Description
Documented Group of Soviet Awards
Awarded to Lt. (later Major) Boris Appolinarievich Kulish (Борис Апполинарьевич Кулиш)
For huge successes fighting the enemy at Kerch Peninsula, street fighting in Berlin and during the beginning of the war in Russia
This group of Soviet awards consists of the following items:
Order of Alexander Nevsky #19930
Made of solid silver and enamels. It measures 49.95 mm in width and 51.15 mm in height and weighs 43.2 grams without its screwplate. its serial number and mintmark are located on the bottom of its reverse.
In superb, well above average condition. The details are all crisp and even the higher laying parts like Nevsky’s face show light wear only. The red enamels are extremely well preserved without chipping, repairs or scratches. Its reverse is in nice condition with some light superficial scratches only and an appealing patina. Its screw has not been shortened and the order comes with its well fitted and time period screwplate.
Order of the Red Banner #260477
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 44.97 mm in height, 37.10 mm in width and weighs 25.7 grams without its suspension. The curved mint mark Monetni Dvor and the serial number are located at the bottom of its reverse.
In excellent condition with its details perfectly visible and crisp. The red and white enamels are fully present and show some minor dings and scratches only. Both sides show a dark patina to the silver. The order comes with its time period double layer steel suspension and its connection ring has not been cut.
Order of the Red Banner #2604778
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 45.08 mm in height, 37.16 mm in width and weighs 23.7 grams without its suspension. The curved mint mark Monetni Dvor and the serial number are located at the bottom of its reverse.
In good overall condition with it details perfectly visible. the red enamels are mostly present and without repairs but show a large chip on the top right side of the banner. The white enamels are problem free and the order shows a fair amount of the original gold plating. Its connection ring has not been cut and the double layer steel suspension is time period to the order.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class #217507
Made of solid silver and gold. The order measures 45.67 mm in width, 47.69 mm in height and it weighs 26.8 grams without its screwplate.
In excellent, well above average condition. The details are all crisp and even the higher laying parts like the hammer and sickle show light wear only. The red and white enamels are beautiful and well preserved and show a miniscule superficial chip on the tip of the 3 o’clock ray. Its reverse is in equally excellent condition and its screw has not been shortened. The order comes with its well fitted and time period silver screwplate.
Order of the Red Star #102430
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 48.41 in width, 47.07 in height and weighs 29.3 grams without its screwplate.
The order is in superb condition with all details visible and flawless enamels. Its screw has not been shortened and both sided show a dark patina to the silver. The order comes with its well fitted and time period silver screwplate.
Order of the Red Star #3369427
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 47.58 in width, 45.77 in height and weighs 30.4 grams without its screwplate.
In near mint condition with all details visible and flawless enamels. Its screw has not been shortened and it comes with its well fitted screwplate.
Medal for Combat Merit
Made of silver and red lacquer. Measures 32.10 mm in diameter, 37.27 mm in height including its eyelet and weighs 19.4 grams without its suspension.
The medal is in excellent condition with the enamels filling the lettering fully present without repairs. Its connection ring has been cut and it comes with its time period steel suspension.
Order Booklet
In good condition with all pages firmly attached to their cover. The booklet mentions all awards above
14 Medals and badges all with their documents
Made of brass. All in average or better condition and accompanied with their document.
Translation of the citations:
Order of Alexander Nevsky #19930
On 5 September 1944 in the region north-west of Zhagare, after spotting a gathering of enemy forces preparing to launch a counterattack, he opened fire on the gathering using his own initiative. The fire of the battalion burned 2 tanks and killed more than a company of enemy infantry. The counterattack was never launched.
On 20 September, in the region south-east of Dobele, Comrade Kulish prevented three more enemy counterattacks of enemy tanks and infantry by launching his battalions salvos on his own initiative. This caused large enemy loses in infantry and equipment. The defensive lines of our units remained strong.
In the period of the offensive battles in the region north-east of —, Comrade Kulish, with his bravery and creativity made it possible for the battalion and our avangaurd offensive units to constantly move forward. He also conducted fire support at the proper time. The battalion’s salvos in the region of — on 6 October 1944 assisted in the quick occupation of strongly fortified enemy positions.
From 8 to 11 October 1944, the supporting units, which were protecting the right flank of the breakthrough, the battalion repelled 3 major enemy counterattacks through the precise fire and initiative shown by Comrade Kulish, and provided for the stable defense of our units.
He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the 49th Guards Mortor Regiment, Isl Guards Lt. Col. Pankratov Deserves to be awarded the Order of Aleksandr Nevsky.
Order of the Red Banner #260477
On 24 April 1945 while chasing the retreating enemy armies in the region south-west of Frankfurt an-Oder, our offensive units meet the enemy in the region of the station at Grosspit. The enemy gathered up to 2 battalions of motorized infantry, 8 tanks and tried to consolidate their hold on this point with heavy fire at our units. Moving with the advanced units and having the mission to support the offensive units with his fire, Comrade Kulish ignored enemy fire and quickly prepared information and passed it by radio to fire positions. His units fired three salvos at the center of the enemy’s line. With these salvos up to 100 Germans were killed, 2 tanks were burned and 6 half-tracks destroyed. The German blocking force was repulsed. Our units were able to take over the station and continue to pursue the enemy.
