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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 562

A Berlin Offensive Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Private Gervasy Nikandrovich Bilshevich, 166th Light Artillery Brigade, 1st Breakthrough Artillery Division of the Reserve of the High Command, for his crew's success in firing over open sights north of Berlin on 27-28 April 1945 in which his unit destroyed an enemy mortar, five Panzerfausts and at least 15 other 'Fritzes' during enemy armoured attacks

Russia, Soviet Union, Order of Glory 3rd Class, Type 2, reverse numbered '418475', very fine

Gervasy Nikandrovich Bilshevich was born in the village of Dubovoye, Kovel Raion, Volyn Oblast in 1909. A Ukrainian national, he attained an elementary education and served in the Red Army from March 1944 - presumably when his home area was liberated by the advancing Red Army - and then saw front-line service from 1 November 1944 with the 2nd Belorussian Front.

This Order of Glory 3rd Class was awarded to Bilshevich by Order of the 1st Breakthrough Artillery Division of the Reserve of the High Command on 14 May 1945. At this time Bilshevich was serving as a Private and Gun crew member in the 4th Battery, 2nd Battalion, 643rd Light Artillery Regiment, 166th Light Artillery Brigade, the recommendation was as follows:

'During the fighting with the German invaders comrade G.N. Bilshevich displayed bravery and courage. On April 27, 1945 German tanks attempted to attack our firing position in the town of Schonermark, but as a result of the gun crew's skilful performance, the gun was positioned for direct firing and the attack by enemy tanks was fought off. Despite heavy enemy shelling, comrade Bilshevich was able to supply his gun with shells. His gun killed 15 Fritzes.

On April 28, 1945 during the capture of the city of Wolfshagen, when his gun was being positioned for direct firing, he stood in for the layer of the 2nd gun and destroyed an enemy mortar and killed 5 panzerfaust troops.

Comrade Bilshevich deserves the Order of Glory 3rd Class.'

The locations in the citation are to the north of Berlin and were captured as part of the 2nd Belorussian Front's offensive from the Oder to the Elbe along the Baltic coast, which began on 20 April and resulted in them linking up with the British advance which halted at the Elbe.

After the war Bilshevich worked on his own farm in the village of Radishino, Goloby Raion, Volyn Oblast, whilst living in the village. His only other award was a Medal for the Victory over Germany.





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Sold for
£95

Starting price
£60