Aleksandr Yunev

Yunev was born on 28 September 1924 in Krasavka village in Fyodorovsky District, Saratov Oblast[1] to a peasant family. He graduated from ninth grade and worked as a kolkhoz tractor driver.[2]

Yunev was drafted into the Red Army in 1942. He fought in World War II from August 1942. Yunev fought at the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk.[1] He was wounded five times.[1] He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1944.[2] On 24 September, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star for his actions in command of an 82mm mortar crew of the 163rd Rifle Division's 759th Rifle Regiment.[3] Yunev became a machine gun platoon leader in the 2nd Guards Airborne Regiment of the 3rd Guards Airborne Division.[1] During Operation Spring Awakening, Yunev distinguished himself.[1][2]

On 7 March 1945, the platoon took up defensive positions near the village of Sheregeyesh, west of Lake Balaton. After a ten-minute artillery bombardment, two German battalions and seven tanks attacked the positions.[1] Yunev's machine gun fire killed numerous German soldiers, repulsing the attack.[1] On 10 March, Yunev and his platoon repulsed another counterattack, killing 83 German soldiers.[1] On 13 March, he was wounded.[1]

On 29 June 1945, Yunev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his actions, as well as the Order of Lenin.[4]

In 1948, he graduated from the Tashkent Tank School and served in the Central Group of Forces.[2] He died on 18 February 1952, a result of his war wounds.[1] Yunev was buried in Vienna.[1]

Streets in Krasavka and Mokrous were named for him.[2]