Egorka

Combat diary of division Azul (250 Inf.Div) for the night recon mission on 06 April 1945. The bold part about 10th company is the actual action described above in KORSUNOV's citation. OPERATIONS DIARY OF THE SPANISH VOLUNTEER DIVISION (DEV) (XXXII) – APRIL 1-6, 1942 DIARIO DE OPERACIONES DE LA DIVISIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE VOLUNTARIOS (DEV) (XXXII) ----------------------- Day 6 , April 1942 Nighttime offensive reconnaissance was conducted east of the WOLCHOW along the Division's entire front. Three groups from the 10/269 crossed the river south of the SLUTKAS [Слутка] observatory, flanking and assaulting three fortified enemy houses. Close combat ensued, and the enemy was expelled from their positions. Captured equipment included one light machine gun and eight rifles. Our losses: 5 killed, 6 wounded. A patrol from the I/262, led by an officer, advanced 2 km into enemy territory near USCHERKO [Ушерская ?]. After being discovered by superior forces, the patrol withdrew, destroying an enemy outpost and killing two soldiers without incurring losses. A group from the 263rd Regiment conducted reconnaissance on enemy positions south of SLUTKA, finding them deserted. One resisting enemy soldier was killed, and a rifle was recovered. Another group from the II Battalion of the same regiment advanced on the enemy position "Hill of Mysteries" between VADACHOWO and MOLINO ROJO. Two fortified enemy posts, each manned by approximately 15 soldiers, were destroyed. The patrol returned with one light machine gun and three rifles. Our losses: 2 killed, 4 wounded. Enemy artillery fired on their own abandoned positions in the 269th Infantry Regiment’s sector. An enemy anti-tank gun fired intensely from southeast of KOWALUWO. Our forces concentrated fire on XXXXXX. At 22:00, a reconnaissance patrol from the Exploration Group made contact with the enemy east of the WOLCHOW, completing their harassment mission and returning without incident by 01:00. Enemy and friendly aviation activity was normal. Reorganization: Forces previously under the 126th Division's command ceased their dependence on it and were redeployed to: II Battalion, 269th Infantry Regiment: NOWGOROD. Two anti-tank guns, 14/269: WODSSKOWA. 9th Company, 263rd Infantry Regiment: WITKA. River and Lake Status: The WOLCHOW flows freely in the 262nd Regiment's sector. In the 263rd Regiment's sector, the ice layer remains 15 cm thick. In the 269th Regiment's sector, the thickness is slightly greater. Ice on Lake ILMEN exceeds 30 cm in thickness. Casualties among personnel and livestock: Personnel: 262nd Regiment: 1 killed. 263rd Regiment: 2 killed, 4 wounded (troops). 269th Regiment: 5 killed, 6 wounded. Artillery Regiment: Captain Manuel Gabeiras Montero, hospitalized. Livestock: No incidents reported.

This is from the book "Bulgarian orders and medals" b prof. Pavlov. Doesn't answer your question though.

Please, meet Pvt. KORSUNOV Ivan Semyonovich 1919, artillery spotter of 430 high caliber howitzer artillery regiment of the Supreme Command Reserve. Bestowed with ORS for holding against a reconnaissance raid of the Spanish volunteer division Azul (250 Inf.Div) on the nigh 05-06 April 1942. Later, after being wounded, served in a reconnaissance on foot platoon of 151 rifle regiment (earned FCM, BM and ORS). The action took place on the night 05-06 April 1942, when the Spanish conducted a reconnaissance operation along the whole division front. The river Volhov was still covered with 20cm of ice and could be crossed. ORS 42359 citation: Under the cover of darkness of the night 05-06 April 1942, after an intensive mortar and MG barrage, enemy submachine-gunners detachment 25-30 strong from the Spanish 250 Infantry Division crossed the river Volkhov and attacked the observation post of the 7th artillery battery, which was located in the village Pakhotnaya Gorka. The enemy detachment consisted of German and Spanish troops. Like feral beasts and screaming, the enemy charged our observation post. Having spotted the enemy approach, Pvt. KORSUNOV, who manned the post, opened rifle fire and continued until all his ammunitions were depleted. Having ran out of rounds, comrade KORSUNOV trew two hand grenades at the bestial Fascists. Then he ran along the trench towards the neighbouring observation post of the 9th battery. The German invaders also now charged the same way. Together with the head of the artillery reconnaissance of the 3rd artillery squadron Sr.Lt. DYVAN, he bravely and skilfully defended agains the enemy. As the result of this effort, 5 killed and 1 wounded Fascist remained lying on our territory near the observation post. Among the killed, there was 1 officer, and 1 officer was severely wounded. Having lost their officer, the enemy soldiers began retreating. The enemy offensive was repelled. with large casualties among the Fascists. The retreating Fascists carried away the other killed and wounded from area away from the observation post. The next morning, it was visible, that the Germans were burying their dead and drove away the wounded to the rear in vehicles. Comrade KORSUNOV has been the best artillery spotter and an exemplary soldier during his whole front line service. Recommended for order "RED BANNER" by Col. POSPELOV, the commander of 430 high caliber howitzer artillery regiment of the Supreme Command Reserve. Next I will compare the combat diaries of the Spanish and the Soviet union for the same night.

