Egorka

12 hours ago, Leaftree said:

I'll echo the others, outstanding job on the research.

Most of the time when I try and follow up on the towns/locations mentioned in award sheets, I can't find them.

Hej. Thanks!

You are right about the names. First of all they change. Worse the names change from one language to another.

Secondly, like in this particular research, I need to understand the transliterated name. The names in these Russian reports are German names, but written in Russian. Phonetically it is not always 1:1 match. That is why it is so much fun. I feel like Sherlock.

Thank you! But I not done yet.  Since SPG were tactically attached to the rifle regiment, I will also present it's battle journal, which adds a couple of extra details on the course of events. 

And if you want to research Soviet awards from your collection - write me a PM. There is often an interestig story to uncover.

Hello, 

A little something for you from yesterday's Copenhagen Coin Fair. One day event. 98% of it was unsurprisingly coins, paper money and such. But there was a couple of tables ralated to faleristic. One of them was OMSD (Order and Medal Society of Denmark), where of the fellow collectir had a display. Here are a couple of photos. 

I guess our Bulgarian members will be interested. 

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?

9 hours ago, Claudius said:

agreed.  A couple of the medals are out of order.  It's like someone played three-card monte on medals and this is where they ended up 

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

37 minutes ago, Chuck In Oregon said:

Thank you for this excellent topic.

Chuck

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.