Egorka

Under pursuit of the enemy, the SPG squads were attached to different Rifle units and were under their tactical control. The 1st squad under command of Captain Markovkin was attached to 178 Guard Rifle Regiment, 58 Guard Rifle Division, 34 Guards Rifle Corp. This "Markovkin's group", as called in the reports, consisted of 6 SPGs, which seems to indicate that only 6 out of 21 SPGs were left in the 1st squad at the end of the Vistila-Oder offensive. These SPG were used to carry SPG-borne infantry to facilitate the pursuit. In the Brigade report conclusion was the SU-76 were exceptionally effective in such capacity. Being light and having enough motor power they could carry 12-15 troops with their gear in any road conditions, thus each replacing 2 ordinary personal carriers. Markovkin's group og 6 SPG was specially mentioned as being successful. The 8 SABR report briefly describes the course of actions of Markovkin's group, which lead to subsequent forcing of Oder on 23 Jan 1945: 22/Jan 15:30 - two SPGs from the group reseived objective to advance to eastern bank of Oder from Turawa (app. 10km). No active enemy resistance except air attacks. 4 other SPG were ordered to different objective. Seems Lihomanov was operating one of these 2 SPGs. 23/Jan 04:30 - Markovkin's goup reached easter Oder bank together with the infantry from 175th Guards Rifle regiment. It's objective was rot facilitate the river crossing. 23/Jan 17:00 - temporary crossing was established and part of the infantry managed to cross to the western bank, but the crossing then was destroyed by enemy air bombardement. The enemy delivered intensive artillery and mortar fire. 23/Jan 19:30 - 6 SPGs crossed to western bank. 23/Jan 20:30 - SPGs reached Eisenau and held the line until 25/Jan. During this period MArkovkin's group repelled several counterattacks inflicting following damage to the enemy: 2 tanks and 2 personal carriers destroyed, up to 150 troops. Group's losses: 1 SPG burnt, 1 damaged, no personal losses. By the end 25/Jan the group reached Waldhoff.

8 SABR consisted of 3 squads plus support units (Brigade Staff, Headquarters company, Recon company, Motorized machinegun company, AA company, Technical support company). Each of the 3 squads consisted of 21 SPGs SU-76M, and was devided into 4 troop by 5 SPGs each + 1 squad commander vehicle. N.I.Lihomanov served in the 1st squad, 1st troop. This is known from documents, can also be read on the insignia on Lihomanovs SPG (see photo above). F.ex. on this foto you see SPG from 8 SABR, which belongs to 2nd squad (2 bars), 3rd troop (3 triangles). This one belonged to 2nd squad, 4th troop. Here is the light tank T-70 of the Brigade commander Colonel Kochin. His tanks insignia does not have squad and troop marks. These and some other photos courtesy tankfront.ru

Spectacular!

The events on 23/Jan were takin place at the end of the Vistula-Oder Offensive operation, in which in a little over two weeks, the Red Army advanced 500km from the Vistula to the Oder. It was essential to secure bridgeheads on the western banks of Oder to secure further course of offensive. Theoverview map of Vistula-Oder offensive. The path of 5th Guard Army is marked as well as the bridgehead location. Bridgehead location: The view across Oder at the bridgehead location.

Here is the citation for Lihomanov's order. Originally he was recommended by the squad commander for the Order of Glory III class, which is a lower in rank award compare to Red Banner. This recomendation was approved by the Brigade commander Colonel Kochin (see his image below). But armour corp commander of 1st Ukrainian Front General Colonel General Novikov changed it and awarded Lihomanov with Red Banner, recognising significance of establishing bridgehead on the western bank of Oder river. Generally speaking, Lihomanov was a quite decorated service man considering his rank - he was not an officer. Here comes the description of personal feat and merits form the citation: First Sergeant N.I.Lihomanov is disciplined, brave and skilled mechanic-driver. His vehicle covered 1300km in battle conditions without a single mechanical failure since it was taken into service. Thanks to professional care taken, the engine is in perfect condition despite that it already has 185 machine hours. During the offensive near village Chrzanów, Poland 12/Jan/1945 and in the later offensive advances, comrade Lihomanov skilfully maneuvering on the battlefield evaded enemy artillery fire and facilitated his crew with delivering direct fire at enemy position. During the offensive (remark: Vistula-Oder offensive) 12 - 23 January 1945, his crew destroyed 2 field cannons, one 85mm truck mounted AT gun with its supplies, 3 mortar positions, 1 heavy machine-gun position, and up to 25 enemy troops. Comrade Lihomanov with the crew was the first to cross Oder 23/Jan/1945 near Dobern (remark: now Dobrzen, Poland) and entered the battle on the western bank. There his self propelled gun destroyed 1 personal carrier and unto 1 troops Recommend First Sergeant Lihomanov for the state Order of Glory III class. Commander of the 1st artillery squad, Captain Postnikov.

