Nikolai Vasenin
Nikolai Vasenin (5 December 1919 – 7 December 2014) was a Russian World War II veteran who fought in the French Resistance during the early 1940s.[1] In 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union and captured Vasenin and so they sent him to become a prisoner owned by the French.[2] The French gave him an opportunity to fight among them and so he took the offer. By 1945, Vasenin achieved the rank of Commander in his French Resistance unit and returned to his home country only to be jailed under the orders of Russia's leader Joseph Stalin for the next 15 years.[3]
Achievements
In 2005, he was acknowledged for his bravery and his cruel sentence and so was rewarded the Legion of Honour. In 2014, Vasenin traveled to Saint-Sorlin where he was once stationed during World War II. The Mayor of the town made him an honorary citizen and named one of the streets in the town after him.
Death
Vasenin died in Berezovsky on 7 December 2014, after being hospitalized since 1 December. He had turned 95 on 5 December.[4]
References
- ^ "Nikolai Vasenin, Russian who fought with French resistance, dies at 95". Fox News. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ "Red Army hero who fought for French Resistance dies". Global Post. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ "Nikolai Vasenin: Soviet soldier who worked with the French Resistance then served 15 years in a labour camp for treason". The Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ "Legendary WWII veteran, member of French Resistance Nikolay Vasenin dies at 95". Russian News Agency. Retrieved 10 December 2014.