Please, meet private SHEZHKO Demyan Minovich 1898. Horse rider of ammunition supply platoon of the 3rd rifle company, 1 rifle battalion, 29 rifle regiment, 38 rifle division, who was bestowed with order Glory III class for a raid resulting in capture of a POW. The action most likely took place on the night 14-15 May 1944 in the forested mountain area near Rumanian town Târgu Neamț.
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Citation reads: The commander ordered a reconnaissance mission. Comrade SNEZHKO together with his friends advanced into a forest. Unknown awaited them ahead and they had to advance cautiously. Undetected they snuck into the depth of German defence recording enemy fire positions. In one of the trenches they spotted three Rumanian soldiers. Surprise attack decided outcome of the engagement in which our four soldiers took one prisoner. But the commotion was noticed by Rumanian machine gunners who opened fire at our scouts. Two of our scouts remained fighting, but two others flanked the enemy machine-gunners and using hand grenades silenced them. Now they had to return without delay. Taking the prisoner and a light machine gun, the four brave warriors successfully returned to our positions and reported on successful completion of the mission and delivered useful intelligence. For courage and gallantry in battle, comrade SNEZHKO is recommended for state award order “Glory III class”. Signed by the commander of 29 rifle regiment Guards Lt. Colonel NAKAIDZE.
Please, meet petty officer 1st class POSIKAN Pavel Kalinovich 1918 with 287 reported sniper kills count.
Born in 1918 in the village of Ryaska (Nekhvoroshchansky district of the Poltava region, Ukraine). From 1938 in the ranks of the Red Navy, served as an electrician on a boat. From 22 June 1941 on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. Fought in the Leningrad front. From December 1941 served as an observer of an artillery battery. Mastered the sniper skills studying with the famous sniper PCHELINTSEV. On 28.02.1942, POSIKAN killed his first enemy as a sniper.
Drawing of POSIKAN by artist NEPRINTSEV Y.M. (1909–1996)
07.06.1942, POSIKAN was recommended for the Order of the Red Star (personal sniper score of 52 is mentioned). On the award sheet for the Red Star there is a pencil mark “Repeated”. Apparently, the paperwork was slow, and the award wasn’t approved before POSIKAN was nominated for the Order of the Red Banner again on 12.08.1942.
On 12.08.1942, the commander of the electricians’ squad of the 597th battery of the 301st Separate Artillery Division (Leningrad Naval Base of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, Leningrad Front), petty officer 1st class P.K. POSIKAN was nominated by the unit command for the award of the Order of the Red Banner (personal sniper score 170), but was awarded the Order of Lenin by order of the Commander of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet No. 58 dated 03 September 1942. Soon POSIKAN received a shrapnel wound and was treated in a hospital.
Snipers HSU ANTONOV (360 kills) and POSIKAN (287 kills).
On 12.11.1942, the sniper of the 597th battery of the 301st OAD of the Baltic Fleet, petty officer 1st class P.K. POSIKAN, was nominated by the unit command for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for elimination of 244 Fascists and training of 6 freshman snipers (one of them was sniper BOGDANOV Ivan Vasilyevich 1920), who all together eliminated 447 enemy troops. The HSU nomination was approved by the commander of the Baltic Fleet, Vice-Admiral TRIBUTS. But… The famous sniper did not receive any award for these exploits. The reason is unclear. On the award sheet there is a pencil mark “denied, see outgoing document 88972s“.
In the spring of 1943, POSIKAN was seriously wounded in the leg by a shell fragment (the bone was shattered), and was treated in the hospital for a long time. According to available information, the final result of the combat work of sniper P.K. POSIKAN is 287 eliminated enemies (in some sources his surname was written differently “PASIKAN”, “PASEKAN”, etc). In his award booklet (B Nº142942) issued on 29.10.1947 the name PASIKAN Pavel Kalinovich is recorded.
