Soviet Commissar Colonel Belykh's Researched Group

[Guest Rick Research]

(a work in progress)

This amazingly detailed research group is being shared with us by the current owner. Like all other Soviet groups in the entire universe, it was formerly owned by Dave and passed through another member here's hands to end up at its current home. I just scanned this. Documentation with this group, translated by me, includes not ONLY award citations, not ONLY personnel records, but the actual FILE xeroxed for Belykh, with everything neatly typed out (none of that horrible splotchy wartime typing or illegible handwriting or unknowable unit abbreviations, at least for his personnel records!!! ), but ALSO evaluations for promotions, and versions of his "Autobiography" as well. I have never seen MORE information.

Here is the Commissar himself, taken between 1951 and 1953:

[attachmentid=19412]

Vasily Terent?evich Belykh was born 13 November 1916 in the village of Drabovo (or in some records, Duninovich), Drabovsky District, Poltava Province. Ukrainian of peasant class origin. Attended school in Drabovo to 10th Class in 1937?able to read and write English with a dictionary. Komsomol 1932-39. Joined CPSU April 1939 Party member number 2,761,264.

Served in the Red Army as a career Political Commissar 1 October 1937 to 14 March 1961:

Junior Political Worker (Mladshy Politruk = Second Lieutenant) 9 December 1938

Political Worker (Politruk = First Lieutenant) 10 June 1941

Senior Political Worker (Starshy Politruk = Captain) 10 March 1942

Kapitan (Captain, change in rank titles) per 6 November 1942

Maior (Major) 22 April 1943

Podpolkovnik (Lieutenant Colonel) 12 October 1946

Polkovnik (Colonel) 8 July 1958

Military Merit Medal #268,568 on13 April 1943 (Party Secretary/Commissar of 92nd Tank Brigade)

Military Merit Medal #271,878 on 22 May 1943 (Party Secretary/Commissar of 92nd Tank Brigade)

Military Merit Medal no serial # on 24 June 1948 (10 years service, Deputy Battalion Commander for Political Matters, 72nd Independent Armored Car Battalion, 43rd Guards Rifles Brigade)

Order of the Red Star #292,229 on 24 May 1943 (Party Secretary/Commissar of 92nd Tank Brigade)

Order of the Red Star #3,098,750 on 3 November 1953 (15 years long service, THIS ORDER IS MISSING, as Senior Instructor on Marxism-Leninism of 3rd Guards Mechanized Army)

Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class # 109,370 on 28 June 1944 (Deputy Regimental Commander for Political Matters, 1205th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment)-- recommended for OPW 1st Class.

Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class # 147,605 on 28 April 1945 (Deputy Regimental Commander for Political Matters, 1205th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment)-- recommended for Red Banner.

Order of the Red Banner # 223,795 on 30 May 1945 (Deputy Regimental Commander for Political Matters, 1205th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment)-- recommended for Order of Lenin.

Attended Party School of the 75th Rifles Division to 1938, Kharkov Military Political School 1939, Red Army Propaganda School in Smolensk 1941. Took academic courses for political commissars at the Tank & Mechanized Forces Academy in Moscow 1944. Gorkovsky Military Political School 1946-47. Took correspondence courses for the Military Political Academy ?in the name of Lenin? 1947-50, graduating with Diploma #B 251712 (badge granted retroactively and correct pre-1957 type).

Father Terenty Zakharovich Belykh , peasant, died in tsarist army 1916 (or 1917?varies). Mother Marfa Eliseevna Radchenko, since 1930 on Drabovo Collective Farm.

Married Lyodmila Zakharovna Pronich, born 1922 Brusilov in Zhitomir Province. Wife and children living in Kiev since 1946: daughter Tamara born 1946, son Aleksandr born 1947.

WW2 service at fronts =

July to October 1941 on Northwestern Front in 523rd Rifles Regiment of 188th Rifles Division (wounded)

June to December 1942 on Western Front in 92nd Independent Tank Brigade

January to June 1943 on Northern Caucasus Front in 92nd Independent Tank Brigade

Match 1944 to May 1945 on 1st White Russian Front with 1205th Independent Self-propelled Artillery Regiment

Wounded:

20 October 1941, lightly (unspecified)

15 September 1942, lightly in left cheek

2 June 1944, lightly in right arm or hand (same word in Russian for both)

Service in the Red Army =

October 1937 to February 1938: Cadet in Political School of 223rd Rifles Regiment, 75th Rifles Division, Kharkov Military District

February to August 1938: Assistant Political Worker in school above

August to December 1938: Company Political Worker in 223rd Rifles Rgt, 75th Rifles Division

December 1938 to September 1939: cadet at Kharkov Military-Political School

September 1939 to May 1940: Political agitation instructor in 147th Rifles Division, Kharkov Military District

May to September 1940: Instruction Battery Political Worker in 231st ?ODPTO? (whatever form of artillery that was) in 147th Rifles Division, then in Odessa Military District in the city of Aleksandriya, taking part in the 1940 occupation of Bessarabia in Rumania.

