Soviet The Rarity of Kursk Awards

[Ferdinand]

Here's another Red Star that was quite easy to link to the battle of Kursk.

 

Quote

Comrade Savelyev has been serving as deputy chief of the Reconnaissance Section and head of the Army Reconnaissance Unit of the 5th Guards Tank Army and has been handling his duties well.

During the combat operations he properly organized reconnaissance missions and promptly and truthfully identified the enemy forces facing the army.

Comrade Savelyev personally visited the units and formations to organize night patrols tasked with taking prisoners and conducting reconnaissance.

Comrade Savelyev commands authority among the cadre members of the Reconnaissance Section. He properly organized the activities of the Army Reconnaissance Unit.

He is dedicated to the Party of Lenin and Stalin and the socialist motherland. He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star.

 

The citation was written on or shortly before July 22, 1943, just a few days after the 5th Guards Tank Army had fought in the famous battle of Prokhorovka.

 

Edited February 15, 2016 by Ferdinand

[Paul R]

Nice one.  Kursk is one battle I do not have represented in my collection. . 

[godefroy]

Salutation,

as Kursk battle is in range of my interest  (and 1943 in general), here i post pictures of ground dig Order of the Red Star

Guards Sergeant Sajdahmet Hamitov  -  13 Motorized Brigade (12 Tank Corps, 3rd Guards Tank Army)

He was KIA on 19.07.1943 during 3rd Army Counter offensive  (Kobjakovo - Kursk Oblast)

He has received his ORS in march 1943 for shooting down 4 airplanes and killing up to 100 facists during battle at Kursk.

Regards

[Paul R]

Very cool example.  It is a shame to see ground dug awards, but this is one I would love to have.  Most impressive, shooting down four planes.  I only have one KIA order (OGPW1) that posthumously awarded.  I've not ever had a recovered item before.  

[godefroy]

Salutation,

ground dig awards very often bring a deeper history, despite of their condition (only s/n matters).

 And here  is original citation  of Hamitov's ORS.

Whats more,i think  if we talk about Battle of Kursk we should consider it as a sereies of military operation, battles, local offensives and counter-offensives (ex. Zitadel, Kutuzow, Rodimtsev, Prokhorovka, Obojan, Bogodukhova, etc.)

All fights between 5th July and 23th August in region of Kursk we could generaly call Battle of Kursk.

 

Regards

[zook]

Good points.  I have many groups and individual awards that have been researched.  One came back mentioning Kursk (bravery medal for delivering meals under fire ....and a group that mentions actions at Stalingrad (photo attached). Dan 

[Paul R]

I have two Kursk groups, but they are German.  These Soviet vets of the campaign are amazing.  Which medal exactly was for Kursk out of the group above?  I dont see a Bravery Medal.  

Paul

[zook]

Sorry I screwed up the photos on the post! ... but that's the Stalingrad group ... I'll post the group with Bravery medals in a moment 

 

Here is the pic of the bravery medals group I mention, but I have the research buried in one of my file boxes so I need to dig that up  

[Paul R]

Well, both groups are outstanding!  I love the fact the Kursk veteran is a tanker.  He was lucky to have survived. 

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

  My small contribution to the question Wild Card first posited in this thread on February 10, 2012.  For the first time in English, detailed information is provided on the HSU titles awarded for valor in the Battle of Kursk:  https://www.amazon.com/Tigers-Steppe-Valor-Battle-Kursk/dp/B086G27991/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587388611&sr=1-3

Regards,

slava1stclass