Red Banner,271110,Squad Leader,106th Mortar Regiment,Berlin

[ANZAC]

As most would be aware my main passion is the Order of Glory. Through a Forum members generosity and friendship I have aquired my first Red Banner that I plan to put amogst my 'Wall of Glory'.

Brendan



Award Sheet
1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Prokhvatilov, Aleksandr Mitrofanovich
2. Rank: Guards Master Sergeant
3. Duty position: Squad Leader – 5 Battery, 106 Mortar Regiment, 1 Brest Mortar Brigade, 5 Kalinkovichskii Red Banner Breakthrough Artillery Division, RGK

Recommendation for the Order of the Red Banner
4. Born: 1919
5. Nationality: Ukrainian
6. Party membership: Komsomol member since September 1938
7. Previous combat: July 1941-October 1941 on the Leningrad Front, since September 1943 on the Central, Belorussian, and 1 Belorussian Fronts
8. Wounds or shell-shock: lightly wounded 10.8.43
9. Time in Red Army: since May 1938
10. Inducted by: Velikovoshchanskii Regional Military Commissariat, Kirovograd Oblast
11. Previous awards: BM from 1 Mort Bde dated 6.7.44; RS from 1 Mort Bde dated 23.2.45
12. Home of record: Kirovograd Oblast, Velikovoshchanskii Region, Alekseevskii Selsovet, villeg of Vodyano. Mother: Prokhvatilova, Mariya Anisimovna at same address

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

From 15-24 April 1945 as the commander of the towing section while displaying care and initiative in restoring vehicles to working order with the help of captured spare parts, he repeatedly delivered ammunition to the firing positions under enemy artillery fire.

For two days of street fighting on the outskirts of Berlin, a group of Hitlerites had occupied a building, denying movement along a street and causing heavy friendly casualties.

On 24 April 1945 Comrade Prokhvatilov received the mission to lead a group of soldiers to eliminate the ensconced Germans. He personally made his way undetected to a basement window, tossed in grenades, after which time he risked his life by entering the enclosure and in hand-to-hand combat killed three German submachinegunners and took four prisoners, thus permitting the unhindered advance of our units to the next neighborhood.

For exhibited initiative, fearlessness, and courage in combat against the German invaders, I am recommending Guards Master Sergeant Aleksandr Mitrofanovich Prokhvatilov for the Order of the Red Banner.

In light of the fact that the Regimental Commander Lieutenant Colonel A.M. Loshak is in the hospital due to illness, I verify the above stated actions.
Signed Acting Commander, 106 Mortar Regiment, Major Ryzhkov on 25 April 1945

Endorsed Commander, 1 Brest Mortar Brigade Colonel Dunin on 25 April 1945
Endorsed Commander, 5 Kalinincheskii Red Banner Artillery Breakthrough Division, RGK, General-Major of Artillery A. Snegurov on 29 April 1945
Endorsed Commander, 4 Red Banner Artillery Corps, PRGK, Guards General-Lieutenant of Artillery Ignatov on 30 April 1945
Awarded the Order of the Red Banner by Order 0193 of the 1 Belorussian Front dated 10.5.45, verified by a lieutenant colonel personnel officer

[CtahhR]

Here is the original citation.