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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 566

A Kustrin Bridgehead Artillery Commander's Order of the Red Banner awarded to Captain S. I. Soloviev, 176th Heavy Howitzer Artillery Brigade, Deputy Chief of Staff for Reconnaissance Tasks, for his role in identifying targets for Artillery prior to the Battle of the Seelow Heights

Russia, Soviet Union, Order of the Red Banner, Type 4, reverse numbered '260627', enamel chipping, very fine

Sergej Illarionovich Soloviev was born in the town of Vetluga in the Gorky Region during April 1906. He joined the Red Army in July 1941 and saw service throughout the war. He was to win three awards during the first half of 1945, the first being an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class issued to him by Order of the 1st Belorussian Front on 4th February 1945, this most likely for an act in the initial fighting around Warsaw in mid-January.

He would next be awarded an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class by Order of the 1st Belorussian Front on 29 May 1945, this for fighting in Pomerania in early March.

This award of the Order of the Red Banner was issued to Soloviev by Order of the 1st Belorussian Front on 5 June 1945 whilst serving as the Head of the Reconnaissance, 176th Heavy Howitzer Artillery Brigade as a result of the following recommendation:

'In the operation for bridgehead enlargement near the town Kustrin, he achieved good results on his current position as the head of the reconnaissance of the brigade headquarters. Risking his life in the field, he worked daily on gathering and coordinating of the reconnaissance information from the squadrons.

Despite the short time available, he managed to uncover fully the enemy artillery order of battle, 18 of the enemy uncovered batteries were suppressed by the brigade fire, which assured success of our infantry.

During the preparation for the enemy defence breakthrough on the left bank of the Oder river, he managed to uncover enemy positions: 32 artillery batteries, headquarters, reinforcement and main force camps. He determined the borders between the enemy units sectors. 29 of the uncovered enemy batteries were suppressed by the brigade, one headquarters and one signalling hub were destroyed. All this effort allowed for uninhabited advance of our infantry deep into the enemy territory: 5-8km on the first day of the offensive.'

After the war he worked as the Head of the Forestry Section at the Balakhna cardboard factory in the town of Balakhna in the Gorky Region.


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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£170