OPW and Bravery medal group

[Alfred]

Research is back and translated by Rick.

I like the groups and the citations.

Here is the military merit medal:

336th Cannon-Artillery regiment Reserve High Command
23rd Army Leningradskogo front

19 January 1944

In the name of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic – I AWARD:

Medal “FOR MILITARY MERIT”

As senior scout observer, in platoon under regimental control, yefreitor MEDYUSHKO Mikhail Petrovich personally discovered and precisely located 7 artillery batteries, 2 gun platform, 8 DZOT ( wood and earthen emplacements ) and 12 inhabited dugouts of the enemy.
Comrade MEDYUSHKO is one of the best scouts under our command, he is perfectly efficient at his specific duty.

1917 year of birth, candidate for membership in VKP (b) since 1943, Belarus, drafted in RKKA by Borisovskii RVK, Minskoi oblast. Permanent address : Minskaya oblast, Glivinskii rural district, village of Glivino.

Commander 336th Cannon- Artillery Regiment Reserve High Command
Lieutenant Colonel ( signature ) Averkin

[Alfred]

Here is the Bravery medal:

Decree No. 0166/n

336th Army Cannon-Artillery Vyborgskomu Regiment
23rd Army Leningradskogo front

25 July 1944

In the name of Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic – I AWARD:

Medal “FOR BRAVERY”

As senior scout observer, in platoon under regimental control, yefreitor MEDYUSHKO MIKHAIL PETROVICH, during period of offensive fighting, continuously located combat infantry formations, and provided reconnaissance of enemy artillery which allowed our batteries to adjust their fire.
On 14.07.44 while observing from a tree in the vicinity of 44,5 , despite intense enemy artillery and mortar fire, and total disregard of his own life, during one day located two enemy batteries ,and provided coordinates which influenced our fire on combat infantry formations. Reliable target designations by comrade Medyushko effectively suppressed the enemy batteries.


1924 year of birth, Belarus, candidate for membership in VKP (b) since 1943, drafted in RKKA by Borisovskii RVK, Minskoi oblast. Permanent address : Minskaya oblast, Glivinskii rural district, village of Glivino.

Commander 336th Army Cannon- Artillery Vyborgskomu Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel ( signature ) Averkin

[Alfred]

Here is the second Bravery medal:

1. Last Name, first and middle name: Medyushko Mikhail Petrovich
2. Rank: Yefreitor
3. Position, unit : Scout observer , platoon under regiment control, 194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Vyborgskoi Brigade
Is recommended for medal ” FOR BRAVERY”

4. Year of birth: 1917
5. Nationality: Belarus
6. Party membership: member VKP ( b ) since 6.1944
7. Participation in the civil war, and other military actions aimed at the defense of the USSR in Patriotic war ( where and when ) : Patriotic war since 28.6.41 to 6.10.41 Central front , since 15.10.41 to 20 June 1942 Kalinin front, 18.10.42 to 1942 to 5.9.44 Leningrad front, 24.12.44 1st Ukrainian front
8. Wounds and contusions received in Patriotic war: none
9. In Red Army: since 1941 26 June
10.Drafted by what district military commissariat: Borisovskii RVK, Minskoi oblast
11. Previous awards: medal “For Bravery” 5.7.44 decree no. 0166/n , medal “For Military Merit” 19.1.44 decree no. 013/n- 336th Army Cannon-Artillery Vyborgskomu Regiment and medal “For Defense of Leningrad”
12. Permanent home address (of the prospective awardee or his/her family): Minskaya oblast, Borisovskii raion , Glivinskii rural district, village of Glivino.


I. Brief description of personal feat

In the run-up to artillery offensive of 8 to 11 January 1945 in area of ( ? ) he discovered 2 DZOT (wood and earthen emplacements) and two batteries of the enemy.
In combat on 12 January 1945, while under enemy artillery fire he led reconnaissance mission to observe suppression of artillery battery fire on NP.

