Researched awards game

[Auke]

Okay guys, let's play a little game. I have translated ten award citations to well-known Soviet servicemen from the 40s. I have removed their names from the citations, and it's up to you to guess who received the award. Starting today, I will post one citation every day. When I have posted all ten citations, you can e-mail me your ten guesses (to auke@aukedevlieger.nl), but not later than September 15th, 20:00 GMT. I will then post the correct answers here and the member with most correct answers will get a small price. If the first place is shared by two or more members, I will randomly pick a winner.

I encourage every member to participate; it will be fun and believe me, all the recipients are well-known. The first citations will be easy, but they will steadily get more difficult. Of course, don't post your guesses here, but feel free to let me know if the citations are too easy / difficult.

May the best man win.

Hint 1: Unless stated otherwise, the person did get the award he/she was recommended for (no later downgrading).
Hint 2: Pay attention to dates, units and other persons mentioned in the citations.

[Auke]

Nr. 1

Between 10 October and 17 December 1942, during the street combat in Stalingrad, sniper XXX killed 225 German soldiers and officers. Participating in both defensive and offensive battles, every day he increased his death tally. Directly at the frontline, XXX uninterruptedly trained soldiers and commanders in sniping. As a results of his skilful organization and personal example, XXX trained 28 excellent snipers. Some feats of his sniper-pupils: P. Dvoyashkin killed 78 Germans, Morozov 66, Shaikin 58, Kulikov 51, etc. All snipers of the 1047th Rifle Regiment together killed 1106 Germans. For his great merits to the motherland, sniper XXX deserves the highest award, the title “Hero of the Soviet Union”.

[ph3s]

nice one, i'm in

[deValcourt]

Assuming the other nine will get exponentially harder (knowing you), this looks like some fun.

"Bring it..." as some forms of American humans have been known to say (and I think it's even the title of an appropriately bad movie).

Phillip

[Art]

A very clever idea! Good luck to the contest participants!

[Auke]

Great! Good luck to all! The more participants, the nicer the price

Nr. 2

The 8th Guards Army under command of comrade XXX broke through the heavily defended enemy sector along the dominant steep western shore of the Northern Donets River. The difficult offensive operation of the army to cross the in this area wide and deep Northern Donets, was accomplished excellently, and the enemy ___ was pierced with a depth of up to 8-10 km, after which fierce battles with approaching enemy operational reserves (16th Motorized Division, 17th Tank, 23rd Tank, SS Wiking Division) took place. During these battles the army steadily conquered kilometre after kilometre and finished its offensive by capturing the city and district of Barvenkovo, finally having broken the enemy resistance and forcing the enemy to retreat.

During these battles, comrade XXX showed himself a fearless and courageous army commander, displaying firm willpower and a persistent strive for victory over the enemy, for which he deserves to be awarded the Order of Kutuzov 1st Class.

This was later upgraded to an Order of Lenin.

[Auke]

A slightly longer one this time.

Nr. 3

During the period of combat actions against the German invaders, Guards Lieutenant XXX carried out 840 combat flights in a P0-2 plane, with a combat flight time of 1120 hours. Her overall flight time is 1450 hours. She has 1200 nighttime flight hours. In her missions to destroy motorized and mechanized units and enemy manpower she dropped 132 tons of bombs. As a result of her accurate bombing raids, 178 severe explosions and 162 islands of fire were induced on the side of the enemy. Three enemy river crossings, two artillery batteries, one searchlight, and three machine gun positions were destroyed, and over a battalion of infantry was killed. 800 thousand leaflets were spread over the enemy troops. The results of the combat actions presented here is far from complete; it only reflects the things registered.

Comrade XXX is the most active participant in the defense of the northern Caucasus, the destruction of the Germans in the Kuban, Taman, and Krim peninsulas and in Belarus. Without paying attention to herself, comrade XXX takes very actively part in the destruction of the German invaders in Poland. She is a brave and fearless pilot. She isn’t afraid of anti-aircraft fire and enemy searchlights when approaching her assigned target. All her energy and combat skills result in excellent fulfilment of the command’s combat missions. On days of intense combat activities, comrade XXX carries out up to 9-10 combat flights. The effectiveness of her bomb attacks is high. All her combat activities serve as an example for all the personnel. The most effective nights were:

During the night of 5 November 1942, she bombed a concentration of enemy troops at Digora. As a result of the accurate bombing raids, an island of fire was induced, which was confirmed by the following crew of Guards Senior Lieutenant Chechneva and the crew of Guards Senior Lieutenant Popova.

During the night of 10 February 1943, she bombed enemy troops moving from the direction of Popovicheskaya. The accurate bomb attack resulted in 2 large explosions. The following crews of Guards Senior Lieutenant Parfyonova and Guards Major Nikulina confirmed that a truck with ammunition exploded.

During the night of 10 March 1943, materiel and troops were destroyed at Krymskaya Station. As a results of the accurate bombing raid, a severe island of fire was observed, which continued burning for one and a half hours. This was confirmed by Guards Junior Lieutenant Klyuyeva and Guards Senior Lieutenant Popova.

During the night of 22 January 1944, she bombed enemy fortifications and forces at Kerch. She carried out 7 combat flights. Despite of the heavy anti-aircraft fire and searchlights of the enemy, comrade XXX manoeuvred capably, arrived at the target, and dropped her bombs, as a results of which a severe island of fire was induced, which was confirmed by the following crews of Guards Lieutenant Klepkova and Guards Junior Lieutenant Pavlova.

During the night of 9 February 1944, she executed a bomb attack on a concentration of enemy zed and mechanized units and forces at Turkmen. The accurate bombing raid resulted in 2 large explosions with islands of fire, which was confirmed by the crews of Guards Lieutenant Aronova and Guards Senior Lieutenant Gelman.

During the night of 11 May 1944, the retreating enemy troops in the Kamyshevata Bay were destroyed. Despite of the heavy enemy fire barrage, comrade XXX manoeuvred capably around the anti-aircraft positions and searchlights and arrived at the mission’s target, and dropped her bombs, as a results of which 2 large explosions took place. The following crews of Guards Lieutenant Troparevskaya and Guards Senior Lieutenant Parfyonova confirmed that ammunition exploded.

During the night of 22 June 1944, she bombed a concentration of enemy troops at Perelogi. As a result of the bombing raid, 3 large explosions took place. The following crews of Guards Major Nikulina and Guards Senior Lieutenant Popova confirmed that a truck with ammunition exploded.

During the night of 7 October 1944, she bombed a concentration of enemy troops at Lyas and Makuv. As a result of the bombing raids, 2 severe islands of fire were induced. The following crews of Guards Lieutenant Sebrova and Guards Senior Lieutenant Serebryakova confirmed that there were fuel trucks on fire.

During the night of 13 October 1944, she destroyed enemy troops at Makuv and on the road from Makuv. During the night she carried out 9 combat flights. As a result of the bomb attack, 2 large explosions took place, followed by a fire and dense black smoke. The result of the action was confirmed by the crews of Guards Lieutenant Troparevskaya and Guards Lieutenant Zhigulenko.

For the excellent fulfilment of the command’s combat missions at the front of battle with the German invaders, where she personally carried out 840 combat flights in a Po-2 plane with a high level of effectivity, and the hereby displayed bravery, courage, and heroism, Guards Lieutenant XXX deserves the title “Hero of the Soviet Union”.

[deValcourt]

Getting interesting.

Phillip

[Laurent]

Coooool!

[Christophe]

Hi Auke,

Goooooooood idea !!!

Cheers.

Ch.