Alfred

more pictures

the award book

Sorry no more documents. The original russian xerox copy?s are in a box. At the moment I have only the english translation. As I am moving to a new flat, I have my copy of Echoes of war not within reach. Where was the 31st Army located in summer / autumn 1942? regards Andreas

Red Star: Senior Sergeant Filshin Alexander Afanasyevich the Intelligence platoon squad leader of the Control Company of the 145th tank brigade was awarded with For Courage medal took part in the fights against fascists since July, 1941. During the Great Patriotic War Filshin proved himself as a brave intelligence officer. During the offensive operations of the brigade in August 4, 1942 showed himself a courageous officer and displayed bravery and heroism. During a military mission near Boldarevo village in German army rear he correctly determined fire units of the enemy, their position and the number of the fascists. This information gave the possibility to the gunners put down aimed fire and annihilated several fire units of the enemy, troops, and move our infantry forward. When our intelligence officers were found out by fascists near Boldarevo and attacked, Filshin bravely leaded soldiers straight ahead and owing his courage, enemy's machine-gun post was destroyed, more than 15 German soldiers were killed in the western suburbs of Boldarevo. Having found out enemy defensive lines our squad consisting of five soldiers withdrew without casualties disorganizing enemy defence. The squad leaded by Filshin killed up to 20 German soldiers near Zubtsovo-Kargasheno and Chichakovo villages. They captured Zubovo village, organized the crossing over the river, which fascists wanted to blow up. In the area of Mikheevo village Filshin detecting 4 disabled tanks and the crew gave the possibility for the army command to evacuate 4 tanks T-34 almost from the enemy's location. The Control Company Command recommends comrade Filshin for the government award, order of the Red Star. Commander of the 145th Control Company Commissar of the 145th Control Company Senior Lieutenant (signed) Junior Political Instructor (signed) /Andryukovsky/ /Averkovich/ II. CONCLUSION OF THE HIGHER COMMAND Deserves the government award, order of the Red Star Commander of the Brigade ??? of the Brigade Colonel (signed) /Sergeenko/ Senior Battalion Commissar (signed) / Zaynsev/ September 28, 194?? III. CONCLUSION OF THE ARMY MILITARY COUNCIL Deserves the government award, order of the Red Star 31st Army Commander Member of the Military Council Major-General (signed) Division Commissar (signed) October 11, 1942 /Russkikh/ IV. CONCLUSION OF THE FRONT MILITARY COUNCIL Awarded with the order of Red Star by the order to the 31st Army No 013/N of February 15, 1943 By order of 31st Army # 013/N dated February 02, 1943

Bravery medal: Alexander Afanasyevich Filshin has been participating in the Patriotic War since July, 1941, since the very beginning of the war. Comrade Filshin coped with his duties and fulfilled different tasks of Command perfectly. During the offensive battles from August 4, 1942 till August 8, 1942 comrade Filshin and his division provided continuous reconnaissance, moving on a short distance towards retreating German troops and gaining the rear of the enemy. While executing his mission from August 4, 1942 to August 8, 1942 the division of Alexander Filshin had killed 20 German soldiers, occupied the food storehouse and expelled German troops from villages Zubovo, Kartashino and Shikovo. Delivering important information, Alexander Filshin made his division move forward successfully. The Command of the 145th intelligence Control Company recommends comrade Filshin for a government award, order of the Red Star. Senior Lieutenant Andriukovsky. Commander of the 145th intelligence Control Company Senior Lieutenant (signed) /Andryukovsky/ Commissar of the 145th intelligence Control Company Senior sergeant (signed) /Averkovich/ Awarded with the For Courage medal by order to the 31st Army № 0600/N of August 21, 1942.

