Anatoly Shapiro

Who is Anatoly Shapiro?

Anatoly Pavlovich Shapiro was born 18 January 1913 in the town of Konstantinograd. Served in the 100th rifle division of the 106th rifle corps. Worked his way up the ranks from a platoon commander to a commander of a separate marines rifle battalion. One of the first soldiers to enter Auschwitz. Injured and shell-shocked in battle. Awarded with two Orders of the Red Star, two Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, for the Liberation of Krakow, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree, and numerous medals.

"At about 3 o’clock in the afternoon on 27th of January 100th infantry division commanded by General F. M. Krasavin liberated Auschwitz and Birkenau. An assault squad of the 106th infantry division commanded by major Anatoly Pavlovich Shapiro was one of the first who broke into the city and into the camp. That was his squad that has cleared the approaches to the camp from the mines — after that major Shapiro has personally opened the gates of the Auschwitz-I camp and took part in suppressing the SS resistance. Birkenau camp was liberated on the 28th of January by the 107th infantry division commanded by colonel V. Y.