Egorka

Not often one can have ward in his collection where the veteran has a book chapter dedicated to him. I have added to my collection 2 books, which have chapters dedicated to the veteran. 1. "Soldiers Glory", 1963. 2. "Order of Glory cavaliers", 1973. The first book has short one page account for 238 Full cavaliers of Order of Glory. It appears the primary source is the citation. The second book covers 30 cavaliers who were born in Stavropol region. The accounts are 2-3 pages long. The strong part of this book is that it is also based on the interviews. Therefore despite the literary editing and politically charged language it has some interesting material. The one pager from "Soldiers Glory", 1963. "Order of Glory cavaliers", 1973. And this is scan from a later book, which has account about all (?) Full Cavaliers. It uses two previous books as sources.

White-blue-red... But of course, Francois! The Russian flag is white-blue-red.

Looking into the POW document for ASAULENKO, I see there is a mistake. He was prior to captivity assigned to 656 rifle regiment, not 656 artillery regiment. 656 RR was part of 116 RD and was defending in Cherkasy area in August-September 1941. It was dispersed/captured trying to break out of Kiev pocket app. 22-25 September 1941. He was liberated by forces of 5 Shock Army, 3 Ukrainian front, and was sent to 237 army reserve rifle regiment. From the reserve regiment he was shortly reassigned to 1042 RR, 295 RD, 32 RC, 5 Shock Army. He served there until his wound on 02.02.1945. The map of Kiev pocket 1941 - the largest encirclement operation in history (app. 650.000 people captured; 4 armies completely captured, 2 armies partially defeated).

Sure, Nick. I just quoted directly from the text. Very interesting topic. Interesting to see these rare awards.

Hello! Little more on the OGIII, which I acquired in London this Christmas. Please meet machine gunner Jr. Sergeant Andrey Gerasimovich ASAULENKO, 1913. From Spring 1944 he served at MG company of 1042 rifle regiment, 295 rifle division, 32 rifle corps. Awarded Bravery Medal in September 1944 and OGIII in March 1945. Wounded twice in 1945: lightly in January, and severely in February. OGIII was awarded for the actions on 29 Jan 1945 and 02 Feb 1945. The later action was assault on the village Warnick, which was located just East to town-fortress Küstrin (today Polish town Kostrzyn nad Odrą). The OGIII citation reads: "29.01.45 during enemy defence breakthrough on the German-Polish border near village Weitze, comrade ASAULENKO provided fire support to the rifle platoon in breaking through the enemy barbed wire obstacles. Being wounded in the leg, he didn't leave the battle ground until the village was captured. 02.02.45 in the battle for the village Warnick, comrade ASAULENKO was severely wounded and evacuated to the hospital. He is worthy of order of Glory III class. Commander of 1042 rifle regiment, Guards Lt-Colonel CHAIKA. 13 March 1945." The map showing actions of 295 rifle division in battle for Küstrin. Warnick is marked on the Eastern outskirts of Küstrin. The village Warnick (Warniki in Polish) doesn't exist today, but became a part of expanded town Kostrzyn. Location: https://goo.gl/maps/63WrsT1pvYA2 An interesting detail is that it appears ASAULENKO was a POW before his service in 1042 rifle regiment. We was liberated on 19 April 1945. His original service is indicated as a Private of 656 artillery regiment, 116 rifle division, 26 army. I think, he was captured in summer 1941 (but needs checking).

