Soviet colonel Efim Ivanovitch Davidov

[seb16trs]

gentlemen, I have great difficulties to read this citation since I'm hardly russian reader.

Efim I. Davidov won his order in Hungary, but I can't figure the details.

I would be extremly gratefull for your kind help. I keep the actual award finaly given to Davidov as a surprise because it is not often seen in these columns ;)

[seb16trs]

and the identification datas:

[seb16trs]

I can just decifer essential datas of the identification lines:

he was a Guard colonel, in charge of the 299 guards infantry regiment, 98th guards infantry division.

His service ran from 1941 june to 1945 may, Leningradskii front, then Ukraine front since 1945, february 17. Never wounded.

Born russian, in 1909, and member of the CPSU. Member of RKKA since 1927, lives in Leningrad has been awarded a red star amongst others awards.

and proposed for the title of Geroi Sovietskogo Soyuza... :love:

[Guest Rick Research]

I am having a VERY hard time reading this from the wshed out contrast, which makes many letters indistinguishable for my one eye. Too much gray-on-gray and not enough black-on-white.

Basically, it is an enummeration of how his regiment crossed 50 Km into Austria from the Hungarian border, killing 4,000 and capturing 1,000, destroying 50 tanks and vehicles, and capturing the headquarters of an enemy tank division.

I cannot read a single one of the place names.

This does not read at ALL like a Hero Star citation, so I'm not surprised he didn't get one. As a Colonel/Regimental Commander, I'd expect a Suvorov, while a battalion commander would have got a Nevsky for this sort of accumulating "score."

[seb16trs]

thanks A LOT for your spent time Rick

I'm sorry, the Xerox copy isn't really nice (but if I can modify the scan and correct the white and black balance please tel me).

I'll show more pics rapidly ;)

[Guest Rick Research]

As usual, I will call upon volunteers, since I am NOT the solitary Russian Translation Person.

Currnetly I am working at very typing out handwritten 1914-18 award rolls from Mecklenburg Strelitz so I'm not online here as much as nromal.

[seb16trs]

Rick, let me say you you're a great detective... let's see the solution ;)

[seb16trs]

close-up on long service red banner

[seb16trs]

close-up on long service red banner

[seb16trs]

Rick, you were totally right :cheers:

[seb16trs]

reverse:

[seb16trs]

min mark, extremly crisp and fine letters...

Edited October 2, 2008 by seb16trs

[seb16trs]

the red banner... compare with the Suvorov: the marking is larger, cruder. Mint mark on Suvorov appear extremly fine and ciseled, at my eyes this is really a surprise compared to more common orders.

[seb16trs]

the battle merit medal:

[seb16trs]

and the vaillant labor medal