Aleksandra Samusenko

In his 1975 book, the Russian author Y.A. Zhukov wrote that Samusenko was a veteran of the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, although Garin discounted this rumor in Tsvety na tankakh. According to Garin, it came from a soldier named Balandin, who told battalion commander Zhukov that Samusenko had fought in Spain:

Aleksandra Grigoryevna Samusenko (Russian: Александра Григорьевна Самусенко, Ukrainian: Олександра Григорівна Самусенко, Oleksandra Hryhorivna Samusenko; 1922 – 3 March 1945) was a Soviet T-34 tank commander and a liaison officer during World War II. She was the only female tanker in the 1st Guards Tank Army.

U.S. Army Sergeant Joseph Beyrle, who had escaped from Stalag III-C POW camp in Alt Drewitz in early January 1945, encountered Samusenko's tank brigade in the middle of January. Beyrle, one of only a few American soldiers known to have served with both the United States Army and the Soviet Army in World War II, eventually persuaded her to allow him to fight alongside the unit on its way to Berlin, thus beginning a month-long stint in a Soviet tank battalion, where his demolitions expertise was appreciated. Beyrle, who reported that Samusenko had lost her husband and her entire family during the war, cited Samusenko as a symbol of the fortitude and courage displayed by the Soviet people during that period.

On 13 March 1945, Samusenko was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class.

Born in Chita or in Zhlobin District, Samusenko began her tour of duty as a private in an infantry platoon. She participated in the Winter War (1939-1940) against Finland as a private in an infantry regiment. Later, she successfully graduated from the tank academy and was assigned to the 1st Guards Tank Army. Samusenko received her Order of the Red Star when her tank crew defeated three German Tiger I tanks. Later Samusenko participated in the Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive.