redoctober

If you post a picture of the record card i can take a look for you. It's worth bearing in mind that Long Service awards wouldnt have citations online anyway. but yeah, send a pic of the record card and i'll see what i can dig up

Guards Captain Fedor Pavlovich Dobrolovsky Senior Investigator - SMERSH - 9th Guards Rifle Division Award Card Order Booklet B 803052 Last name: Dobrovolsky Name and patrionymic: Fedor Pavlovich Rank: Guards Captain Gender: Male Birthyear: 1919 Birthplace: Vitebsk Oblast, Beshenkovichy District, Village of Khotensky, Bogryatsy Homestead Party membership: since March 1942 Education: Mid-level Nationality: Belorussian Time in Red Army: Since 11.1939 Place of service at awarding: Counter-Intelligence Section of the MGB, 9th Guards Rifle Division, Senior Investigator Place of work at present: Counter-Intelligence Section of the MGB, 71st Guards Rifle Division, Senior Investigator Home address: Vitebsk Oblast, Beshenkovsky District, Villlage of Khotensky, Bogryatsky Homestead Awards: Designation Serial Number Document Number Awarding Organization Red Star 1467702 Temporary Cert Zh298863 Decree of 6th Guards Army, 202/N 24.4.44 Patriotic War II 482172 Temporary Cert Zh309089 Decree of 6th Guards Army, 458/N 30.5.45 For the Defense of Moscow Cert Kh039499 Decree of 1.5.44 For Victory Over Germany Cert Zh0040445 Decree of 9.5.45 Verified by Chief of Staff of the 71st Guards Rifle Division, Guards Major Mazulin in August 1946 Award Sheet Last name, name, and patrionymic: Dobrovolsky, Fedor Pavlovich Rank: Guards Captain Duty position: Senior Investigator, Counter-Intelligence Section "SMERSH" 9th Guards Rifle Division Recommendation for the Order of the Patriotic War II Class Born: 1919 Nationality: Belorussian In Red Army: since 1937 Party membership: since March 1942, Party No.4550734 Previous combat: Since 1.41 on the Western Front, Since 1.44 of the 1st Baltic Front and 2.45 2nd Baltic and Leningrad Fronts Wounds or shell-shock: None Time in the Red Army: Since November 1939 Inducted by: Beshenkovichsky Region Millitary Commissariat, Vitebsk Oblast Previous Awards: Order of the Red Star by Military Council of the 39th Army, Decree 0270 of 12.1943 Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured] Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment Comrade Dobrovolsky in the position of Senior Investigator in the SMERSH on of the 9th Guards Rifle Division has been serving since September 1944 and before that worked in the Counter-Intelligence Section SMERSH of the 6th Guards Army. During the period of service in the Counter-Intelligence Section "SMERSH" of the 9th Guards Rifle Division, Comrade Dobrovolsky showed himself only in a positive manner, disciplined and attentive. While working as Senior Invetigator, Comrade Dobrovolsky, despite the difficulties of his work, regardless of the time did a great job of exposing persons held criminally liable for anti-Soviet activities according to the norms of the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code of the RSFSR. There were no cases of violation of the Criminal Procedure Code in this regard. At the same time, comrade Dobrovolsky did a lot of work to filter out the detained military personnel, among whom he exposed a number of persons who had committed desertion, self-mutilation and other hostile actions. In addition to this, Comrade Dobrovolsky exposed several German accomplices among the civilian population. For exemplary service, good performance in investigative work to expose hostile elements, comrade Dobrovolsky deserves to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. Signed Temporary Chief of the Counter-Intelligence Section "SMERSH" of the 9th Guards Rifle Division - Guards Captain Salovaev Deserving of the award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. Commander of the 9th Guards Rifle Division, Guards Colonel Bauyrshan Momyshuly Agreed - Deserving of the award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. Chief of the Counter-Intelligence Section "SMERSH" of the 2nd Guard Rifle Corps, Guards Lieutenant Colonel V. Kornitsky Deserving of the award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. Commander of the 2nd Guards Rifle Corps, Hero of the Soviet Union Guards General Major Baksov. Deserving of the award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. Chief of Counter-Intelligence Section "SMERSH" of the 6th Guards Army, Guards General Major N. Khandozhko 22nd May 1945

The Osoaviakhim and "Ready for Medal Defence" chain badges are some of my favourites.

1. (SFS) Moscow Factory of Sports Signs. Also shown as ZFS and ZSZ through various renamings. http://gerbowiki.ru/wiki/GerboWiki:Клейма/5 The above wiki has a pretty comprehensive list http://phalera.ru/ru/manufacturer/index?country=1 This website also lists factories by location and each page shows details of their known marks. Picture of the full obverse and reverse could also help tracking down the manufacturers

Thank you, it's one of my favourite things in my collection. As for why it's so damaged, I honestly have no clue. I have no pictures of him post-war that show his awards, so it's impossible to say if this was lost on his "Glorious path of combat", or whether one of his children/grandchildren were playing with his medals and lost in a field where it got ran-over by a tractor! I bought it Unresearched from someone who had no backstory about it, so I guess it will remain a mystery ?

Here is one of my favourite awards I own. There is something special about damaged and destroyed awards that makes me treasure them that little bit more. Aleksandr Kuz'mich Bezyazykov Rifle Battalion Commander - Stalingrad Aleksandr Bezyazykov was born in 1916 in Krasnodar Krai. He enlisted in the Red Army in 1937 and saw combat at Lake Khasan. He was injured twice during the Great Patriotic War, and still he fought bravely from 1941 to 1945. Record card Order booklet nr. A-105052 1. Last name: Bezyazykov 2. First name and patronymic: Aleksandr Kuzmich 3. Military rank: Major 4. Sex: Male 5. Year of birth: 1916 6. Place of birth: Krasnodar Krai, Novosibirsk Area 7. Party membership (since which year): Since April 1944 8. Education: Average 9. Nationality: Russian 10. Since which year in the Red Army: 1937-1946 11. Place of service (name of the unit) and position occupied at the time of the award: 121st Rifle Division, Chief of Staff for the 524th Rifle Regiment 12. Current place of service and position: Azti Deputy Chief of Staff 13. Home address of the awardee: Center No.24 Apartment 2 14. Record of all awards received: Name of the order or medal Serial number Number of the document Ground of award Red Star 65100 Order Booklet N105052 Decree of the South-western Front No.010/N of 26.09.1942 Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class 58668 Temp. Cert N.492606 Decree of the 60th Army No.072/N of 19.8.1943 Order of Suvorov 3rd Class 8787 Temp Cert N.347555 Decree of the 1st Ukrainian Front of 24.11.1943 No.0225/N Signature of the awardee: [signed] I confirm the correctness of the data and the signature of the awardee (position and signature): Military commissar of the Frunze region Major / [signed] / Budashirov 28th August 1946 Award sheet Last name, first name and patronymic: Bezyazykov, Aleksandr Kuz’mich Rank: Senior Lieutenant Position and unit: Commander of the 2nd Rifle Battalion, 285th Rifle Regiment, 112th Rifle Division Nominated for: Order of the Red Star 1. Year of birth: 1916 2. Nationality: Russian 3. Since when in the Red Army: Since 1937 4. Party membership: Not a member 5. Participation in combat (where and when): Lake Khasan in 1938. Patriotic War from 23.6 to 15.9.1941 on the Western Front and South-Western Front in a Machine Gun Platoon in the 587th Rifle Regiment, 190th Rifle Division. Since 25.7.1942 commander of a Rifle Battalion in the 385th Rifle Regiment, 112nd Rifle Division 6. Wounds and Contusions: Wounded 15.9.1941 and 28.7.1942 7. Awards received previously (for which merits): None 8. Inducted by which Regional Millitary Commissariat: Career Officer 9. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: ______________ Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits Comrade Bezyazykov, Alexander Kuzmich has proved himself during the battles with German invaders as steadfast and knowledgeable in his role as commander. During the Great Patriotic War comrade Bezyazykov whilst commander of the 2nd Rifle Battalion has led his battalion into combat and achieved victory over the enemy. On July 27th Comrade Bezyazykov's battalion was ordered to mount a night attack on Chir station. Comrade Bezyazykov took Chir Station and with it struck a huge blow on the enemy. From the 2nd to the 7th September, the battalion served in the defence of the area of Gumrak station and the Stalingrad Experimental Station. Despite the fact that the Hitlerites had undertaken their attack with a whole regiment, Bezyazykov, with only a handful of brave men prevailed and all of the enemy’s attacks were repulsed. On 05.09.42 a company of Hitlerites attacked Bezyazykov’s battalions’ position with whom they engaged and the attack was repulsed. The battalion destroyed 2 tanks, 3 vehicles, 1 mortar battery and up to 15 stockpiles of ammunition. On 06.09.42 the Hitlerites mounted a second offensive on Bezyazykov's position from the right flank. In great danger, sensing their plight, he himself led his battalion in the counter-attack and the Hitlerites attack was fully repulsed. The Germans lost 600 soldiers and officers, and abandoned their attempt to break through the front in the area defended by Bezyazykovs battalion. For his bravery and courage he is worthy of submission for the government award – the Order of the Red Star. 11.09.1942 Commander of the 385th Rifle Regiment Senior Lieutenant / [signed] / Balujko Millitary Commissar of the 385th Rifle Regiment Senior Commander / [signed] / Chumak

