Biography of the Hero in the Socialization-Educational Process of a Professional Educational Organization
In the socio-educational process of many professional educational organizations, biographies of individuals who serve as examples for the personal development of students and the formation of their active life positions and socially positive activities are utilized. The image of a “Hero of Russia” is rooted in the cultural values of traditional Russian culture, drawing upon widely recognized legendary figures of national heroes characterized by traits such as strength, courage, and bravery (such as Ilya Muromets, Mikula Selyaninovich, Nikita Kozhemyaka, Dmitry Donskoy, Alexander Nevsky, Alexander Peresvet, Andrey Oslabya, A.V. Suvorov, and many others known for their military valor).
A person’s biography can be presented as a series of life challenges, critical points where choices must be made. There is a sense of completion, perhaps even exhaustion of a particular stage of life, leading to a transition into an imbalanced state—a state of becoming and defining new meanings and ways of existence—which compels individuals to choose a path for their further development. These critical points can be seen as specific bifurcation points, defining the meaning of life, the purpose of existence, and existential aspects.
At the core of biographical research lies the study of the entire course of a person’s life, its internal dynamics, its positive or negative integration into society, subjective control over one’s actions, and the acquisition of life experience.
The biographies of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia have been extensively studied, including that of Semen Vasilyevich Khokhryakov. However, until now, his biography has not been examined in terms of its potential for addressing the goals of patriotic education. In reality, these materials can serve as components for social intervention in the socialization of students, focusing on fostering their positive, patriotic orientation.
Education fundamentally influences individuals. The content of this influence involves imparting social and/or civic competencies from the subject (educator) to the object (student). The aim of this article is to explore the biography of S.V. Khokhryakov from the perspective of how it incorporates components of the biographical method for studying a person’s life path, as proposed by S.V. Yakovleva. These insights can contribute to shaping the content of patriotic education for students of the S.V. Khokhryakov Kopeysk Polytechnic College.
Before delving into the major milestones and achievements of S.V. Khokhryakov’s life, it’s noteworthy that the year 2020 marked several significant events for the college: the 5th anniversary of being named after Semen Vasilyevich Khokhryakov, who was twice a Hero of the Soviet Union; the 45th anniversary of the opening of his monument; December 31 marks 105 years since his birth; and on November 28, 2019, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation issued Order No. 712 permanently enrolling Hero of the Soviet Union Guards Major S.V. Khokhryakov in the lists of the 239th Guards Tank Red Banner Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov, and Alexander Nevsky Orenburg Cossack Regiment.
Traditionally, military units (ships) and military educational institutions permanently enroll servicemen who died defending the Fatherland or succumbed to wounds received in defense of the Fatherland and were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation or Hero of the Soviet Union. Against the backdrop of these significant events, we consider the biography of Semen Vasilyevich Khokhryakov as a fundamental basis for organizing and developing patriotic education for the students of the college.
Over the past few years, the college has established a system that includes class hours, events, and projects dedicated to the name, life, and heroic deeds of S.V. Khokhryakov. One of the notable annual events is the Khokhryakov Readings. During these readings, students prepare reports, presentations, and artistic performances. By familiarizing themselves with the biography of S.V. Khokhryakov and others, students can perceive the directions of their own development across the dynamics of the past, present, and future. They can compensate for shortcomings, develop virtues, acquire new competencies, refresh and update their knowledge, skills, and abilities, understand the prospects of their professional careers and life in general, identify key directions, and learn to construct their life biography.
In this component, researcher V.V. Nurkova categorizes people’s biographies based on their emotional perception of their past into two groups: “fugitives” and “hunters”, and based on their life structuring into rigid, factual, emotional, and unstable types.
Examining the biography of S.V. Khokhryakov, it can be classified based on his attitude towards life and emotional perception as belonging to the “hunters”. His numerous heroic feats confirm this. Khokhryakov’s tank battalion liberated the cities of Starokonstantinov and Proskurov in 1944, as well as Częstochowa and Bunzlau (Bolesławiec) in 1945. Near Starokonstantinov, Khokhryakov’s battalion, which had only four tanks remaining, defeated an enemy force of 25 tanks, with Khokhryakov himself destroying three tanks.
