Soviet Researched documented group: Red Star & Bravery Medal

[Ostfront]

Hi,

I would like to show you my latest documented group, consisting of a Medal for bravery, order of the red star, orders book, listing both decorations, award card and two citations for both awards. The translation isn't finished yet, so I would like to ask someone who reads russian, for a brief translation of the citations, I would like to know why this man got these awards.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Ostfront

[Ostfront]

Pic of the medals from behind:

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Award card obverse:

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award card reverse:

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Citation 1:

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bigger pic of the citation:

Edited September 28, 2007 by Ostfront

[Ostfront]

citation number 2.

[Ostfront]

Bigger pic of the citation no. 2

[Ostfront]

I hope someone will be able to make some brief translations from these pics. Thanks in advance.

[Guest Rick Research]

Please do the name page from the Orders Book and the top halves of the two citations as well as the seals and signatures of the two citations, since you have cropped off who RECOMMENDED him for the awards. I'm having a real hard time reading these because of horrible handwriting, very poor contrast (dark pages, light print) and the fact that this Georgian has got names that just read like gibberish when I can't be sure of consistent spellings.

From the Awards Record Card:

Shalva (?) Andreevich Kr(ave/rovei ? inconsistent spellings on different pages)shvili

born 1918 in city of Sashtredia (?), Georgia. Georgian. Member of the CPSU since 1945.

Served in Red Army from September 1938 to 1945.

Decorated as a Starshina in "5th Shock Army, White Russian front" (No LOWER UNIT listed on this!!! ??? !!!)

Temporarily not working at time ARC was filled out. Lived at 102 Kuibishev Ulitsa, Sashtredia, GSSR.

Valor Medal 837,924 per decree of 54th Army May 1944

ORS 1,749,575 by decree of 5th Shock Army 11.6.45

All I'm getting from the personal/units detail of the citations is that he was a driver in .... the first citation mentions a T34 tank and being severely wounded, something about Leningrad...

the focus and contrast of these images is NOT good.

to be continued....

[Ostfront]

I've spent more than an hour to do some more pics, I'm sorry the pics are so bad, but that's all I can do with my camera and 110 kb of space for uploading. If they are not good enough, then it's no problem I'll just have to wait for the ordered translation to arrive.

The name of the recipient should be SHALVA ANDRONOVITCH KRAVEISHVILY.

[Ostfront]

Another:

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The second citation:

[Ostfront]

The last one. I was hoping that this group would be from the tank units and It seems I have had some luck. A tank driver of T34, this might get interesting.

[Guest Rick Research]

You need an EPSON SCANNER. There are real problems reading these from the poor contrast and bad handwriting BUT you have got the size PERFECTLY with these new scans, so we'll try from there.

Hello-- ANYBODY who reads Russian better than me?

Anyway, he was NOT a tank driver--

from the citations he was a Driver (Shofer) in

54th Independent Detachment of MEDICAL DOG (Sobak Sanitarno) Something (Harness?).

PLEASE SCAN THE BOTTOM OF THE CITATIONS WITH THE CLEAR ROUND UNIT STAMPS. I cannot read the horrible handwriting for the unit.

First citation has his name as Shalva Androvich Kroveishvili and was submitted for a Glory 3rd.

Second citation has his name as Shalva Androvich Kraveishvili.

The Awards Record Card has his middle name as Andreevich.

There is mention of "auto-machine" so apparently when the medical dogs brought wounded back, he was an ambulance driver. Severely wounded in the left leg/foot September 1942. In action against the Finns in 1940, Volkhov, Leningrad fronts, ending the war in the capture of Berlin operations.

[Ostfront]

Hmm. Medical unit? Interesting. That is the last thing I expected from these two awards Anyway here are the two pics of the stamps.

[Ostfront]

The other one:

[Guest Rick Research]

AHA! NOW I see--

54y Otdelnogo Otryad (54th Independent Detachment)

Sobak Sanitarno Nartovy Uprezhen=

Harness-Sledge Medical Dogs

So add "SSNU" to the list of Weird Unit Abbreviations!!!

In April 1945 he served in the sectors of the 266th, 89th, and 94th Rifle Divisions of the 1st White Russian Front.

[Ed_Haynes]

indeed

[Guest Rick Research]

Iam stumbling through the horrible handwriting...

FIRST citation (Post #6) does indeed start out

"Comr. Kroveishvili, Shalva Androvich has participated in the Patriotic War since the month of June 1941 in the position of lead-driver of a "T" 34. ..."

MEDICAL TANKS????????????????????

[Ed_Haynes]

Or dog-powered tanks? (Them pesky Ruskis!)

[Guest Rick Research]

Both awards are from the 54th ISHMDD , so I think the gist must be that after he was severely wounded, he ended up in that unit--without indicating what tank regiment he'd been in earlier.

Fading eyesight and darkness call a halt to this for the evening.

[Ostfront]

I got the translations sooner than I expected so here they are.