September and October 1940: Instruction Battery Political Worker in 142nd (his 1951 autobiography says 132nd ) ?ODPTO? of 74th Rifles Division, Odessa Military District, city of Smolensk

October 1940 to July 1941: Student at Red Army Military-Political School of Propaganda in Smolensk

July and August 1941: ?on reserves? (i.e. no assignment) Northwestern Front

August to October 1941: Regimental Propagandist in 523rd Rifles Regiment of 188th Rifles Division, Northwestern Front

October 1941 to February 1942: recuperating (from wound) at Evacuation Hospitals in cities of Sukhoi Log and Gorky

February 1942 to September 1943: Secretary of the Communist Party and Senior Instructor for Party organization work in 92nd Independent Tank Brigade on the Western and Northwestern Fronts

September 1943 to February 1944: Student in academic courses for improvement of staff officers at the Tank and Mechanize Forces Academy ?in the name of Stalin? in Moscow

February 1944 to December 1945: Deputy Regimental Commander for political matters of 1205th Independent Self-propelled Artillery Regiment of the 1st White Russian Front (and GoSFiG after the war)

December 1945 to February 1946: ?on reserves? (no assignment) Military Political Administration of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany

February to December 1946: Deputy Regimental Commander for political matters of the 58th Tank Regiment, 23rd Guards Mechanized Division in the GoSFiG

December 1946 to October/November (overtyped) 1947: student in classes for deputy unit commander of political matters at the Gorkovsky Military Political School

November 1947 to March 1948: Senior Instructor for Party organization work on political staff of the 113rd Guards Rifles Division, Tovrichesky (sp? see below) Military District

March 1948 to March 1951: Deputy Battalion Commander for political matters of the 72nd Independent Guards Armored-car battalion, 43rd Guards Rifles Brigade, Tavrichesky (sp? see above) Military District

March 1951 to November 1953: Senior Instructor for Marxist-Leninist Readiness on political staff of the 3rd Guards Mechanized Army, GoSFiG

November 1953 to November 1956: Assistant Division Commander for political matters of 19th Guards Mechanized Division, 3rd Army, GoSFiG

November 1956 to May 1957: Army Political Matters Inspector of the 5th Guards Mechanized Army, White Russian Military District

May to November 1957: Inspector of Organizational Instruction Department of the political staff of 5th Guards Tank Army, White Russian Military District

November 1957 to May 1959: Commander for Political Matters and Deputy Divisional Commander for political matters of 29th Tank Division, White Russian Military District

May 1959 to January 1961: Assistant Commander for Political Matters of the 5th Guards Tank Army

January 1961: At disposal of the Political Administration of the White Russian Military District

14 March 1961: ?released to the reserves until 60th birthday??discharged to Leninsky District Military Commissariat of the City of Kiev, with permission to wear his former military uniform.

[Guest Rick Research]

Decorations:

[attachmentid=19413]

[attachmentid=19429]

[Guest Rick Research]

In chronological order, his WW2 awards' citations--

FIRST Military Merit Medal, third on top row of ribboned medals above

[attachmentid=19417]

and the citation:

[attachmentid=19418]

?Captain Belykh, V. T. works as an instructor in political matters and holds the office of Brigade party Commission Secretary. In actions of the brigade and with the staff of 46th Army he has energetically assisted Party organization and command ? to prepare the personal staff and material units for battle.

He has occupied and quickly fulfilled all assignments and instructions.

Under battle conditions he has been well organized in gaining acceptance of the Party and shaping Party matters.

He deserves to be decorated with the medal ?For Military Merit.

March 1943, 92nd Tank Brigade Commander for Political Matters, Lt.Col. Scribble

Approved 7 March 1943 Commander of 92nd Tank Brigade, Col. Scribble

Approved 17 March 1943, Commander of Armored and Mechanized Forces on the Northern Caucasus Front, Col. ?Yarkov?

