Ivan Marcov

Ivan Marcov was a soldier of the Soviet Red Army and main protagonist of the LegoPattonFilms 2020 YouTube Brickfilm "Barbarossa, A WW2 Story" Ivan led a small group of soldiers to defend the road to Moscow during the German Invasion of Russia. He along with his comrade and friend Dmitri Yergosov with aid from a few Russian soldiers fought till the last man against the Germans until the battle ends with both theirs and German Commander Heinrich Behrken's deaths.

*Early Life:*

Ivan was born in Kiev in 1904, his mother was a Ukrainian floweriest who made a living selling her finest flowers, his father was a soldier who led the his fellow soldiers to fight in WW1 for the Tsar. After he died in battle he spent much time with his mother selling flowers for a few coins, when Ivan turns 18 he learns of his mother's illness and took care of her, he then left for Moscow to become an engineer to help fund his mother's medicine but as fate would have it his mother later passed away leaving him on his own, little did he know that he would be recruited by orders from the leader of the Soviet Government Joseph Stalin.

*Early Military Service and the Winter War:*

In 1922, Ivan was working as an engineer when a recruitment flyer was given to him, the Red Army at the time believed that his engineering skills would be useful to keep the Motherland going for a lifetime, Ivan reported to the Red Army Boot Camp and excelled every test and ranked up to an officer's rank, he met his wife Anya during his service and got married that same day. Then in 1923 they had a son who they named Nikolai and made military service a family tradition that would last for years, as the 1930s began Ivan served the Red Army in many conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War and the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, he even served in the Winter War where he gained a reputation for his leadership skills and compassion for his troops, his skills were admired even by enemy troops, at the 20th Anniversary of the Soviet Union within the Red Square he met a fellow officer Dmitri Yergosov who they became great friends until the end of their lives. Meanwhile another world war was in the horizon and Europe is once again at a conflict that would change everything.

*World War 2 and Final Stand (Spoilers!):*

on the 22nd of June 1941, the Third German Reich (led by Adolf Hitler) invades Russia dubbing it Operation Barbarossa and the Soviet Union declares war on the Nazis. While listening to Scheherazade by Rimsky Korsakov and spending time with Dmitri, Ivan was informed by a Soviet soldier that a group of surviving soldiers came their way and asked if they should execute them for retreating, Ivan orders both Dmitri and his troops not to shoot them as they will need their help defending the farmland leading to Moscow, later they waited with their weapons ready and both Ivan and Dmitri use this to bond and learn about each other (proclaiming themselves as Brothers in the process), suddenly the soldiers of the German Wehrmacht began their attack, Ivan and his troops successfully drove them away but orders his men to prepare for a second wave, this squad of soldiers was commanded by General Heinrich Behrken (a bureaucratic German officer who enjoys war) and this will be Ivan's final enemy before his life is over. As it began to snow Ivan and the others prepare for Behrken's assault while Dmitri tells Ivan to never lose faith no matter what happens from which he agrees, finally Behrken and his troops arrived with a half-track and the final battle began, both sides were suffering heavy casualties with the German half-track exploding after hitting a landmine and the German's experimental MG-42 gunning Ivan's men down including the Maxim Machine gunner. Ivan orders his men to fall back and Behrken gave chase, Ivan and Dmitri fought as best they could but Behrken grabbed a rifle and shot Dmitri in the chest much to Ivan's shock and anguish, Dmitri died in Ivan's arms and orders the remaining soldiers to take the T-34 tank back to Moscow and help defend the city while he stays behind to give them some time. Ivan stood in front of Behrken and his men and told them if they want to take Moscow they will get passed him first, Behrken admired the Russian for his bravery and offered to spare his life if he surrendered but Ivan refused, after the conversation Ivan fires his gun at the Germans killing many of them, after unloading so much ammo Ivan was shot in the shoulder and then his leg causing him to collapse, Behrken stands near him as he brags about his men's superior weaponry and then asks the severely injured Ivan if he fears Death to which he answered "No" and then Ivan raised his arm holding a pistol and says "Do You?" right before shooting Behrken in the face killing him. Ivan succumbs to his injuries and died with a smile on his face knowing the Russia will fight another day, with his death he gave his country hope.

*Legacy:*

Later on that day the German Army captured the farm house and set up camp there, they discovered the bodies of both Ivan, Dmitri, and Behrken and had them buried to honor their sacrifices, especially Ivan's sacrifice for his Motherland, even in death Ivan Marcov gained the respect of the Wehrmacht as both a soldier and a man who loved his country. His son Nicolai Marcov was then recruited and fought for his country and in honor of his father during the Siege of Stalingrad. His family tradition survived to fight another day.