Aleksandr Kuz'mich Bezyazykov - Stalingrad

[redoctober]

Here is one of my favourite awards I own.

 

There is something special about damaged and destroyed awards that makes me treasure them that little bit more.

 

 

 

Aleksandr Kuz'mich Bezyazykov

Rifle Battalion Commander - Stalingrad

 

 

Aleksandr Bezyazykov was born in 1916 in Krasnodar Krai.

He enlisted in the Red Army in 1937 and saw combat at Lake Khasan.

He was injured twice during the Great Patriotic War, and still he fought bravely from 1941 to 1945.

 

 

Record card

Order booklet nr. A-105052

1. Last name: Bezyazykov
2. First name and patronymic: Aleksandr Kuzmich
3. Military rank: Major
4. Sex: Male
5. Year of birth: 1916
6. Place of birth: Krasnodar Krai, Novosibirsk Area
7. Party membership (since which year): Since April 1944
8. Education: Average
9. Nationality: Russian
10. Since which year in the Red Army: 1937-1946
11. Place of service (name of the unit) and position occupied at the time of the award: 121st Rifle Division, Chief of Staff for the 524th Rifle Regiment
12. Current place of service and position: Azti Deputy Chief of Staff
13. Home address of the awardee: Center No.24 Apartment 2
14. Record of all awards received:

Name of the order or medal   Serial number    Number of the document       Ground of award

Red Star     65100      Order Booklet N105052    Decree of the South-western Front No.010/N of 26.09.1942

 

Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class     58668    Temp. Cert N.492606    Decree of the 60th Army No.072/N of 19.8.1943

 

Order of Suvorov 3rd Class   8787      Temp Cert N.347555    Decree of the 1st Ukrainian Front of 24.11.1943 No.0225/N

Signature of the awardee: [signed]

I confirm the correctness of the data and the signature of the awardee (position and signature):

Military commissar of the Frunze region
Major / [signed] / Budashirov

28th August 1946

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Award sheet

Last name, first name and patronymic: Bezyazykov, Aleksandr Kuz’mich
Rank: Senior Lieutenant
Position and unit: Commander of the 2nd Rifle Battalion, 285th Rifle Regiment, 112th Rifle Division

Nominated for: Order of the Red Star

1. Year of birth: 1916
2. Nationality: Russian
3. Since when in the Red Army: Since 1937
4. Party membership: Not a member
5. Participation in combat (where and when): Lake Khasan in 1938. Patriotic War from 23.6 to 15.9.1941 on the Western Front and South-Western Front in a Machine Gun Platoon in the 587th Rifle Regiment, 190th Rifle Division. Since 25.7.1942 commander of a Rifle Battalion in the 385th Rifle Regiment, 112nd Rifle Division
6. Wounds and Contusions: Wounded 15.9.1941 and 28.7.1942
7. Awards received previously (for which merits): None
8. Inducted by which Regional Millitary Commissariat: Career Officer
9. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: ______________

Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits

 

Comrade Bezyazykov, Alexander Kuzmich has proved himself during the battles with German invaders as steadfast and knowledgeable in his role as commander.

 

During the Great Patriotic War comrade Bezyazykov whilst commander of the 2nd Rifle Battalion has led his battalion into combat and achieved victory over the enemy. On July 27th Comrade Bezyazykov's battalion was ordered to mount a night attack on Chir station. Comrade Bezyazykov took Chir Station and with it struck a huge blow on the enemy.

 

From the 2nd to the 7th September, the battalion served in the defence of the area of Gumrak station and the Stalingrad Experimental Station. Despite the fact that the Hitlerites had undertaken their attack with a whole regiment, Bezyazykov, with only a handful of brave men prevailed and all of the enemy’s attacks were repulsed.

 

On 05.09.42 a company of Hitlerites attacked Bezyazykov’s battalions’ position with whom they engaged and the attack was repulsed. The battalion destroyed 2 tanks, 3 vehicles, 1 mortar battery and up to 15 stockpiles of ammunition.

 

On 06.09.42 the Hitlerites mounted a second offensive on Bezyazykov's position from the right flank. In great danger, sensing their plight, he himself led his battalion in the counter-attack and the Hitlerites attack was fully repulsed. The Germans lost 600 soldiers and officers, and abandoned their attempt to break through the front in the area defended by Bezyazykovs battalion.

 

For his bravery and courage he is worthy of submission for the government award – the Order of the Red Star.

 

11.09.1942

 

Commander of the 385th Rifle Regiment

Senior Lieutenant / [signed] / Balujko

 

Millitary Commissar  of the 385th Rifle Regiment

Senior Commander / [signed] / Chumak

 

 

[BalkanCollector]

Absolutely amazing! Do you have any idea on why the award is so damaged? Possibly a ground find?

[redoctober]

6 hours ago, BalkanCollector said:

Absolutely amazing! Do you have any idea on why the award is so damaged? Possibly a ground find?

Thank you, it's one of my favourite things in my collection.

 

As for why it's so damaged, I honestly have no clue. I have no pictures of him post-war that show his awards, so it's impossible to say if this was lost on his "Glorious path of combat", or whether one of his children/grandchildren were playing with his medals and lost in a field where it got ran-over by a tractor!

 

I bought it Unresearched from someone who had no backstory about it, so I guess it will remain a mystery ?