Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 493
An outstanding Soviet Sniper's Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Reserve Corporal A. Y. Voodla, 917th Rifle Regiment, 249th Estonian Rifle Division, who served in the liberation of the Island of Saaremaa in the Autumn of 1944, personally killing no less than 11 Germans
Russia, U.S.S.R., Order of Glory 3rd Class, Type 2, Variation 2, reverse officially numbered '729850' by rotating tooling machine as correct for the period of this award, good very fine
Avgust-Alfred Yuliuosivich Voodla was born in 1915 in Estonia, he had clearly escaped the advancing German Army and had been drafted by the Military Commissariat of the City of Archangelsk, serving in the Great Patriotic War from 12 February 1942 until the end of the war. Noted as serving in the area around Velikiye Luki around December 1942-January 1943, and during the liberation of Estonia during the summer and autumn of 1944. Voodla was wounded in the right shoulder on 7 October 1944 during the action mentioned in his citation, which states:
'During the Great Patriotic War he took part in the battles for the defence of the motherland since December 1942. During the fighting to liberate the island of Saaremaa he killed 11 Germans as a sniper. While attacking a town on October 7, 1944 he was wounded. For the fighting on the island of Saaremaa he was nominated for the Order of Glory 3rd Class, and his feat was described in November 1944 in the republican newspaper 'Rahva Haal'
He didn't received his award due to the fact he was brought to a hospital. At the present time he works at Jarvamaa Forestry Enterprise. At his workplace he is characterised positively.
The Estonian Communist Party Committee of the Paide Raion and the Paide Raion Executive Committee agree with the recommendation.
Conclusion: For active participation in the Great Patriotic War for the defence of our motherland he deserves to be awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class.'
The citation is signed by a Lieutenant Colonel Haugas on 20 May 1966, indicating this is a sometimes seen 'catch up award', handed out to those who were wounded and thus were unable to be found to present their awards to, or sometimes in the case of lost recommendations that were followed up many years later.
It is clear that Voodla survived the war, and was living in the village of Huuksi, Koigi Rural Muncipality, Paide Raion, Estonia, where he worked at the Huuksi Forest, Jarvamaa Forestry Enterprise at the time of the award of the Order of Glory to him on 22 August 1967; sold together with copied citation and research, including english translation.
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Sold for
£250
Starting price
£80