Award card:

Order book No 250503

1. Last name: KROVEISHVILI

2. First, middle names: Shalva Andreevich

3. Military rank: First sergeant

4. Sex: Male

5. Year of birth: 1918

6. Place of birth: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, Samtredia

7. Party membership since: C.P.S.U. (B) member since September 1945

8. Education: Secondary

9. Nationality: Georgian

10. In the Red Army since: September 1938 t0 1945

11. Place of service (name of the unit) and position occupied when awarded: 5^th shock-Army of Byelorussian Front ? first sergeant

12. Current place of service and position: Temporarily unemployed

13. Home address of the awardee: Samtredia, 102 Kuibysheva Street, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

14. Record of previous awards

Checked

For Courage

837924

406274 Order to 54^th Army No 048 of May, 1944

Order of the Red Star

1749575

548921 Order to 5^th shock-Army No 206/N of June, 1945

Signature of awardee (signed) ________________________

Data correctness

and signature of awardee Samtredia district Military Commissar

attested by: Lieutenant Colonel (signed)

October 31, 1946

Edited September 29, 2007 by Ostfront

[Ostfront]

AWARD CITATION

1.First, middle and last names

Kroveishvili Shalva Andreevich

2.Rank

First Sergeant

3.Position, unit

Driver of the 54^th detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team

Is recommended for the order of the Red Star

4.Year of birth

1918, Georgian SSSR

5.Nationality

Georgian

6.Party membership

CPSU(B) candidate member, since September 1944, card No7570335

7.Participation in the civil war and other military actions aimed at the defense of the USSR (where and when)

Since June 1941 to February 1944 ? Volkhov front

Since February 1944 to January 1945 ? Leningrad front

Since January 1945 ? 1^st Byelorussian front

8.Wounds or contusions received (date, month, year of wounds, location at present)

Heavily wounded on December 18,1942; now he is at 54^th detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team

9.In the Red Army since

1938

10.Drafted by what district military commissariat

Kutaissky district military commissariat ? the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

11.Previous awards

Medal for courage, order to 54^th Army No 048/N of May 19, 1944

12.Permanent home address (of the prospective awardee or his/her family)

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, Samtredia, 102 Kuibysheva street;

Father ? Kroveishvili Andro Darispanovich

I. Brief description of personal feat or merits

Comrade Kroveishvili Sh. A. is at the 1^st Byelorussian front of the 5^th shock Army since January 20, 1945 taking up a post of a motor-car driver of the 54^th detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team. Comrade Kroveishvili in arduous conditions in defensive and offensive actions honorably carried out orders of the detachment command, from the offensive day on April 16, 1945. When it was necessary to move reinforcement of vehicles, people and dogs to 266^th, 89^th and 94^th rifle division, comrade Kroveishvili in spite of severe enemy's fire, got on the motor-car to the regiment medical station and battalion medical station and in time delivered special inventory and necessary things for active sub-divisions. On the way back he took the wounded soldiers and officers and on his motor-car and delivered them to the 1^st medical station. On April 25, 1945 during street fights in Berlin comrade Kroveishvili made seven trips a day, delivered fresh forces, technique and special inventory; he was contused but didn't stop his work, promoting continuous evacuation of wounded.

For self-sacrificing job comrade Kroveishvili deserves the government award, order of the Red Star.

Commander of 54^th detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team

Captain (signed) /Mirzoyan/

April 27, 1945

II. Conclusion of the Higher Command

Deserves the government award, order of Red Star

Commander of sanitary section of the 5^th shock Army

Guards Lieutenant-Colonel of medical service (signed) /CHERTOV/

May 8, 1945

Deserves the government award, order of Red Star

Commander of rear of the 5^th shock Army

Major-General (signed) /Ser ?/

May 30, 1945

Edited September 29, 2007 by Ostfront

[Ostfront]

AWARD CITATION

1.First, middle and last names

Kroveishvili Shalva Andreevich

2.Rank

First Sergeant

3.Position, unit

Driver of the 54^th detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team

Is recommended for the order of Glory, 3^rd class

4.Year of birth

1918

5.Nationality

Georgian

6.Party membership

LYCLSU member

7.Participation in the civil war and other military actions aimed at the defense of the USSR (where and when)

Finnish company in 1940

Since 1941 ? Volkhov -Leningrad front

8.Wounds or contusions received

Wounded: heavy and light wounds in 1942

9.In the Red Army since

1938

10.Drafted by what district military commissariat

Kutaissky district military commissariat ? the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

11.Previous awards

None

12.Permanent home address (of the prospective awardee or his/her family)

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, Samtredia, 102 Kuibysheva street

I. Brief description of personal feat or merits

Comrade Kroveishvili has participated in the Patriotic War since June 1941 in the capacity of a tank "T-34" driver. Taking part in military actions in the area of Sinyavino village, during the breach of Leningrad blockade he rushed his tank to the attack and annihilated the enemy pillbox. Courageous soldier was severely wounded in his left leg. After medical treatment Kroveishvili again stood up for the defense of Socialist Republic. At present he is positioned at the detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team as a motor-car driver.

Comrade Kroveishvili is conscientious towards socialist property. For his courageous and self-sacrificing work Kroveishvili deserves the government award, order of Glory, 3^rd class.

Commander of 54^th detached squadron of sanitary dog-sledge team

Captain (signed) /Mirzoyan/

April ?, 1944

II. Conclusion of the Higher Command

Deserves the government award, order of Glory, 3^rd class

Commander of the 54^th sanitary department

Colonel of medical service (signed) /Guschin/

April 25, 1944

III. Conclusion of the Army Military Council

Deserves the government award, order of Glory, 3^rd class

Military Council members

Commander-in-Chief of the 54^th Army

Lieutenant-General Major-General /Yemelyanenko/

Guards Colonel

/ROGINSKY/ /Ignatyev/

1944

IV. Conclusion of the Front Military Council

V. Conclusion of the Award Commission of the People's Commissariat of Defense

VI. Award Record

Awarded with the Medal for Courage by order to 54^th Army No 048/N from May 19, 1947

Deputy Commander of the personnel department 2^nd section

Captain of executive department (signed)

Edited September 29, 2007 by Ostfront