The Youngest V.S. Oldest soldier of WW2

TL;DR

Thousands of children, including six-year-old Sergey Sariosha Aleshkov, fought alongside the Red Army during World War II.

Transcript

foreign this six-year-old Red Army Lieutenant of World War II Sergey sariosha aleshkov son of the regiment World War II during the Great Patriotic War against the Germans from 1941 to 1945 the Soviet Union mobilized all of its resources to defend the motherland over 34 million people bore arms during the four years of the conflict including women o... Read More

Key Insights

• 😜 Thousands of children under the age of 16 fought in the ranks of the Red Army during World War II.
• 🤕 Sergey Sariosha Aleshkov became the youngest soldier of World War II, joining the Red Army at the age of six.
• 👪 Many children fought in the war due to the circumstances, such as their village being attacked or family members being enlisted.
• 👶 Sergey's story highlights the resilience and bravery of children during wartime.
• 🫱 The role of children in the war extended beyond combat, as they also served as messengers, mascots, and providers of morale.
• 😨 Sergey's adoptive father, Major Vorobioff, played a significant role in protecting and caring for him.
• ▶️ The story of Sergey Aleshkov is just one example of the many children who played a part in the war effort.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Sergey Aleshkov end up as a soldier in the Red Army at such a young age?

Sergey's village was attacked by the Germans during World War II, causing the death of his mother and brother. He was saved by a scout unit and became the mascot of the 142nd guards Infantry Regiment.

Q: What role did Sergey play as a soldier in the Red Army?

Sergey's main role was to deliver newspapers and letters to soldiers on the front line and to boost morale. He also helped identify and report suspicious enemy activity.

Q: How did Sergey's adoptive father, Major Vorobioff, save him during a German barrage?

During a German barrage, Major Vorobioff pushed Sergey to safety and jumped into a dugout. However, the dugout was hit by a shell, and the major was injured. Sergey tried to dig him out but had to seek help from sappers to rescue him.

Q: What happened to Sergey after World War II?

After the war, Sergey went to the Suvarov military school in Tula. However, due to his fragile health, he did not pursue a military career. He later enrolled in law school and worked in the prosecutor's office and as a legal advisor.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Sergey Sariosha Aleshkov, a six-year-old boy, became the youngest soldier of World War II by joining the Red Army.

• Sergey's village was attacked by the Germans, causing his mother and brother to be killed and his home burned down.

• He was saved by a scout unit and became the mascot of the 142nd guards Infantry Regiment, delivering newspapers and letters to soldiers and boosting morale.