is credited with 500 confirmed kills, as postwar findings have shown that Surkov's figure very likely only served as propaganda.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Алексей Илларионович Луковец (1975). Знамена Победы. Pravda. During the war, "Frontovaya Illustratsiya" wrote: "Sniper Sergeant Mikhail Surkov shoots at the enemy confidently and accurately. - He does not wound - he hits the spot. After killing over 700 Fascists, he went on to the next hunt "
  2. ^ Mark Spicer and Pat Farey, Sniping: An Illustrated History. Grand Rapids, MI: Zenith, 2009; pg. 129.
  3. ^ Sarvaš, Andrej (1 February 2013). "Vedie štatistiku smrti. Fínsky ostreľovač prezývaný Biela smrť". SME (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014. Niektoré zdroje priznávajú Surkovovi viac než 700 zabitých. Povojnové zistenia však ukázali, že tieto údaje s veľkou pravdepodobnosťou slúžili len propagande. Najlepším sovietskym ostreľovačom je preto oficiálne Ivan Sidorenko s 500 potvrdenými „zásahmi“.
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