Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 486

A Soviet 'Kerch-Eltigen Operation' Order of the Red Banner awarded to Lieutenant K. K. Urosov, 9th Guards Rifle Brigade, a propaganda officer who was involved in the well-known Soviet landings on the Kerch Peninsula in November 1943; originally having seen service in the Caucasus, Urosov then went on to see service in the destruction of the Kuban Bridgehead and as part of the first wave of the landing forces at Kerch, as a Komsomol organiser he later he went on to see service in the Baltic with 15th Air Army

Russia, U.S.S.R., Order of the Red Banner, Type 3, Variation 1, reverse officially numbered '90408', good very fine

Konstantin Konstantinovich Urusov was born in Kalinin Street, Sormovo, Gorky on 20 December 1919, he joined the Red Army on 29 September 1939.

It is likely that Urusov first saw service in the Caucasus from August 1942 onwards, when the Germans were attempting to take the oilfields in the region. During late 1924 and early 1943, the Red Army first halted and then repulsed the Germans and by February had them surrounded in the Kuban Bridgehead, it would have been for fighting in the early stage of the offensive into the Kuban bridgehead that Urusov was awarded the Medal for Courage by Order of the 9th Guards Rifle Brigade on 14 May 1943.

Continuing to serve with 9th Guards Rifle Brigade, and then 56th Army in the Kuban region, he was to be awarded the Order of the Red Star on 27 October 1943, presumably for an action in the final days of the offensive to destroy the Kuban Bridgehead, this award was by Order of the 56th Army.

Shortly afterwards, Urusov was to be awarded this Order of the Red Banner on 20 November 1943, for his actions during the landings on the Kerch Peninsula, the citation states:

'The time had come to prepare a strike at the enemy, who had insolently occupied the Soviet Crimea.

The regiment prepared itself for a landing on the shores of the Kerch Peninsula.

Urusov, the leader of the Regiment's young communists, completely devoted himself to the preparations for the impending operation and set up a wide range of propaganda activities, calling upon the Komsomel members and the unit's young non-members to prepare themselves in the best way possible and successfully carry out their combat mission of crossing the Strait.

On the night of November 2nd to 3rd 1943, the landing force was put ashore. Following comrade Urusov's example, the Komsomol members audaciously rushed forward, inspiring the men of the forward elements and detachments to follow them.

Comrade Usurov himself was part of the first wave of the assault detachment and killed 3 fascists in battle.

Bold, energetic, and always eager to fight the hated enemy, comrade Urusov deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.'

The recommendation was signed off by Commander of the 6th Guards Rifle Regiment, Guards Colonel Aleksandrovsky, and the Deputy Regimental Commander for political affairs. Guards Major Belan, however it was upgraded by the Chief of the Political Section of the 2nd Taman Red Banner Guards Rifle Division, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Pilipenko.

The Kerch-Eltigen Operation on the Kerch Peninsula was the first attempt by the Red Army to regain a foothold in the Crimea since being kicked off in July 1942. Two landing operations took place, one at Eltigen, where the bridgehead was completely destroyed by a German counter-attack, and a second attack at Yenikale, which gained a foothold which lasted throughout the winter, and was subsequently used as a jumping off point to liberate the remainder of the Crimea in April 1944.
Yenikale was heavily mentioned in the Russian press, and the successful landing back on the Crimea, was an excellent propaganda tool, it is therefore interesting that it was the chief of the political section of the 2nd Guards Rifle Division that upgraded the award to an Order of the Red Banner.

As a Komsomol Organiser his job was to 'motivate' the troops, and push the benefits of Communism on to them, in this role, he would have seen service alongside various units during the war, and it was having been transferred on 21 March 1944 to the Independent Coastal Army that he was to be awarded his first Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.

At some point between March 1944 and May 1945, Usurov transferred to the 15th Air Army, by order of whom he was awarded his second Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class on 24 May 1945, 15th Air Army spent the early part of 1945 in the Baltic States, supporting operations to the north of Konigsberg.

After the war he was acting as an Assistant Chief for Komsomol matters of the Political Section of the 5th Guards Bomber Division, and he was a resident of 23 Kalinin Street, Sormovo, Gorky; sold together with copied citation and research, including english translation.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£200

Starting price
£130