Here is an interesting Order of the Red Star awarded by decree in 1942 to Nikolai Semyenovich Gershon. By the time the Order was given out in 1986, he had changed his name to Nikolai Semyenovich Mikhlin. It's interesting to see that an award in the range of 3,700,000 was awarded by decree in December 1942. Mikhlin was living in Leningrad at the time his award was finally presented to him, not out in the wilderness, so his name change must have been the reason it took so long to get to him. Anyway, onto the research... Nikolai Semyenovich Mikhlin Sniper Squad Leader - 3rd Guards Motorized Rifle Division Award Card 3 November 1986, RSFSR, Leningrad, Kyibyshev Regional Military Commissariat 1. Last name: Mikhlin 2. Name and patrionymic: Nikolai Semenovich 3. Nationality: Russian 4. Gender: Male 5. Birthyear: 1921 6. Birthplace: Shklov, Mogilev Oblast 7. Party membership: n/a 8. Education: mid-level 9. Military rank: Guards sergeant (reserves) 10. Time in Red Army: 05.1940-06.1945 11. Place of service at awarding: Sniper Squad Leader – 3 Guards Motorized Rifle Division 12. Place of work at present: “Kontakt 4” – welder/instrumental technician 13. Home address: Leningrad, Rubinshtein St. Bldg. 26, Apt. 11 14. Awards: Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization Red Star 3.766.117 5 Army dated 4 December 1942 Verified by Kyibyshev Regional Military Commissariat Colonel A.A. Yushchenko on 03 November 1986 Award Sheet 1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Gershon, Nikolai Semenovich 2. Rank: Guards Sergeant 3. Duty position: Sniper Squad Leader – Blocking Battalion, 3 Guards Motorized Rifle Division Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star 4. Born: 1921 5. Nationality: Russian 6. In Red Army: since 1940 7. Party membership: Comsomol member 8. Previous combat: Western Front, Karmanov Region, Smolensk Oblast August-October 1942 9. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a 10. Previous awards: n/a 11. Inducted by: Kalinin Regional Military Commissariat, Leningrad 12. Home of record: Leningrad, Mezhdunarodnii Prospekt Bldg. 711, Apt. 34 Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment He has operated as a sniper squad leader since 5.9.42 on our defense’s lead edge near Kostino, Karmanov Region, Smolensk Oblast. By his personal example he has motivated his squad’s soldiers to destroy the enemy, which as a result his sniper squad has destroyed 239 fascist invaders from 5.9.42 to 7.10.42, of which Gershon personally killed 39. Prior to entering into combat Comrade Gershon applied full zeal to train his squad in the skill of sniper shooting and trained brave, accurate riflemen for action in combat. Signed Blocking Battalion Commander Guards Captain Mironov and Guards Politruk Alfimov on 8 October 1942 Endorsed Commander, 3 Guards Motorized Rifle Division, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Vochkov on 14.10.1942 Endorsed 5 Army Deputy Commander General-Lieutenant Fod(?)nskii and Division Commissar Ivanov on 31 October 1942

