For Combat Merits,0843983,Clerk,31st Separate Destroyer-Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade

[UQWozza]

AWARD SHEET – Combat Service Medal #843.983

1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: MAL’TSEV, Dmitri Dmitrievich
2. Military Rank: Senior Sergeant
3. Duty position: clerk-draftsman - Headquarters 31st Independent Destroyer-Anti-tank Artillery Brigade
Recommendation for the Combat Service Medal
4. Year of Birth: 1904
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Time in Red Army: since 03.06.1942
7. Party Membership: not a member.
8. Previous combat: in the Great Patriotic War since 12.07.1942
9. Wounds or shell-shock: none
10. Inducted by: Magnitogorsk GVK, Chelyabinsk oblast.
11. Previous awards: none.
12. Home of record: ______________________________.

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment: While performing the bookkeeping duties for brigade officers, accounting losses in personnel and managing paperwork, Mal’tsev stands out with particularly attentive, thorough, competent performance of assigned work. With a conscientious, serious attitude Mal’tsev has provided excellent documentation and timely reports to higher authorities.

For exemplary performance of duty comrade Mal’tsev deserves to be awarded with the medal "For Combat Service".


Major Ushakov, Chief of Staff, 28th November 1943.

Awarded Combat Service Medal on 16th December 1943 by Brigade Commander according to Prikaz m 11/N.

Major Ushakov, Chief of Staff, 16th December 1943.

[UQWozza]

PRIKAZ

31st Independent Destroyer-Anti-tank Artillery Brigade

16th December 1943 No 11/N Copy № 2 Frontline Army

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR I award:

The Medal for Combat Service to:

3. Senior Sergeant Dmitri Dmitrievich Mal’tsev clerk-draftsman - Headquarters 31st Independent Destroyer-Anti-tank Artillery Brigade.

Major Ushakov, Chief of Staff, 17th December 1943.

[CtahhR]

Here is the original citation.

I know from personal experience that this type of work is exceptionally tedious. Highlights include double checking the numbers in the columns of the ledgers and if you are having a particularly wild day, physically checking stock levels. The most rewarding part is usually when you find the numbers all match up.

[UQWozza]

I found out a bit more about this brigade. It was part of the 52nd Army on the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

It also had a HSU awardee:

Волков Николай Фёдорович (19.05.1913 - 23.08.1944) Ukaz 24.03.1945
N. F. Volkov was deputy commander of the 1853rd anti-tank artillery regiment (31st Separate Anti-tank Artillery Brigade, 52nd Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front) Captain. Born in the village district Grigorovo Lyakhovsky Gorky region, now Melenkovsky Vladimir region, in the family of a small shopkeeper. Russian.
From 1932 to 1938 he studied at the Gorky Industrial Institute. Before the war, he lived in the city of Samarkand (Uzbekistan), worked as a mechanical engineer at a plant. In 1941 he was drafted into the Red Army at the enlistment office in Samarkand. Since July 1941 on the front. At the beginning of the war he was captured but escaped. In subsequent battles he proved himself to be a brave and resolute commander. He was wounded twice. After recovering in hospital, he taught at a military school, then became deputy commander of its artillery regiment. In late 1943, he returned to the front as the deputy commander of the 1853rd anti-tank artillery regiment of 31st separate antitank artillery brigade and participated in the Korsun-Shevchenko Operation, liberating the southern Ukraine and Moldova. He particularly distinguished himself in the battle for the Romanian city of Iasi, where he commanded the artillery support group composed of three anti-tank batteries. On August 20, 1944 Captain Volkov led a group supported by tanks and burst onto the streets of the city of Iasi and captured its centre, and held the position until the arrival of infantry units. The group put out of action 3 enemy tanks, 3 cars, and 2 tractors, destroyed a large number of Nazis, and seized trophies. In the melee he was seriously wounded in the stomach. A few days later, on August 23, he died from his wounds and was buried in a mass grave in the city of Iasi. On 24th March 1945, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet posthumously awarded Captain Nikolai Fedorovich Volkov the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union” for the exemplary performance of command assignments at the front against the Nazi invaders and displaying courage and heroism. He was also awarded the Orders of Lenin, Great Patriotic War 1st class and Red Star. His name is immortalized on a plaque on a building of the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University.

[desantnik]

I think you meant 2 Ukrainian, and not Belorussian, Front...

[UQWozza]

Correct as usual Paul, original post now corrected.

[aviator]

It seems to me that the award sheet was written by himself. I've read in memoirs many times that clerks had opportunities to award themselves because they had unfilled formsheets already signed by their commanders.

[CtahhR]

A really good clerk will be able to forge the needed signatures as well as having access to the correct stamps. Many clerks also would have access to areas otherwise out of bounds to most others. Record rooms, stores and the such.

[ade stevenson]

Interesting!

[Auke]

It seems to me that the award sheet was written by himself.

What makes you think so?