Kozma Kryuchkov is a Don Cossack. During the First World War, he was the first to be awarded the St. George Cross. In August 2014, he gained fame as a hero of the entire warring Russia.
Few people now know that the Cossack Kozma Firsovich Crochem lived on the Don in the First World War. And in his time he was a real hero. Not a single Cossack managed to win popular recognition so quickly. His fame faded away after 2017, and information about the exploits was not provided.
Service start
The biography of the future hero began in 1890 on the farm Nizhne-Kalmykovsky in the Ust-Khoperskaya village of the Don Cossack. The family adhered to strict rules, observed all patriarchal foundations. Kozma helped his father on the farm, perfectly learned to own a horse and saber. Four years later, studies at the village school were completed. The young man began to serve in the third Don Cossack regiment.
At that time, the guy's personal life was arranged. The wife gave her husband two children, a son and a daughter. Kryuchkov quickly gained a reputation as a diligent warrior, by 1914 he became an order of the 6th hundred. From the very beginning of the war, the Cossack showed ingenuity, intelligence and courage.
He was well versed in military affairs. He calmly accepted the news of the beginning of the battles, since he was physically and mentally ready to fight. The service has become a life-long work. According to the recollections of his contemporaries, Kozma Firsovich was characterized by modesty and shyness, but he was always open to communication, he was known as a sincere person. Courage, resourcefulness, dexterity with excellent physical data quickly came in handy.
During his stay in Polish Kalwaria, a significant event took place. While patrolling the territory at the end of July 1914, a four-man patrol went out to the enemy. The forces were unequal, but the surprise of the meeting panicked outnumbered opponents. When it became clear that there were only four against them, the attack began. The Cossacks did not intend to surrender. They gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy. The battle was fierce.
Reward
Kryuchkov did not succeed in using the rifle, he had to act only with a saber. The results of the battle amazed even the fighters who had seen a lot. Almost all of the enemy cavalry was destroyed. All participants from the Russian side were all wounded, but alive. Shortly after this, General Rennenkampf visited the participants in the significant battle, presenting Kozma with the country's highest award. After treatment in the hospital, the Cossack returned to the regiment.
Soon the hero was sent to his home farm on leave. They greeted him with honor. The glory of the father was reflected in the children. According to the existing rules, the success of the son became the reason for the rise in rank and the father. Firs Larionovich, who raised such a son, became the sergeant. In turn, Kozma's son also received the right to wear parental awards. News and skirmish spread throughout Russia. I learned about the battle and the emperor.
Kozma Firsovich turned into a national, popularly beloved and super popular hero. He even became a participant in newsreels, many popular goods were named after him. Photo portraits of the brave warrior were printed in all publications, images of the Cossack were adorned with postage stamps, patriotic posters.
A steamer was named in honor of Kryuchkov, and the famous artist Repin painted a portrait of the hero. Slava did not let go of Kozma either in civilian life or in military service.
He received the privileged position of chief of the convoy at the division headquarters. The headquarters was almost completely filled with parcels addressed to Kozma, hundreds of letters. The hero was awarded checkers in a frame of silver and then gold. He received a blade completely covered in accolades. Reporters did not allow the celebrity to pass; representatives of the press constantly wanted to meet with him.
At the front and at home
The hero reacted to such an explosion of attention to his person with sincere amazement: he did not understand why the usual fulfillment of military duty caused such a grandiose excitement. Unaccustomed to such fame, the Cossack quickly got bored with the staff life. He asked to send him to fight. The wish was fulfilled, and the soldier went to the Romanian front with his own regiment.
And there Kryuchkov showed his best qualities again. In 1915, with a dozen of his fellow soldiers, he defeated the outnumbered enemies, obtained the most valuable data on the location of the enemy troops. This feat was also not forgotten by the command. Kozma Firsovich received the rank of sergeant-major. The general personally told the soldier that he was proud that there was such a hero in the regiment entrusted to him. Soon Kryuchkov was in command of a hundred.
The Cossack took part in the most important battles several times, was wounded several times. The merits of the soldier are marked with two St. George's crosses, the same number of St. George medals "For Bravery." The hero rose to the rank of underhandler, respected by the Cossacks. The beginning of 1917 was marked by significant changes in the country. Barely leaving the hospital, the soldier was elected head of the regimental committee.
Serious disagreements began among the Cossacks as well. Since Kozma was brought up in a patriarchal order, he did not think about new foundations. The hero returned to his homeland with his comrades-in-arms, but his peaceful life did not last long.
The former army was disbanded, the Cossacks were divided into two warring camps. The confrontation did not pass by Kryuchkov either. During one of the battles, on August 19, 1919, the famous hero died.
In memory of him in Rostov-on-Don, one of the lanes is named after him. Kozma became the prototype of the Cossack in the composition of the monuments of the First World War by Andrei Kovalchuk. In Novocherkassk, on November 14, 2014, the grand opening of the monument to the hero was held at school number 19.
