Description
Soviet Order of Kutuzov 3rd class #7140
Awarded to Guards Lieutenant Grigory Filippovich Belan (Григорий Филиппович Белан)
For assaulting the enemy trenches at the Crimea near Sevastopol where he and his platoon killed 120 German and Romanian troops. He personally eliminated 10 enemy soldiers
Remarkably enough this order was Belan’s only numbered award and can therefor be considered a complete group
Made of solid silver. Measures 41.82 mm in width, 43.67 in height and weighs 26.5 grams without its screwplate. The serial number and the mint mark Monetni Dvor are both located at the 6 o’clock position of its reverse. On the very top of the reverse a small ‘1’ is stamped, often referred to as ‘makers mark’ and seen occasionally in this range. The minimum known serial number for this variation is apx 7100 and the maximum 7969.
This original order of Kutuzov is in superb overall condition with light contact marks on both sides but no substantial dings or scratches. The higher laying parts like Kutuzov’s cheek and hair show light wear only and most details are crisp. There have been no repairs and the long screw has not been shortened. Both sides show an appealing rainbow like patina and the order comes with its time period silver screwplate.
These orders are rare by themselves but this subvariation with its serial number and mint mark both located at the 6 o’clock position on its reverse is even harder to find, especially in this condition!
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:
“Comrade BELAN was assigned a combat mission to capture the hill “Bezymiannaya” near the settlement Belbek, Crimean autonomous Soviet Socialist republic, on the approaches to the Sevastopol city. On 30 April 1944, he and his platoon assaulted the hill and, fighting their way through, entered the enemy trenches seizing a 300m wide sector. The enemy was eliminated in a hand to hand fight and his line was pushed back up to 1.5km.
In this combat engagement, comrade BELAN’s platoon eliminated over 120 German and Romanian troops. He personally eliminated 10 enemy soldiers.
For skilful, energetic, and decisive command of his unit on the battlefield, for personal courage and bravery, comrade BELAN deserves state award – order “RED BANNER”.”
The full translation of the research can be read below:
More information on Lt. Belan can be found here
Some additional information on Lt. Belan found online:
In 1937 he was drafted into the Red Army, in 1940 he graduated from a military school and received the rank of Jr.Lieutenant, was sent to the military unit of the city of Rogachev as a platoon commander. On June 23, 1941, his unit was transferred to the Western front, where it entered into battle with the Nazi troops, fell into an encirclement from which platoon commander BELAN managed to take his detachment with virtually no losses. In August 1941 he was seriously wounded and was in the hospital until December 1941, after which he returned to the front. In December 1943 he was wounded for the second time, until January 15, 1944 he was also in the hospital. In January 1944 he was appointed commander of a company of submachine gunners. Participated in the battle for Sevastopol, for which he received the Order of Kutuzov 3rd degree, as well as a letter of gratitude from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of the Soviet Union STALIN. On April 30, 1944, with his platoon, he stormed into the enemy trenches, in hand-to-hand combat, the enemy was destroyed and driven back 1.5 kilometers. In this battle, the platoon of BELAN Grigory Filipovich destroyed more than 120 fascist and Romanian soldiers and officers, 19 of which were destroyed personally by him. On January 15, 1945 he was seriously wounded and until May 1945 he was treated in Kazan. After the end of the war, he was sent to continue military service in the city of Rtishchevo, Saratov Region. and appointed to the post of assistant military commander.
From the local newspaper “Lenin’s path”, 1974.
About BELAN:
The night silence hanging over the Belbek River was restless and deceptive. The commander of a company of submachine-gunners Guars Senior Lieutenant BELAN, and 26 volunteers of his unit silently advanced to the coveted height. Finally, they approached almost close to the enemy’s trenches and at any moment are ready to accept an unequal battle.
In vain that night the regimental commander listened attentively to every sound coming from the direction of the Belbek height. Senior Lieutenant BELAN, after some deliberation, decided that the only chance of a successful attack would be in the element of surprise. So he ordered his men to lay low and wait.
An anxious night passed. With the onset of the day, the Nazis started the usual skirmish. The BELAN group, unnoticed by anyone, was under the very nose of the Nazis and calmly studied the location of the German trenches, all the passages and approaches to them.
By evening, the plan of attack had already matured completely. Dividing the people, the company commander led them at nightfall to the fascist trenches from the flanks. Without causing too much noise, our fighters penetrated into the trench, removing German soldiers one at a time. Suddenly, a group led by the company commander himself stumbled upon a dugout from which German speech was heard. One of the soldiers, carefully sneaking up to the exit of the shelter, threw a grenade there.
Before the rumble of the gap had subsided, a friendly “Hurrah!” was already ringing over the trench. The remaining Nazis rushed to flee in a panic, and soon the enemy’s fortification was completely in the hands of our fighters.
However, it turned out to be much easier to capture the Belbek height than to keep it. The fascists furiously attacked the hill 10 times. Skillfully deploying his troops, Guard Senior Lieutenant BELAN managed to organize a strong defense. The Germans never managed to return to the hill again.
And yet the forces were unequal. And when the regiment commander himself brought a whole battalion of submachine gunners to finally gain a foothold on the hill, only seven of the volunteers remained alive in the trench.
For this operation, Senior Lieutenant BELAN was awarded the Order of Kutuzov. And a few days later, on 09 May 1944, he and his comrades, entered the liberated Sevastopol …
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