The Soviet wife commanded her husband to drive a tank to destroy the Nazis

Boiko and his wife upon receiving the mission.

The Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War recorded many cases of women going to war and directly fighting on the front lines, including as commanders of armored units.

In 1941, Alexandra and Ivan Boiko were working in Siberia.

Their lives changed completely on June 22, 1941, when the Nazis opened fire to attack the Soviet Union.

Until 1942, Ivan Boiko accidentally read a news story about a farmer who wrote a letter to leader Stalin, asking to spend money to buy a fighter plane for a young pilot to help him continue fighting, and Stalin agreed.

The Boiko couple decided to write a letter to Stalin, asking to go to war together, as well as use the 50,000 rubles they had accumulated to buy a tank themselves.

In 1943, they suddenly received a reply from leader Stalin with the brief content: `Thank you Ivan and Alexandra for your interest in the Red Army. Your wish will be granted. Dear, Stalin

However, the couple could not go to the battlefield immediately, but had to participate in a tank driving training course.

Just a few days before graduation, they received a newly produced IS-2 heavy tank from the Ural factory along with a full crew.

Boiko and his wife accepted a mission in a combat unit.

This couple was assigned to the 48th Guards Independent Tank Regiment. Fighting on the IS-2 heavy tank, they participated in fierce battles with the mission of destroying tanks and supporting infantry.

During a battle, Boiko and his wife were tasked with attacking an important high point with infantry.

When units of the Red Army arrived to provide support, the `Boiko` was hit by several German anti-tank shells.

In just two weeks of fierce fighting, the couple destroyed a total of 5 tanks, two artillery batteries, many transport vehicles and German machine gun emplacements.

Alexandra Boiko spoke after the war ended.

After the war, both men returned to Magadan to work.