As you know, in the city of Rybinsk, there are incredibly many remarkable monuments, but there is one different from the others, because it involves one ancient belief: who will be able to remove from the sheath of the General's sword Kharitonov, he will become the owner good luck. It is clear that to see the famous blade warlord, because his checker, located directly on the monument, monolithically poured out of bronze, resulting in the inner part of the sheath has no bright shiny steel.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Kharitonov – Lieutenant General – is one of the first who was awarded the order of Kutuzov I degree and who has lived 44 years, literally completely surrounded with mystery. Many people know that the way of life of this man was very complicated, because not only was he the Lord of victories, but loudly and fell into the pit of defeat.

Today the monument to F. M. Kharitonov is located on the main Avenue in the Western part of the Park area, in the Central part of the rounded square at the intersection of several Park avenues.

4 June 1947 it was decided to install a commemorative monument to Lieutenant Kharitonov. The opening ceremony of the monument took place on 10 July 1949. The total height of the monument was 4 meters when the size of the pedestal 4, 2 meters. Directly the bust was cast in bronze, and the pedestal is made of granite.

On the monument there is an inscription, built of bronze letters, which reads as follows: "Lieutenant-General F. M. Kharitonov 11.01.1899 year – 28.05.1943 of the year". Just below there is the spitting image of a bronze bas-relief, which depicts the General's sword and baldric. The chief architect of the monument was made Liburd I. G., and the sculptor M. G. Manizer Manizer, prior to the execution of this monument, was known as the author of the mask of Stalin and global monumental works intended for the metro in Moscow. Depicted on the monument checker became a true sample of 1940 year, while on the upper bushing has a projecting the image of the star, and an engraved image in the form of a wreath decorated with ribbon.

To date the project is included in the excursion program for the city of Rybinsk.

Future famous General was born in 1899 in a small village Vasilevsky, on the left Bank of the Volga river – the city of Rybinsk. Fedor Kharitonov graduated from the famous Karachinskoe College, then worked at various enterprises of Rybinsk, as well as actively engaged in social activities. In one of the museums in the city still houses a large wall newspaper called "the Hedgehog", which was once painted in the future known as commander.

Military career Kharitonov was started at the front of the civil war, namely in Chapayev division. In late 1931 he completed military courses "the Shot", and then took command of a rifle regiment. Soon it was waiting for the appointment to the post of chief of staff of the infantry division, and then the body. After some time, Fedor Kharitonov received the post of military Commissar, followed by studies at the Academy of the General staff. In the summer of 1940 Kharitonov received the title of major General.

During the great Patriotic war Kharitonov was the commander of the airborne corps, and in the autumn of 1941 he headed the ninth army. During the war, this heroic man proved surprisingly Patriotic person and was acutely aware of this enormous responsibility for the fate of so many soldiers. Kharitonov cavalry attacked the enemy tanks near Taganrog and was able to break out of the encirclement under the city of Melitopol. It is important to note that he was involved in the attack, passing near Rostov-on-don, because here was destroyed German tank group.

28 may 1943 legendary General Kharitonov died from a serious illness; he was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Today the monument to F. M. Kharitonov slightly darkened, like the handle, but many do not lose hope that the memory of this great man never "darken".