 |
|  |
Konstantinova Ksenia Semenovna
|
 |
On October 8, 1943 the combatant friends buried Ksenya Konstantinova on the outskirts of Boyartshchina village Ponizovskiy district Smolensk region. After the farewell salute and the minute of silence at the hill of virgin ground the soldiers swore to revenge for their friend’s death. At the night of October 1, 1943 when a medical orderly Ksenya Konstantinova was gathering wounded soldiers at the battle field, about 100 fascists suddenly appeared from behind the hill. They started shooting and surrounded the bushes where the badly wounded soldiers were lying. Ksenya began an unequal battle. She killed about 60 fascists. She was wounded in her head. She was shooting till she last cullet. The fierce fascists captured her and tortured her cruelly: gouged her eyes, cut her breasts and nose off, and hammered her body to the ground with a picket. When our regiments set free this scrap of land they hardly recognized the disfigured body of the heroine. It was lying on the bloody ground and was surrounded by a lot of enemy corpses.
Ksenya Konstantinova was born in Suhaja Lubna village, Trubetchino district of Lipetsk region on April 19, 1925. She studied in paramedic – accoucheur school from 1940 till 1942. And she worked as an instructor at the District Medical Department. When the enemy occupied Eletz and was approaching Lipetsk, 16 year old girl volunteered for army service. She wrote to her mother: “Mother, I can’t watch calmly when the accurst fascists are setting foot our Motherland. Forgive me, my dear mother, but I did what my heart had told me”.
Ksenya was sent to the 3-rd infantry battalion, 730-th regiment, 204-th infantry division. She took part in the battles at Voronezh and Kalinin fronts. She helped the wounded and carried them off the battle field. In the letters to her relatives she assured them that she wouldn’t return home till the fascists stayed on her native land. She was wounded and was taken to the military hospital in Tula. She wrote to her father: “I was contused and scratched by the pieces of a shell at the Kursk arch. I was thanked officially and was recommended for a reward.”
In another letter she wrote: “ I have taken off all my bandages and am going to the front to fight with fascists. By this time she had been awarded the medal “ For Militant Service”. After battles Ksenya took part in amateur concerts. Soldiers enjoyed listening to her singing and playing the guitar. She dreamt of becoming a doctor. But her life was broken off near Smolensk. She was awarded the degree of the Hero of the Soviet Union post – mortem on June 4, 1844. Her father received her award. Her mother couldn’t survide the tragic death of her daughter and died soon.
On the outskirts of Raspopy village Smolensk Region there is a fraternal grave where Ksenya was buried. There is an obelisk at the place of her death. Her heroic deed will be remembered for ever.
|
 |
A bas – relief was constructed in her honour in Hero Square in Lipetsk. Our Medical college was named after the heroine. The memorial boad with years of her study in our college is set on the college building.
|
The members of the club “Istoki” have been searching new materials about her life. There is the bust to Ksenya Konstantinova in our college. Memorial arrangements are held near it and our students put flowers at the bottom of it. Our students have found Ksenya’s sister. They give her medical aid and help her about the house. She often tells them about her heroic sister.
Unfortunately Ksenya died at an early age and couldn’t realize her dreams. Ksenya dreamt of becoming a doctor treating patients. But she only managed to finish the Medical School. Our students always remember her an try to be like this heroic girl.
|
|
|  |
|
