Mikhail Panikakha

Mikhail Averyanovich Panikakha (Russian: Михаил Аверьянович Паникаха; 1914 – 2 October 1942) was a Red Army soldier. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for destroying a German tank with two Molotov cocktails while on fire during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Early life
Mikhail Panikakha was born in 1914 in the village of Mogilev in Novomoskovsk Uyezd of Yekaterinoslav Governorate to a peasant family. He received primary education and worked on the farm. In 1939, he was drafted into the Red Army. Panikakha became a sailor in the Pacific Fleet.

World War II
In March 1942, Panikahka volunteered for combat service and was assigned as a private to the 883rd Rifle Regiment of the 193rd Rifle Division. On 28 September, during the Battle of Stalingrad, two regiments of the division, including the 883rd, crossed the Volga River and took up positions to the west of the Red October factory. They were attacked by German troops from the 24th Panzer Division and 71st Infantry Division. On 2 October, Panikakha was helping to repel the German attacks when the German troops sent in tanks. He had already thrown his grenades and had two Molotov cocktails left. Panikakha raised the bottle in order to throw it when a bullet smashed it, setting him on fire. He then took the remaining bottle, jumped out of the trench and hit the nearest German tank with the cocktail. The German tank was then set on fire, causing the other tanks to withdraw.

Panikakha was recommended for a Hero of the Soviet Union award by his regimental commander in November, but was not awarded the title until 5 May 1990, along with the Order of Lenin. On 9 December 1942, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class for his actions.

Legacy
At the site of Panikakha's death, there is a monument, which was erected on 8 May 1975. The monument was sculptured by R.P. Kharitonov and Yu. Belosov. It is located at the intersection of the Avenue of Metallurgists and Tarachantsev Street. A street in Volgograd is named after him. His name is also inscribed on the memorial plaque at the mass grave on Mamayev Kurgan. There is a plaque in both Mogilev village and Dnipropetrovsk. On 16 November 2013, a monument to Panikakha in Dnipropetrovsk was unveiled.