Senior Sergeant Filshin, Alexander Afanasyevich - Red Star: 129.949 - Bravery medal: 60.488 - Defence of Moscow medal - Victory over Germany medal 1. Filshin Alexander Afanasyevich 2. Senior Sergeant 3. Intelligence platoon squad leader of the Control company of the 145th tank brigade 4. Year of birth 1919 5. Nationality Russian 6. Party membership CPSU(B) candidate 7. The Great Patriotic War since July, 1941 8. One wound 9. In the Red Army since 1939 10. Drafted by what district military commissariat Taganrog city military commissariat (Taganrog) In the Red Army since: November, 1939 till January, 1944 11. 43rd detached tank brigade, 31st Army of the 3rd Byelorussian front ? reconnaissance platoon leader commander 12. Blagoveschensk, Pedagogical Institute ? a student 13. Amurskaya region, Blagoveschensk, 81 Leninskaya Street, flat 60

The record card was filled out in 1946. Maybe he was on a military school after 1943 and they just forgott "to give" him the Red Banner. In 1943 he was Sergeant and in 1945 he was promoted to Lieutenant. regrads Andreas

here is a scan of the last page

Thanks Rick, no I didn?t get the service record and the citation for the bravery medal. It was sold only with research of the Red Banner. I don?t think he was a prisoner of war. On the last page of the red arward book are entries about his promotions. promotion to Junior Leutenant (15.1.45), Leutenant (4.11.45), and the designation of "Guards" title (20.6.45). best regards Andreas

and the rest

and here is the frontside of the award card

here is the award card

here is a picture of the award book

Here is a veteran pin of the 318th mountain rifle Division. regards Andreas

his awards: 1. Red Banner S/N: 258.147 2. Bravery Medal unnumbered 3. Victory over Germany 4. Victory over Japan

Leutenant Aleksandr, Grigerovitsch Dmitrienko Research indicates Redbanner was awarded to Sargeant rifle squad leader:Abridged citation reads "he and his squad were the first to rush into an enemy trench in the village of Krasnoe where he personally killed seven German soldiers then crawled to a bunker and destroyed it with hand grenades. When the enemy counterattacked near Repnoe with a force of approximately 150, despite being low on ammunition Comrade Dmitrienko and a group of soldiers moved to a disabled tank where they indicated targets, which resulted in the destruction of an enemy cannon and 3 firing positions and the attack was repelled. After ammunition was brought forward and despite being wounded, he was the first to enter the village and killed (?)5 German soldiers. In combat southwest of Luzhka, SGT Dmitienko moved forward with an earlier captured German machinegun, and repelled a two-platoon enemy counterattck forced, killing 5 Germans.? He served in the: 548. Rifle Regiment, 116.Rifle Division, 53. Army born 1924 promotion to Junior Leutenant (15.1.45), Leutenant (4.11.45), and the designation of "Guards" title (20.6.45). Komsomol member since 1938

Great posthumous award and than three pieces best regards Andreas

Here is a short summary of the russian text: The battalion had the order to secure a (river-) dam in the area of the little town Podkostelje. Senior Sargent Zagorodsky was appointed as a dispatcher and brought important news to his commander and was wounded. He refused to leave the battlefield. Sadly, I was not able to find the town in a map. I only found the town Podkostrze. Maybe the names changed?

No, only the Order of Glory and the Bravery medal are mentioned in the award card. Bravery Medal S/N: 1.737.508 was awarded to Senior Sargent Zagorodsky 27.09.1944

this could be his gun in action.

Today I got the research for the bravery medal to Senior Sargent Zagorodsky s/n: 1.737.508. In a few days I will have the translation of the text. As what I understand was the bravery medal for a fight near Podkostelie village. He was nominated for a Order of Glory, but it was downgraded in the chain of command to a bravery medal. This would have been his second Order of Glory :-(

I would send it to Alexei for authentification. Is there a dot on the blade of the right sabre? What is the exact weight of the Order and the measurements? regards Andreas

I think the left one is a school for materials research and the right one is for merits in standardisation of products. regards Andreas

Great find with documents. The first one is awarded to an German soldier. regards Andreas

They look okay to me. regards Andreas