Mikhail Surkov
Soviet sniper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mikhail Ilyich Surkov (Russian: Михаил Ильич Сурков; 1921 – 1953) 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 Bol'shay Salyr' next to Krasnoyarsk and hailed from a family of hunters and fur-trappers.[1]
Mikhail Ilyich Surkov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Bol'shay Salyr' 1921 |
| Died | 1953 (age 31-32) |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Service years | 1941–1946 |
| Rank | Starshina |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Order of Lenin Order of the Red Star Medal "For Courage" |
According to some Soviet newspapers, 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]