№ 324/кор. “To the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” series. 75th Anniversary of the Young Guard’s Heroic Deed

Young Guard was the Soviet underground anti-fascist Komsomol organization of young men and women, which operated during the Great Patriotic War, from September 1942 to January 1943, in the city of Krasnodon of the Voroshilovgrad region of the Ukrainian SSR. Young Guard had more than a hundred participants. The headquarters of the Young Guard included Ivan Zemnukhov, Viktor Tretyakevich, Sergey Tyulenin, Oleg Koshevoy, Ivan Turkenich, Ulyana Gromova, Lyubov Shevtsova, Yevgeny Moshkov, Georgy Arutyunyants, Nina and Olga Ivantsovy, Valeria Borts, Radiy Yurkin and others, collected weapons, burned grain, and poisoned food intended for the invaders. By December 1942, the Young Guard had a significant amount of weapons and explosives in stock.

The careless actions of the underground workers during the seizure of the New Year's convoy with gifts for the Germans in December 1942 led to punitive actions. From January 1, 1943, mass arrests began. Fearlessness and courage helped most of the Young Guard with honor to withstand the cruel tortures to which they were subjected by the enemies. Dozens of young underground fighters died after terrible torture. Executions of the Young Guards were carried out from mid-January to February 1943, with batches of exhausted Komsomol members thrown into abandoned coal mines. In memory of the anti-fascist heroes, an obelisk was erected with the names of the fallen Young Guard.

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 13, 1943, the Young Guards Uliana Gromova, Ivan Zemnukhov, Oleg Koshevoy, Sergey Tyulenin, Lyubov Shevtsova were posthumously awarded the honorary titles of Heroes of the Soviet Union. Subsequently, on May 5, 1990, the commander of an underground organization, Ivan Turkenich (posthumously) was also awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The envelope with the original stamp depicts an obelisk at the place of execution of the Young Guard in the city of Krasnodon and the emblem of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.