Egorka

Linking a serial number to a name and unit is also possible with award handout protocols. I have the Navy protocol document set at my disposal. It covers almost all the Marine awards and the recipient names. With some extra online effort, this allows identification of by far most of the Navy numbered awards.

Paul, that is the same order. First how it looked dug up and later when enamel restored. I would have kept it as it was. But the traders though to get more money that way... Money makes this world go round... Shame... But I was grabbed by the story and decided, that this unfortunate restoration should not be an obstacle for me.

The awards marked "БУТАФОРИЯ" were produced for theatres and movie production.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Some comments on the operation mentioned in the citation. "landing operations at Ozereika, Stanichka" were the landing operations taking place 3-9 February 1943. Their objectives were to capture and expand bridge head and subsequently encircling the German forces in the port town Novorossiysk. Ozereika was the primary landing zone. Stanichka was a diversion action. But the event didn't envelop according to the plan. A number of mishaps happened so, that the main landing force was redirected to Stanichka and landed there. Later the expanded bridge head was held for 225 days. It's name was coined by Leonid BREZHNEV as "Malaya Zemlya" - "Minor Land". But during the war it was rather called "Cape Myskhako landing". The minesweeper T-412 "Areseny Rasskin" was assigned to the ill-fated Ozereika landing detachment. It towed the floating barge #6 carrying troops and a number of Stuart tanks. Several times the tow rope was broke due to stormy weather and fixing time caused T-412 minesweeper to be delayed. As the result it came later to the landing zone. The barges were towed to the shore by small tow boat, not minesweepers. The barge #6 reached the shore under heavy fire at 05:50 and landing commenced immediately. Soon after the barge, like two other landing pages were set ablaze and destroyed. Then among other many mishaps of the operation, maybe the worst, happened. The landing force commander reported that the landing failed and order retreat. This is despite the fact that some landed unit had certain success and needed reinforcement. Instead, trying to avoid further losses, the commander ordered retreat. The mistake was caused lack of communication with the landing force and poor visibility. The remained troops of the second landing wave were redirected to the Stanichka zone instead. The minesweeper "Areseny Rasskin" transported reinforcements (165 rifle brigade) to Stanichka on 6 February. The troops at Ozereika had initially won the landing egangement and manage to advance 4km into the land, but without resupplies and communication were overcome by the German-Rumanian reinforcements. Landing zones location: Ozereika landing zone: The aftermath.. .

Here is the record for ORB # 114821 being awarded to Petty Officer 2st Class PROKAZOV.

So great of a read! Thank you very much for sharing!

A nice little catch - Red Star warded to radio section leader of minesweeper "Areseny Rasskin", Balck sea fleetю Master Sergeant I class KUZNETSOV NIKOLAY PETROVICH, 1919. Citation is written 18 August 1944. It is nicely depicts the operational history of the minesweeper T-412 "Areseny Rasskin": "During the Great Patriotic war, he proved himself as courageous, steadfast, highly disciplined, and technically skilful master sergeant. He took part in all missions of the ship since the first days of the war. Participated in Feodosia operation in 1941 and Sudak operation in 1942. Participated in all the missions for resupplying Soviet Army unit with arms and provision in heroic Sevastopol. Participated in the skirmish operations at Rumanian coast and destruction of the enemy convoy. Participant of the landing operations at Ozereika, Stanichka, and Solenoe lake. In all these engagements, master sergeant I class KUZNETSOV proved himself as excellent specialist and provided the ship with uninterrupted communication channel. His hardware equipment is always in excellent shape. He skillfully and selflessly performed his duty under any circumstances. There has been no failures of the equipment under his supervision during the period of the war. With his selfless and exceptionally hard work, he aided successful fulfilment of the combat objectives given by the Command. During the submarine rescue mission on 24-25 February 1944, in heavy storm, master sergeant I class KUZTNETSOV personally provided uninterrupted communication to the flagship and the home base. For selfless and exceptionally hard work, for providing excellent communication to the ship during combat operations, for personal courage in the struggle against the German invaders, master sergeant I class KUZNETSOV is worthy of "Red Star" order." Some photos of the minesweeper T-412 "Areseny Rasskin"

An interesting extension to my collection and excellent letter linked to the pilot Vsevolod RASPOPOV, who was shot down over Crimea and captured by Germans. See posts #11 of this thread. This is one is addressed to RASPOPOV's father, Yuri Alekseevich Raspopov, and written by a stranger woman. Greetings, Yuri Alekseevich. Your son Vsevolod RASPOPOV - the pilot who has been a prisoner of war in the town Simferopol for about 2 weeks. On the night of 13 March 1944, i.e. when Germans retreated, they were taken away in unknown direction. Their further fate is unknown? The previously captured pilots were kept and later transported to the West. They were captured at Syvash lakes. The engine broke, they tried to escape but were captured. I was working in the unit where the pilots were held. I supplied them with our newspapers and some other items. All these 4 pilots asked me to inform their families about them. I am SHUSHAKOVA Vera Tikhonovna. My address is town Simferopol, Zhelyabova street 15. Please, let me know if you received this message. My duty is to inform you and fulfil their wish. The house at the address Simferopol, Zhelyabova street 15.

