Timofey Ilyich Prokofiev (russian: Тимофей Ильич Прокофьев; 2 February 1913 – March 1944) was a Soviet marine of the Black Sea Fleet during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. He was posthumously awarded title

Hero of the Soviet Union The title Hero of the Soviet Union (russian: Герой Советского Союза, translit=Geroy Sovietskogo Soyuza) was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for ...

for his actions in the , the only Roma to ever receive the award.

Biography

Timofey Prokofiev was born on 2 February 1913, in the village of Lukianovo, Ostashkovsky District,

Tver Oblast Tver Oblast (russian: Тверска́я о́бласть, ''Tverskaya oblast'', ), from 1935 to 1990 known as Kalinin Oblast (), is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inh ...

, Russian Empire; into a family of peasants of Roma origin. After completing his primary education he went on to work as a sailor on the

Moscow Canal The Moscow Canal (russian: Кана́л и́мени Москвы́), named the Moskva–Volga Canal until 1947, is a canal in Russia that connects the Moskva River with the Volga River. It is located in Moscow itself and in the Mosc ...

. On 22 June 1941 Germany invaded of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

during

. Prokofiev enlisted in the Soviet Navy in January 1942 and was assigned to the 384th Naval Infantry Battalion of the Black Sea Fleet. Prokofiev fought in the and Kerch Landing Operations, where he was wounded twice. On the night of 26 March 1944, Prokofiev took part in the . The landing was a diversionary attack on the German rear at Nikolaev led by Senior Lieutenant

Konstantin Olshansky Konstantin Fyodorovich Olshansky ( uk, Костянтин Федорович Ольшанський; 21 May 1915 – 27 March 1944) was a Senior Lieutenant and Soviet marine of the Black Sea Fleet, born in Prykolotne, Ukraine. He died during ...

. The 68 Soviet marines managed to capture several buildings in Nikolaev's port, repelling 18 German attacks within a span of two days. Prokofiev was among the marines who were killed in action. Prokofiev was buried in a mass grave located on the 68 Marines Square in Nikolaev. On 25 April 1945, Prokofiev was posthumously awarded the title

along with the

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration ...

, the only Roma to have ever received the former award. A museum and a statue dedicated to the participants of the Olshansky Landing were created in Nikolaev during Soviet times.

Footnotes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Prokofiev, Timofey 1913 births 1944 deaths Soviet military personnel killed in World War II Heroes of the Soviet Union People from Ostashkovsky District Russian Romani people Recipients of the Order of Lenin