Captain Afanasiya Kondrat'evich Lysko Investigative officer of the Special Section of the NKVD, 256th Rifle Division On July 20, 1941, he was sent to the Moscow-Sofrino formation point, where he was appointed commander of a machine-gun company of the 256th rifle division of the 930th regiment. In 1941 he took part in the battles in the Kalinin region, the liberation of the city of Kalinin, where he was wounded in the stomach. He took part in the battles for liberation of the Smolensk region. When the blockade of Leningrad was broken in the area of the city of Shlissenburg, he was wounded in a tank explosion. For 2 months he was in a Partisan brigade in the Leningrad forests. He fought in the territory of Romania and Bulgaria, was wounded and did not reach Berlin. Throughout the war he fought in one unit, in the 256th rifle division. After the war he was decommissioned with the rank of captain. He had numerous awards: the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree, 2 Orders of the Red Star, a medal for military merit, a medal for the Defense of Leningrad and many others. He lived in the city of Khorol, Poltava region. After the war, he worked as director of the Khorol state forest nursery. He passed away on 24.04.2002. Red Star 1 (Missing) Award sheet On: Lysko, Afanasiya Kondrat’evich – Captain, Investigative Officer for the Special Section of the NKVD, 256the Rifle Division Nominated for: Order of the Red Star 1. Born in 1912 in Sumy Region, Ukrainian SSR 2. Nationality: Ukrainian 3. Social Status: White collar worker 4. Party membership: member of the All Union Party of Bolsheviks 5. Since when in the Red Army: Since 1932 6. Previous service: In the Patriotic was since July 1941 7. Wounds and contusions: Wounded twice in combat with the German-Fascist invaders 8. Recommendations for, or awards previously received: No prior awards and no prior recommendations 9. Home address: __________ Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits Comrade Lysko has been working in the Special Section of the Division since the early days of the formation of the 256th Rifle Division – July 1941. First in the position of Commander of a separate platoon of the special section of the NKVD, and since April 1942 in the position of Investigative Officer of a serving reconnaissance battalion and a separate communications battalion of the 256th Rifle Division. Comrade Lysko, as commander of a platoon of the Special Section of the NKVD was systematically sent with the fighters of the Division’s units, to the most critical areas of battle, where he successfully organized and led blocking battalions, combatting the panic-mongers and cowards. In the most critical moments of battle, comrade Lysko showed his initiative to ensure the victory of his unit in the battle against fascism. In December 1941, by the city of Kalinin, whilst with the soldiers of his platoon in the 930th Rifle Regiment, comrade Lysko, using his own initiative went to scout into the enemy’s rear in order to reconnoitre the firepower needed for the 930th Rifle Regiment to break through the enemy’s defensive arrangements. Comrade Lysko assumed fire on the superior enemy forces, obtaining valuable information about the enemy, scattering a group of fascists and then made his way back to the location of the 930th Infantry Regiment’s defence. In the battles against the fascists, comrade Lysko was seriously wounded twice, but despite the injuries – he refused to leave for the hospital and continued in his service. Whilst being surrounded, along with sections of the 256th Rifle Division in July 1942 at Sychevsky, Smolensk Region – comrade Lysko did not stop his operative service in the sub-units he served, denouncing cowards, alarmists and traitors with whom he waged a relentless struggle. Red Star 2 - Included Comrade Lysko, working as an officer of the SMERSH section, managed to properly organise the assessment of the Regiment's personnel. During the period of the combat from January 22nd 1944, to February 22nd of the same year, west of Novgorod, the Regiment did not have a single instance of immoral phenomenon. In the same location, whilst the Regiment was advancing, among the liberated population, he exposed 18 traitorous men – betrayers of the Motherland, working for the Germans, which contributed to the fulfilment of our combat missions. In the battles to the west of the city of Narva, Estonian SSR, since March 14th this year, whilst continually personally being in combat formations, he captivated the fighters to fulfil their combat duty. In the Battles from the 6th to 8th of April 1944, to the west of the city of Narva, Estonian SSR, when the enemy was numerically superior in manpower and tanks, and at elevation 32.2 cut off the headquarters and subdivision, Comrade Lysko rendered great assistance to the military command in making a combat decision. He personally formed subunits from the personnel of his subdivision and other units, thereby assisting in the suppression and holding back of the enemy. For his vigilance shown, personal bravery and courage, I apply for comrade Lysko to be awarded the governmental award – Order of the Red Star OPW - Included Whilst participating in battles on September 26th 1944 in the area of Lake Taleya in the Latvian SSR, whilst eating at the battalion's command post, he discovered a group of Germans who were trying to bypass the battalion's command post. Comrade Lysko, having gathered a group of 5 men, decisively attacked the Germans, as a result of which the group of Germans were scattered and 5 German soldiers were taken prisoner. During the period of preparation for combat on September 14th 1944, Comrade Lysko prevented an instance of treason to the Motherland at the hands of form Private in the 930th Rifle Regiment, GRINKO, who was sentenced by the VTK to 8 years imprisonment for this crime. Skilfully organizing the Chekist work in the Regiment and Blocking Units, Comrade Lysko prevented a number of cases of desertion and escape from the battlefield. All of those who had intended to defect from the unit were promptly detained. On September 20th Comrade Lysko, whilst in the combat formations of the unit, received a fourth wound – however, he did not leave the battlefield, continuing his work in the regiment to the present day. For courage and bravery shown in battle, as well as the skilful organization of the Chekist work and blocking units, I apply for comrade Lysko to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.

