Aleksei Smirnov

Aleksei Makarovich Smirnov (; 28 February 1920 in Danilov – 7 May 1979 in Leningrad) was a Soviet and Russian theater and film actor. He performed in more than fifty films between 1959 and 1977 and was a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation. Early life Aleksei Smirnov was born on 28 February 1920, in the town of Danilov, Yaroslavl Oblast, to the Smirnov family: Makar Stepanovich Smirnov and Anna Ivanovna. In the mid-1920s they moved to Leningrad. After her husband's early death Anna Ivanovna had to raise her two children on her own - Aleksei had a younger brother Arkady. The Smirnovs resided in a communal apartment at 44 Petr Lavrov str. As a pupil, Aleksei Smirnov began acting in the school amateur theatre. In 1940 he graduated from the Leningrad Music Comedy Theater school and was admitted into the troupe. Smirnov only acted in one part there - Black Eagle in the operetta Rose-Marie - before the Great Patriotic War began. The Great Patriotic War In 1941 he left for the front as a volunteer. He was a chemical instructor, then squad leader in the 3rd Artillery Battery, 169th Red Banner mortar regiment, 3rd Red Banner and Order of Lenin artillery division of Zhitomir. Aleksei Smirnov took part in the battles at the Western, Bryansk, 1st Ukrainian and 2nd Byelorussian Fronts, many times was sent for scouting behind the enemy lines. One of his award papers says he killed three fascists with his assault rifle. In the front line he once acted instead of his commander (which was down) and dispersed about two enemy squads by intensive mortar fire. When breaking through the enemy positions near the village of Onatskovsi on 4 March 1944 Smirnov and his squad eliminated a mortar battery, a turret machine-gun and about 30 enemy soldiers, which let them regain the village and further take possession of the town of Starokonstantinov on 9 March. In that action staff-sergeant Smirnov with his squad have destroyed 2 turret machine-guns, a 75-mm cannon and 35 enemy infantrymen. For his courage Aleksei Smirnov was nominated for the 1st class of the Order of the Patriotic War, but was instead awarded the lower grade Order of the Red Star.