TacHel

BIO: Kuznetsov, Nikolai G. Nikolai G. Kuznetsov, born 11 July 1904, Medvedko now Kotlas region Arkangel. Lied about his age and joined the Navy as a 15-year-old in the Severodvinsk flotilla. Managed to get into the Naval college from 1923 to 1926 graduating with honors. Served in the Black Sea Fleet on the cruiser ?Chervona Ukraine?. Spent 1929 to1932 as a student of the Naval Academy, again graduating with honors. Returned in the Black Sea Fleet, and from 1933 commanded the same cruiser he had previously served on. He brought his crew to the highest standards preaching respect and team work, something never before seen in the Russian navy. Spent 3 years in Spain during the Spanish civil war where he was the principal naval adviser to the Republican Government. Appointed deputy commander Pacific Fleet on August 1937, then commander on 10 January 1938. He managed to defend many of his subordinates during the Stalinist purges. The 34-year-old Kuznetsov was appointed People's Commissar of the Soviet Navy on April 29, 1939. He was the youngest Soviet admiral ever to hold this post (both of his predecessors were victims of the pre war repressions). He made remarkable contributions to re strengthening the decimated naval leadership holding a series of major exercises, personally visiting many ships, resolving organizational and personnel matters. He pioneered new techniques in naval training. He acted as he saw fit courageously acting without regard to the opinion of Stalin. Admiral Kuznetsov was one of the few Soviet military leaders to take effective measures prior to the attack of Germany after the first warnings were received. He disregarded Moscow's orders on doing nothing ?susceptible of being taken for a provocation?. Having put all Soviet naval forces on high alert the very evening prior to the German invasion, Kuznetsov was able to order all the fleets in time for an effective defense. The decision was a risk, because it went against the wishes of Stalin. As a result, on 22 June, the day of the German attack, the Navy did not lose a single ship or a single naval aircraft, and managed to put up an organized front against the enemy. During the war, Kuznetsov energetically led the fleets, coordinating actions with other operations of the Armed Forces. He was a member of the Supreme high command. In February 1944, Kuznetsov was awarded the rank of fleet admiral (four stars), and on May 31, 1945 the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and he was made a hero of the Soviet Union. After the war, Kuznetsov remained chief of the Navy and Deputy Minister for the Armed Forces, but the position was abolished in January 1947 on the orders of Stalin, he was then appointed chief of naval education institutions in Leningrad. In 1948, together with a group of admirals, he was put on trial on trumped-up charges; Admiral L. Haller, a comrade of his died in prison. Kuznetsov, now disgraced, was demoted to rear admiral and appointed Deputy Chief of naval forces of the Far East. He was once again commander of the Pacific Fleet as of July 20, 1951. All charges against him were summarily dismissed following Stalin's death (May 11, 1953) and the rank of fleet admiral was returned to him. From 1953 to 1955, Kuznetsov was Chief of the Navy and Deputy Defense Minister. March 3, 1955 his title changed to ?Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union?, with the rank of Marshall. During this period he devoted most of his attention to upgrading technology in the fleet, in particular, the development of aircraft carriers. However, his rapports rapidly deteriorated with Defense Minister Zhukov, with whom he did not quite get along even in wartime. In December 1955, Kuznetsov, under the pretext of blame in the explosion on the battleship ?Novorossisk? was removed from office (although on sick leave at the time), and on 17 February 1956 he was once again demoted to vice-admiral and dismissed from the service with the humiliating phrase ? without the right to work in the Navy ?. He died 6 December 1974 in Moscow. Only 26 July, 1988 Kuznetsov was posthumously reinstated in the rank of Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union. Prior to that, for 14 years, according to the will of his relatives, his grave displayed no military rank. Now, one of the largest ships in the Russian fleet has been renamed in his honor, the heavy aircraft cruiser ?Admiral Kuznetsov?. The naval college in the Barnaul area has also been renamed in his honor.

Award document bearing the seal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation..

Instituted by decree of the Defense Minister on 27 January 2003. It is awarded to naval personnel of the Navy of the Russian Federation for excellence in training; for impeccable service on ships, submarines or in a naval air crew for at least 5 years, in other naval formations for at least 10 years; for the successful implementation of tasks from at least 3 armed services; for great personal contribution to the high alert status of ships, submarines, aircraft or shore naval installations; for skilled, competent leadership of subordinate personnel and proactive, decisive actions that contribute to the success of naval combat operations; to other persons for merit in strengthening the combat readiness of the Navy.

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Award document front cover.

Award document.