Today I chanced my luck to try and obtain citations for documented awards to NKVD personnel that i was unable to obtain 4 or 5 years ago and to my surprise, all of them were now successful! When did these NKVD awards all get added? I'm excited that i can go back through all of my NKVD awards and finally get those citations. The ones i've managed to get so far have been super interesting. Cheers, Tommy

Nice Awards, artillerymen research is nice

Thanks Auke I guess we'll just have to wait and see what comes back from the archives. In 1942 he's shown as NKVD: оперуполномоченный ОО НКВД 256 стрелковой дивизии in 1944, it says SMERSH: оперуполномоченный ОКР СМЕРШ 256 стрелковой дивизии later in 1944 it says SMERSH again: ст. оперуполномоченный (?) ОКР СМЕРШ 256 стрелковой дивизии Then I have his officers id from 1967 where he worked for the KGB in Poltava... Seemed like an interesting guy, hope i can find out more

ORAL ORDER OF THE CORPS HEADQUARTERS, SPOKEN TO, DECREE OF THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS No.02 OF 18.1.45 By the oral order of the Corps commander, the divison, by 19:00 of 19.1.45 should be concentrated in the towns of Vvidzev, Pabianice and Ksaberuv. Due to the large movement of other units along the Division's royte, traffic jams were often forming on the roads, which delayed the Division's movement. Thereby the Division did not reach it's district by 19:00. Following the lead Regiment to it's concentration area – Shinrelpov, Petrokoza at 0:20 20.1.45 they reached the northern approaches of Pabianice, where they met a strong enemy resistance and engaged in battle. The 57th Guards Cavalry Regiment following through towards the center of Pabianits in it's southeastern outskirts came across the enemy and engaged in combat. After a stubborn battle, the 55th and 57th Guards Cavalry Regiments completely cleared Pabianice and reached the defensive line: 55th Guards Cavalry Regiment – Shinkelyuv, Betrokozy; 57th Guards Cavalry Regiment – Pabianice. The enemy, in an effort to retake the abandoned line and close their encirclement around Lodz, against the 55th and 57th Guards Cavalry Regiment's threw up to 20 Tanks and Armored Personnel Carriers at our battalion headquarters. Until 20.1.45 the units fought a heavy battle, but did not back down a single step from the milestone they had reached. In this battle, the enemy suffered serious losses in manpower and equipment. The 53rd Guards Cavalry Regiment, following on the tail of the Divison by 1:00pm on 20.1.45 had reached the south outskirts had reached Kol. Vola-Zaradzinsk, where they were stopped by the headquarters in readiness to distinguish the success of the 55th and 57th Guards Cavalry Regiments – 800 metres west. At this boundary, the division facilitated the encirclement and capture of the city of Lodz, for which in an order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshall of the Soviet Union Stalin, “expressed gratitude for the excellent fighting” of the Division. From the first blow to the breakthrough