Mikhail Surkov
Mikhail Ilyich Surkov (Russian: Михаил Ильич Сурков) was a Soviet sniper in the 4th Rifle Division of the Red Army during World War II. He was born in a Siberian town of Krasnoyarsk and hailed from a family of hunters and fur-trappers.[1]
According to Soviet sources, Surkov had 702 confirmed kills during World War II,[1] a total which would make him the most effective sniper of the European conflict.[2] The top Soviet sniper is officially Ivan Sidorenko, who is credited with 500 confirmed kills, as postwar findings have shown that Surkov's figure very likely only served as propaganda.[3]
References
- ^ a b Алексей Илларионович Луковец (1975). Знамена Победы. Pravda.
During the war, "Frontovaya Illustratsiya" wrote: "Sniper Sergeant Mikhail Surkov shoots at the enemy confidently and accurately. - He does not wound - he hits the spot. After killing over 700 Fascists, he went on to the next hunt "
- ^ Mark Spicer and Pat Farey, Sniping: An Illustrated History. Grand Rapids, MI: Zenith, 2009; pg. 129.
- ^ Sarvaš, Andrej (1 February 2013). "Vedie štatistiku smrti. Fínsky ostreľovač prezývaný Biela smrť". SME (in Slovak). Retrieved 13 April 2014.