07-31-2011, 11:00 PM
Thanks guys! I'm extremely happy with it. :thumbsup
Here's some more info on Vekhin from his service records.
Vekhin was born on Januari 5, 1901 in a family of peasants. He attended university bot dropped out and joined the army on September 10, 1919. He became a Private in an independent ski battalion of the 7th Army, fighting during the Russian Civil War against Nikolai Yudenich in Northern Russia. Two months later Vekhin headed a ski team and was wounded in his right leg. In March 1920 he became an assistant ski platoon commander and was wounded again. Later that year he became a rifle platoon commander.
During the interwar period he attended several officers courses and was promoted steadily. By 1938 he was a Major and chief of staff of the 90th Rifle Division in the Leningrad Military District. Later that year he was promoted to Colonel. With this division he fought during the Winter War, for which he was awarded his first Red Banner in January 1940.
In December 1941 he was made commander of the 177th Rifle Division and in January 1942 commander of the 152nd Rifle Division. In January 1943 he was promoted to Major General and between May and July 1943 commanded the 88th Guards Rifle Division. In September he was given the command of the 350th Rifle Division, which he would hold until May 1946.
Vekhin's division fought from central Ukraine to Southeastern Poland and then to Berlin. At the end of the war the 350th Rifle Division was located near Prague.
After the war Vekhin commanded the 280th Rifle Division for a short time and in 1948 attended the General Staff Academy. Vekhin left the army later that year and lived in Kherson. He died on December 30, 1989.
Here's some more info on Vekhin from his service records.
Vekhin was born on Januari 5, 1901 in a family of peasants. He attended university bot dropped out and joined the army on September 10, 1919. He became a Private in an independent ski battalion of the 7th Army, fighting during the Russian Civil War against Nikolai Yudenich in Northern Russia. Two months later Vekhin headed a ski team and was wounded in his right leg. In March 1920 he became an assistant ski platoon commander and was wounded again. Later that year he became a rifle platoon commander.
During the interwar period he attended several officers courses and was promoted steadily. By 1938 he was a Major and chief of staff of the 90th Rifle Division in the Leningrad Military District. Later that year he was promoted to Colonel. With this division he fought during the Winter War, for which he was awarded his first Red Banner in January 1940.
In December 1941 he was made commander of the 177th Rifle Division and in January 1942 commander of the 152nd Rifle Division. In January 1943 he was promoted to Major General and between May and July 1943 commanded the 88th Guards Rifle Division. In September he was given the command of the 350th Rifle Division, which he would hold until May 1946.
Vekhin's division fought from central Ukraine to Southeastern Poland and then to Berlin. At the end of the war the 350th Rifle Division was located near Prague.
After the war Vekhin commanded the 280th Rifle Division for a short time and in 1948 attended the General Staff Academy. Vekhin left the army later that year and lived in Kherson. He died on December 30, 1989.