Thank you, Nick, for the topic!!! I allow myself to quote my grand-dad's memoirs here. He lived in occupied Odessa from 1941 to April 1944. Here is the quote about New Years eve 1944: "In the meantime the front line approached closer and closer to Odessa. I celebrated the New Year [1944] with the Golen family [the family of my grandfather’s girlfriend]. There was a modest dinner. The old ones went to sleep in the small room. Me and Olga sat on the big couch chatting and imagining what the New Year might bring, recalling the past. From behind the wall, in the neighbour’s apartment, we could hear voices. They were of older lads working in the city. Apart from their voices we could distinctly hear voices of Czechoslovaks from the Czech division in the German’s service. They had recently arrived in Odessa and there was a rumour that many of their soldiers and officers had deserted to the Red Army. The Germans did not trust them anymore and kept them away from the front line. It was apparent that the young company had gathered to celebrate New Year 1944. A gramophone played and there was more and more noise coming from behind the wall after the first wine glasses had been raised. At midnight there were rifle shots and the sky was light by signal flares. We could hear in the neighbouring apartment a toast being raised for victory and for peace. Then they sang the song about the cruiser “Varyag”: “All on deck, comrades, all on deck, This is our last decisive battle…” And I understood that those Czechs and our guys are all good lads, our people." More og my GD's memoirs are translated here: http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62666

Very fine!!!

Thank you for sharing, Auke! Could not help digging a little in after reading. Have you seen that STEPACHEV's officer's service record is actually available, which is unusual: Events of 05 Dec 1944. The 233 GuRR advanced 400m during the assault on the 05.12.44. Losses: 5 KIA, 11 WIA. The map of the area. The height 241 is between Ecséd and Lőrinci. You can see the 400m advance on 05.12.44 (the distance between the purple and black lines). STEPACHEV's burial place is not to be found... I think, he ended being reburied as unknown soldier. Shame... His death record states his burial place as "2km West of Ecséd". I think, he was buried somewhere on that 400m stretch taken on that day. There are basically just fields and forest patches.

Yes, we are!

I would...

So the forum works! That is just great!

The other ship where CHEKMENEV briefly served was minesweeper "Vekha". Built in 1938. One of the 10 ship of its project (#53). Displacement - 410-503 tons ; length - 62m ; width - 7,2m ; draft - 2,3m ; speed - 17,8 knots ; engine - 2 diesel 2500hps ; fuel tank - 60 tons ; crew - 70 men. Armament: 1 - 100mm cannon ; 1 - 45mm cannon ; 1 - 20mm AA gun ; one 4 barrels 12,7mm MG ; 20 depth charges ; 28 floating mines. Scrapped in 1950s.

The ships at which the veteran served: River monitor "Sverdlov". Taifun "Typhoon" class (7 in class, but 3 armed 4x130mm, 3 armed 8x120mm, and 1 armed 4x152mm). Displacement: 965-977 tons. Speed: 10-15 knots. Armament: 4 x 152 mm, 2 x 37 mm, 6 x 20 mm, 4 x 12.7 mm and 5 x 7.62 mm machine guns. Armor: belt, 76 - 38mm; bulkheads, 9mm; turrets, 76mm; deck, 19mm; CT, 51mm. Launched 1909, Tsarist Commision Sept 1910, Soviet Commission 24 April 1922. Repairs and upgrades in 1934 - 1935. In August 1945, participated fighting along the Songhua River and in the capture of Fuyuan and Jiamusi in Heilongjiang (Manchuria). 30 August 1945 awarded Guards title. Scrapped, the 13 March 1958. In 1929, the monitor participated in the last and (possibly) the largest ever monitors and riverine gunboats battle in the modern history. Soviet navy had a total and decisive river's victory using monitors during conflict against Nationalist China. There were a number of Chinese boats and monitors sunk and no Soviet losses. And here is the cherry: the photograph of the "Sverdlov" monitor engine mechanics crew. CHEKMENEV must be one of them! The year the photo is taken is not clear, but it must be before 1939, I think. The petty officer in the middle must me CHEKMENEV himself!

