NKVD Material on Podvig Naroda Site

[UQWozza]

I was trolling the PN site looking for newly added citations when I can across this award, a humble CSM.

What is more interesting is that it is to an NKVD soldier and appears to be on an NKVD-specific award sheet (see section 6). I occasionally come across awards to NKVD soldiers which have been awarded after they transfer to a non-NKVD unit which are on standard award sheets. I have not seen this type before.

I was looking for the citation for a CSM to D.D. Mal'tsev and found that there were two. One was a clerk in an antitank brigade and the other was NKVD. Typically the award I have appears to be to the former rather than the latter.

Simon

[CtahhR]

Here is one I posted a few months ago - http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...tml#post227019.

Interestingly this is the only Glory citation I have ever encountered mentioning post war against Japan combat.

[Eryk]

The research was one of the most interesting I've seen, by virtue of the OG III apparently being awarded for multiple years of actions, being wounded twice and for post war fighting against the UPA. Mid century history, cold war included, has always been an interest of mine, so this award/research is one of my favorites. (I don't see reference to Japan, did you mean post war fighting in Ukraine? Or am I looking right past something?)

Totally off topic, but I just finished a book I recommend to all interested in WWII: Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II. There is a section on the UPA; the book covers much more than that. I tend to agree with some of the author's critics regarding both style and substance (IMO he has some biases, he writes in the modern "personal history" style too much for my taste, and the scope is so big that one gets the feeling that some things aren't there that could be), but overall it seems well researched and thought out, and is well worth the read.

[UQWozza]

Eryk, I agree - that book is a great read. Really shows that the barbarity of the war did not finish until many years after WW2.

Simon

[CtahhR]

This GIII is for someone who stayed in Europe combating well after most people have considered the book closed on that chapter. The reference to war with Japan is just as time scale. There are plenty of awards for the war with Japan and then plenty more as catchups or more usually wounds for actions up to the surrender of Japan out there, that were awarded well into the 1980's, but this is the only citation involving post September 1945 combat currently presenting itself.

There is the Shangri-La of post 1940's combat Glories out there but without any presented citations as evidence they remain mythical.