Soviet Combat service medal to a naval marine

[Ostfront]

This is what i got and would like to show you:

A CSM with doc that was awarded to naval marine of the 225 red banner naval infantry brigade during the naval attack on Novorossiisk in 1943.

Documents pertaining Combat Service Medal #626.393

1. Award card

Order booklet B 055944

1. Last name: Potapov

2. Name and Patrionymic: Grigorii Anastasevich

3. Rank: Private

4. Sex: Male

5. Birthyear: 1916

6. Birthplace: village of Ilino, Lipetsk Region, Voronezh Oblast

7. Party Membership: since 1943

8. Education: elementary

9. Nationality: Russian

10. Service in the Red Army: 11.1937-10.1945

11. Place of service and duty position at time of awarding: 255 Naval Infantry Brigade, 18 Army, Communications Specialist

12. Place of service and duty position at the current time: 3-d Lepse - driver

13. Home of Record: Kiev, Borshchagovskaya St. #65, Apt. 3

14. Awards

Award Serial Number Awarder:

Red Star 651.887 318 Rifle Division dated 30.9.43

Combat Service Mdl 626.393 265 Naval Infantry Brigade dated 7.10.43

Verified by Personnel Officer on 16 April 1946

2. Award Citation

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Potapov, Grigorii Anastasevich

2. Rank: Private

3. Duty position: Telephone Operator, Signals Battalion, 255 Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade

Application for the Bravery Medal

4. Birthyear: 1916

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Party membership: candidate member

7. Participation in combat: Northern Caucasus Front (missing) 1942- 2.1943, Novorossisk naval landing since 2.43

8. Wounds or contusions: none

9. Time in the Red Army: since 9 May 1942

10. Inducted by: Red October Regional Military Commissariat, Stalingrad

11. Earlier awards: n/a

12. Home of record: Stalingrad, Red October Region, Ovrazhskaya #8; Nesterin, Peter Andreevich

Short description of personal combat feat or service

He has participated in fighting near Novorossiisk since 15 February 1943. As a communications line manager to the 14th Battalion, he has daily repaired line damage under artillery and mortar fire.

On 20.7.43 he gathered a kilometer of cable on the front lines by his own initiative.

On 20.8.43 he repaired eight breaks in 20 minutes under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, thus providing the brigade's command with uninterrupted communications. He is deserving of the Bravery Medal.

Signed Commander, Signals Battalion, 255 Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade, Senior Lieutenant Voronenkov on 10.8.43

Awarded the Combat Service Medal by Order 031/N of e 255 Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade

Verified Chief of the 4^th Section, 255 RBNIB HQ, Administrative Services Captain Ivankov on 7.10.43

Edited November 18, 2007 by Ostfront

[Paul R]

Very unique citation. I see that it was downgraded from a Bravery Medal. It always blows my mind how the Soviets could give their highest Orders for long service, yet be so stingy with something like a Bravery Medal.

[Guest Rick Research]

Poor guy DEFINITELY got screwed. That was a classic citation for a well-derserved Valour Medal.

Once again, I suspect there were "quota" limits at work here--

too low a rank, downgraded.

There is no question whatsoever that he SHOULD have gotten a VM.

[Ostfront]

Maybe he got the CSM because he was not directly in contact with the enemy?

Can anyone explain how is it possible that he got the red star in the same time from a different unit?

[Guest Rick Research]

318th Mountain (there's a combination for -- alpine marines!) Division was around Novorossisk in September 1943 and took part in the amphibious landings at Kerch in November, so there was probably a mixture of personnel in that awful fighting.

He was out in the open under enemy fire and at direct risk to his life, which are what the Valour Medal was given for.

[Alfred]

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

regards

Andreas

Edited November 18, 2007 by Alfred

[Ostfront]

Thanks, this clears things up. A shame that the red star is missing. I'm sure he must have done something bold to get the red star in the hell around Novorossisk.

318th Mountain (there's a combination for -- alpine marines!) Division was around Novorossisk in September 1943 and took part in the amphibious landings at Kerch in November, so there was probably a mixture of personnel in that awful fighting.

He was out in the open under enemy fire and at direct risk to his life, which are what the Valour Medal was given for.