from 15.1.45 to 20.1.45 the enemy suffered the following losses: 1700 Soldiers and officers destroyed, 72 vehicles, 16 tanks and APC's, 2 Anti-aircraft guns, 33 machine guns, 3 aircraft, 15 carts and up to 500 rifles and machine guns. Captured were: 281 Soldiers and Officers, 62 Horses, 5 saddles, 10 machine guns, 200 rifles and submachine guns, 10 cars, 1 radio station and special installation, 10 motorcycles, 2 steam locomotives, 542 wagons, 10 warehouses. In view of the fact that parts of the division were rapidly advancing forward, it was not possible to take into account all of the trophies and losses of the enemy. Seperate detachments and patrols moving on the flanks of the division, at a distance of up to 2km destroyed small enemy groups on their way and captured trophies, but often without informing the command. During the same time, the Division has suffered the following loses: 45 people killed, 183 woulded, 199 horses killed, 102 horses wounded, 1 car destroyed, 1 37mm anti-aircraft gun damaged. It should also be noted that how at 3:00 on 20.1.45 our units had knocked out the main group of Germans from Pabianice, in small houses, small pockets of enemy machine gunners continued to fight until noon on 21.1.45, and only by 12:00 on 21.1.45 were the small groups of machine gunners in Pabianice completely eliminated. At the completion of the fighting at Pabianice, on 20.1.45 an oral battle order was received from the headquarters of the Corps through the Operational Unit of the headquarters Guards Lieutenant Colonel Makarov to further pursue the enemy along the route: Pobiance, Zhitovoitsa, Babenets, Kiki, Yatyatus, Suchozheza, Viktorov, Vozniki, Seradz, Kostenzin and by 20:00 on 20.1.45 to capture the borders of: Ozhezhin, Slomkuv Mokry, Slomkuv Sukhy, Serodz and Smardzev.

According to the Combat Action Log book of the regiment, they describe the action that day as: The Regiment, at 8:00 made a route: Bentkuv, Chernocin, Tushin, Bogoyanitsa and Imerzadan to capture Pobianice. The Regiment and half of the 147th Mortar Regiment arrived at east Pobyanice at 17:30, leading the battle against small groups of enemy, moved to the north-east of Pobyanice, where they started a battle with a covering-group consisting of units of the “Hermann Goring” Tank Regiment and 302nd Artillery Regiment. As a result of which, up to 350 enemy soldiers and officers were destroyed, and up to 50 vehicles were destroyed. In the battles for Pobyanice , Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun squadron under the command of Guards Seniour Lieutenant Sharbin distinguished themselves, as did the battery of the regiment's artillery under the command of Suards Senior Lieutenant Perov and the 4 squadrons under the command of Guards Senior Lieutenant Stepov. After claiming the northeast Pobianice district, the regiment began to advance to Gorka-Pobianice The reference to the Hermann Goring regiment is interesting. I wonder if any of our peers who know more of German history could enlighten us further?

