Order for action in Gdansk (Danzig)

[jefflgarrison]

Hey,

Living here in this wonderful city (getting better each year) I am struck by the fact that although there seemed to have been a huge struggle for control of Gdansk (Danzig) there was never a medal created for the "Capture of Danzig" like for Warszaw or Kaliningrad. What was the criteria for a medal being created for a city?

Also, anyone ever come across an order given specifically for action in or around Gdansk? Would be very interested in knowing if so.

[desantnik]

Jeff, the question about which cities received medals vs. which ones were actually commemorated with medals has been discussed on the forum. In summary, no real "criteria" and many other cities were just as deserving and or less deserving(?).

Over the years I've translated a few citations for Gdansk (3-4?) and it's just a matter of "getting lucky". If you're looking for a researched award to a particular battle or time period, you can try to reduce your odds by following serial number spreads. Again, no guarantee, but does reduce your chances. I'd have to look up the battle, but I'm guessing 1 or 2 Baltic Front, maybe 3 Belorussian ?

[Alfred]

Jeff,

There is one group with a Red Star for raising the Polish National banner on the Government House in Danzig town (Gdansk).

I am still looking for a town called МИРОЗ.

regards
Andreas

[jefflgarrison]

I agree with you in regards to the town possibly being Miroslawiecs.

However, the reference to the government building could also be another building within the town. Given that the "Court House" had it's tower pretty much blown off it would have been difficult to get a flag up there.

There was another building that served as the regional military (government) office up from the "Brama Wyzynna". I have never seen a photo of the state of this building at the end of the conflict but it was a pretty big building that stood apart from others around it.

Just my two cents.

[desantnik]

Jeff, you'd probably appreciate the book Red Storm on the Reich by Christopher Duffy. Lots of good chapters and maps on action "in your neck of the woods", i.e. East Prussia.

[jefflgarrison]

Will keep this book in mind. Wife gave me "Rising '44" by Norman Davies for Christmas so I will be involved for some time due to the size of the book. I think Davies considered books under 400 pages as pamphlets.

[EricFG]

Originally Posted by jefflgarrison

Will keep this book in mind. Wife gave me "Rising '44" by Norman Davies

Would like to hear a review of this, or "Red Storm on the Reich by Christopher Duffy" if anyone ever gets the chance. I'm to Amazon now to check there.
BTW, see my review of "Ivan's War" http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/s...html#post51389 if you're interested in the Eastern Front.

[Alfred]

"However, the reference to the government building could also be another building within the town. Given that the "Court House" had it's tower pretty much blown off it would have been difficult to get a flag up there.

There was another building that served as the regional military (government) office up from the "Brama Wyzynna". I have never seen a photo of the state of this building at the end of the conflict but it was a pretty big building that stood apart from others around it."


Hello Jeff,

you mean that building ? It also has a tower to rise a flag.

regards
Andreas

[jefflgarrison]

Actually, the tower behind the gate is called the "Torture Tower". I have scanned some photos to show that tower after the battle for Gdansk.

Quite many buildings were destroyed in this fight. Statistics say upwards of 90% of "old town" was destroyed during the three weeks of fighting in March. To think that the city was virtually untouched until March, 1945.

Of the major towers in Gdanks: Tower on Mary's Church, Tower on the Courthouse, Torture Tower and Jacek's Tower (smaller one near the Fish market); several of them were severly damaged to the point of being unsafe to climb. Mary's Church had very good access and you can see the state of the torture tower.

The last photo is of the "New City Hall" and was was built between 1898 and 1901 for the general command of Prussian garrison in Gdańsk. After the First World War and the establishment of the Free City of Gdańsk between 1918-1939, the bulding was the main office of the High Commissioners of the League of Nations for the Free city of Gdańsk. After 1945 it became the headquarters of the City Committee of the Polish Workers Party.
In 1957 it became the Żak student club, and since 2000 it has been the seat of The City Council of Gdańsk.

This is the building that I think would be the prime contender for your flag raising medal.

BTW, when I am healthy again (bit of the head cold) I will go to the local city archives and ask about which building it might have been.

[jefflgarrison]

While in Odessa, I talked with a "History Professor" about the "raising of the Polish banner" over the city of Gdansk upon liberation.

He stated that the direct command from Moscow would have been to raise the Soviet banner and no other. Which leads me to my question.

Was Rokossovsky in charge of the forces attacking Gdansk? Being of Polish origins, could he had given such order and paid the price with Zukov becoming commander of Soviet forces? My question will show my lack of knowledge in this area.

Second question, would this be a possible reason why the soldier that raised the banner received a red star instead of the higher award for which he was recommended?

Has anyone come across an award citation for raising the flag over another city? If so, what did they get for their actions?