Suptelja, Iosef Pavlovich, Luftschutzpolizei/Red Army

[Bill Garvy]

- Document for the Medal for the Restoration of the Donbass Coal Mines dated August 24th, 1948, and signed by the Chairman of the Stalino Regional Council of Deputies, now Donetsk, Ukraine, Serial #009476

- Document for the Medal for Victory over Germany dated February 23rd, 1946 and signed by Captain of Kirov District Regional Military Commissariat.

- German Labor Card (?)

[matteti]

This is quite intringuing and interesting!

The German document would be nice to get translated, but it seems it indicates that he was born in Novo-Nikolayevka raïon, Zaporozhia oblast, Ukraine before Soviet-Union (1913). It also seems to say he was married with a Irena Lehmar (rather German for a surname) and had 2 kids living in a locality (Bromberg) of the "Free city of Danzig/Gdansk" (Free City of Danzig - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

95% of the population of the Free City of Danzig was German speaking and there were not a lot of Ukrainian or Russian there, though there was a very small percentage.

What is most interesting is that the card seems to say he was a member of a German military police called "LS Polizei" as of 1 August 1944. I might be wrong in my interpretation, but if that is true, that is very surprising that he then got a medal for Victory over Germany in February 1946. I know of some cases of soldier who were captured as POW by Germans and when released by Red Army, were sent again to jail in USSR as "traitor of their country" or at least, would not get recognized for their GPW action until 1980-1981 (no veteran privilege until that date when they got a veteran ID).

I would be curious if someone could shed more light on the story of this Suptelya.

[Bill Garvy]

You're right, it is puzzling. There was nothing at podvignaroda. I welcome any other additional comments, insight, or discussion. Perhaps the Work Card is for another person with the same name. . .

[CtahhR]

"Luftschutzpolizei" were the Air-raid wardens. Not a combatant by any means. More a "put that light out!" type.

I do have some Luftschutzpolizei items in the collection that may be able to illustrate this service more if needed.

[Bill Garvy]

From Wikipedia: "Air raid protection (Luftschutzpolizei) was the civil protection service in charge of air raid defense and rescue victims of bombings in connection with the Technische Nothilfe (Technical Emergency Service) and the Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Brigades). Created as the Security and Assistance Service (Sicherheits und Hilfsdienst) in 1935, it was renamed Luftschutzpolizei in April 1942. The air raid network was supported by the Reichsluftschutzbund (Reich Association for Air Raid Precautions) an organization controlled from 1935 by the Air Ministry under Hermann Göring. The RLB set up an organization of air raid wardens who were responsible for the safety of a building or a group of houses."

[CtahhR]

Being that he was married to a German, I think we can take from that that he spoke German. It may be a case that he was formerly in the Red Army, captured, was released into air raid protection service due to his language skills (and Ukrainian nationality), married and then rejoined the Red Army on liberation.

Then again it could have been a case that he was in Germany with his then wife at the start of hostilities and after becoming an Air Raid Warden took the first available opportunity to join the Red Army and fight for his Communist Homeland.

In any case, history isn't always as black and white as we are lead to believe. The trio of documents is a great testament to the very complicated history of Europe in the 20th century.

[matteti]

Hi Bill,
Some findings to make you research further...

I would believe the recipient of the two medals is the same person as the person for whom the card was issued to.

I'm making assumptions based on information found on Podvignaroda and obd-memorial.
On your 2 medal documents, you have full name of "Iosef Pavlovich Suptelya", including patronymic name. On the other card, you just have first and family name, but also have place of birth.

Now, when we look at podvignaroda, we can find 2 recipients who also have the same patronymic and last names.

1. Andrei Pavlovich Suptelya (Суптеля Андрей Павлович)
Born in 1917, also in Novo-Nikolayevska
место призыва: Ново-Николаевский РВК, Украинская ССР, Запорожская обл., Ново-Николаевский р-н
Recipient of:
- Medal for Bravery
- OPW II 1985 (which confirm same place of birth and more precisely, Pokrovka village
место рождения: Украинская ССР, Запорожская обл., Ново-Николаевский р-н, с. Покровка

2. Mikhail Pavlovich Suptelya (Суптеля Михаил Павлович)
Born in 1919 also in Novo-Nikolayevska
место рождения: Украинская ССР, Запорожская обл., Ореховский р-н, с. Копани

Based on the fact they share same patronymic and last names, as well as birth place as your recipient, I would say this seems to indicate that they were possibly all brothers and help to confirming the linking between your 2 medal documents and your German card.

And when looking in obd-memorial, we find several "families" of Pavlovich Suptelya

1. Fedor Pavlovich Suptelya
Born in 1901, also in Novo-Nikolayevska
Ново-Николаевский РВК, Украинская ССР, Запорожская обл., Ново-Николаевский р-н
Red-Armyman in 417 rifle division
Died 16 April 1944, buried in Crimea
Wife : Anna Afanaseevna Suptelya
* Although the age difference with the Suptelya found on podvignaroda, it is not impossible this was also a brother of them.

2. Nikolai Pavlovich Suptelya and Mikhail Pavlovich Suptelya, both from Stalino oblast, Ukraine

3. Lev Pavlovich Suptelya, from Simferopol region, Crimea

[Bill Garvy]

Thank you, gentlemen! Those certainly are a lot of leads, and I think your hypothesis of them being brothers is a reasonable one given the facts you have presented.