Commander battery Control 194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Vyborgskoi Brigade
Captain ( signature )
16 January 1945

II. Conclusion of Higher Command

I Award medal “FOR BRAVERY”

194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Viborgskoi Brigade

19 January 1945 Colonel ( signature )

[Alfred]

and the OGPW:

1. Last Name, first and middle name: Medyushko Mikhail Petrovich
2. Rank: Yefreitor
3. Position, unit : Senior scout observer , 194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Vyborgskoi Brigade
Is recommended for order ” Patriotic War 2nd class”

4. Year of birth: 1917 , 14 February
5. Nationality: Belarus
6. Party membership: member VKP ( b ) since June 1944
7. Participation in the civil war, and other military actions aimed at the defense of the USSR in Patriotic war ( where and when ) : Patriotic war since 28.6.41 to 6.10.41 Central front , since 15.10.41 to 20 June 1942 Kalinin front since 18.10.42 to 5.9 1942 , Leningrad front, 24.12.44 1st Ukrainian front
8. Wounds and contusions received in Patriotic war: light wound 15.3.45
9. In Red Army: since 26 July 1941
10.Drafted by what district military commissariat: Borisovskii RVK, Minskoi oblast
11. Previous awards: medal “For Bravery” 25.7.44 decree no. 0166/n 336th Cannon-Artillery Regiment, medal “For Bravery” decree no.02/n 194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Viborgskoi Brigade medal “For Military Merit” 19.1.44 decree no. 013/n
12. Permanent home address (of the prospective awardee or his/her family): Minskaya oblast, Borisovskii raion , Glivinskii rural district, village of Glivino.


I. Brief description of personal feat

On March 15, 1945 in the vicinity of Kirchberg observation post brigade came under heavy shelling, in spite of this, comrade Medyushko remained at his post and conducted surveillance of the enemy, but due to direct hit on observation post he received wound and contusion.
Despite his injuries, he refused leave his post for medical assistance and stayed to carry out his duties.
On March 17, 1945 while in combat and attached to 1013th Rifle regiment 285th Rifle division he located 4 enemy gun batteries in the vicinity of Baushdorf, which were suppressed by fire from our brigade which further secured our units.
On March 18, 1945 he delivered combat orders from staff 285th Rifle division under intense machine-gun fire to the headquarters of his brigade, which allowed unit in advance to repel flanking attack in direction of Floste.
In combat for the city of Keise 23 to 26 March located and plotted 3 enemy artillery batteries whose fire was concentrated on our troops in the vicinity of Oder-Blagodar, thanks to his precise information, the batteries were suppressed by the fire of our brigade.
In combat with the enemy he has shown courage and initiative.

Deserves governmental award order “Patriotic war 2nd class”

Chief of staff 194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Vyborgskoi Brigade
Captain ( signature ) Ivannikov

Deserves governmental award order “ Patriotic war 2nd class”
Commander ( signature )
194th Heavy Howitzer Leningradsko-Vyborgskoi Brigade
Major ( signature )
14 April 1945

II. Conclusion of the Higher Command

Deserves governmental award, order “ Patriotic war 2nd class”
Commander 31st ( ? ) Artillery Division Break through Reserve High Command
Major General Artillery
Commander ( signature ) Krasnokutskii
27 April 1945

III. Conclusion of the Army Military Council

Deserves award order “Patriotic war 2nd class”

Commander 10th ( ? ) Corps Break through Reserve High Command

Guard Lieutenant General Artillery ( signature ) Kozhukov

6 May 1945

IV. Conclusion of the Front Military Council

I Award order “Patriotic war 2nd class”

Commander Artillery 1st Ukrainian front

Colonel General Artillery ( signature ) Varennov

6 May 1945

[Alfred]

I found nearly all cities mentioned in the award citations. They are all lieing in Poland and have since 1945 new polish names.

Funny is that the towns changed their names twice. Most of the cities names the russian used in their citation are from the beginning 1930´s (maybe due to old maps the soviet army used - I recogniced this more than once).

In the late 1930`s the nazis gave most of the towns in east prussia new german names, which sounds more comfortable to the ideology of the party.

In 1945 the towns changed their names to new polish ones.

[Alfred]

OGPW citation:

Here is the city of Kirchberg. The new polish name since 1945 is Tlustoreby.
(map point A) The town lies 300 km away from Berlin.

In 1945 the town had 558 inhabitants, 122 buildings and the last mayor was Bauer Julius Sommer.

In February/March 1945 the area was combat area and 28 buildings were destroyed during the fights.

I think the town Kirchberg was strategic valuable , because near by in the town Pilkendorf was the only bridge over the river Neisse.

enjoy and best regards
Andreas