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10-06-2010, 11:59 AM | #1 |
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Red Banner,230613,Commander,BT-7 Tank Scout Platoon,Western Front,Wounds 1946
Tragic Story. (Translated by me)
Name: Gruzdev Vitalij Romanovich Rank: Leutenant Place of Service: Commander, BT-7 Tank Reconnaissance Platoon, 20 Army of Western Front, currently unemployed as disabled veteran of Patriotic War 1 Group. (Invalid 1-j Gruppi) Recommendation for Order of Red Banner of Combat Birth Year: 1921 Nationality: Ukrainian Party: no Participation in War: 26.6.41 to 2.8.41 Wounds or shell shock in Patriotic War: Severe 2.8.41 Enlistment in Red Army since: 9.1939 to 4.1942 Enlisted by: Vitebsk GVK Previous Awards: none Home address: Brest, Svoboda Square, 12 apt. 2 Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment: Leutenant Gruzdev V.R., serving as Commander of BT-7 Tank Reconnaissance Platoon, 20 Army of Western Front, actively participated in battles with German Invaders from June 1941 to August 2, 1941. While defending Dnepr crossing to the right of Dorogobuzh was severely wounded. He lost both arms and one eye and is a Disabled Veteran 1 Group. Unemployed due to disability. For active involvement on the fronts of Patriotic War and severe wounds received, deserving of award of Red Banner of Combat. 26 July 1945 ============== The registration card says that Vitalij Gruzdev was awarded his Order of Red Banner # 230613 by decree of August 6, 1946. Did it really take a year, or is there a typo for 1946 instead of 1945? Poor guy, his life was changed so drastically at the age of 20. But I suppose he survived. Sorry for the poor photos. George Last edited by Pobeda45; 10-06-2010 at 12:02 PM. |
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10-06-2010, 01:27 PM | #2 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
Nice early war citation. :thumbsup
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10-06-2010, 01:32 PM | #3 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
Thanks. The guy had to wait until after the war to be recognized, but yeah amazing that he was involved in the Smolensk Battle.
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10-06-2010, 01:41 PM | #4 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
It would be very interesting to hear what happened to this tank commander in later life. It must have been difficult having both arms lost and I don't think a Red Banner on the chest will have served as much solice but it is nice to see that the powers that be were at least acknowledging his great sacrifice and constant loss for the Soviet Union.
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10-06-2010, 02:30 PM | #5 | |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
Quote:
George |
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10-06-2010, 02:42 PM | #6 | |
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Location: St Petersburg, Russia
Age: 63
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
Quote:
Just as an example, my wife's grandfather was wounded several times during the war, and lost the use of one leg. From the early 1950's up until he died in 1996, he kept receiving a brand new car every 5 years. Marc PS: forgot to mention, he was nowhere near marshal or general level, just a "simple" front-line lieutenant |
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10-06-2010, 02:53 PM | #7 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
Lapa, I grew up in the Soviet Union too, but I left in '89. I was very young then of course, but I got a good glimpse. I am just saying, there was hardly wheelchair access anywhere--nor were there even good wheelchairs, with legless veterans frequently pushing themselves on pathetic carts. Same thing with prosthetics, very bad quality. The "invalidka" car for the disabled was a good idea, but it instantly identified the person driving it. The car itself was worse than a Zaporozhets..my opinion of course.
George |
10-06-2010, 02:57 PM | #8 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
By the way, he got Zaparozhets...
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10-06-2010, 05:58 PM | #9 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
You are right Marc. It could've been worse..I'm glad the state was able to offer some small reward for your wife's grandfather's sacrifice. :thumbsup
Cheers, George |
10-06-2010, 06:53 PM | #10 |
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re: Red Banner,BT-7 Tank 1941 Western Front,230613
A very special award! Thank you for sharing it with us George!:thumbsup
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