The wounds led to the 2nd group of disability and an early disability pension as a war veteran on 18.01.1945 (the surname is recorded as POSIKAN). A wealth of information is available on the veteran, like war time newspaper articles, some of his personal items are in the Leningrad blockade museum.
Interview with POSIKAN in the hospital (note the trendy moustache).
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Please, meet the bestowed: Lt. Col. BALASHOV, the commander of 144 mortar regiment of the Supreme Command Reserve, for the action in March 1945 near Ostrava (Moravia). The special about this OAN # 27795, is that the cavalier was bestowed in total with THREE orders of Aleksander Nevsky. There were only 5 men like him ever.
Citation: “He provided fire support to 315 Guards rifle regiment, 128 Guards rifle division in the operation for enemy defence breakthrough north-west of Ostrava (Moravia) and commanded the infantry artillery support group. He arranged for efficient operation of the artillery support group and the coordination with the supported rifle units. As the result of this effort, the fire delivered by the support group on 14 April 1945 completely disabled the enemy firing positions on the first line and in to the close depth of the enemy defence: destroyed 10 machine-guns, 2 mortar batteries, 2 guns on open sight positions, suppressed 105mm artillery battery, annihilated 50m of trenches. Our rifle units took control of the settlement Gorzyce practically without any losses, and later on crossed the river Olza. He acted bravely and courageously during the engagement. He was severely wounded while being present at his commander post in immediate vicinity of our rifle combat formations. He deserves a state award – order “RED BANNER”. The initial recommendation for ORB was changed to OAN. He was bestowed by the decree on 04 June 1945 by 4 Ukrainian front.
Decrees for all 3 BALASHOV’s orders “Aleksander Nevsky”.
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Combat dairy of 128 Guards mountain rifle division, which was supported by mortar fire by BALASHOV’s unit (144 mortar regiment).
Please, meet Guards private first class NAZARENKO Petr Yemelianovich, who served as a horse carriage driver of 3 battalion, 7 Guards paratrooper rifle regiment, 2 Guards paratrooper “Proskurov” division. He was awarded OGIII #248777 for an action near settlements SYURTE and KISTEGLAS on 20 November 1944.
The veterans birth year is recorded as 1928 in the citations, but as 1930 in the awards register card signed after the war. NAZARENKO’s status is described as “volunteer: pupil” in his 2 first award recommendations. Such was the designation used during the war time for what later became known as “regiments son/daughter”. The name “regiments son” was popularised from 1945 by the novel “Regiments son” written by Valentin KATAEV. This means, that NAZARENKO added up 2 years to his age to get accepted to the regiment. I am quite sure, that he was in fact born in 1930 and thus was barely 14 y.o. in 1944 (he joined the army in February 1944). According to the official data, there were app. 3500 of such regiments sons and daughters.
During his service from February 1944, NAZARENKO was bestowed with medals “For Combat Merits”, “For Bravery”, and order Glory III class.
Recommendation for OGIII was signed 12 January 1945. Though it is not mentioned directly, the described events took place on app. 20 October 1944.
“Comrade NAZARENKO, being a horse wagon driver of the supply platoon, has exhibited courage and valour in the fight against the Germano-Fascist invaders. Risking his life under enemy fire, he timely delivered ammunition to the rifle companies on the first line. When during the assault on the village Syurte, Chzechoslovakia, occurred lack of ammunition, he hand carried and successfully delivered cartridges to the rifle company, while being under enemy rifle-MG fire. Having been resupplied, the company continued the assault and comrade NAZARENKO steadfastly went with the company into the attack. In the village Kisteglas, the enemy suddenly opened fire from inside a house. Comrade NAZARENKO stealthily following a ditch approached the house and fired at the windows. Confusion struck the enemy and they started running out of the door, where they were met with NAZARENKO’s well placed shots. In this engagement, he killed 6 Hungarians and 2 captured prisoner. For exhibited courage and valour he is worthy of order Glory III class.“
You can see the position of the 7 Guards paratrooper rifle regiment on 20 November 1944 , just South of Kesteglash (green marker on the map).
