Natalya Kovshova is a sniper girl

So the fate that the life of Natalia Kovshova turned out to be very short, but despite this, the girl lived it so that the whole country is still proud of the feat of an ordinary young girl.

Life before the war

November 26, 1920 in the capital of Bashkortostan (Ufa), in the family of ordinary workers, a girl was born. Her father and mother could not imagine that on this day, thanks to them, a real warrior appeared who would not give mercy to the enemy. But so far it was the most ordinary child.

As soon as the girl grew up a bit, the Kovshov family moved to Moscow, where Natasha went to school (school № 281, today № 1284).

In the pre-war period, Soviet youth literally from the school benches were preparing for the defense of their Motherland. Natalia did not stay aside: the girl entered Osoaviakhim, where she took a course in training shooting, according to which she was awarded the title of "Voroshilovsky Shooter".

Having received a graduation certificate at the school, the girl got a job at the "Orgaviaprom" trust as an inspector of the personnel department, while preparing herself for admission to the Aviation Institute (MAI). However, Natasha's plans did not come true, the war broke out: Germany, despite the previously concluded non-aggression treaty, invaded the territory of the USSR.

The War Begins

From the first days of the war, Natalia Kovshova tried to help the country fight the enemy by joining a civilian team of air defense fighters. Their task was to extinguish incendiary bombs on the roofs of the houses. However, this was not enough for her: the girl wanted to go to the front. And some help in achieving the goal of Natasha had previously acquired shooting experience.

On July 26, 1941, the girl was sent on a Komsomol tour to special courses, where she was to undergo a sniper training. And already here the girl distinguished herself, being among the best graduates. And in October of the same year, Natalia Kovshova was enlisted in the third rifle division, formed from the people's militia and stationed in Moscow.

Combat experience of a young sniper

Natalia spent her first fight in the autumn of 1941, when her division defended the capital from the enemy. And in January 1942 the girl was sent to the North-Western Front, where she was enrolled as a sniper in the 528th Regiment of the 130th Infantry Division, part of the First Army.

According to the information received from the award sheet on Natalia Venediktovna Kovshova, the girl took an active part in almost all military operations conducted by the regiment.

Thus, in the battles for the village of Novaya Rossa, Natasha destroyed eleven Germans within two days, most of them snipers or, as they were called in military jargon, "cuckoo".

Five more Hitlerites were killed by her hand under the village of Guchkovo. In this battle, Natasha saved the life of a seriously wounded commander of the third battalion of art. Lieutenant Ivanov, pulling him from the battlefield under the hurricane fire of the enemy. In addition, her main job - the sniper - the girl combined with the duties of the signalman.

In the course of the battles for the village of Velikush, 12 fascists were killed by Kovshova. In addition, Natalia, along with the same young woman as herself, a friend and also a sniper - Masha Polivanova - destroyed the machine-gun crew of the Nazis, which provided an opportunity to complete the attack to their unit.

In the battle for the village. Big Enemy Natalia destroyed six more German soldiers, but was injured by shell fragments: both hands and feet were injured, but she remained in the ranks until the end of the battle, refusing to leave the position.

From the hospital the girl was discharged, even without waiting until the wound healed completely. Returning to the unit, sniper Natalia Kovshova continued her work. Soon officially, 167 killed Nazis were already counted on her account, although according to the testimony of Georgy Balovnev (her brother-in-law), the real number of them reached two hundred.

Natalia Kovshova - Hero of the Soviet Union

On August 14, 1942, the regiment, in which Natalya served, fought to the north of the Ryabye River (Novgorod Region). Kovshova and Polivanov as part of the sniper group were sent to the positions to the village of Sutoki-Byakovo, where they soon had to engage in battle.

During the confrontation, the group lost its commander, and Natalia took over the functions. Constantly changing their positions, the snipers held back the offensive of the Germans. During the next attack of the Nazis, the soldiers waited until the Germans were no more than thirty meters from their location, after which they opened fire. Attack of the Germans "drowned", but for a short while, the superiority in the manpower effected, and soon the Germans resumed their offensive. By the time of the entire defending group, three remained alive: Natasha, her friend Masha Polivanova and the badly wounded Novikov fighter, so only the girls could respond.

Having multiple wounds, the two of them were shot together until the last bullet was sent to the enemy's side. As a result, they left only four hand grenades from the ammunition . Two of them flew towards the approaching Germans. The remaining girls reserved for themselves. Of course, they could surrender and possibly remain alive, but they preferred death to captivity. The girls blew themselves up when the Germans came close to their hiding place, destroying a dozen more fascists.

For their dedication and courage, both girls were posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

Tribute to heroes

N. Kovshova and M. Polivanov were buried in the village of Korovitchino, where an obelisk was set aside in tribute to their feat.

Natalia Kovshov Ufa and Moscow are rightfully considered their "daughter". In this regard, one of the streets of the capital bears her name. Also in Ufa there is a street named after the sniper girl.

On the wall of the school in Moscow, where Kovshova studied, there is a memorial plaque. In addition, in honor of Natasha streets in the cities of Chelyabinsk and Staraya Russa, as well as the villages of Zaluchye, Marevo and Mesyagutovo are named.

It should be noted that back in 1944, the USSR Post specially issued a commemorative stamp in honor of the feat of two girls.

And in the seventies the name of Natalia Kovshova was worn by one of the sea vessels.

Natasha and Masha, when they performed the feat, were little more than twenty years old, but the girls gave their lives for their Motherland without hesitation, becoming an example of true patriotism both for their contemporaries and for their descendants.