Red Star,1772931,Head Engineer,Black Sea Fleet Construction Department

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card

Order Booklet A337189

1. Last name: Lobzhanidze
2. Name and patrionymic: Grigorii Mikhailovich
3. Rank: Engineer-Lieutenant Colonel
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1902
6. Birthplace: village of Gobi, Onskii Region, GSSR
7. Party membership: since 1931
8. Education: advanced
9. Nationality: Georgian
10. Time in Red Army: since 6.1932
11. Place of service at awarding: Chief Engineer – Construction (?) #11, Black Sea Fleet (?) Section
12. Place of work at present: Chief Builder – same
13. Home address: Poti

14. Awards:

Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Patriotic War II 15.449 Black Sea Fleet dated 7.04.43

Combat Service Medal 1.424.071 Edict dated 3.11.44

Red Star 1.772.931 Black Sea Fleet dated 25.05.45

Red Star 1.984.546 Edict dated 6.11.47

Red Banner 383.678 Edict dated 26.2.53

Verified by Black Sea Fleet Engineer Section Lieutenant Colonel (?) on 24 February 1947

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet

Award Sheet on Black Sea Fleet Construction Department Construction Organization #11 Chief Engineer, Engineer-Lieutenant Colonel Grigorii Mikhailovich for the Order of the Patriotic War I Class [trans: award crossed out in pen and overwritten “Order of the Red Star.” Handwriting inscription to left reads “Awarded the Order of the Red Star according to KAMOR Commander Order 022 dated 25.05.45”]

1. Born: 1902
2. Nationality: Georgian
3. Social position: office worker
4. Party membership: since 1931
5. In Red Army or Navy: since 1932
6. Participation in the Civil War: n/a
7. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
8. Previous award recommendations: OPWII in 1942, Combat Service Medal in 1943, Defense of Caucasus Medal, and two commendatory certificates from Black Sea Fleet
9. Previous awards: since 27.07.41 on the Bryansk, Central, and 1 Belorussian Fronts
10. Service in the White or other bourgeois armies or POW: n/a
11. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

Throughout 1944 and 1945 the Black Sea Fleet Construction Department was assigned by the Black Sea Fleet Military Committee five operational assignments associated with the important activities on the frontlines against the German-fascist invaders. These include:

1. Engineer construction of docks and moorings for three battalions’ submarine launchings

2. Preparation of various foundations for installing 16 x 45mm cannons and related support structures

Construction Organization #11’s operational assignments were delivered through the Black Sea Fleet Main Naval Base encrypted communications, accompanied by tight suspenses since they were designated for rapid exploitation on the front.

Despite an entire series of interferences and inadequate materials, equipment, and specialists Engineer-Lieutenant Colonel Lobzhanidze was directly responsible for the accomplishments of all indicated operational assignments. He organized and imagined all the operational assignments for the launching of the three battalions of submarines and preparation of the 16 foundations for the artillery systems and accomplished them with urgent suspenses from 20-50% above the indicated quality of work. Moreover Comrade Lobzhanidze supported the timely introduction of the above-indicated submarines and artillery systems.

His conscientious quality and timely accomplishment of his assigned tasks are exceptionally noted.

Signed Chief of Black Sea Fleet Engineer Department Construction Organization #11 Engineer Colonel Tsakadze

Endorsed Commander, Black Sea Fleet (?), Counter-Admiral M a r k o v on 25.05.45

[Bill Garvy]

Engineer-Lieutenant Colonel Grigorii Mikhailovich Lobzhanidze's Order of the Red Star, #1772931.

[CtahhR]

I believe that the record is incorrect. His home should read "Gebi" not "Gobi". The Lobzhanidze family is a very prominent Ghebian (not ethnically Georgian) family.

It is very interesting that someone from the mountains joined the navy....

Much more on the Lobzhanidze family will be presented soon.

Four (other) Lobzhanidzes in Gebi.