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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 482

A Soviet 'Moscow counter-attack' and 'capture of Roslavl' Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded Private N. A. Basov, a submachine gunner in the 1154th Rifle Regiment, 344th Rifle Division, 49th Army, Western Front

Russia, U.S.S.R., Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, Type 2, concave reverse, reverse officially numbered '320575', replacement back plate, very fine

Nikolai Afanasyevich Basov was born in the village of Yelma, Kubenskoye-Ozero in Vologda Oblast in 1914. Basov served with the Red Army from April-July 1939 when he was stationed in the Kamchatka Fortified Region in the Far East, and then again from October-November 1939.

It was November 1941 before Basov saw service in the Great Patriotic War, when his unit, the 344th Rifle Division was loaded on to trains in the Volga Region and rushed to the Moscow area to help the last ditch defence against the German attempt to capture the city.

Having successfully done this with other units of the Western Front, the 344th Rifle Division was then thrown into the counterattacks during January 1942. It was during the fighting in the final stages of the winter advances during March 1942 that Basov was shell-shocked by an aerial bomb. After his eventual recovery from this event, Basov returned to his unit in the late summer of 1943 when he was involved in the Battle of Roslavl, where he was severely wounded. This wound led to the end of Basov's front line service in the Red Army.

Later in August 1944, Basov was recommended for the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by the Military Commissar of the city of Vologda, the citation states:

'Submachine gunner Basov took part in the bitter fighting with the German invaders for our motherland's capital, Moscow. During the fighting on the Moscow-Warsaw road in March 1942 he was shell-shocked by an exploding aerial bomb. After his recovery Basov returned to his unit and was involved in the battle of Roslavl, where he was wounded on September 11th 1943 by mortar shrapnel in his right leg, which caused a bone fracture in the lower third of his thigh, and in his head.
He is a disabled veteran of the 2nd category. This report is based on his oral testimony. His being wounded is confirmed by a medical note.

For his combat service during the Patriotic War and the severe wound he sustained while defending the liberty and independence of our motherland, I apply for Nikolai Afanasyevich Basov to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.'

Signed by the Military Commissar of the city of Vologda, Lieutenant Colonel Grokhotov on August 1st 1944.

Basov received the award by a decree of 4 May 1945, and was issued the medal while serving as the Head of the Public Food Service Section, Workers' Supply Department, Northern Railroad Line in the city of Vologda, where he lived at 22-1 Podlesnaya Street; sold together with copied citation and research, including english translation.


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Sold for
£200

Starting price
£50