In the history of the Great Patriotic War deathless act of bravery of the Podolsk cadets in the fight for Moscow in October 1941 takes a respectable place. In early October 1941, exit threat of German military to Moscow in the Maloyaroslavets direction. By this time, a significant part of the troops were circled. The forces that could be used in the defense of the capital were becoming less and less.

On October 5, 1941, the staff of the infantry and artillery schools located in Podolsk was raised by alarm. These military schools were created in Podolsk in 1938-1940.Thus, by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, more than 3,500 cadets were in Podolsk military schools. Mostly it was yesterday’s pupils.

The opponent approached the Mozhaisk defense line. To close this dangerous gap on October 5, these military schools were alerted and thrown to meet the Nazis in order to delay their progress. On the banks of the Izver River, an advanced troop of Podolsk cadets took their first battle. The Red Army managed to push the Germans away from the Izver River, on the western bank of the Ugra River. The first victory over the enemy inspired former boys.

On October 6, they were confronted with the combat mission of defending positions between the villages of Lukyanovo and Malaya Shubinka. At the positions occupied by cadets, air raids, artillery shelling began, and then an attack by German tanks began. However, the cadets held the defense. For five days, the advance detachment of the Podolsk military schools heroically fought, moving from one line to another.

The casualties of the cadets were great, but the enemy was dealt enormous damage in manpower and equipment. During these five days, cadets destroyed 20 tanks, 10 armored vehicles, about 1,000 enemy soldiers and officers.

The enemy tried to break into our defense on the 12th of October. The German command decided to use a misleading maneuver on the 13th of October. German tanks went to the rearward of cadets and headed their position under their red flags. Cadets quickly understood what was happening and could destroy opponent forces. Troop fought in encirclement on the 14th of October.

At 15th october night, encirclement ring was broken and 5 survivors left for battalion location. The enemy managed to take possession of the first and second trenches, but could not completely break through the defense area.

On October 15, Major General Smirnov put forward his stockpile to help him. The cadets ran out of ammunition, and so they had to go to the enemy in bayonet attacks. On October 16, Germans again strike a powerful blow on the positions of cadets. Artillery cadets showed wonders of heroism and self-sacrifice.

It is worth noting separately that the contribution of these yesterday’s students to the defense of Moscow cannot be overestimated. While the Red Junkers, at the cost of their own lives, restrained the German attack, the Soviet command was able to create a new line of defense, as well as tighten reserves. The destiny of one of the surviving cadets Mikhail Lev was amazing.

Having been captured by the wounded, he managed to escape, became a scout, and then chief of staff in a partisan troop, and after the end of the war - a writer. It was one of the first who tell the world about the feat of his classmates - in the autobiographical book “Partisan Trails”.

The first museum devoted to the Podolsk cadets in Russia was created under the direction of Dmitry Pankov, students of the Klimovsk school number 4, since 1996 - Gymnasium named after Podolsk cadets. Since 1988, the school has been bearing this honorary name.

In 1975, on the 30th anniversary of the Victory, a monument to Podolsk cadets was set up in Podolsk, in 1985 - a monument in Saransk and a memorial on the Warsaw highway. Five schools in Russia are named in honor of Podolsk cadets. The memory of brave young fighters is dedicated to songs and literary works.

On May 7, 2015, a monument to Podolsk cadets was unveiled in the square of our gymnasium. Students created the square themselves. The opening ceremony was attended by hundreds of Podolsk residents.