Hello, Guards private TOSHMATOV, 1913 was awarded just one order in WW2. But it took 42 year for him to get it in 1987... This is so called "award found its hero" decoration. Much longer delays are known than 42 years. Some of such awarding ceremonies were done after year 2000... Guard private TOSHAMTOV (145 Guards rifle regiment, 50 Guards rifle division) distinguished himself in the engagement near German town Baruth (50km South of Berlin) on 27 April 1945. Citation: He proved himself as steadfast and courageous defender of the Motherland when repelling enemy counter attack during the fight for elimination of encircled enemy force near the town Baruth /Germany/ on 27 April 1945. Comrade TASHMATOV, risking his own life, flanked the enemy and eliminated 11 enemy soldiers with his carbine, captured one German officer. Engagement description according to the combat journal of 50 Guards rifle division: The German forces of 712 infantry division and 21 Grenadier SS division were trying to break through in Western direction. They attacked 148 Guards rifle regiment and a group of app. 200 German troops managed to break through on the right flank, the area between station Baruth and the hill 58.4. By 10:00 the enemy force was counter attacked by 148 and 150 Guards rifle regiments and eliminated.

Hello, This is an interesting award, I think. One of those small phaleristic peculiarities. The veteran: Captain of army service corps KALIN Dmitry Aleksandrovich, 1897. His whole military career in the Navy was as a clerk in service corps. The order itself is just a long service one and not for an outstanding field action. All his 3 orders are long service ones: Red Star #922702, Red Banner #164245, Lenin order #120941. Nonetheless, there are a couple of interesting facts about the veteran. Firstly, it was bestowed upon an "award officer" of the White Sea flotilla officer corps personnel department. I think it is interesting to have an award for a Navy officer responsible for award process for other officers. Another interesting fact is that according to his service record, he participated in the "Ice Cruise of the Baltic Fleet" in March-April 1918. This was an operation in which Rissian/Soviet Baltic Navy escaped capture by German troops in the ports of Tallinn and Helsinki. The operation was conducted in the Spring, when the Baltic was still packed with ice, so an ice breaker had to lead the convoys. KALIN served on the ship "Krechet". It was a special ship - the floating HQ of the Baltic Fleet Commander. This means KALIN departed from Helsinki on 11 April on the HQ ship "Krechet" together with the Commander of the Baltic Navy Alexey Schastny. Commanders fate was tragic - he was arrested shortly after his arrival to Petrograd (St. Petersburg) and sentenced to death for anti-reolutionary charges. "Krechet" (ex-"Polaris") was originally UK-built cargo-passenger ship (2280 brt, built in 1899). First was a civil passenger ship in Finland. Later floating HQ of Russian Baltic Navy. After the WWI was moved to Far East as cargo ship. The fate of the ship: it was sunk in December 1941 in the battle for Hong Kong (three other Soviet cargo ships damaged and captured by Japanese).

It is a fantasy piece in my opinion.

Sometimes casual search brings back some pearls... Document for the Medal Defense of the Caucasus dated April 21st, 1945. Signed by the commander of 43 Fighter Aviation "Sevastopol" Red Banner Regiment (43IAP) Lt. Colonel DOROSHENKOV. The medal and the document were issued to Captain KOCHETOV Aleksander Vasilievich. KOCHETOV was awarded with HSU title on 13 April 1944. Squadron commander HSU KOCHETOV (1919-1994) achieved at least 31 victories (20 personal + 11 in a group) in 120 aerial engagements, conducted over 450 combat sorties during WW2. The certificate and the handout protocol with matching document number. Interestingly, it seems there was a glitch in documentation process and the pilots of the 43IAP were handed out 2 Caucasus medals. There exist second handout protocol from November 1945. KOCHETOV has only one medal though on his postwar pictures. So, I guess, the mistake was corrected promptly. KOCHETOV in 1943. And a news paper article, Jan 1945, where 34 victories are mentioned. Different period photos: With his wife. Both before the war and in eternity.

Stunning piece of history!!!