Instituted on 1 April 1997 and awarded to military and civilian components, units of the border service deployed in the Far East, the Pacific or the North East for distinction in the performance of military duties with the highest rates in the service and training that have made a concrete contribution to the protection and defense of state borders, strengthening military discipline and education personnel.

Award document front cover.

Award document.

Instituted on 19 February 1995 and awarded to military and civilian components, units of the border service, border guards in border outposts 12 and 13, the Moscow border detachment of the Federal Border Service in the Republic of Tajikistan, for courage in dealing with combat tasks in the protection of state borders.

Award document front cover.

Award document.

Instituted on 19 February 1995, it is awarded to military and civilian components, units of the Federal Border Service deployed in the North Caucasus and the Caucasus, for distinction in the performance of military duties with the highest rates in the service and training that have made a concrete contribution to the protection and defense of state borders, strengthening military discipline and education personnel.

BIO Colonel General Dutov Born to a peasant family in the village Pukasovka Letichevskogo district, Vinnytsia region. His military service began in 1929, in 1934 he was appointed to a position in the financial service of the army and moved up to be the treasurer of the divisional headquarters. Dutov served as chief of the financial department of the fronts: the North-West, Southwest, Stalingrad, Don, Central and 1st Bielorussian. During the war, he emerged as a natural and outstanding manager and leader who was able to provide funding for troops in the most difficult of combat situations and in all conditions. After WWII, Dutov's Financial Services Group served the Soviet occupation troops in Germany. From June 14, 1955 to 9 July 1986 he was Head of the Central Financial Department of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. His financial management of the Armed Forces of the USSR was instrumental in allowing for the reorganization and modernization of the armed forces. His experience, high professionalism and his ability to take correct decisions enabled him to be retained as head of the Central Financial Management under five consecutive Ministers of Defense of the USSR. Dutov's basic tenets formed the basis for a universal mechanism of funding for troops through field institutions like the Central Bank who helped the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to meet the challenges of funding troops and to successfully operate today. In 1982, for great personal contributions to the armed forces and for enhancing the combat readiness of the Army and Navy, Colonel General Dutov was awarded both the high title of Hero of Socialist Labor and the Order of Lenin. He died March 10, 1991 and is buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

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Instituted by decree of the Defense Minister on 7 November 2006. Awarded for outstanding personal contribution to the development and improvement of the financial and economic capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, for improving the social protection of the Armed Forces while demonstrating the highest professional and business qualities; to military and civilian personnel of financial and economic bodies of the Armed Forces who have served in these bodies for 10 years or more; to citizens of the Russian Federation, dismissed from military service after 20 years or more and who served in the financial and economic bodies of the Armed Forces for 10 years or more; to other citizens who provide assistance in addressing the financial and economic challenges facing the Armed Forces.

BIO Colonel-General Vladimir Karpovich Pickalov - Head of chemical troops of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. Born September 15, 1924 in the town of Armavir, Krasnodar. Joined the Red Army in June 1941. Graduated from the Rostov Artillery School In February 1942. But even while in school, took part in the battles in the approaches to Rostov in October and November 1941. Sent to the front immediately upon graduation, he fought in the West, Don, Stalingrad, steppes, and on the Belorussian fronts. Took part in the battles of Moscow, Voronezh, Stalingrad and Kursk. He held multiple leadership positions as platoon commander, deputy commander and then commander of an artillery battery, intelligence officer in a heavy artillery regiment. He was wounded several times, including seriously in March 1945 and he spent Victory day in the hospital. For his bravery at the front he was awarded two orders and several medals. After the war he was transferred to the chemical forces. In 1952 he graduated from the Military Academy for Chemical Defense. He served in the position of Chief of a Motorized Division in the Chemical Service. 1954, appointed senior officer for training at the district headquarters. 1960, appointed deputy head, and since 1962, Chief of Chemical Troops of the Baltic Military District. Promoted to major general in 1965 In 1968 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. In 1968-1969 he served as Deputy Chief of the Military Academy for Chemical Defense. In 1969 he was appointed Chief of Chemical Troops of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. In over 19 years of service in this post he has proven to be a proactive and decisive leader. Responsible for the design, testing and procurement of new equipment and weapons. His strong point lay in his ability to delegate to subordinates to assume full responsibility for any new business and close relationship with science and industry; this greatly shortened the time span to introduce the newest developments. Promoted to Lieutenant General in 1970 and to Colonel General in 1975. The most difficult and heroic page in the biography of General Pickalov is during the Chernobyl disaster. He received the news of the tragedy at 7 am, 26 April 1986, at noon he was already on the scene setting up a temporary command post. He immediately and personally began checking for radiation in an extensive area until suitably equipped troops could arrive. His work enabled the first chemical troops on the scene to begin their work immediately. He remained on scene until mid May, by now half blind making many trips to Moscow to brief the government. By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 24, 1986 for great personal contribution in carrying out work in the area of the Chernobyl accident and limiting its effects, for demonstrated courage and heroism, Colonel-General Vladimir Karpovich Pikalov has been awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order Lenin. In early 1989, appointed as an inspector in the Group of the Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. Retired in 1992, however, continued to participate actively in the work of chemical troops, patriotic events and veteran work. Died 29 March 2003.

