Soviet 1000 Posted December 5, 2011 Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Hi, I have a fully researched Red Star in my collection that was awarded from the battle of Kursk. I will post up pictures of the Order and the russian docs when I can get the time. For the time being here is the translation that was done by Paul Schmitt and all my research is done by Alexei merezhko. Well, I was over the moon when this came back after the translation. For some strange reason you don't see many awards from the largest tank battle in history. Documents pertaining to Order of the Red Star #264.996 1. Award card Order booklet 272049 1. Last name: Polyakov 2. Name and Patrionymic: Valeryan Vasilevich 3. Rank: Lieutenant Colonel 4. Sex: Male 5. Birthyear: 1911 6. Birthplace: Chkalov Oblast, Buzuluk St. 7. Party Membership: member since 1939 8. Education: mid-level 9. Nationality: Russian 10. Service in the Red Army: since 15.6.1941 11. Place of service and duty position at time of awarding: 79 Rifle Division, 284 Artillery Regiment – Secretary to the Party Organization Leader 12. Place of service and duty position at the current time: 79 Rifle Division, 179 Rifle Regimentt – Deputy Regimental Commander for Political Units 13. Home of Record: Sakhalin Oblast, Kirov Region, village of Tymoovskoe 14. Awards Award Serial Number Awarder Red Star 264.996 13 Army dated 21.8.1943 Combat Service Medal 202.447 13 Army dated 9.3.1943 Patriotic War I Class 39.513 40 Army dated 17.2.1944 Combat Service Medal n/a Edict dated 30.4.1954 Red Star 3.492.341 Edict dated 30.12.1956 Victory over Germany Medal Edict dated 9.5.1945 XXX Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces Mdl Edict dated 22.2.1948 Verified by Chief of Staff, 179 Rifle Regiment, Major Golovin on 26 February 1957 2. Award Citation Award Sheet 1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Polyakov, Veniamin Vasilevich 2. Rank: Major 3. Duty position: Deputy Commander for Political Units, 142 Independent Destroyer Anti-Tank Battalion, 74 Rifle Division Application for the Order of the Red Star 4. Birthyear: 1911 5. Nationality: Russian 6. Party membership: yes 7. Participation in combat: Patriotic War since May 1942 8. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a 9. Time in the Red Army: since 1941 10. Inducted by: Chkalov Regional Military Commissariat 11. Earlier Awards: Combat Service Medal 12. Home of record: Chkalov Oblast, Buzuluk, 11th Line, #7 Short description of personal combat feat or service Comrade Polyakov has displayed courage and bravery in combat against the German occupiers. During the period 5-12.7.43 the battalion destroyed eight German tanks, a tow-recovery vehicle, more than 400 Hitlerites, and twelve heavy machineguns. Mobilizing his Party-Comsomol activists, Comrade Polyakov’s mission was for the battalion to accomplish its assigned tasks in an outstanding manner. In combat with the German-fascist occupiers, the unit’s personnel exhibited tip-top shape and were ready at any moment in any conditions to strike the enemy. The Communists lead the way in this undertaking. He is deserving of a State award. Signed Battalion Commander, Captain Kobzev on 12.7.1943 Endorsed 74 Rifle Division Commander General-Major Kazaryan and Chief of Political Units Lieutenant Colonel Sa(?) on 4 August 1943 Endorsed 13 Rifle Corps Deputy Commander for Political Units Guards Colonel (?) on 10 August 1943 Endorsed 18 Rifle Corps Commander, Guards General-Major (?) on 10 August 1943 Endorsed 13 Army Chief of Political Units Colonel Borov(?) on 11 August 1943 Endorsed 13 Army Commander General-Lieutenant Puko(?) and Member of the Military Council General-Major (?) on 13 August 1943 Awarded the Order of the Red Star by Order 01/N of the 7 Guards Cavalry Corps dated 13 October 1943 3. Unit Order SECRET Central Front 13 Army Order 140/N dated 21 August 1943 On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for displaying valor and courage. Order of the Red Star 2. Major Veniamin Vasilevich Polyakov – Deputy Commander for Political Units, 142 Independent Destroyer Anti-Tank Battalion, 74 Rifle Division Signed 13 Army Commander of Forces General-Lieutenant Pukhov and Member of the Military Council General-Major Kozlov 4. Unit Personnel Card Document lists Valerii Vasilevich Polyakov (b. 1911) as being a captain in the 74 Rifle Division (Central Front), serving as an Instructor for Rear Area Political Units as of 11.5.43. After being promoted to major, Polyakov served in the same unit as the Deputy Commander for Political Units in the 142 Independent Destroyer Anti-Tank Battalion as of 30.6.43 Edited December 5, 2011 by Soviet 1000
Soviet 1000 Posted December 6, 2011 Author Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Here are some pics of the Red Star, it is in beautiful condition and all original enamel screw post etc. Edited December 6, 2011 by Soviet 1000
joe campbell Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 what a terrific group!! you've done very nicely with this one. joe
Wild Card Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Hello Soviet 1000, A beautiful star you have there, congratulations. I think that you will find that the commander of the 13th Army at that time was General-Lieutenant Nikolai Pavlovich Pukhov. Regards, Wild Card
JimZ Posted December 13, 2011 Posted December 13, 2011 I have moved this over to the researched orders section. Well done. Jim :cheers:
Soviet 1000 Posted December 13, 2011 Author Posted December 13, 2011 Thanks lads for the thumbs up on this one. I really look forward to getting the research back, as you never know what you are going to get! This one will be hard to beat. Kai
Paul R Posted December 18, 2011 Posted December 18, 2011 This is the first Kursk order group I have seen. I love it!! Thank you for sharing it with us!!
Soviet 1000 Posted January 20, 2012 Author Posted January 20, 2012 Thanks Paul, it was a pleasure sharing it with you guys!
Wild Card Posted January 20, 2012 Posted January 20, 2012 This is the first Kursk order group I have seen. I love it!! Thank you for sharing it with us!! You raise a good point here. Reflecting back over the years, it seems that I have seen more Hero Stars for forcing the Dnieper than awards for anything related to Kursk.
Soviet 1000 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Posted January 22, 2012 This is the first Kursk award that I have seen myself. Paul Schmitt said to me that for some reason that he does not know awards from Kursk are very rare, with the amount of troops involved in the battle you should expect to see more popping up, but you don't? This is one of the main reasons that I do research, as you just never know what your going to find out!
Paul R Posted January 22, 2012 Posted January 22, 2012 I am suprised at this as well... especially since it was a Soviet victory. Tons of awards for Stalingrad though!
Soviet 1000 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Posted January 23, 2012 Yes, it is strange, I am very happy that I have one from Kursk in my collection, as I don't think I will be as lucky again.
Paul R Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 A rare bird, that is for sure. What other medals and orders was this man entitled to?
Soviet 1000 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Posted January 23, 2012 Award Serial Number Awarder Red Star 264.996 13 Army dated 21.8.1943 Combat Service Medal 202.447 13 Army dated 9.3.1943 Patriotic War I Class 39.513 40 Army dated 17.2.1944 Combat Service Medal n/a Edict dated 30.4.1954 Red Star 3.492.341 Edict dated 30.12.1956 Victory over Germany Medal Edict dated 9.5.1945 XXX Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces Mdl Edict dated 22.2.1948 Verified by Chief of Staff, 179 Rifle Regiment, Major Golovin on 26 February 1957
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