This is the service record covering years 1925 - 1944. The Red Star citation: "Senior Lt. Engineer CHEKMENEV is hard working, persistent, and decisive officer. Since the beginning of the war against Japan, he skilfully organised and personally supervised the repairs of two minesweepers UMS #523 and AM #148, which were under repairs at the workshop. As the result, both minesweepers entered the service ahead of the schedule, 6 days and 9 days respectively, and departed to the mission for meeting in the ocean and convoying to the Petropavlovsk Navy base the ships arriving from USA. He excellently organised the equipment preparation of the 1st marine squad (MO-1) of the 6th patrol boat squadron for the passage from Patropavlovsk Navy base to the island Shumshu, for the mission supporting the amphibious landing of our troops. The material equipment of the 1st marine squad had no malfunctions during the whole mission. He is worthy of medal For Combat Merits. Signed: Head of Staff of Petropavlovsk Navy base, Pacific fleet, Lt.-Captain PANKRATOV. 10 September 1945"

Kaboom! One more here! You'll be a millionaire soon.

Hello! Another interesting catch from Kassel militaria show this year. Please, meet Lt.-Commander of Engineers CHEKMENEV Ivan Kuz'mich, 1903. Entered the service in 1925 as a cadet on Black sea Fleet. Later in December 1926 after finishing the Navy school, he was trasfered to Amour flotilla and began his service as an mechanic on monitor "Sverdlov". He rose in the ranks and by 1936 became the head of "Sverdlov" 5th battle station, i.e. the head of electromechanics crew. 1937-1941 - cadet of High Navy school. After finishing the school, he was sent to Pacific Navy and entered as 5th battle station commander on minesweeper "Vekha". From 1943 he becomes chief engineer for the whole 6th minesweeper squadron. Awards: Red Star in 1935 Red Star in 1944 (long service award) Red Star for campaign against Japan (this one). Order of Red Banner in 1946 Order of Lenin in 1949 Order of Red Banner 2 in 1943.

Yes, Francois! Do you want me to take a selfie with it holding a pineapple or another exotic fruit? I am looking forward to research it properly!

Hello, I could not find an appropriate section on the forum... So here it is. Came home with me from Kassel militaria show 2017. The Crimea medal with Sebastobol clasp and 2 documents: - Promotion from Jr. Lt. to Lieutenant. - Award document for British Crimea medal in 1856. He later in 1862 was promoted to Captain adjutant Major and awarded Légion d'honneur. Born in 1823. Whole career in 6 Cuirassier regiment. More documents here: Lt. BRASSEUR

Hello, Could you, please, mention what other research points it this silversmith? Any photos to share? For me the letters are "ГД" = "GD". I don't think it looks like an "A" at all. But I could be wrong as the decorative fonts can be deceiving.

This is REAL scary stuff!!! My mind simply cannot grasp how this is possible. Think of what probability of these being two different pieces!

Sometimes just a thought of wetting a ribbon can already start fading process. So, as they say: "don't think about a white monkey!"

Hello! Quite interesting.... and strange... You see, the text in Russian is the quote from a poem written by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach in 1937. The quote means: "Don't touch us - we don't touch you. If you do - we give no quarter!" But then the quote is signed "From Budyonny marching song". But the Budyonny march, which was written on and after 1920, does not have these words. Is there a star on the cossack's hat??? But of white color? Or it was red, but later washed off, as it is possible with water colors? I think, the pencil inscription in the bottom is in Serbian, right? What does it exactly read? I understand but not good enough.

One more interesting detail is that DOSAEVs OGIII citation is signed by two HSUs. The first one, the 629 rifle regiment Commander HSU Colonel KORTUNOV, Aleksey Kirillovich (1907–1973). He was actually a remarkable man. After the war he eventually became the first Head of the Ministry for Oil and Gas Construction, the organisation known today as GAZPROM ( here is an article about him in English ). In fact, in 2003 GASPROM issues "Kortunov medal" ( award example ) to distinguish the best employees. Well, when they make a medal with your name, you know your life was not passed in vain. You can a also see Colonel KORTUNOV with his regiment banner, which sustained numerous cuts from enemy shrapnel.

Glad to help! I think, it is a membership badge. I am trying to find it online, but fail so far to locate exactly this type. Could you post the reverse, please?