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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 481

A superb Soviet Cavalry Officer's 'Defence of the Dnieper River Bridgeheads' Order of the Patriotic War awarded to Major G. V. Safroshin, Assistant Chief of Staff of the 21st Guards Cavalry Regiment, 7th Red Banner Guards Cavalry Division, decorated for his part in throwing off a heavy German attack on 11 October 1943, for leading his Saber Troop into an attack and despite the enemy's numerical superiority - the result was 60 Hitlerites killed and 1 tank was knocked out, being wounded in combat, he stayed on the front line and continued to lead his unit; he was wounded on at least five separate occasions during the war

Russia, U.S.S.R., Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, Type 2, starback reverse, reverse officially numbered '59154', good very fine

Georgy Vasilyevich Safroshin was born in Cherepet Raion, Tula Oblast in 1918, and joined the Red Army in 1936.

Safroshin is noted as having served in the Finland campaign during the winter of 1939-40 and then subsequently from the first day of the Great Patriotic War. Clearly involved in the desperate fighting during the summer and autumn of 1941, he was wounded on 1 July 1941, in the very early part of the invasion, and again on 1st September 1941, at a time when the Red Army was fighting fiercely in the area around Smolensk, launching counter-attacks to stem the German advance. Safroshin was awarded the Medal for the Defence of Moscow, during which he was wounded for a third time on 26 January 1942, most likely during one of many Red Army counterattacks that were taking place in the region in an attempt to push the German Army back from the gates of Moscow.

Safroshin's first gallantry award was an Order of the Red Star by Order of 16th Army on 14 November 1942. The 16th Army at that time was engaged in the Rzhev salient, the scene of particularly heavy fighting between the Red Army and the Germans in the summer and autumn of 1942, during which he had been wounded a fourth time on 17th August.

Subsequently Safroshin went on to serve with 1st Guards Cavalry Corps during 1943, his next award being this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class which was awarded on 16 November 1943, whilst he was the Assistant Chief of Staff of the 21st Guards Cavalry Regiment, 7th Red Banner Guards Cavalry Division, the citation states:

'During the efforts to expand the bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper River, comrade Safroshin was dispatched to the most crucial sectors.

On October 11 1943, German infantry, supported by tanks and self-propelled guns, suddenly launched a counterattack at the lines of the 3rd Saber Troop and drove the unit away from its positions. Comrade Safroshin was immediately dispatched to the area. Comrade Safroshin organised the men and after taking up position among the front ranks he led the Troop in an attack. Seeing the staff officer's bravery and courage, the Troop's soldiers and commanders were able to repel the counterattacks, despite the enemy's numerical superiority, and the initial situation was restored. During this engagement as many as 60 Hitlerites were killed and 1 tank was knocked out. Comrade Safroshin was wounded in combat, but he refused to leave the battlefield and continued leading his unit, despite his being wounded.

For commanding his units in a skilful manner and for the exemplary execution of special missions, comrade Safroshin deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.'

Signed by the Commander of the 21st Guards Cavalry Regiment, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Avtandilov.

After the fighting on the Dnieper, Safroshin's unit continued to serve with 1st Ukrainian Front taking part in the battles around Korsun-Cherkassy in January 1944. Safroshin was awarded the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd Class on 31 March 1944, most likely for his role in this offensive. It is likely he subsequently went on to fight in the Battle of Kamenets-Podolsky (often referred to as the Hube Pocket by German sources). Serving through to the end of the war, Safroshin's final award was an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class awarded to him by Order of the 1st Ukrainian Front on 11 June 1945. This final award quite possibly for a role in the Berlin offensive of the previous month in which the 1st Ukrainian Front played a prominent role attacking the city from the south.

Awarded the Medal for the Victory over Germany in May 1945, Safroshin's final award appears to have been a Medal for Combat Merit for 10 years' service, awarded to him in November 1946, by which time he was serving in the Horse replenishment and remounting department in the Baltic Military District, and was living at 95 Svoboda (Liberty) Street, Riga; sold together with copied citation and research, including english translation.


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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£110