Cool! Thank you for sharing!

Well done! Indeed good qualified answers on your topic were given.

Here is another just like that (presented as accreditation badge of a journalist from the USSR) and also with exactly the same engraving, so it is not unique in that sense and rules out “memento” theory. The same badges also found without “Moscow”. https://forum.faleristika.info/viewtopic.php?t=361659&ysclid=m5imwjqlpb664001011

The 4 men who participated in the same raid all were bestowed with OGIII on the same day.

OLEJNIKOV's mate from the same 1st rifle battalion of 29 rifle regiment, 38 RD. https://gmic.co.uk/topic/84147-order-glory-iii-50876/

Please, meet private SHEZHKO Demyan Minovich 1898. Horse rider of ammunition supply platoon of the 3rd rifle company, 1 rifle battalion, 29 rifle regiment, 38 rifle division. Bestowed with order Glory III class for a raid resulting in capture of a POW. The action most likely took place on the night 14-15 May 1944 in the forested mountain area near Rumanian town Târgu Neamț. Citation reads: The commander ordered a reconnaissance mission. Comrade SNEZHKO together with his friends advanced into a forest. Unknown awaited them ahead and they had to advance cautiously. Undetected they snuck into the depth of German defence recording enemy fire positions. In one of the trenches they spotted three Rumanian soldiers. Surprise attack decided outcome of the engagement in which our four soldiers took one prisoner. But the commotion was noticed by Rumanian machine gunners who opened fire at our scouts. Two of our scouts remained fighting, but two others flanked the enemy machine-gunners and using hand grenades silenced them. Now they had to return without delay. Taking the prisoner and a light machine gun, the four brave warriors successfully returned to our positions and reported on successful completion of the mission and delivered useful intelligence. For courage and gallantry in battle, comrade SNEZHKO is recommended for state award order “Glory III class”. signed by the commander of 29 rifle regiment Guards Lt. Colonel NAKAIDZE.

Have you already flipped the image? If not, then I guess it should look like this if you press it on paper...

Hello, Thank you for interesting details regarding awarding process. Last time I asked (a few years ago), I was told the archives holding the information on awardee names and award numbers were lost (fire?), so these partisan stars are not researchable... only if it comes with a personal document, as you mentioned. Is this correct?

If I may... “Major of the medical service Comrade MARKON has been working as the head of the medical department since September 3, 1942. He is 62 years old, but he works tirelessly around the clock. The workload of his department often reaches 200%. The mortality rate in the department, thanks to great care and qualified treatment is 0.2% (there is no place for another digit in front of 0, plus he was the head of a therapeutic ward, which can hardly have high mortality rate). The discharge into the unit is 21.5%; the percentage of evacuation reaches almost 50%. About 400 (additional) wounded received qualified medical aide in his therapeutic medical ward during their short-term stay there. In 1943, Markon joined the candidates of the All-Union Communist Party. With reports on political and medical topics, Comrade MARKON actively participates in the socio-political life of the hospital. His work, boundless devotion to the cause of healing the patients, he serves as a perfect example for his younger comrades. His work marked by many patients gratitudes and in hospital dispatches.”

This is combat diary on the division level. My description above is for 400 rifle regiment alone.

the action mentioned in the citation took place on 16 February 1945 after 89 RD (Rifle Division) moved across Oder river and replaced 4 RD and 77 RD on the bridgehead. The 8 German attacks during that day were supported by 5 SPGs and 2 tanks and occurred in the sector between the hill 63.2 and the brick factory. The German attacks had no success, even though the Soviet defence lacked field artillery support due to absence of ammunition on the bridgehead. Soviet losses: WIA 74, KIA 17. German losses: up to 100 troops, 1 SPGs knocked out.

1/400 = 1st battalion of 400 rifle regiment the same would go for company-regiment level markings: 5/273 = 5th company of 273 rifle regiment.