Small town Syurte is located half way between towns Uzhgorod and Chop. In the citation these historically Hungarian settlements are named as located in Czechoslovakia. That was correct for the period 1920 – 1945. But today, they are both located just East of the Ukrainian state border. In the Summer 1945, Stalin insisted on the local railway junction Chop with its area (250 square km) being exchanged with Czechoslovakia for another piece of land.
Please, meet Guards captain BALYAEV Sergej Grigorievich, 1900. The veteran volunteered to service in Leningrad front in June 1941.
The Red Star № 1848016 was bestowed in May 1945. At this time, the veteran was the head of finances of 278 Guards rifle regiment, 93 Guards rifle division. Finances – not much shooting, is it? But, in fact, the reason for such position was a severe wound sustained on 05 March 1942 during the Leningrad battle, when BELYAEV was a rifle platoon commander.
It is, unfortunately not known which rifle unit BELYEV served in March 1942. Maybe officer service record contains the answer? But after recovery in October 1942, it appears, he was sent to either 92nd or 97th (13GuRBr) separate rifle brigades (7RC, 64A). Both were Naval infantry units and played very important roles in Stalingrad battle. 92nd was defending Mamayev Kurgan, 97th – Lysaya Gora.
In April 1943, the new 93 Guards rifle division was formed out of the 92RBr and 13GuRBr (97RBr). BELYAEV served in the newly formed 278GuRR through the remainder of the war.
Please, meet captain GORODOV Anatolij Ivanovich, 1913. Captain GORODOV served in the 171 separate chemical defence company, 150 rifle “Idritsa” division. This division was the main to assault and capture the Reichstag building. GORODOV was bestowed OPW2 for the action on 26 April 1945:
Citation: “In the street fighting in Berlin on 26 April 1945, captain GORODOV managed the smoke screen application during the forced crossing of the Verbindungs canal by the 756 rifle regiment. Under heavy enemy machine-gun and sniper fire, he set up 2 smoke screens, one of which was done on the southern bank by our smoke-chemists, who crossed among the first. The smoke screen covered the bridge, which provided successful crossing by the regiment to the southern bank.“
The 150RD combat diary also highlights the important role the smoke screen played on 26 April 1945.
Please, meet Sgt. MAZEPA Fedor Mikhailovich 1925. Dog handler of 58 separate dog medic transport detachment.
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War service history: Kalinin front 08.1942 – 12.1943 at rifle ski battalion of 90GuRD; 2 severe wounds 26.12.1943; Recovery; 3 Belorussian front since 02.1945. Due to his wounds, he was acknowledged as limitedly capable for active duty. On 16 August 1944, he was transferred to the dog handler unit.
Citation for the Bravery Medal 2279579 awarded in May 1945: “During 13-17 April 1945, he participated in the engagements of 87 Guards rifle division for elimination of the German group in the Eastern Prussia, which was encircled at the Baltic sea coast. As a dog handler of dog medic transport unit, he evacuated 17 severely wounded soldiers with their weapons from the field of enemy fire. Hi bravery and skill allowed for fast evacuation of the wounded and reduction of the casualty rate. He deserves a state award – medal “For Bravery”. Signed: Commander of 58 separate dog medic transport detachment. Captain VASILIEV15 May 1945.”
MAZEPA’s dog medic transport detachment supported the 87 Guards rifle division in 13-17 April 1945. This was just after the fall of Koenigsberg and the actions took place just West of the city (around Gross Heydekrug).Nice little war grunt group with all the documents. Bravery medal, Victory medal, Koenigsberg capture medal, Jubilee OPW2.
