Soviet Commissar Korchev's Red Banner

Ferdinand · December 26, 2006

A small question - who can give me an approximate production date for a Red Banner serialled 223004?

Thanks.

Auke

NavyFCO · December 26, 2006

Auke:

Without references handy, I'd say it's a May-June 1945 award.

You can check the "serial number" thread that's pinned at the top of this forum to get a more precise date. It's well worth researching! :beer:

Dave

Gerd Becker · December 27, 2006

Hi Auke,

i agree with Dave, it was probably awarded around May 1945. There is a good chance, that this is not a Long-Service award, so i also recommend to get it researched.

all the best,

Gerd

Ferdinand · December 27, 2006

I LOVE that sticky :love: Must have overlooked it. Research is a totally new (and expensive) world for me, but I will reconsider it.

Here he is:

Riley1965 · December 27, 2006

Ferdinand,

Research is worth every penny!!! You won't be disappointed. Ask for everything...Award card, Citation(s), Service Record with service record picture. I have one group I'll post that has a biography of the Lt. Colonel. If you don't read Russian get the translation. I am like a kid on Christmas Day when a packet of research arrives.

:beer: Doc

Ferdinand · December 27, 2006

Thank you for your enthousiastic reply Doc. I have taken the first step and contacted the researcher. I can't wait for the results...

Perhaps a mod can move this topic to the 'Research' Forum? :rolleyes:

Edited December 27, 2006 by Ferdinand

December 28, 2006

That happens when the research gets posted. :beer:

Ferdinand · December 31, 2006

Today I received a very extensive reply from our researcher. I asked for everything he could find. The research would take about two - three months. I can't wait...

Ferdinand · July 7, 2009

After over 30 months of waiting, I have written off my (our) previous researcher. So I asked Marco, and he had results in 5 days.

First, the award record card:

Translation:

Order booklet nr. A-667407

1. Last name: Korchev

2. First name and patronymic: Ivan Ivanovich

3. Military rank: Major

4. Sex: Male

5. Year of birth: 1917

6. Place of birth: Penza Oblast, Sosnovoborsk raion, village of Shkudim

7. Party membership: VKP(b) member since 1939

8. Education: Secondary

9. Nationality: Russian

10. In the Red Army since: Since 1939

11. Place of service and duty position at the time of the awarding: 2nd Mortar Brigade - deputy battalion commander for political affairs

12. Current place of service and duty position: 18th Howitzer Artillery Brigade - deputy battalion commander for political affairs

13. Home address of awardee: Penza Oblast, Sosnovoborsk raion, village of Shkudim

14. Record of all awards presented:

- Order of the Red Star, nr. 270027, temporary certificate nr. 1111388, by Order of the commander of the artillery of the Bryansk Front nr. 22 of 10 September 1943

- Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, nr. 182356, temporary certificate nr. D-258364, by Order of the commander of the artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front nr. 0125 of 22 September 1944

- Order of the Red Banner, nr. 223004, temporary certificate nr. E-240086, by Order of the commander of the artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front nr. 0184 of 21 April 1945

- Order of the Red Banner, nr. 260219, temporary certificate nr. Zh-706065, by Order of the commander of the artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front nr. 0212 of 4 June 1945

- Medal for the Victory over Germany, without number, certificate nr. Zh-0230106, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 9 May 1945

Signature of the awardee [signature]

Acting commander of the 18th Howitzer Artillery Brigade

Colonel [signature] /Belousov/

4 December 1946

Edited July 7, 2009 by Ferdinand

Ferdinand · July 7, 2009

The award sheet:

Translation:

1. Last name, patronymic and first name: Korchev, Ivan Ivanovich

2. Military rank: Major

3. Duty position, unit: Deputy battalion commander for political affairs, 135th Mortar Regiment, 2nd Red Banner Mortar Brigade, 6th Mozyrsk Red Banner Breaktrough Artillery Division of the Reserve of the High Command

Recommended for: Order of Lenin

4. Year of birth: 1917

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Party membership: Member of the VKP(b) since 1939, party membership card nr. 4558155

Participation in the Civil War, the following combat actions for the defense of the USSR (where, when): In the Patriotic War since 27 July 1941. Western Front from July 1941 to November 1941, Bryansk Front from June 1943 to September 1943, Belorussian Front since Januari 1944

8. Suffered wounds or contusions in the Patriotic War: Wounded on 15 August 1941, wounded on 25 November 1941

9. In the Red Army since: Since 5 September 1939

10. Drafted bu which RVK: Sosnovoborsk RVK, Penza Oblast

11. Which earlier awards: Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Order of the commander of the artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front nr. 0125 of 22 September 1944, Order of the Red Star by Order of the commander of the artillery of the Bryansk Front nr. 22 of 10 September 1943

12. Home address: Penza Oblast, Sosnovoborsk raion, village of Shkudim. Father: Ivan Yakovlevich Korchev.

Brief description of personal feat or merits:

On 11 March 1945, near the village of L?chentin, 1 kilometre south of the Baltic coast, a group of German infantry of up to 2000 men broke through our infantry and broke into the combat formations of the battalion. Deputy battalion commander for political affairs Major Korchev, being located at the firing position, prepared his personnel for repulsing the attack of the German infantry with side arms and grenades.

Around 10:00 o?clock on 11 March 1945, forward observers, sent ahead by comrade Korchev, opened fire on the attacking Germans and reported to the firing positions that large German forces were located at a distance of 400 metres.

Together with Major Gavrilov, comrade Korchev ordered the spotters to shoot with the main charge over open sights, and the rest to prepare for repulsing the attack with side arms. When the Germans were at a distance of 100 metres, he sent his soldiers into the attack, after having shot 10 German soldiers himself with his submachine gun and having killed 5 Germans with a well-aimed grenade throw into a group of enemy soldiers. The enemy attack was repulsed. Up to 80 enemy soldiers and officers were killed. After 10 minutes a new group of Germans of up to 700 men from the Junker Berlin Naval Aviation School broke into the firing positions of the battalion. Major comrade Korchev arose with his entire stature from the entrenchment and with a voice full of will and confidence he shouted: ?Comrades, not a step back! We will die, but not retreat!? The soldiers, inspired by the courageous example of comrade Korchev, engaged the enemy hand-to-hand, killing 92 Germans.

During this battle, comrade Korchev personally killed 6 German soldiers and 1 officer.

On 12 March 1945, after having resupplied bullets and grenades, comrade Korchev organized the companies from his battery and went to the assault of the firing positions. He beated the Germans out of the village of L?chentin and went to the coast of the Baltic Sea after having retaken the previous position.

For personal courage, displayed in organizing a strong defense, and for training his personnel, fearless comrade Korchev is deserving of the governmental award ?Order of Lenin?.

Deputy commander of the 135th Mortar Regiment for political affairs

Major [signature] /Marchenko/

19 March 1945