For Combat Merits,0375861,Welder,Technical Provisions Company,244th Tank Regiment

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Here is Medal "For Combat Merits" #375861. I believe this "naked" Medal came with only its suspension ring. I added the "new" kolodka and ribbon.

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Awarded to 1913 born Sergeant Aleksandr Pantelejmonovich Pogrebnoj. His first of three awards from the 244th Separate Feodosija Tank Regiment for his work as a welder.

For Combat Merits 375861 12-08-1943
For Bravery 948436 28-04-1944
For Bravery 1750126 22-02-1945

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Welder, Technical Provisions Company, Sergeant Pogrebnoj, Aleksandr Pantelejmonovich, for that, during the period of combat operations of the regiment 26th May 20th-21st June 1943 performing the tasks of the commander of the regiment in restoring and resupplying units. He repaired 3 tanks and recovered 2 tanks from battle, under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, as well as taking participation in the evacuation of fighting machines from battle.

Born 1913, Candidate VKP/B, Ukrainian, Eduction 4th Class, Called by Gel'mjazov Regional Military Commissariat, Poltava Oblast in 1940

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Thanks to a rather detailed history of the actions in Krasnodar Kraj we can pinpoint the places that the 244th were active at on those two dates.

26th May 1943 had the 244th Separate Tank Regiment in action at "Hero Hill" before controversially withdrawing from battle, even though they were the strongest unit participating.

On 26th May after heavy artillery and aviation preparations lasting 100 minutes the forces of the 37th and 56th armies went on the offensive in breaking the enemy's defences and by 10am had re-taken the settlements of Pobeda, Sadovyj, Arnautskij, Podgornyj and Сvoboda. The infantry supporting tanks of the 37th Army stormed Kievskoe but without their infantry support were turned back. By 3pm the 37th and 56th Armies had met with the right flank of the 56th Army having captured Gogol and were fighting on the eastern outskirts of Russkoe. With the quick success of the 56th Army the Commander found his forces with an overstretched line and no reserve forces to push the attack. The tank regiments, which acted as the direct support of infantry, by this time had suffered considerable losses and 244th Tank Regiment, which had the largest number of tanks in the most crucial moment was withdrawn from combat to refuel and replenish ammunition.
The Germans then hit back with airstrikes and between 4pm and 7pm there were over 1500 sorties against the Soviet forces. At 7.20m enemy forces launched a counterattack of three infantry regiments and 57 tanks with strong air support.

By 20th June the 244th had advanced about 3 kilometres, as the fighting was around the village of Moldavanskoe. The commander of the 56th Army gave the 244th Tank Regiment the objective of recovering Hill 114.1. They started their attack at 4.20pm with the 306th Rifle Regiment, 109th Rifle Division but the attack was unsuccessful as heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire cut off the infantry from the tanks. The tanks were forced to stay and give cover and took significant loses. At 9pm the 244th withdrew from the battle to the Krestovaja Wash with loses of 10 tanks, 3 men and 17 wounded.