On 1 May 1945, in street battles on the northern part of Berlin, he was at the observation point in one of the buildings. The enemy was firing Panzerfausts and Stankov machine guns from windows and basements trying to stop our infantry. During the firing, he located 12 enemy firing positions at which the battalion salvoed their rockets and destroyed 7 firing points and suppressed the rest of them. On the same day he destroyed 9 more firing positions. Our units were able to capture 8 blocks in the territory of our Division’s actions.
He deserves to be award the Order of Bogdan Khrnelnitski 2nd Class (!)
Order of the Red Banner #260478
During the period of the offensive battles in the region of Likhtenberg, on 21 April 1945, the enemy put up strong resistance against our offensive units. While at the observation point located with our fighting units of infantry and under intense enemy artillery fire, he personally located the gathering of2 battalions of enemy infantry and 6 enemy firing points, which were blocking the path of our infantry. He fired 2 battalion salvos at the located enemy targets and as a result destroyed up to 80 Germans, 4 firing positions, and suppressed the fire of 1 mortar battery. With these salvos, he helped out units to successfully move ahead. Without and resistance, our units occupied Likhtenberg.
During the period of pursuing the enemy on 24 April 1945, while at the observation points in the region of Point 42 on the railway near Grosspits, he spotted a gathering of enemy infantry, tracked vehicles, tanks and an ammunition dump. He fired a battalion salvo at the gathering as a result of which were destroyed up to 50 Germans, 2 tanks, 6 tracked vehicles and set fire to the ammunition dump.
In the territory of the military operations of the 2nd Baltic Front on 2 Feb. 1945, in the region of Kaletu, during the period of offensive actions, he moved with a radio to the location of the enemy’s fighting units. While under strong machine gun and artillery fire, he observed the battlefield. The enemy launched a counterattack in the direction of Kaletu of a battalion of infantry and 10 tanks. Ignoring their fire and putting his own life at risk, he quickly prepared the information and fired 2 salvos. These salvos destroyed up to 40 Germans and 4 tanks. The enemy counterattack was halted.
While commanding the battalion over a period of two years, he has carried out all of his military missions at the proper time. The personnel of Comrade Kulish are well coordinated and trained to conduct a battle in any conditions.
He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class #217507
ln the battles for the Kerch Peninsula and in the Crimea, the battalion of Comrade Kulish, because of his bravery and initiative, caused large enemy losses i fantry and equipment. For example: On 21 January 1944 on the Kerch Peninsula, whit at an observation point, Comrade Kulish spotted a gathering of enemy infantry, which were preparing to counterattack. On his own initiative, he fired a battalion salvo at the gathering. The salvo halted the enemy’s counterattack and dispersed the gathering.
On 10 April 1944 on the Kerch Peninsula, after receiving information from scouts about a gathering of enemy infantry, and after checking it out personally, he authorized the battalion to salvo at the gathering. The salvo caused large enemy losses of infantry and equipment.
During the period of pursuing the enemy, he, through his brave and decisive actions, helped the battalion to move directly with the vanguard of the pursuing units and carried out fire missions at the right time.
On 11 May 1944, in the battle of Sevastopol, the battalion fired on enemy gatherings. This caused the enemy large losses that helped to destroy the Khersonskoi Group of Armies.
He deserves the State Award, the Order of the Great Patriotic War 2nd Class.
Order of the Red Star #102430
During the period of military actions on the battalion, Sr. Lt. Kulish displayed himself to be a brave and decisive commander.
ln the battle near Mokraya Elrnuta, on 27 July 1942, his firing position was under strong enemy artillery fire and while ignoring the danger, Sr. Lt. Kulish selflessly stayed under the fire in an open firing position, fired a salvo and as a result destroyed 4 tanks, 69 half-tracks, and suppressed 1 battery of small mortars.
On 2 August 1942 in the battle near Red Poliana, the battalion during_ days, held off enemy tank attacks. Comrade Kulish, ignoring the closeness of the enemy tanks and strong enemy mortar fire, conducted the battery’s fire from an open firing point. As a result of this the battalion destroyed_ tanks, 12 armored cars, 175 tracked vehicles and suppressed I battery of heavy mortars. On 5 August 1942, in the decisive battle near the Priluzhnii, while escaping from an encircled position, Comrade Kulish, from an open firing position, ignored strong enemy artillery fire, fired point-blank into the enemy’s tank columns.
In that battle, the battalion destroyed 16 tanks, _2 tracked vehicles and the Staff of a German Tank Division.
The commanders of the 49th G.M.R. recommend Guards Sr. Lt. Comrade Kulish for the State Award, the Order of the Red Star.
The full translation of the research can be read here
Also included in the picture gallery are:
- several scans of images of Kulish. One showing all awards mentioned above
- combat diary of the 49th Guards Mortar Regiment (49GuMR) of April 1945
- combat path and maps of the 49GuMR in Berlin
- scans of his service record card
Please contact us with questions