Issued 13 April 1943?

[Guest Rick Research]

Commissar Belykh had INDIVIDUAL AWARD RECORD CARDS for each of his two wartime MMMs!!!

This belongs to the first one, in third place on the top row of ribboned medals above:

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[attachmentid=19421]

[Guest Rick Research]

His second MMM, in second place on the top row of ribboned awards above:

[attachmentid=19422]

and the citation (see what Poor Ricky has to work with, boys and girls!!!):

[attachmentid=19423]

?On the staff of the 92nd Tank Brigade under the command of ComBrig Colonel Martynov, Captain Belykh, Vasily Terentievich worked as the instructor for political matters and the combined position of Party Mission Secretary in battles on the Northern Caucasus Front during the months of February-March 1943, undertaking the most active participation in readiness of the Party organization and {Communism?} for military service and building up military offensive spirit among the personal staff during the battles for Aushedz Station, Mogukorovskaya, Troitskaya, Svistel?-{illegible} etc, In the period of battle, carried out great work for growth of the Party in creating full-blooded companies (level) Party organization, immediate {?syvaya?} results for position among the personal staff, sub-units, and units of the brigade.

Deserves to be awarded the state-decoration Medal ?for Military Merit.?

22 April 1943, 92nd Tank Brigade Commander for Political Matters, LtCol ?Sverchkov?

Approved 22 April 1943, Commander of 92nd Tank Brigade, Colonel ?Martynov?

Approved 22 May 1943, Political Commander of 56th Army, Colonel ?Yememenov? ?

[Guest Rick Research]

And the SECOND Award Record Card for that MMM!

[attachmentid=19430][attachmentid=19431]

[Guest Rick Research]

Order of the Red Star:

[attachmentid=19424]

citation text:

[attachmentid=19425]

?Major Belykh, V. T. took part in the battle for Nizhny {..}usany on the staff of the 92nd Tank Brigade under the command of Colonel Martynov, in the office of instructor of political matters-Secretary of the Party Commission. Present at the time of breakthrough of the enemy?s defensive lines, sharing the combat conditions of the units, where he carried out great Party-political work. Under his leadership in direct {illegible} battle he assumed the instruction of 47 men as Party candidates of the best {illegible} and commanders from the tank crews and frontline units {illegible} to him for great Party-political work in large classes, maintaining high political morale position for battle and command, fulfilling responsibilities for objectives in breaking through the defensive zones of the enemy. In the assault on Hill 98.5 he participated amidst the first unit to rush into the enemy?s trenches.

Deserves to be awarded the State Order of the ?Red Star.?

9 May 1943, 92nd Tank Brigade Commander for Political Matters, Major Illegible

Approved 9 May 1943, 92nd Tank Brigade Commander, Colonel ?Martynov?

Approved 16 May 1943. Commander of Tank & Mechanized Forces of the Northern Caucasus Front, Colonel ?Yarkov?

[Guest Rick Research]

OPW2:

[attachmentid=19426]

citation text:

[attachmentid=19427]

?Major Belykh, V.T. on 30.4.44 in battle for the population points Kustich and Solovich, took personal combat leadership of two batteries and skillfully organized cooperation with the counter attacking 218th RifRgt of 77th GdsRifDiv and by violent counterattack of the second battery, the enemy was driven from population points Kustich and Solovich as far as the River (T?G?)ur?n.

1.5.44 4 batteries of the 1205th Self-propelled ArtRgt combined with infantry of 218th RifRgt courageously struck and drove out the enemy from the suburb of Tuzhisk.

In these actions?30.4.44 and 1.5.44?Comr. Belykh personally participated in resourceful combat leadership under battle conditions.

For the successful operations of these two batteries, which were led by Comr. Belykh, the commander of the 77th GdsRifDiv, Major General {V. S.} Askalepov, in his order expressed the gratitude of his personal staff.

For initiative and skillful leadership of combat operations, Comr. Belykh deserves to be awarded the State Order of the ?Patriotic War 1st Class.

(no day) June 1944, 25th Rifles Corps Commander of Political Matters, Col. ?A. Kropachev?

Approved 6 June 1944, Commander of 25th Rifles Corps, Major General {A. B.} ?Barinov?

Approved 17 June 1944, 69th Army Commander of Political Matters, Gds Col ?Vashinevsky?

