Order of the Red Star from Battle of Kursk

[rkhunter]

Hi, I have a fully researched Red Star in my collection that was awarded from the battle of Kursk. The translation 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. This is the first award that I have ever seen that was from the largest tank battle in history. This is my favourite Soviet order in my collection and this is one of the main reasons I do research as often as I can, as you never know what your going to get back!

Cheers, Kai



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

[rkhunter]

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[Ruiz]

Nice !!, good information about the Order, and win in the famous Kursk battle.
Better impossible.

[rkhunter]

Thanks mate, im really happy I researched this one. This is one rare awarding for sure!

[Darrell]

Very nice. The Research adds a little life to an otherwise simple medal with no significance.

NOTE* It's rather funny how the citations always state the particular awardee has killed hundreds of Hitlerites. You'd think if every soldier who earned one of these decorations killed the number stated, the Germans would have had no one left by '44.

[rkhunter]

Thanks Darrell, regarding the citation, it says: 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.

The battalion destroyed hundreds of troops not just one man, or you would be right, the War would have been over by 44 if only one Soviet soldier could do that kind of damage by himself!

[Rommel1933]

This is really great stuff! Thank you for sharing this with us!

Scott

[rkhunter]

Thanks Scott

[Marcel Banziger]

Excellent!!!

How did you get started to research this order? I have one myself from the war years but don't know how to find out who was the bearer of this order. Any help on how and where to start would be very much appreciated