Tankman Zinovy Kolobanov: biography (photo)

Soviet tank forces made a huge contribution to the success of the Red Army in the years of the Great Patriotic War. In historical literature every major battle, the army operation is considered in general, impersonal. But after all, every victory was achieved by the titanic efforts of concrete people who perished, became crippled or miraculously survived at the front. Kolobanov Zinovy Grigorievich, whose exploit will forever remain in the history of the Second World War, is one of those heroes that should be talked about specifically.

Childhood and youth of the tankman

Zinovy Kolobanov was born in 1910. Place of birth: the village of Arefino, Vladimir province. The family lived very poorly. Zinovy had two more brothers. Particularly hard became after the death of his father, who died on the fronts of the Civil War in 1920. Realizing the advantages of the collective farm system for the family, in the late 1920s the family moved to the village of Bolshoy Zagarino. Just at that time in this village was collectivization.

After graduating from the eight-year school, Zinovy Kolobanov goes to study at the Gorky Industrial College.

The beginning of the hero's military career

The turning point in the life of the future tanker Kolobanov was 1933. Then he studied at the third year of the technical school. He received a summons from the military registration and enlistment office. At that time, to repay duty to the Motherland was holy for every young man. Immediately after joining the service Zinovy realized that he was in his element. The military commissariat appointed Kolobanov to serve in the Streltsy regiment. Already in 1936, the future legendary tankman graduated with honors from the Orel Armored School. He had the opportunity to choose his own place of service, so Zinovy decided to fulfill his childhood dream - to visit Leningrad. There he served for some time as commander of the tank. The higher command noticed the military talent of the fighter, so he was sent to the refresher courses for junior command staff. In 1938 Kolobanov successfully graduated these courses, after which the place of his work changes. Now Lieutenant Zinovy Kolobanov serves first as an assistant to the regiment commander, then as commander of a platoon and company.

Soviet-Finnish company in the biography of the tankman

Tanks took an active part in the Finnish war. The fighting on this front became a real baptism of fire for Kolobanov. People who know the story are well aware of how difficult it was for the Red Army in that war. Kolobanov could have died three times on this front, but he was saved from burning tanks. During this military winter, he made a military way from the border to Vyborg. His tank participated in the successful breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line. By the way, there is unconfirmed information that the tankman was awarded the title of Hero of the USSR for this feat. The fact is that one of the Soviet journalists in his article tells such a story. Allegedly, Lieutenant Zinovy Kolobanov received the award for the breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line, but then he was deprived of another rank for rank and Order of the Hero for the fact that his subordinates in the tank communicated with the Finnish soldiers. In official sources, there is no information about the awarding ceremony.

Zinovy Kolobanov: Biography after the Finnish War

After the Finnish war, Kolobanov continued his service. It was in the interwar years that fate linked our hero to Ukraine. The command transferred him to the Kiev military district. A lot of time Kolobanov held in the Ukrainian city Starokonstantinov. During the years 1940-1941 he managed to change several command posts in the tank and mechanized corps of the Red Army. During these years of command of military units, Senior Lieutenant Zinovy Kolobanov became a mature military leader.

That is why, with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was thrown on the heavy sections of the Northern Front to the Leningrad Region. By the way, simultaneously with sending to war our hero receives the rank of senior lieutenant. Given the existence of combat experience (unlike most other Red Army men, including commanders), Kolobanov is immediately appointed commander of the company. Despite the guiding status, the tankman took part in the battles. The iconic battle took place on August 14, 1941, when five tanks, including a tank under the command of Kolobanov, stopped the advance of German intelligence and tank columns, destroying many enemy vehicles. At that time, it allowed to defend some of the settlements. Also, Kolobanov's feat (and his tank could well have been beaten during this battle) allowed other military tank formations to destroy a larger grouping of German armored vehicles. After one of the battles in September 1941, Zinovy got seriously injured.

After the war

Zinovy Kolobanov returned to the system after a long treatment. True, this was already after the war, in 1945. Remained in military service until 1958. Of course, he worked mainly in senior management positions (battalion commander). After retiring to the reserve, the legendary tankman worked for a long time at the Minsk MAZ plant. Received the honorary title of "Drummer of Communist Labor."

Zinoviy Kolobanov died in 1994, having lived a long and informative life devoted to the Motherland.