Red Star,0871018,Heavy Tank Commander,71st Separate Guards Heavy Tank Regiment

[jefflgarrison]

I have recently received research back for a Red Star I acquired from our local auction site (allegro.pl) 1 1/2 years ago. Initial research turned up nothing but our most recent researcher was successful.

Currently I have deduced that his name was Vladimir Borskij from Leningrad. He joined the army in 1941 at the ripe old age of 18.

He was a mechanic in the 71st Motorised Infantry Brigade of the 6th Guard Tank Corps of the 3rd Guard Tank Army attached to the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Tankist Borskij was involved in the final major tank battle of World War 2. This battle took place between March 1st and 8th around the town of Lauban just west of Breslau.

The description regarding the item on allegro stated that this and three other (square suspension version of the "Medal of Combat", "Medal for Bravery" and "Order of Glory III") medals were dug up at a place where three T-34 tanks were known to have been destroyed. Due to the burned and melted state of the star it is most likely that Vladimir died a horrible death at the age of 21.

I have included three images from the citation, originally to give him a OPW2, and ask that someone help with what I cannot translate.

1st photo: portion of citation regarding his position.

2nd photo: portion of citation regarding the fronts to which he was attached. The front I understand. It is the months that are needing translation.
[INDENT]Volkhov Front: ??? 1942 - ??? 1943
Leningrad Front: ??? - ??? 1943
1st Ukrainian Front: ??? 1944[/INDENT]

3rd photo: the actual written portion stating the reason for being given the Order of the Red Star.

Thanks.

[Auke]

Volkhov Front - September 1942 - January 1943
Leningrad Front - January - February 1943
1st Ukrainian Front - Since April 1944

[Koopyetz]

1st photo: portion of citation regarding his position.

Looks like: Commander Heavy Tank 71st Independent Guard Heavy Tank Regiment

I believe this is what it says:

During time of offensive ( 14.07.44 to 4.08.44 ) tank has not had to stop due to technical failure and had invariably found himself in front of regiment. Encountering enemy resistance, his accurate fire forced their withdrawal.
In area 2 kilometres from Zhultantse in combat on 20.07.44 his tank knocked out one heavy enemy "Tiger" tank ,exterminated its crew and up to 15 enemy soldiers.

Comments , additions and corrections appreciated

[Al-muell]

#rd pic:
For all that time (from 14.07 to 4.08.1944) Borskiy's tank never had any stops caused by technical malfunction, it always went in the front of the regiment. He would cause encountered enemy to retreat with his accurate fire. In the region of 2?? southern Zhultantse (seems to be phoneticly written Żółtańce now near the city of Chełm (where prov. polish government was installed on july 22 1944) in Lublin voivodeshiop, eastern Poland) in ???? battle 20.07.1944 he shot* one heavy tank "TIGER", eliminating crews and up to(?) 15 enemy soldiers.
For securing reliable werk of the tank, honourable fulfilling of combat tasks of the Command, shot* enemy tank he deserves being awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class.

Commander of the 71st OGTTP,
lt.colonel Shopar'


*I am not sur if the tank wasn't actually captured - word "podbit'" may mean to shot when used for an aeroplane (generally - to throw it to air from below), but probably it also means to capture.

I believe this is what it says:

During time of offensive ( 14.07.44 to 4.08.44 ) tank has not had to stop due to technical failure and had invariably found himself in front of regiment. Encountering enemy resistance, his accurate fire forced their withdrawal.
In area 2 kilometres from Zhultantse in combat on 20.07.44 his tank knocked out one heavy enemy "Tiger" tank ,exterminated its crew and up to 15 enemy soldiers.

Comments , additions and corrections appreciated

Heck, it took me too much time.
Interestingly, he was initially supposed to get OPW2, but it seems the final decision was to give him the Red Star.

It happened in an interesting period of time as well as in an interesting area, so, Jeff, if You ever decide to get rid of this one - let me know.

[jefflgarrison]

Interesting enough, two award cards were returned by our researcher.

One for the OPW2 and one for the Red Star. However, only the red star has the stamp that it was given. Seems some clerk got ahead of himself.

Attached is the first one along with the back page from the citation where it states that he should get a Red Star.

[jefflgarrison]

Here is the second award card. It shows the stamp stating it was received (given).

[Koopyetz]

Al-muell:

I wanted to see how close I could get to the translation and appreciate reading what you had to post to check my attempt.

Thanks

[Al-muell]

Interesting enough, two award cards were returned by our researcher.

One for the OPW2 and one for the Red Star. However, only the red star has the stamp that it was given. Seems some clerk got ahead of himself.

Attached is the first one along with the back page from the citation where it states that he should get a Red Star.

Interesting. And there's one more thing - the OGPW card states that he was sr. lt., while the red star one - that he was Guards lt.

Al-muell:

I wanted to see how close I could get to the translation and appreciate reading what you had to post to check my attempt.

Thanks

Your translation was faster and covered all the points. So it's fine.
I started writing mine some 5 minutes before I posted it. It just took me too much time to think about that pobityi tank and one more word which I don't remember right now. Also that colonel used two different versions of the letter "t" which made me confused for a short time.

[Kirchgoens]

Does the citation clearly show the downgrade to ORS from OPW2? In other words, are you sure it's a downgrade, and not a second award? I have to ask the question since I don't see that portion on the citation (I guess the second page, or maybe I'm just reading too fast with bad language skills?).

I've seen two award cards like this before for a member of my wife's family. One was for an OPW2 that he did receive. The other was for an OPW1 he was awarded after he had been evacuated to a rear area hospital. He actually never received the order itself, and for the rest of his life had heard he might have had the award, but he never saw the paperwork, and died before he was 50. I got both ACs, and the OPW1 AC sure enough was there with no s/n.

[jefflgarrison]

t happened in an interesting period of time as well as in an interesting area, so, Jeff, if You ever decide to get rid of this one - let me know.

Sorry, this will go on my "wall of heroes" that I will make when I take the time.

Still have a "Medal for Bravery" and "Order of Glory III" to research which were dug up and that I won on the auction.