Hello, This Red Banner order 189449 was awarded to First Sergeant Nikolay Ivanovich Lihomanov, a SU-76 driver-mechanic of 1st troop, 1st squad, 8th SABR (Self-propelled Artillery BRigade), 5th Guard Army (as of Jan 1945). The N.I.Lihomanov distinguished himself by being in the first wave to establish one of the bridgeheads after forcing Oder river on 23/Jan/1945 at the end of the Vistula-Oder Offensive. Was involved in widtholding the bridgehead agains intensive German counterattacks in the following days. Below are the photographs of N.I.Lihomanov and the crew of his self-propelled gun. Fotos are taken app. in February 1944, i.e. a year before the described Oder forcing took place. Lihomanov survived the war and worked as head of tractor park at the agricultural farm. He was born 05/May/1919, and died in 1963 of tuberculosis. I will add more material shortly: the citation for the order, description of forcing Order on 23 January 1945. N.I.Lihomanov (ca. Feb/1944) N.I.Lihomanov ia on the right.

If you have access to the actual paper photo, you need to scan it with higher DPI resolution. It is too low now.

Thanks!!! I will convey this info to my friend who has this order in his collection.

OK. Thanks anyway! Does this mean no records left of these awards? How come? Were they lost in the turmoil of the 20th century or never properly existed?

Hej! I was thinking it was III class, which come without star. Now, thanks to you, I understand it is I class. Great! Thanks! About the identification. The label n the box is in Italian. Could this indicate that the recipient was an Italian subject? I mean I don't expect that Bulgarian awards should come by default with label in Italian. Or am I wrong again?

Wow, Mihai, the scans are of poor quality! I can't figure out a single word. Is it possible to get higher resolution scans?

Hello, I have a question. A friend of mine has this St. Alexander order and the Star. I understand it is III class Commander Cross (as only III class can be in green enamel, right?). But it comes without star, no? So this ensemble he has makes no sense then, as it did not exist. Also he was curious if it is possible to trance who was awarded with this order. Is it anyhow possible?

No, it's mot by accident. The awards were hanged to be visually symetrical. The only round piece in the middle and three pointy thing on each side. Looks beautiful. +80 points to street credit.

Exciting stuff. Thank you for sharing, Paja!

What am I hearing? Obviosly, schnapps that makes you see sea monsters cann't be called bad!

Hello Chuck, from this photos I like it. But if you make better pictures I can ask some other knowledgeable people. Regards/Igor

You are welcome! I am glad I can share this with others. I see I made quite a few gramatic errors and misspelled many words. It's mainly because I post from IPhone and my kids distruct me a bit on the way. Unfortunately I cannot longer correct the errors.

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing.

Hello. Sory if I missed, but what was the damage onthe medal? Looks like drill hole. Has someone tried to probe it for gold? Why the medal is so shiny now?

This particular material is not linked directly to the hero or his unit, but come from another air assult division journal. The schematic depiction of specific battle engagements of assault arcraft. The first one is against enemy fighter planes 12 IL-2 and 4 Yak-1 against 14 FW-190 and 2 ME-109 on 21 Aug 1944. Result reported: 1 IL-2 shot down, 1 damaged. 1 pilot and 2 rear gunners killed. 1 FW-190 crushed. The second one is 15 minute ground attack by 6 IL-2 on a convoy on 13 Sep 1944.

