Order for action in Gdansk (Danzig)

[jefflgarrison]

New information about the brigade to which Zbigniew belonged.

1 Warsaw Pancer Brigade "Heroes of Westerplatte"

While googling this I came across the photo below. I know this is a long shot but the man in the middle of the photo is definitely wearing an Russian uniform and wearing an ORS, OPW? and another medal. This is only reported as a photo of the head of the Polish brigade (guy in the tanker head gear).

The date is given as 1944 but the officer didn't take over until December 4, 1944 and this doesnt' look like a winter scene.

Anyway, according to his record Klishin had an ORS, OPW1 and Defence of Stalingrad. Is this what it looks like is on his uniform? No way of knowing the rank of this guy since the photo doesn't show his shoulder boards well enough.

Ok, am I losing it?:confused:

Not wanting to put this story to rest, I started googling Russian sites for Klishin, and the 116th Tank Brigade and found this from a book written in 1980 by the chief of communications for the 116th Tanks Brigade.

ВОЕННАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУРА --[ Мемуары ]-- Ворожейкин А.В. Солдаты неба


Toward the bottom of the page it state, "Два дня продолжались уличные бои в Гданьске. Первыми к ратуше города подошли танки лейтенанта Белохвостова. Офицер нашей бригады Клишин водрузил над ратушей польский национальный флаг."

Two days of street fighting continued in Gdansk. First to the town hall came the tanks Lieutenant Belohvostova. Officer of our brigade Klishin hoisted over the town hall Polish national flag."

Ok, so who is telling the truth and who is lying about this whole thing? The Russians or the Poles? To me it seems clear that the Poles might be fibbing.

I finally solved the mystery of the town that didn't exist. It was not Miroz but Mirov. The town is located north of Berlin The letter was misinformed. This would fit with where the 116 Alexander Surov tank brigade ended up at the end of the war.