Suvorov.

[Doug]

I've always found this one interesting because it mentions one of the link ups with the Americans on the Elbe. He was originally put in for a Nevskii but received a Suvorov 3rd Cl instead.


AWARD SHEET

1. Last name, name and Patronymic—Ishchenko, Petr Andreevich .
2. Rank—Lt. Colonel. 3. Duty Title, unit—Chief of Staff, 13th Independent Tank
Destroyer Artillery Brigade .
3. Submitted for the award of—Order of "Aleksandr Nevskii" .
4. Date of Birth—1905. 5. Nationality—Ukrainian .
6. Party Affiliation—member of the Communist Party .
7. Participation in the Civil War and subsequent combat operations in the
defense of the USSR in the Patriotic War--Patriotic War since 1942 .
8. Wounds or contusions in the Patriotic War—none .
9. In the Red Army since—February, 1940 .
10. Sponsored by which Revolutionary Committee—Shpetolskii RVK, 1940 .
11. Earlier awards—Medal "For Combat Merit" by Order of 10th Army #0255 from .
24-4-42, Patriotic War 1st Class, Order #0182 from 8-8-44 2nd Belor. Front, "Red .
Banner" by Order of the 2nd Belor. Front #05 from 4-1-45 .
12. Permament home address (of the award submittee or his
family)—Kievskaya Oblast', Shpolitskim Region, Pebedich Zavod. Wife: .
Ishchenko-Fedinichenko, Ol'ga Kondrat'evno.

Brief description of the personal combat exploits or merits

During the battle to eliminate an enemy strong point southwest of KÖNIGSBERG and the approaches to the city of BRAUNSBERG in the period from 19 to 25 March, he displayed maximum energy and selflessness in the correct organization of brigade staff operations for directing brigade units in cooperation with other branches of service. The timely and correct situational orientation, constant reconnaissance of the enemy and providing this to the brigade commander, allowed for a final possibility in a timely manner to make responsible decisions, allowing the brigade to successfully complete its mission. The brigade assisted the 53rd Rifle Corps to take several city blocks in BRAUNSBERG and to liquidate an encircled enemy unit along the corps' route of march. During this period, the brigade destroyed 3 tanks, 2 self-propelled weapons, and 4 enemy artillery pieces. During the transfer of the brigade to the 2nd Belorussian Front, he, together with the brigade commander, smartly organized the march and route of march, as a result of which the brigade units completed a 700 kilometer relocation from the area of KÖNIGSBERG to the area of SCHWEDT in two days, attacking in full strength along with 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps and covering a distance of 200 kms in battle over a short period of time, and finally linking-up with the American 13th Corps of the allied forces.
During the actions of the brigade with the 3rd GKK, regardless of the dangerously exposed forward units, he successfully and skillfully overcame difficulties in directing the brigade's units, and as a consequence, the units successfully advanced forward with minimal losses in equipment and manpower, assisting the cavalry in taking the cities of BRAUNSBERG, PERLBERG, WITTENBERG, LENTSEN, and finally reaching the ELBE river, leaving behind the remnants of enemy units by such maneuvers.
During the period from 27.4.45 to 4.5.45, the brigade destroyed up to 300 soldiers and officers, 22 strong points, 58 vehicles, 5 artillery pieces, 7 armored personnel carriers, 4 tanks and took as war booty 8 tanks, 3-75mm batteries, and other equipment, while taking 240 soldiers and officers prisoner.
For excellent organizational work in the brigade staff for directing regiments, assisting the brigade commander in the organization of assault operations along with accompanying cavalry fire and tracked vehicles and attaining success in these operations, he has attained the Governmental Award of the Order of "ALEKSANDER NEVSKII."

Commander, 13th Upper-Dnieper Red Banner Order of Suvorov 3rd Class Aleksandr Nevskii Independent Tank-Destroyer Brigade, High Command Reserve
GUARDS COLONEL
I. Kileev /KILEEV/

"14" May, 1945