The 1st class St. George crosses in this range should be in gold (600/1000 proof). I think, the change from gold to “yellow metal” happened between 31000 and 36000. Also the ring, the letter «ж», and the serial number looks weird...

Well, to know what kind of copy it is, one would need to have some information from the manufacturer. I have no idea what it could be located. If it is MEZHNUMIZMATIKA, then I already gave you info, that it produced some copies for sale in the western countries. But, as I know, they were producing quite high quality copies, often in precious metals. The quality of your copy seems to be on a lower side. Here is a reverse of an original VICTORY order.

Thank you. I don’t know what else to say except it is a copy. I am 99,9% sure of that. The remaining 0,01% ... well, lets keep the dream alive!

Hello, Could you, please, show the reverse of the order. MEZHNUMIZMATIKA produced copies during Soviet times (1980s) for sale in the West.

Gregoo, hello. This one is original, but the red star was lost and replaced with something else.

Hello, I guess, because of the symbolism. Victory having the wings resembling the famed Polish hussars wings.

Great stuff! I am very glad this historical artefact could be preserved!

Award recommendation for the OPWII order: Comrade VOROSCHENKO has been on the front line of Patriotic war since July 1941 and participated in liberation of Caucasus and Crimea. Being in the ranks of 1177 rifle regiment, 347 rifle "Melitopol" division, comrade VOROSCHENKO revealed himself as a courageous warrior. Personally participated in recognisance missions. Comrade VOROSCHENKO has received commendations for his exemplary execution of the orders on the front of struggle against the German invaders: from the commanders of 347 rifle "Melitopol" division and 1177 rifle regiment. On 01.03.1944, while assisting a wounded soldier under enemy fire, Sr. Lt. VOROSCHENKO sustained severe through and through chest wound. Personally eliminated 10 Hitlerites during the war. The recommendation was written on 06 June 1944, when VOROSCHENKO was in the reserve officer regiment after recovering from this last wound. In fact this was not his fist wound during the war. The first one (light wound) he received on 02 August 1941 when he served in a cavalry unit on the position of chemist. After recovery he was sent to a foot rifle unit - 271 rifle division (1st assembly). By March 1944 in the 347 rifle division (see above). After his recovery from the severe chest wound, he was assigned as a company commander to the 896 rifle regiment, 211 rifle division. His unit participated in the Battle of the Dukla Pass in the Autumn 1944 at the borderland between Poland and Slovakia. The Soviet army and Czechoslovak 1st Army Corps engaged in fierce fighting in mountainous terrain, where initial objective of "Five days to Prešov" turned into fifty days to town Svidník alone with over 70,000 casualties on both sides. Sr.Lt. VOROSCHENKO was one of the fallen. He was killed on 30 October 1944 on the hill side near the Slovakian village Svidnička. Three officers: 2 company and 1 platoon commander was killed on this day in 896RR. I suspect they fell victim of an artillery strike (the combat journals mention German superiority and constant artillery barrages). VOROSCHENKO's initial burial site was one of the 2 in village Svidnička. Here they are on the map. I visited this village this Summer and tried to locate them. After looking up and talking the locals, it was clear that no graves remained in Svidnička. It is almost certain, they have been relocated to the war memorial in near by town Svidnik in 1950s. But, unfortunately, some names had been lost during the process. In Svidnik there are 450 known and 18000 unknown soldiers of the Soviet army and Czechoslovak 1st Army Corps. We visited a few places, but not all... Me and one of my sons at the tank monument in Svidnička. And the memorial plaque at the villages community center. In fact the whole valley is declared a huge memorial complex called "Udolie smrti" - "Death Valley" - with numerous monuments and sites. See the text in English: Take a look at some photo and behold the monuments complex at the village Kapisova - a reconstruction of an armoured assault. See the photo and try counting the tanks installed. This is the place where the vetran's 896 rifle regiment was stationed on the day he was killed. I went up the hill and into the forested creek. Had no metal detecter with me (regretted), but found some barbed wire in the forest. Not 100% sure it is war time, but looks like German made... The panoramic view down the hill from the positions held by the veteran's unit on the day he was killed in action:

I beg to differ. If I punch in «Михаил Михайлович Петров», I get 358 different documents. Of these, at least 21 entries for different prople for the Victory medal.

There are 12 people with this name which were awarded OGIII during WW2. It is a common name. I actually think this particular citation is not on the website because it is from 1970s. The database covers documnets until 1946 (?). Not sure exactly unril what specific date, but abround 1946.

Yes, exactly, the decree of 17 Feb 1972 was one of the decres “for wounds”, or disability obtained due to war wounds as it was mentioned here.