Patriotic War II,0128364,Chief Of Staff,40th Guards Rifle Division

[doomula5000]

I'm posting this for a friend of mine who bought and researched his first medal. Wow what a great first citation!!! Crazy downgrading!!!



Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Fedorov, Mikhail Aleksandrovich
2. Rank: Guards Lieutenant Colonel
3. Duty position: Chief of Staff, 40 Guards E(?)ievskaya Red Banner Rifle Division

Recommendation for the Order of the Red Banner

4. Born: 1909
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: yes
7. Previous combat: Finnish War 1939 and Patriotic War since 22 June 1941 on the Kalinin, Stalingrad, Don, SW, Southern, and 4 Ukrainian Fronts
8. Wounds or shell-shock: one serious wound in 1942
9. Time in Red Army: since 1931
10. Inducted by: career officer
11. Previous awards: Red Banner on 26.11.42
12. Home of record: Kuibyshev, Stepan Razin St. #44, Apt. 23. Wife – Lidiya Mikhailovna Fedorova




Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

During the penetration of the heavily reinforced German defensive belt near Grozovo (?)ristovka, as the Division Chief of Staff Comrade Fedorov completely and properly devised the plans and operational orders to the subordinate units for the conduct of combat operations. Comrade Fedorov replaced the wounded division commander on 28.10.43 with no change to the conduct of combat operations and due to his correct and proper leadership the division completed its operation – the Germans’ defense was penetrated, a series of settlements were captured, and advanced through Verkh. Rogachik, in which the division’s units as part of the corps held against enemy armor and infantry counterattacks. When the Germans attempted to deploy fresh reserves from behind the Dniepr and surround our units, the division continued to steadfastly hold its lines. This bore testimony Comrade Fedorov’s knowledge and operational unit leadership by using his reserves and the 116 Guards Rifle Regiment and UCHVATA(?). During his command of the division Comrade Fedorov caused the following enemy losses: the destruction of 1500 enemy soldiers and officers, destruction of 15 tanks and two assault guns, one flamethrower vehicle, the suppression of seven artillery and five mortar batteries, destruction of 21 trucks with personnel and equipment, destruction of 27 light machineguns, 42 heavy machineguns, and destruction of 88 special purpose and artillery horses. During this period the unit captured five unteroffizieren [trans: noncommissioned officers], 57 soldiers, 45 special horses, two vehicles, (?) vehicle with supplies, a six-barreled mortar [trans: nebelwerfer], and one tank. As a result and in accordance with the corps military commissar’s order Comrade Fedorov capably led his unit from out of encirclement without a single loss of personnel or special equipment. Comrade Fedorov repeatedly displayed valor, resourcefulness, and capable leadership of his units. Comrade Fedorov is deserving of the Order of the Red Banner.

Signed Commander, 4093 Guards Red Banner Enak. Rifle Division, Guards General-Major Panchenko on 13 November 1943

Recommended downgrade to the Order of Kutuzov II Class, Commander, 31
Guards Rifle Corps, Guards General-Major A. Ktv(?) on 16 November 1943

Recommended downgrade to Order of the Patriotic War II Class, Commander, 5 Shock Army, General-Colonel Ive(?) and Army Member of the Military
Committee General-Major Bup(?) on 1.7.43[trans: sic 1.12.43(?)]

Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War II Class by Order 461/N of the 4 Ukrainian Front dated 25.12.1943.

[trans: translation difficult in last quarter of citation due to the addition of several editorial comments, however remains essentially true to citation]

[CtahhR]

Recommend downgrade to "pat on back and thumbs up". You would have at least thought he'd have got the 1st Class OPW? I'm sure seeing your own award citation being downgraded twice is a little disheartening - specially after looking at the numbers involved. He wasn't just kicking his heals in Siberia. What other awards did this fellow end up being awarded? A wooden spoon for dedication to the marxist-leninist cause? I wonder if the two "downgrading" officers did this to many other recipients or if they just had a biased opinion of this commander.

[Norm Braddock]

WOW! That is a wonderful writeup. I am shocked that it was downgraded to an OPW2.
This one has RB written all over it in comparison to the RB research that I've read.

Congrats man on a super award!

[Alexscl]

LtCol Mikhail Aleksandrovich Fedorov was awarded the Red Banner in 1942, that's why his second RB was downgraded to an OPW2...

[Simon]

Fedorov's RB Award Sheet is attached.

[Simon]

It's possible that Fedorov was awarded BM (downgraded from RB) earlier in 1942. On BM Award Sheet, name, nationality, DOB, party membership match. 201 Airborne Brigade where Fedorov earned BM was a part of 5 Airborne Corps according to Russian wikipedia. RB Award Sheet states that Fedorov had served in 5 AC. The only mismatch is time in the Red Army which is recorded as "since 1933".

[Alec]

He also served in the Winter War.

[Eryk]

Great citation, a wonderful example. Some information from a good web site on some of the signatures (perhaps).

Commander, 40th Guards Rifle Division: Panchenko, Grigorii Filippovich
Member of the Military Council, 5th Shock Army: Bulatov, Ismail Bulatovich
Commander, 5th Shock Army: Tsvetaev, Viacheslav Dmitrievich

Can’t find a reference there to the 31st Guards Rifle Corps. :(

[Pobeda45]

Very cool commander citation. :thumbsup

[Alec]

His other awards and medals

Awards:

Bravery Medal NW Front dated 20.8.42
Red Banner Don Front dated 26.11.42
OPW II 4 Ukrainian Front dated 25.12.43
Combat Service Medal Edict dated 3.11.44
Red Star Edict dated 6.5.46
Red Banner #2 Edict dated 19.11.51
Lenin Edict dated 30.12.1956

Defense of Stalingrad Medal
Victory over Germany Medal
30th Anniversary of Armed Forces Medal