Under his command, his battalion under the Fifth Tank Army near Proskurov, consisting of seven tanks and a company of machine-gunners, destroyed 10 tanks, 22 self-propelled guns, and over 300 Nazi soldiers and officers in battle against approximately forty tanks and an enemy infantry battalion. Regarding Khokhryakov’s own tank crew, they destroyed four tanks and six self-propelled guns. For his skillful leadership during the battles for Proskurov and personal heroism, Khokhryakov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
In terms of structuring his life, Khokhryakov’s biography can be characterized as rigid. His life exhibits characteristics of rigidity as a psychological trait, reflecting his steadfast interests focused on defending his own beliefs, active engagement, practicality, sobriety in his views on life, reliance on his own experience (positive self-assessment), loyalty to his principles, straightforwardness, and persistence in defending them. All these traits are inherent to Khokhryakov and have been observed throughout his entire life.
Combatant S.V. Khokhryakov maintained respectful and trusting relationships with his comrades. Tank crew members who fought alongside him describe him as caring, attentive, demanding, reserved but not aloof. During the liberation of Częstochowa, they inflicted defeat on over 1200 German soldiers, destroyed 8 tanks, 10 armored vehicles, 25 artillery pieces, 53 mortars, over 170 vehicles, and about 200 horse-drawn wagons. The battalion suffered losses of 10 brave soldiers killed in action and 21 tank crew members wounded. Enemy fire destroyed five of the battalion’s tanks.
Regarding a specific moment during the battle for Częstochowa, soldier M.I. Vostryshev, a participant in the battle and author of the book “Heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Outstanding Feats Every Citizen Should Know,” writes about the heroes of the war, including S.V. Khokhryakov. He recalls, “Among them was the political officer Semen Khokhryakov.
The success of our troops in breaking through enemy fortified positions depended on the actions of his leading group. While the soldiers rested, he had to scout the route for the upcoming night march, ensure provisions, and tend to the wounded. People trusted Khokhryakov. He possessed extraordinary powers of persuasion. His words reached the heart, encouraged, and inspired.”
For his bravery in the crossing of the rivers Nida, Pilica, Varta, and during the battles for the city of Częstochowa, Semen Vasilyevich Khokhryakov was awarded his second “Gold Star” medal.
In this component, it is important to highlight that the hero understood his purpose, the essence of the bloody war, and the fight against invaders. Over the years of the war, he was wounded four times. Each time, after recovering in the hospital, he returned to the battlefield to defend his Motherland. “Proficiently commanding his tank, S.V. Khokhryakov,” writes I. Ragozin in his book “Combatant Khokhryakov,” “was simply a master of tank attacks”.
His confidence, perseverance, and even luck repeatedly helped him brilliantly defeat the enemy. I. Ragozin writes that Semen Vasilyevich developed his own unique style in battles for the Motherland, which he called “Khokhryakov’s.” This style was based on the precise coordination of all tanks, allowing him, at certain moments, to form a broad front and unite all vehicles into a single powerful “fist,” a unified whole, to deliver a fierce barrage of fire and armor and break through the enemy’s defenses.
The battle tactics and the distinctive “Khokhryakov’s” style allowed him to “keep the entire battalion in view. while managing the battalion in battle, he himself managed to continue firing from the cannon…” Semen Vasilyevich Khokhryakov’s skill as a tank commander and ability to assess the combat situation quickly proved invaluable. He demonstrated true artistry in conducting battles under extremely challenging conditions.
\S.V. Khokhryakov adeptly and skillfully used terrain features such as mounds, behind which he was almost out of reach of enemy fire. His swift maneuvers allowed him to appear unexpectedly in areas inaccessible to the enemy and unleash devastating firepower from there. These were battles characterized by military agility and finesse.
Having examined the biography of S.V. Khokhryakov through the interconnected components outlined by S.V. Yakovleva, we have clarified numerous important factors that can influence the upbringing of the younger generation.
The task of educators in patriotic education is to impart a system of values and meanings, providing conditions for students to make their own choices and set goals. This can be achieved through dialogue, observing how students’ values and behavioral rules evolve, and striving to document their “achievements” relative to their goals.
The biography of S.V. Khokhryakov has become a significant conduit and means of patriotic education in the college. However, it is important not to forget that an individual writes their own biography—both in specific situations and throughout their life. Through educational work based on patriotic education via the biographies of heroes, students grasp values and meanings that will subsequently influence their life path and actions.
Pedagogical activities in educational work using S.V. Khokhryakov’s biography align with the individual goals and orientations of the college students. By employing the biographical method, which focuses on studying the personality through the life path of Semen Vasilyevich Khokhryakov, educators create opportunities for students to understand the stages of life, acquire missing competencies, and comprehend the direction of their own lives. This allows them to prioritize and ultimately “shape” their own biography.
By: Zhaniya Maratova
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