For Combat Merits,1941358,Starshina,Supply Platoon,150th Reserve Rifle Regiment

[EricFG]

I got this today thanks to an extremely kind forum member.

It's a certificate for combat service basically.
I translate it as (and sorry for the shouting):
"The TIME CERTIFICATE of this Predjavitel FOR EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE of FIGHTING TASKS of COMMAND AT THE FRONT STRUGGLE With GERMAN to AGGRESSORS"

So this is, I'm guessing wildy here, is something along the lines of a certificate for being mentioned in dispatches.

I'm guessing this man's platoon leader noticed he hadn't screwed up too much of late and passed his name onto the company commander who decided that while Comrade Vinokurov was a good soldier he didn't deserve a CSM. Yet.

All kidding aside this is very nice wartime (? can't read the month) document issued in 1945 for a real frontnovik.

I'm proud to have this and thank Steve sincerely for the kind gift(s).

[Kirchgoens]

I believe this is actually the initial "field" issue for this man's CSM. The red covered awards and orders books we see were generally done at the Voenkomat after the war when these dudes were demobilized, and compiled their awards into one spot. But... When they actually received the award in the field, they'd get this paper copy which would be, in effect, the actual "orders" authorizing the award. So, what you have here is this man's original award document from during the war for a 1.9mil CSM. Old dudes, is this about right?

[UQWozza]

Absolutely correct Brian - I have several of these in my collection for ORS and BM awards.

The date on the document is April 14 1945.

Simon

[Kirchgoens]

I once bought an ORS with doc, and had the good luck to find one of these field certs handwritten and loosely stuffed in that orders book that covered a CSM not listed. A cool and lucky find!

[Lapa]

Eric,

It is called "Temporary Award Certificate"; it was later exchanged for the actual Order Booklet.

Marc

[EricFG]

While looking for something else I stumbled across this older thread and noticed something.
One one line it states his award; a CSM
The next line contains a 7 digit number, what looks to be 1941358. see below

So, is that number (if it's really 1941358) the actual serial number of the CSM he was awarded?
I'm feeling that it probably is and of course now the medal bar, purportedly for this trooper, contains a CSM without a serial number. Grrr...

[CtahhR]

Here is the original citation.