Award document for the award bestowed upon veterans and civilians.

Instituted in 2006 by Decree of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. Awarded to soldiers and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, as well as other citizens of the Russian Federation, for providing assistance in solving the tasks entrusted to the federal government in the field of chemical disarmament. This smaller 4 corner mount is for award to civilians and veterans.

BIO: Army General Margelov The legendary commander of airborne troops, "paratrooper No. 1" was born December 27, 1908 in Yekaterynoslav (now Dnipropetrovsk). Joined the Red Army in 1928 and in 1931 graduated from the Minsk Military School (formerly the Joint Belarusian military school). Served in the Russo-Finnish War of 1939-1940 as a battalion commander. Served in the Great Patriotic War as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of a rifle division. In 1944, appointed commander of the 49th Guards Rifle Division of the 28th Army in the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Directs the actions liberating the Dnieper and Kherson, which earned him the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Under his command of 49th Guards Rifle Division participated in the liberation of South-Eastern Europe. In 1948, following his graduation from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union he was appointed Commander of the 76th Red Guards Airborne Division. In 1950-1954, he commanded of 37th Guards Airborne Army in the Far East. From 1954 to 1979 years he commanded all Soviet airborne troops. From 1979 until his death, senior member of the group of general inspectors of the Ministry of Defense. During his service in the Airborne Troops he made more than 60 jumps. The last of them at 65 years of age. The airborne academy of Russia was renamed in his honour. General Margelov passed away on 4 March 1990.

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Instituted on 5 May 2005 by decree of the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation. Awarded to soldiers serving in airborne units for good service of 15 years or more subject to previously being awarded an insignia ?For Merit?, as well as members of the civilian staff for airborne troops that have served faithfully in airborne troops for more than 20 years. May also be awarded to veterans of airborne troops, in the airborne reserve or retired and having served 25 years or more, as well as military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for personal contribution to the strengthening and development of airborne troops.

Bio. KRULEV, Andrey (1892 - 1962) Born September 30, 1892 into a poor peasant family in the village of Bolshaya Oleksandrivka St Petersburg province (now Kingisepp district, Leningrad region). Emprisoned for 6 months then deported to Estonia in 1912 for bolchevic activities. Red squad leader during the 1917 revolution. Became an active member of the communist party in 1918 holding various positions of authority including party administrative and military functions. In December 1928, became deputy chief of the political management of the Moscow Military District. In July 1930, Krulev was appointed chief of the Central Military and Financial Management Office of the Working-Peasant Red Army on Military and Maritime Affairs, managing all the financial activities, districts and fleets. Within three years, he brought real order into the service. In November 1935 he was awarded the rank of corps Commissioner. In this position Krulev stayed until August 1936 as chief of the Central Military and financial management of the Red Army, he did much to strengthen the financial discipline in the army and navy. In August 1936 he was appointed as the Chief of the Construction and Housing Management Office for Defense of the USSR, and in May 1938 - Head of the Military Construction, Kiev Special Military District. A year later, his administration had been recognized among the best in the USSR. He brought to light the great shortcomings of the supply system during the Russo-Finnish war and when the post of superintendent of armies was created, he was given the post, promoted to lieutenant-general and shortly afterwards his incredible work earned him the Order of Lenin. His improvement of Soviet logistics in WW2 was remarkable. During his 40 years of service, Army General Andrei V. Krulev was awarded two Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov 1st class and many foreign orders. On 6 July 1964, the Council of Ministers of the USSR renamed the military financial school after Army General AV Krulev.

Award document bearing the stamp of the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation.

Instituted on 10 July 2004 by Decree of the Defense Minister. Awarded to senior logistics officers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, to officials responsible for management, and that served for or have served in the armed forces for 20 years or more, as well as veterans of military service for great personal contribution to the organization of logistical troops.