(no day) June 1944 69th Army commanders (NOT signed)

8 July 1944 Per decree of 5 July of 69th Army, OPW2 approved,? 2nd Dept CO, Major Illegible?

[Guest Rick Research]

OPW1 looks very coppery but does indeed seem to be the correct gold. ALL these awards are in untouched for half a century condition, with the silver well on the tonal scale towards anthracite coal, so THIS is dark too. The previous owners may wish to comment.

[attachmentid=19432][attachmentid=19433]

and citation:

[attachmentid=19440]

?14.1.45 in the breakthrough of defensive positions in the area of Lobetsko Stare, serving as deputy regimental commander for political matters, Comr. Belykh participated with the combat command in the combat conditions of the regiment.

Directly on the field of battle, at risk of his own life Comr. Belykh after plain conversation with every consideration, lifted the combat spirit of the regiment and mobilized the personal staff for fulfillment of combat objectives.

Directly in combat conditions, organized acceptance with distinction in battle of members of the Party.

Personally participated in combat for capture of the city of Zvolen?, at the head of the batteries, upholding instructions {{unknown word}} combat of the 218th Gds RifRgt.

Courageous, full of initiative, and well-delivered mass-Party work with shaping the regiment in fulfillment of instructions, in many ways by his own personal methods.

Deserves to be awarded the State Order of the ?Red Banner.?

17 January 1945, 1205th Self-propelled ?Red Banner? Artillery Regiment Commander, Gds Maj. ?Kolobov?

Approved 2(5/8?) January 1945, 25th Rifles Corps Commander of Political Matters, Col. ?Kropachev?

Approved (overstamped) February 1945, 69th Army Commander of Political matters, Gds. Col. ?Vishnevsky?

Approved 24 (over-typed ? March?) 1945, Commander of 25th Rifles Corps, Major General ?Barinov?

Approved (no date), Commander of Tank and Mechanized Forces 69th Army, Col. ?Kerkassky?

Per decree 28 April 1945 of 69th Army, OPW1 approved, CO 2nd Dept., Maj. Admin Svcs Scribble?

[Guest Rick Research]

And his final award of the Great Patriotic War, Order of the Red Banner. Notice that for the third time in a row, his award was downgraded.

[attachmentid=19435]

citation:

[attachmentid=19436]

?Participant in battles for breakthrough of defensive positions around the district of {{initial obscured by fold}}essin. As deputy regimental commander for political matters, mobilized the political apparatus of the regiment for explaining the importance of our offensive, educating the personal staff in the spirit of devotion to our Homeland. Personally participated with the batteries and by his example and enthusiasm inspired the soldiers and officers for fulfillment of combat objectives. Reached such a situation, that he was always present as a political worker among the active sub-units. Watched that in combat the military sub-units were neither tried nor found wanting. Often {{obscured by fold}} delivered food, ammunition, and gasoline in combat {{obscured by fold}}.

Greatly popularized excellent combat operations with crews {{obscured by fold and mis-typing} as friends. Thanks to his good delivery, the personal staff of the regiment was educated in the spirit of devotion to the Party of Lenin-Stalin {{obscured in fold}}. Certified in fulfillment of combat that hindered and in incurred the damage of the following: destroyed 4 guns, 50 mortars, 60 machine guns, and over 400 soldiers. Captured {{obscured by fold}} certified tank, 7 guns. Seized in captivity 503 soldiers and officers. Deserves to be awarded the state Order of Lenin.

(No date) Commander of 1205 Self-propelled Artillery Regiment, Guards major ?Kolobov?

(no day) May 1945 Deserves to be awarded Order of the Red Banner, 25th Rifles Corps Commander of Political Matters, Colonel ?Kropachev?

Approved 12 May 1945, 25th Rifles Corps Commander, Major General {{N.I.}} ?Trufanov?

Approved 19 May 1945, 69th Army Commander of Political Matters, Guards Col. ?Vishinevsky?

Per Decree of 69th Army, issued 30 May 1945, Commander 2nd Dept, Major of Admin Svcs Scribble?

This is a pretty good example of how Red Banners had become devalued for senior personnel by the end of the war, but in contrast with his under-rewarded OPW2 action, I suppose it all worked out overall in the end!

[Guest Rick Research]

His final awards: 1958 Armed Forces Jubilee and 20 Years Service Medal were worn individually in the "mix and match" typical of Soviet full parade dress.

