Battle for the Dnieper River was one of the bloodiest military operations of the Second World War. Due to Ukrainian historical researchers, approximately 400.000 of personnel were lost within four month of this battle, mostly in September and October 1943 at the Bukryn Bridgehead near Kyiv. Formidable part of them were so-called “black coats”, “black jackets” or just “black infantry” (these are conventional titles for infantry units, formed from civilian dwellers of the territories occupied by Nazis, after the Red Army captured them back). These were 16-years old boys or elder men, quickly mobilized by the “field recruiting offices” to “wash away with blood their disgrace of living on the occupied territory”. For the Soviet authorities such mobilization was not just a way of quick replenishment of the army. It was also a way to punish Ukrainians who remained on the territories, non-controlled by the Soviet power, and that is why considered as traitors. They often could be thrown to the battle without not only preparation and equipment but even weaponless. The term “black coats” itself came from civil clothes in which these people came to battle. Like penal battalions, “black jackets” were used as cannon fodder during the Red Army offensive operations. Such attitude to conscripts surprised even Germans, who cold “black coats” “Beutesoldaten” (“trophy soldiers”). The Museum scientists started to explore history of the “Black infantry” in 1990s.
After the German-Soviet War began, dweller of the Strokova village, Kyiv region Petro Movchan was mobilized to the Soviet Army at the Southern Front. He became a PW in actions in Kirovograd region in late summer 1941. He remained at the PW-camp near the city of Kirovograd (Kropyvnytskyi nowadays) until September. Then he was released and came back to his native Strokova village.
In October 1943, he was recruited to the Red Army again. Along with his co-villagers he engaged in combat near Bukryn bridgehead, without preparation and uniform. Petro Movchan`s wife received notification about his death just year later, in November 1944.
In 2008, search team named after General M. Vatutin during the expedition found unburied remains of the Red Army soldier. In his jacket pockets was a notice of court appearance addressed to Movchan P. D. Looking for information searches addressed to the Museum with this document, where Petro Movchan`s death notification was found. With help of the Museum scientists, they also found out contacts of his children and grandchildren.
In August 2008, the reburial of Petro Movchan`s remains took place. The details of his last combat became known from the evidences of his co-villagers who managed to come back then. According to their words, Movchan crossed the Dnipro River under enemies’ fire and started to equip the machinegun position. He started to shoot at enemy infantry but was killed in a consequence of the explosion on his position. Wreckage of his machinegun, metal mug and casings, which were found on place of his death, Petro Movchan`s relatives transferred to the Museum.