Glory III,529209,Squad Commander,58th Rifle Regiment,Manchuria

[Pobeda45]

Here's a cool award I am glad to share with you guys--and my first Japanese conflict award. :thumbsup Military historian David Glantz calls operation August Storm "massive, relentless, spectacular."

The awardee saw action for the period of less than one month that this conflict lasted. His 190 Rifle Division was part of the 5th Army, which shot Westward from Vladivostok and participated in mountainous battles for Mudanjiang and Harbin. Unfortunately there is no exact location noted on the citation--some day I'll try getting the military map of the area to figure out the referenced height. This Glory-III and VOJ medal were the awardee's only awards.

Thanks for reading!
George

Award Citation

1. Last name, name and patronymic : Katasonov Vasily Tihonovich
2. Rank : Sergeant
3. Duty: Commander, Rifle Detachment 58 Rifle Regiment, 190 Rifle Division
Recommended for: Order of Glory III Class
4. Birth year: 1914 Kuybyshevskaya Oblast Davydovsky District Badeevsky Selsoviet
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party Membership: none
7. Participation in civil war, subsequent combat operations at the defense of the USSR in patriotic war: participant in combat with japanese invaders since 9.8.1945 1st Fareastern Front
8. Wounds or contusions in patriotic war: none
9. In Red Army: Since March 1942
10. Inducted by: Molotovsky DMC, Kuybyshevsk Oblast
11. Previous Awards: none
12. Permanent address of recommended for award and family address: Kuybyshevskaya Oblast Davydovsky District Badeevsky Selsoviet Father Katasonov Tihon Egorovich

I. Short, concrete description of personal combat feat or accomplishment:

In 1945 during the period of company's advancement, [Katasonov] bypassed the opponent from the flank and rushed with his detachment into the enemy's trench at the height 471,5. With his assault rifle at point blank range he shot 5 japanese kamikazes. From the flank, a japanese machine gun opened fire at Katasonov's detachment, another machine gun opened fire from the other side. Katasonov was thus caught in cross fire. [Katasonov] split the detachment in two groups--destroyed one machine gun but the second one continued to fire. Only two men remained in the detachment. With his remaining men, Katasonov crawled to the japanese machine gun and destroyed it and its personnel with grenades. [Katasonov] personally destroyed 10 japanese soldiers and officers, provided for forward advancement of the company and for carrying out set objective.
For valor, courage, and bravery demonstrated in struggle with japanese invaders recommend for awarding with government award order of Glory III Class.

Commander of 58 Rifle Regiment Podpolkovnik Mitrofanov.
13 September 1945

By order of 10 Rifle Division from 28 September 1945
awarded the order of Glory III Class
chief of staff of 10 Rifle Division
First Lieutenant Zaharov

[CtahhR]

An excellent find! I may have military maps of this area dating from 1945, unfortunately I won't have access to it until next month. If I can find the location of this hill I'll make sure I share it.

[Pobeda45]

Awesome, thanks so much CtahhR!

[RedMaestro2]

Great citation! An action-packed specific event within an equally impressive context :thumbsup

The awardee saw action for the period of less than one month that this conflict lasted. His 190 Rifle Division was part of the 5th Army, which shot Westward from Vladivostok and participated in mountainous battles for Mudanjiang and Harbin. Unfortunately there is no exact location noted on the citation--some day I'll try getting the military map of the area to figure out the referenced height.

Interestingly, I have a group to a bomber squadron navigator who, in the course of his very interesting career, participated in the war against Japan and won a Red Star for bombing Mudanjiang.

"In the air he orients himself quick and accurately. He approaches targets on time. On the night of August 10, 1945, he bombed the city of Changchun and completed the mission successfully. On August 15 and 16, 1945, he bombed the Sahchagousskii strong point and the city of Mudanjiang and was successful."

Perhaps this action is related to Katasonov's?


Alex

[UQWozza]

A nice and unusual find :thumbsup

[patricko]

Very great citation. thanks for sharing !! :thumbsup

[Pobeda45]

Thanks very much guys, I am humbled. :thumbsup

Alex, your bomber was definitely engaged in the same operation. Mudanjiang was one of the most important targets of the engagement. If you're a geek like me, I recommend David Glantz's "Soviet Operational and Tactical Combat in Manchuria, 1945." Here are a couple of quick excerpts from the book:

"It was only natural that Mutanchiang was the 1st Far Eastern Front’s preeminent military target. Not only was the city situated astride the main railroad and road leading into central Manchuria from the east, but it also served as the headquarters venue for the Japanese First Area Army. Further, the [Japanese] 5th Army also had its headquarters in nearby Yehho, just across the Mutan River from Mutanchiang.

The city of Mutanchiang itself occupied a strategic location on the west bank of the Mutan River at the junction of major roads leading westward from Suifenho and Muleng, southwestward from Pamientung, and southward from Linkou."

"The most direct axis of advance from the Soviet Far Eastern provinces into central Manchuria ran directly from the Soviet Far Eastern border near Suifenho across the hills of eastern Manchuria through Mutanchiang to Harbin in the central valley of Manchuria. To the south a secondary axis extended from the Soviet Far Eastern border east of Tungning toward Wangching and Yenchi, and to the north a lesser axis ran cross the Ussuri River north of Lake Khanka toward Linkou and Harbin from the northeast. The Suifenho-Mutanchiang-Harbin axis paralleled the Eastern Manchurian Railroad, and along it, as if attesting to its strategic importance, the Japanese had erected some of their most formidable defensive positions in Manchuria. Anchored on the Suifenho Fortified Region, these Japanese defensive fortifications dominated the principal approach into eastern Manchuria in much the same fashion as the Maginot Line had canalized the main approaches into eastern France in June 1940."

Also, a quick link:
Mudanjiang - Google Maps

Cheers,
George

[CtahhR]

I believe this action took place about 80-90km due west of Vladivostok. Unfortunately I can't currently be more specific than that.

Here is the original citation.
The reverse is pure art.

[Pobeda45]

Thanks, I hadn't noticed the paper before...Chinese?

George

[CtahhR]

Certainly something captured during the advance.