Zinovii Zusmanovskii

Zinovii Zusmanovskii was born in 1925 in Poltava (Ukraine). His school studies there were interrupted by the outbreak of the Soviet-German War in June 1941. He was evacuated to Uzbekistan. In September that year, Poltava was occupied by German troops.

Zinovii completed his schooling in the Soviet rear in 1943, and was drafted into the Red Army immediately afterwards. He was sent to the Kharkov Tank School, which at the time was located in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). After completing an intensive one-year course, Zusmanovskii was sent to the front in December 1944 with the rank of junior lieutenant. He was wounded, but returned to active duty. In late April 1945, there was heavy fighting in the western part of Germany. The regiment in which Zinovii was serving was supposed to accompany an infantry group. During a fierce three-day battle near the village of Kausche (in the vicinity of Berlin), Zusmanovskii's unit destroyed two Tiger tanks, disabled 4 Panther tanks, and broke up a long column of vehicles – despite being outnumbered. Their own tank sustained serious damage, but the crew managed to repair it, and the regiment was able to advance. For this operation, Zinovii Zusmanovskii was recommended for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but the honor bestowed upon him was downgraded to an Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class, although his candidacy was supported by Marshal Ivan Konev and the Military Council of the 1st Ukrainian Front. His name was included in the "List of Ace Tank Crew Members of the Second World War" for helping to achieve six victories during that period.

After the war, Zusmanovich moved to Leningrad, where he enrolled in a dental school. After graduating, he entered the 1st Medical Institute. In the succeeding years, he invented numerous medical devices, which he patented.

Zinovii Zusmanovski died in St. Petersburg in 2006.