Here is Commissar Colonel Comrade Belykh's "normal" Award Record Card:

[attachmentid=19437]

Oddly enough, the only thing MISSING from this otherwise 125% OVER-complete group is his 1953 Red Star for 15 years long service:

[attachmentid=19438]

even that came with a "citation" (rather than the usual nothing but names mass Ukaz roll) extolling what a wonderful all around Party of Lenin-and-Stalin-loving Soviet guy he was.

Questions remain: with all of this what happened to Vasily Terent'evich AFTER HE RETIRED? No endless Jubilees from 1965 on...

was he already DEAD by then?

No matter how much we DO know, there will always be things we can never know!

[Guest Rick Research]

Never before has it been my good fortune to encounter one of these: the complete, whole, entire, 100% neatly typed "real" Personnel Folder containing "everything"--

[attachmentid=19452]

The usual double sided sheet synopsis we usually get back with research is NOTHING compared to the dozens of pages in this folder! Very often only the current rank's date actually shows in full-- not so here, with everything nice and neat and tidy and (did I mention this?) legible.

[Guest Rick Research]

Future Arrest Category Questions!!!!!

Where and when did you ever cross the state frontiers of the Soviet Union?

Were you or any members of your family ever in areas beyond Soviet control?

[attachmentid=19453]

Freakishly, service amidst the millions-strong Red hordes was still considered grounds for... suspicion! Belykh served in Poland June 1944 to January 1945, and in Germany from January 1945 to December 1946, and again from March 1951 (this file was originally made out as the cover above shows, as of August 1951)

This is the SHORT (!!!) version of the "suspicious family" question, gone into at great length in the Autobiograpohy paperwork. Belykh's widowed mother remarried in 1920, so to his one married sister of full-blood, the other brothers and sisters are actually half-siblings. (Did that make them... half suspicious?)--

Mother Marfa Radchenko was under German occupation for only 6 months. But sisters Maria Terent'evna Matyokh, Yevdokiya Filippovna Radchenko, and brothers Ivan Filippovich Radchenko and Aleksandr Filippovich Radchenko in the village of Duninovich in the Drobovsky (spelled "Drabovsky" earlier in the same file-- discrepancy alert!!!) Raion of Poltava Oblast were under the Nazi heel from September 1941 to September 1943. Unfortunate Yevdokia was carted off as slave labor to Germany 1943-45 as well. All are excruciatingly "accounted for" in other parts of the files.

[Guest Rick Research]

Reverse sides of the double rows of mounted medals:

[attachmentid=19454]

[Wild Card]

Hi Rick,

Thank you for a fantastic presentation on a super group.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

[Gerd Becker]

Thanks for another fascinating research

Gerd

[Ed_Haynes]

Without the research and historical interpretation, this would be a lovely group. With it, the "man behind the medals", his time and his history, all come alive. It is the effort at understanding the individual bits of paper, at piecing these together into the story of a life, that makes this such a powerful slice of history. And all of this comes together to make these medals more than just pretty pieces of metal, enamel, and cloth. Bravo!

Thank you Rick!

[Stogieman]

Well, there's just something about mounted groups........ Now, if you just had his ribbon bar....

[Ed_Haynes]

As the group has now found a new temporary (yet loving) home, a "group shot":

[Gerd Becker]

As the group has now found a new temporary (yet loving) home, a "group shot":

Nice group, Ed.

[Guest Rick Research]

God. You're the THIRD owner in SIX months, Ed-- so I hope YOUR "temporary" extends a better run on a group that

if it had been within MY budget

would have been PERMANENTLY housed until I went off on my Final Dirt Nap.

This is the first and ONLY group I have seen with the Literal Everything of a COMPLETE FILE copied there... all the "Autobiography" stuff, service evaluations for promotions, etc etc etc.

How can sucha KEEPER end up being...

rented?

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh.

[Ed_Haynes]

We all rent them. No intent to move these lovelies on until I move on to . . . whatever 'tis that comes next. (Worm food seems most likely.) I am always acutely aware that I am only a transitional custodian of what comes to live with me. This means I have the duty to add to our knowledge, to the accompanying research, as I am only the temporary keeper of this person's memory and their medals. When it moves on in several decades or so (I hope), someone else will house Colonel Belykh's awards. No intent to let go of them any time soon, trust me.

Edited May 8, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Bryan]

As the group has now found a new temporary (yet loving) home, a "group shot":

Nice group!

Why temporary???

EDIT: I have just read your previous post. Hope I could be the next keeper in the next decade!

Edited May 9, 2006 by Soviet