Order of Glory 3rd Class - battle for Sevastopol

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks to Kommandir RKKA I now have this excellent researched Order of Glory 3rd Class with no. 103744 in my collection.

The order was awarded to Georgian born Sergeant Shota Alexandrovich Ptarkalashvili who joined the Red Army in March 1942 and who became commander of a 120 mm mortar of the 1367th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment of the 414th Anapa Red Banner Rifle Division.

He earned the Bravery Medal in october 1943, the Order of Glory 3rd class in july 1944, the Defense of the Caucasus medal and the Victory over Germany medal.

The Order of Glory was awarded because at the battles on the Crimean peninsula "he showed endurance, courage and fighting skills. In fierce combat actions for Sevastopol, May 9 1944 he contributed to the success of the operations to break through enemy fortifications in the area of the village Otradny. The fire of his mortar destroyed enemy anti-tank guns, heavy machine guns and seven enemy soldiers and officers".

The badge is clearly worn and the soft details on the front are worn off. Exactly how I like my medals. The badge itself is really beautiful but the research is what makes this badge come to life!

[ebj]

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

[Egorka]

Thanks to Kommandir RKKA I now have this excellent researched Order of Glory 3rd Class with no. 103744 in my collection.

The order was awarded to Georgian born Sergeant Shota Alexandrovich Ptarkalashvili who joined the Red Army in March 1942 and who became commander of a 120 mm mortar of the 1367th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment of the 414th Anapa Red Banner Rifle Division.

Hello Marcel,

Please note the proper name spelling of the veteran: Patarkalashvili.
The interesting fact here is that 414 Rifle Division was "Georgian". IT was formed in 1942 in Georgia and over 90% of its personnel was was of Georgian ethnicity.
The division distinguished itself during the battle of Sevastopol in May 1944, for which Patarkalashvili was decorated with OGIII.

The page from the Divisional combat diary mentioning the engagement near village Otradny mentioned in the citation.


The monument to the fallen soldiers of 414 RD in Sevastopol:


414 RD veteran reunion on 1980s in Sevastopol:


It seems I cannot upload pictures... odd...
If you want the pictures, please, PM me and I can send them to you

[Marcel Banziger]

Hello Egorka,

I did come across the monument already yes and I managed to find just one photo.
I did however not manage to find the village Otradny on the maps. Does the village still exist or does it perhaps have a different name nowadays? This is still puzzling me.

Here the one photo of the monument which I found:



Also thanks for correcting me, it is of course Patarkalashvili. It was just a silly typing mistake from my side haha. On the research papers it is written/translated correct.

[KLMKsunbunny]

Very special Marcel.. That ones a keeper!

[Ferdinand]

Technically the citation doesn't say "his mortar", but "his menacing weapon". Gotta love Soviet military vernacular

[Egorka]

Technically the citation doesn't say "his mortar", but "his menacing weapon". Gotta love Soviet military vernacular

This one is quite modest.
But of all people you should know that nothing beats citations for politruk awards.

[Egorka]

Hello Egorka,

I did come across the monument already yes and I managed to find just one photo.
I did however not manage to find the village Otradny on the maps. Does the village still exist or does it perhaps have a different name nowadays? This is still puzzling me.

Do I need to be a paying member to be able to upload pictures?

Here is the link to the Google maps with the location of Khutor Otradny.
https://goo.gl/maps/wqKBh5hUz3E2
The area is now covered by summer cottages, and has been incorporated into Sevastopol in the post war time. So the place is within the town border today.
The new area name is "Molochnie cachi" (Milk summer cottages).

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks a lot KLMKsunbunny, Ferdinand and Egorka. Much appreciated!

This is the location according to Egorka's research:

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks to Egorka I have scans of a period map of the area with the village Otradny with furthermore scans from a 40 year remembrance book(?) about the 414 RD plus a document about the fighting on May 9 1944, the date for which Shota Alexandrovich Patarkalashvili was awarded the OGIII. This makes this order all the more come to life. Thanks a lot Egorka



Translation will follow from this document.

[Marcel Banziger]

Found Lieutenant-Colonel Kantariya who signed the document where it was explained why 'my' soldier was awarded the OGIII.

[Egorka]

The final signature is of the division commander Major General DZABAKHIDZE Valerian Sergeevich (1903-1986).
In Georgian transcription the second name is usually spelled without first "D".
Georgian transliteration: ზაბახიძე