How famous sculptor Ernst Neizvestny fought in World War II
He fought in Romania, Hungary and Austria and was awarded the ‘Order of the Red Star’ and the ‘Za Otvagu’ (‘For Courage’) medal.
A ruptured diaphragm, damaged three intervertebral discs and three knocked out ribs – these are the terrible injuries that Guards Junior Lieutenant Ernst Neizvestny received in April 1945. For a long time after, the future sculptor would experience hellish pain…
Neizvestny was drafted into the Red Army in 1942. He was sent to study at the 1st Turkestan Machine Gun Military School, from which he graduated in October the following year.
“When I arrived at the front, I was supposed to command a company of 120 people,” Ernst recalled. “And I see eight old men sitting in a trench and getting wet in the rain. And I have a new raincoat. The first thing I did was give it to them.”
Neizvestny also commanded a platoon in the 86th Guards Rifle Division. He fought in Romania, Hungary and Austria.
After the war, the future sculptor taught at the Sverdlovsk Military School for several years and then devoted himself entirely to art.
Among his military awards are the ‘Order of the Red Star’ and the ‘Za Otvagu’ (‘For Courage’) medal.