Award Card Order Booklet No.652913 1. Last name: Ol'ha 2. Name and patrionymic: Natan Yakovlevich 3. Rank: Guards Senior Sergeant 4. Gender: Male 5. Birthyear: 1902 6. Birthplace: City of Minsk 7. Party membership: Not a member 8. Education: Secondary 9. Nationality: Jew 10. Time in Red Army: From 1943 to 1945 11. Place of service at awarding: Senior Clerk, 55th Guards Cavalry Regiment, 15th Guards Cavalry Division 12. Place of work at present: URS, Central Defense Committee 13. Home address: City of Moscow, Small Meadow, Building 4/6 Apartment 15 14. Awards: Designation Serial Number Document Number Awarding Organization For Combat Service 1224444 Temporary Award Certificate B-712701 Decree of the 55th Guards Cavalry Regiment 3/N of 11.5.44 For Bravery 1551879 Temporary Award Certificate G-008253 Decree of the 55th Guards Cavalry Regiment 13/N of 15.9.44 Patriotic War 2nd Class 182763 Temporary Award Certificate D-525040 Decree of the 15th Guards Cavalry Division 04/N of 23.2.45 Red Star 1428363 Temporary Award Certificate Zh-078867 Decree of the 7th Guards Cavalry Corps 018/N of 3.6.45 Signature of the Awardee: [signed] Verified by Chief of Staff of the 3rd Section Captain / [signed] / Markeevich on 25th January 1946 Award sheet 1. Family name, name and patrionymic: Ol'ha, Natan Yakovlevich 2. Rank: Guards Senior Sergeant 3. Positon: Senior Staff Clerk, 55th Guards Cavalry Corps, 15th Guards Mozersky Red Banner Cavalry Division, 7th Guards Red Banner Cavalry Corps Recommended for: The Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class 4. Year of birth: 1902 5. Nationality: Jew 6. Party membership: Not a member 7. Participation in combat: Since 2.1944 in Belorussia on the 1st Belorussian Front 8. Wounds and contusions:None 9. Since when in the Red Army: Since March 1943 10. Inducted by: Marinsky Regional Military Commissariat, Novosibirsk Oblast 11. Whether recommended for an award previously, when and for what: Medal for Bravery by decree of the 55th Guards Cavalry Regiment No.013/N of 20.8.1944 12. Address of prospective awardee and family: Novosibirsk, 30 Soviet Street, Building 17 – Wife Ol'ha Estel Abramovna Short, concrete description of his feat of arms or accomplishments: During the offensive operations of the regiment against the German invaders from 14.1.45 Guards Sergeant Ol'ha showed courage and vigilance. In the battle for the city Pobianice on 20.01.45, Guard Sergeant Ol'ha showed great bravery and courage. When the Hitlerites severed the highway and the regimental column was cut into two parts, comrade Ol'ha found himself with a small group of soldiers guarding the regimental military banner. Leading the group, comrade Ol'ha decided it was better to die saving the sanctity of the regiment – with the regimental guards banner, under fierce enemy machine gun fire he broke through to the nearest settlement, disappearing into a barn until the danger had subsided and thereby saved the military Guards Banner. For his courage and valor, and for displaying bravery, Guard Sergeant Ol'ha is worthy of being awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class. Commander of the 55th Guards Cavalry Regiment Guards Lieutenant Colonel / [signed] / Mishukov 30.1.1945 A very beautiful example without mintmark

Thanks SovPha 2 of his other citations aren't on Podvig (likely due to the NKVD/Smersh nature) but i have contact digging in the archives for more info on him. I'll create a thread when i hear back from them