Sorry wrong thread... can someone from administration delete my previous post here.

This particular material is not linked directly to the hero or his unit, but come from another air assult division journal. The schematic depiction of specific battle engagements of assault arcraft. The first one is against enemy fighter planes 12 IL-2 and 4 Yak-1 against 14 FW-190 and 2 ME-109 on 21 Aug 1944. Result reported: 1 IL-2 shot down, 1 damaged. 1 pilot and 2 rear gunners killed. 1 FW-190 crushed. The second one is 15 minute ground attack by 6 IL-2 on a convoy on 13 Sep 1944.

Previously Boris Kandibin (1920-1993) was mentioned in the Combat Journal of the 305th air assult division (ShAD). He was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union on 19 August 1944 for 84 combat missions. Served in air force for for may years after the war and retired in 1979 as Major General. He wrote book "305th assult division in the fight for Motherland", where he writes about his mates. "A group of 8 IL-2 was tasked to strike the rail station Valga. The wing commander Cpt. Gorodnikov was in the leading aircraft. The rest Chufarov, Nosachenko, Kolganov, Sivokon, Zhuchenko, Markelov and I. As the we knew that the station was heavily covered by AA artillery, we were heading at altitude 2000m. We aproached the target from North-East direction and were hit by AA fire. The Gorodnikov's machine suddenly fell into uncontrolled dive. The aircraft of his mate Chufarov caught on fire and began descending slowly turning towards friendly forces. I increased my speed and assumed the wing leader position. AA fire was still heavy, the group was weakened and had no resources to suppress the AA batteries. We continued attack. First run - ombs dropped ar the rail tracks, but not hits to the trains. Descendet to 70m and assaulted the trains with rockets and cannon fire. Several vagons caught on fire. The objective was complited, but we lost our wing commander Gorodnikov, who lost the plane (for the 3td time) and jumped with parachute, and was captured. Chufarov crash-landed on our territory."

Excerpt from the combat journal of 305th ShAD for 29/Jan/1945: "Due to bad meteorological conditions only 6 aircraft were used for combat missions. The first pair lead by Lt. Sobolev was on the mision to attack railway trains on the station Saldus, but reaching village Bené encountered dence snowfall and complete lack of vertical and horisontal visibility and returned to the base. The second pair lead by Cpt. Kandibin (note this name) took off at 13:10 with same objective, but receiving westher report from Sobolev returned to the base. Only the pair lead by Sr. Lt. Chufarov completed the mission. It's objective was to attack traffic on the raod Lauki- Yurdi. Munition used: 6 FAB100 (HE 100kg), 80 AO-2.5 (cluster bombs), 8 RS-82 (rockets). As the results of the assult one truck damaged. No losses to our aircraft. The flight leaders had no radio contact with the guidance station. Two othe regiments remained in readiness untill 10:00. After that changed to combat training program and training flights on PO-2 aircraft. Weather: Cloud cover 9 okta (maximum), height 200-400 meters, intermitent snow during the day, visibility 200-600m." Sr. Lieutenant of Soviet air force shoulder board (post 1943).

The citation for the order of Red Banner 98061. Short and specific description of the acheivement: "Recomended for the state award Order of Red Banner for 23 successful missions on IL-2 assult aircraft. Participating in the fighting on Soth-Western front and later on 3rd Ukrainian front since September 1943, Sr. Lt. Chufarov showed remarkable qualities as combat pilot, bravery, courage, and boundless loyalty to Socialist Motherland. Excelently piloting IL-2 aircraft and skillfully using its weapon systems, punishes enemy with full force. All combat missions executes perfectly. Just during the last 23 missions personally destroyed 17 trucks with cargo, 4 tanks, 2 self-propelled guns, 12 horse carriages, suppressed 3 AA positions, destroyed military depot, despersed and destroyed up to 2 companies of facists. In total flew 54 combat missions up to date. Worthy of the state award Order of Red Banner. 30 May 1944. Commander of 237 ShAP Lt. Colonel Shelamov" Excerpt from the award order mentioning A.Chufarov.