Osipov, Nikolaj Zaharovich, Senior Sergeant, Scout, 615th Artillery Regiment

[Al-muell]

This group was posted earlier (long time ago in the ancient "researched award groups" thread) and was partly researched quite some time ago thanks to podvignaroda site (I actually used this group in an article popularizing the idea of researching the awards: O kolekcjonowaniu odznaczeс i dokumentуw inaczej - czк¶ж pierwsza - odznaczeni, opis, zdjкcia, opinie)

Anyway, the group consists of the order booklet, OPW1'85 booklet, two ORSs and 1985 OPW1. BM is missing as well as all the other awards.

Nikolai Zakharovich Osipov, Russian, was born in 1923 and was in the army since May 1943. In the same year he had joined the VLKSM. During the war he was a scout at the 120mm Mortar Battery.

1 and 2. His order booklet - as You can see the other ORS's number is unintelligible, however, I believe that it is the other star here. Otherwise it would mean I had spent a lot of effort and two nice and expensive documents in vein. But that is a different story.

3.The photograph from the order booklet.

[Al-muell]

His First ORS and citaion for it

"Senior Sergeant Osipov, taking part in the winter fights of 1944 hes shown the model Virtue and bravery. Being the senior artillery scout of the mortar battery disregarding all the hardships and dangers for his life. For many hours in winter and on heavy frost, often before the lines of the infantry patiently recognised enemy's firing points and marked them. As a result of his reconaisance according to the gathered data 35 firing points were distroyed and the 4th battery fire was directed. During the enemy counterattacks sr. sgt. Osipow joined the mortar crew and decimated enemy forces.
For the virtue and courage shown in the fights with German occupants he deserves to be awarded the ORS"

[Al-muell]

His second ORS - apparently a post-war catch-up. The number indicates awarding between 1949-1951, so when I am better-off, I will research it.

The 1985 OPW1 booklet

[Al-muell]

OPW1

Reason for awarding the BM (which I unforunately don't have - not sure what happened to it, probably the seller didn't have it as I spent a lot of money to reunite what was left of this group):

"During the summer fights of 1943 acting boldly he would go ahead of the infantry lines patiently revealing enemy firing points.He revealed many enemy firing points. From the number of the firing points revealed by prvt. Osipov 20 machinegun nests were destroyed, which prevented our infantry from advancing and fire of the 2nd artillery battery and 81mm mortar company was directed."

[Bill Garvy]

Outstanding group!

[PaulR]

Outstanding grouping.