Anton Vasilievich Piatnitski (born December 15, 1918) was a professional Soviet naval officer, Captain-Lieutenant of the Soviet Navy, World War II veteran, and participant in the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. He was the brother of my grandfather Nikolay Vasilievich Piatnitski (1914 — 1941), Colonel of the Signal Corps Ivan Vasilievich (1920 — 1983), and Dmitriy Vasilievich (1910 — 1988).
Anton Vasilievich was born in our family's ancestral village of Dorosino (historically Slutsk Uyezd of Minsk Governorate, now Lyuban District of Minsk Region, Belarus) into the peasant family of Vasiliy Sofronovich and Marfa Tarasovna Piatnitski.
Naval Service and the Great Patriotic War
On July 27, 1939, at the age of twenty, Anton Vasilievich was drafted into active military service in the Soviet Navy. From that moment on, his life was dedicated to naval service and coastal defense for more than two decades.
When the Great Patriotic War broke out in June 1941, Anton Vasilievich was serving with the Black Sea Fleet (ChF). From the first days of hostilities, Black Sea sailors endured brutal enemy assaults while displaying exceptional resilience. Anton Vasilievich participated directly in two pivotal Black Sea campaigns of 1941–1942: the heroic defense of Odessa and the defense of the fleet's primary naval stronghold, Sevastopol. For courage, valor, and steadfastness in defense of these hero-cities, he was awarded the medals "For the Defense of Odessa", "For the Defense of Sevastopol", and "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".
The Red Banner Dnepr Naval Flotilla and Post-War Years
Anton Vasilievich's subsequent naval career was tied to the Red Banner Order of Ushakov 1st Class Dnepr Naval Flotilla (DnVFl). Rising through the ranks of the officer corps, he earned the rank of Captain-Lieutenant (senior lieutenant commander).
For his extensive, dedicated, and honorable service in the Armed Forces of the USSR, Anton Vasilievich Piatnitski was awarded high state decorations:
- Medal "For Combat Merit" — awarded by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on November 15, 1950 (for long service in the Armed Forces);
- Order of the Red Star — awarded by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on November 5, 1954 (for exemplary naval service and tenure).
On April 3, 1961, after nearly twenty-two years of continuous naval service, Captain-Lieutenant Anton Vasilievich Piatnitski retired from the military. Following his discharge, he resided in Pinsk, Brest Region, Belarus. Choosing Pinsk was a natural step: this historic Polesian city had served since 1944 as the primary naval base and headquarters of the Red Banner Dnepr Naval Flotilla, as well as the renowned 1st Naval Training Detachment of the Soviet Navy, which trained tens of thousands of naval specialists.
Historical portrait in the uniform of a Soviet Navy officer (Black Sea Fleet, Dnepr Naval Flotilla). Piatnitski Family Archive.
Family and Lineage
Family and Lineage
Dynamic data from the family tree
Peasant of Dorosino village, spouse of Vasiliy Sofronovich, mother of Nikolay, Ivan, Anton, and Dmitriy Piatnitski
Physics teacher in Korma village school. Pre-war sapper service in Rogachev. Perished in a POW camp in summer 1941
Regular Signal Corps Officer of the Red Army, Colonel. Chief of Communications of 822 IPTAP. Defense of Leningrad, Battle of Berlin
Resident of Dorosino village, brother of grandfather Nikolay Vasilievich Piatnitski
Sources and Historical References
- Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (TsAMO RF):
- Officer Service Record Index of the Soviet Navy: service file of Captain-Lieutenant Anton Vasilievich Piatnitski (born 15.12.1918, enlisted 27.07.1939, discharged 03.04.1961; Black Sea Fleet, Dnepr Flotilla).
- Awards Card Catalog: cabinet 72, drawer 2 (citation records for the Medal "For Combat Merit" dated 15.11.1950 and the Order of the Red Star dated 05.11.1954).
- Archival records for the award of the medals "For the Defense of Odessa", "For the Defense of Sevastopol", and "For the Victory over Germany".
- Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation historical portal "Pamyat Naroda": online service cards and award records.
- Piatnitski Family Archive: authentic original photograph of Anton Vasilievich in naval officer uniform.
