Medal "For The Defence Of Stalingrad".

[Auke]

That's not the right Sokolov - the Sokolov you are linking to was a Colonel who commanded the well-known 45th Rifle Division in Stalingrad. He was promoted to Major General in March 1943. The Sokolov on Bill's document was a Major and a regimental commander! Sokolov is a very common name in Russia...

Under Regiment would be Artillery Battery but we don't have that information.

There is actually one more level in between those two, the artillery battalion (дивизион). As per the two citations posted, Moskalenko was the deputy commander of one of those in the 137th.

[Tommy]

Thank you Auke, I've edited the posts to be correct :-).

Google and being too quick to jumping to conclusions can be dangerous! Thank you for clearing it up :).

Tom

[Bill Garvy]

Moskalenko was awarded a Red star and 2 OPW too.

[SIZE="3"]Thanks, Tom and Auke, I managed to extract all the citations and award lists.

I also note his second Order of the Patriotic War was downgraded to 2nd Class from an initial recommendation for a 1st Class Order, but he did receive a 1st Class Order in 1985.[/SIZE]

[Auke]

By the way, where did the reference to the 137th Tank Brigade come from?

The citation was signed by Major Sokolov, who commanded the 295th Light Artillery Regiment in the 138th Rifle Division during the battle of Stalingrad. On February 6, 1943 these units were renamed to 137th Guards Artillery Regiment and 70th Guards Rifle Division respectively. For some reason the stamp on the document says "295th Guards Artillery Regiment").

[Tommy]

I was looking through an order of battle book i had and it listed 137 tank brigade under Chuikov as part of the 62nd army.

Because of my uncertainty of command structures, i didnt know if the 137 in the book iand the 137 on the doc were related in any way.

Tom

[Bill Garvy]

The stamp indicates the 295th, whereas the 137th can be seen on the line above Major Sokolov's signature.

[CtahhR]

Here is the Medal represented in the game "Call Of Duty" where you get to become a mythical Zajtsev type "potless to legendary super-sniper". Even less realistic than the film "Enemy At The Gates" but the myth sells.

[Bill Garvy]

[SIZE="3"]Documents group of Junior/Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Aleksandrovich Mashkov

Document for the Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad issued September 5th, 1944 and signed by Colonel and Hero of the Soviet Union, Boris Aleksandrovich Smirnov, Commander of the 288th Pavlogradskaya Vienna-Fighter, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Division, Serial #O02389.

Document for the Medal for Victory over Germany issued September 20th, 1945 and signed by Colonel and Hero of the Soviet Union, Boris Aleksandrovich Smirnov, Commander of the 288th Pavlogradskaya Vienna-Fighter, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Division, Serial #Z0036043.[/SIZE]

[Bill Garvy]

[SIZE="3"]Document for the Medal Defense of Stalingrad issued to Senior Lieutenant Aleksandr _______ Shimanovskiy, 2nd _______ _______, Colonel G. Tarasov, dated August 29th, 1943, Serial #G00871.

Document for the Medal Defense of Stalingrad issued to Guards Senior Sergeant Alexander Akimovich Suponya dated August 1st, 1943 by the Commander of the 50th Separate Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, Guards Colonel, Serial #B14214.

Document for the Medal Defense of Stalingrad issued to Senior Sergeant Yuriy Aleksandrovich Danevskiy dated December 12th, 1943 by the Commander of the 315th Melitopol Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division, Colonel and Hero of the Soviet Union (#1295), Askanz Georgievich Karapetyan, Serial #K44632.[/SIZE]

[CtahhR]

That's the Cadre Department 2nd Tank Army. So it'll be 1890 born Aleksandr Olegovich Shimanovskij. Communications Officer.

Awarded a Red Star 16th April 1944. A Medal "For Combat Merits" on 2nd September 1943. A Civil War Veteran!

Here's the Red Star citation.