Sergei Aleshkov

Sergei Andreyevich Aleshkov (Сергей Андреевич Алёшков, 15 February 1936 – 1 feb 1990) was a Soviet soldier, adopted "Son of the Regiment", and the youngest to serve in World War II at 6 years old.

Biography
Before the War, Sergei lived with his family in the forest village of Gryn (now the Ulyanovsk district of the Kaluga Oblast). Sergei's father died before the war, and his brothers Ivan and Andrei enlisted in the army, leaving Sergei and his brother Peter with their mother. Sergei was a young boy. His mother & brother were executed by the Nazis in front of him for their links to the partisans. He was found wandering a forest by a reconnaissance group of the 142nd Guards Rifle Regiment of the Soviet Army, where he was officially adopted by the commander.

His future military career was unsuccessful due to his poor health as he had been smoking from a young age, and he eventually died of a heart attack on 1 February, 1990.

In popular culture
The film Soldier Boy (2019) depicts Sergei's experiences during the war. Sergei is played by Andrey Andreev.