About medic dogs: From a veteran’s interview. STRELKOV Georgij Aleksandrovich 1924:
“I tell you a story. Once we were to make passages in minefields. Five hundred meters to our line, two hundred meters to the the German line. Suddenly, one of the guys accidentally touched the barbed wire to which the tin cans were wired. The Germans heard a noise and started shooting at the sound. It was winter, we were lying in the snow in camouflage coats. One of the guys was killed in front of us. We, seeing this, did not dare to move back, a kept laying and freezing in the snow. We were dressed quite warm: underwear, a quilted jacket, felt boots, and even on a belt, each had a flask of alcohol, for an emergency. But, I always remembered the commander’s instructions not to drink on the mission, so I didn’t even dare to bask in this way. But two hours later, my Uzbek partner, began to lament and sigh, and I could do nothing to help him. Soon he went silent, passed away. And I also started feeling my arms and legs beginning the get numb. But to get up means to immediately fall under enemy fire. I continued to lie down. I understood that in such frost temperature, I will be finished by the morning hour. I was already starting to doze off, and this is a sure way to die of cold, when suddenly something wet and warm passed over my face. I was stunned – there was a wolf in front of me! Having come to my senses a little, I noticed a red cross on his side, and I realized that it was a medical shepherd dog. But my hands were so cold that I could not do anything. The dog soon ran away. I thought to my self: “That is it! Now for sure, no one can help me”. But soon I saw a nurse girl crawling towards me. She had a shepherd dog and a wooden kinda boat shaped sled with her. The nurse put me on a sled with a dog harnessed, and the two of them pulled me out of the no-man’s land. I was taken to a field hospital, put in a ward. First, they gave me a sniff of ammonia and hundred grams of vodka. Then they cut the boots and freed the legs. But in a warm room, I immediately lost consciousness. My hands quickly recovered, but my legs were worse and worse. Soon the surgeon announced a disappointing sentence: my legs would be amputated – gangrene started. But his colleague, a Georgian dude, because he spoke with a strong accent, asked for an syl. He stuck it in my leg - I still have a scar, see - I cried out in pain. “It’s alive! It’s alive!” – said the Georgian, and I realised that they will heal my legs instead of an amputation.“
It took 44 years, until Sgt. EVSEENKO Dmitry Zakharovich received his order of Glory III class bestowed upon him on 16 May 1945. The award was handed to him in June 1989. Sgt. EVSEENKO was the 45mm gun battery commander, 887 rifle regiment, 211 rifle division, 1 Guards army, 1 Ukrainian front.
Award citation: “In the combat engagement for the settlement Gorzyczki on 30 April 1945, he fired from an open sights position and eliminated 2 enemy snipers hiding in a house. When the platoon commander was wounded and taken out of the action, he replaced him and continued the pursuit of the retreating enemy.“ Signed by the commander of 887 rifle regiment Lt. Col. ANTONOV on 14 May 1945.
Please, meet Quartermaster III rank BLITSHTEIN David Isaakovich 1906, who served as a sailor on the symbolic cruiser “Aurora” during 1928 – 1931. The cruiser “Aurora” is currently preserved as a museum ship in Saint Petersburg. Aurora was one of three Pallada-class cruisers, built in Saint Petersburg for service in the Pacific. All three ships of this class served during the Russo-Japanese War.
The FCM 60197 medal bestowed for the period of Odessa defence by decree of 29.12.1941 by the Black sea Navy.
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Citation: “He reliably provided refuelling capability to the vessels and other units in the difficult circumstances of the constant enemy air raids, bombardments, and artillery barrages against our fuel depots. Close proximity of the front line required proper fuel supplies, which was provided by his department. During the Odessa defence, the fuel was always supplied in time despite the difficulties, like f.ex. delivery to the town Ismail, to the artillery batteries, and to the ships; despite enemy artillery barrages and barges being damaged, or barges personnel being wounded and taken out of action. The supplies were delivered in time despite large quantity of ships in the port. I recommend comrade BLITSHTEIN for a state award medal “For Combat Merits”.
