Sergey Kadanchik

Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Kadanchik fought in combat from 22 June 1941. He fought on the Southern Front, Southwestern Front, Transcaucasian Front and North Caucasian Front. On 13 December 1942, Kadanchik was appointed commander of the 1339th Rifle Regiment of the 318th Rifle Division.^[3] On 24 April 1943, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.^[4] During the Novorossiysk Amphibious Operation in September 1943, the regiment was to capture the area from the eastern breakwater to Staropassazhirskoy and advance to the outskirts of Mefodiyevsky.^[1]

The landing began on 9 September. Before reaching the shore, Kadanchik's boat sank after it hit a mine. He was rescued by a ship returning to Gelendzhik. Kadanchik arrived on the beachhead before the evening. Lieutenant General Ivan Petrov, commander of the North Caucasian Front, concluded that a breakthrough in the German line would be most likely to succeed in the sector assigned to Kadanchik's regiment. During the second half of 10 September the Germans brought up reinforcements, launching seven counterattacks. These were repulsed but by the evening some elements of the regiment had been pushed back to the sea. During the night German attacks forced the regiment back to the coast and it became surrounded. Kadanchik was killed on 15 September^[2] when a German shell hit the bell tower from where he was observing the fighting.^[1][5]

On 18 September, for actions during the Novorossiysk operation Kadanchik was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.^[6] He was buried in Gelendzhik ^[7] and was reburied in a mass grave in the Heroes Square of Novorossiysk.^[1][2]

Streets in Novorossiysk and Osipovichi are named for Kadanchik. There is also a fishing trawler named for him, as well as a memorial plaque at the school in Moiseyevichi.^[1][2]