Description
Complete Group of an Order of Glory and a Medal for Bravery
Awarded to Guards Private Pavel Dmitrievich Plyaka (Павел Дмитриевич Пляка)
For exceptional bravery in maintaining vital communications under heavy enemy fire, enabling precise strikes that destroyed enemy tanks, guns, and strongpoints, and repelling multiple counterattacks. In close combat near Mückendorf [Germany, south of Berlin], he personally killed thirteen enemy soldiers
This group consist of the following items:
Order of Glory 3rd class #424456
Made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 45.81 mm in width, 48.04 mm in height and weighs 22.5 grams without its suspension. The serial number is located on top of its reverse.
In nice, above average condition with much of the detail of the raised areas visible despite the numerous dings and scratches. The enamels are fully present and well preserved without repairs. The order shows a nice patina to the silver and its connection ring has not been cut. It order comes with its correct double layer steel suspension and old ribbon.
Medal for Bravery #1648148
Made of solid silver and red lacquer. Measures 37.39 mm in diameter, 42.25 mm in height including its eyelet and weighs 27.7 grams without its suspension.
The medal is in good overall condition with most details visible but several dings on both sides. Some of the original red lacquer is still present although covered by some dirt. Its connection ring has not been cut and the medal comes with its period-appropriate suspension.
Medal for Bravery #1905949
Made of solid silver and red lacquer. Measures 37.35 mm in diameter and weighs 27.7 grams without its suspension.
In similar condition to the previous Medal for Bravery, except that the original eyelet broke off at some point. A hole was later drilled at the top to allow a connecting ring to attach the suspension.
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements for the Order of Glory 3rd class:
On 28 April 1945, in the battle near the village of Mückendorf (Germany), Guards Corporal Plyaka, under heavy enemy artillery fire, corrected 19 telephone communications gusts going to the division commander at the firing positions of batteries and supported rifle units, thereby enabling the division commander to conduct continuous artillery hits on the enemy’s fire weapons and counterattacking infantry, while the division’s artillery fire was destroyed. 5 heavy machine guns, one T-4 tank [trans: a Soviet designation for German Panzer IV tank] was knocked out, two company mortars were destroyed, and 3 enemy counterattacks were repelled.
On the same day of the battle, when the Germans approached the observation post, comrade Plyaka, repelling a counterattack with his personal weapons, destroyed 13 German soldiers. The enemy’s counterattack was successfully repelled.
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements for the Medal for Bravery #1648148:
9. Telephone operator, 2nd battery, Guards Private Plyaka Pavel Dmitrievich, during the breakthrough of the enemy’s defense line near the village of Budyshki-Dreibudiny, Vilkaviškis region, Lithuanian SSR (Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic), on 16 October 1944, the telephone connection between the battery commander and the commanders of the rifle company was damaged. He, crawling under heavy enemy machine-gun fire, corrected the telephone line damage in six places, which contributed the continuous conduct of artillery fire on enemy firing points, that impeded the advance of the rifle company. At the same time, it was destroyed: an anti-tank gun and four enemy machine-gun points.
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements for the Medal for Bravery #1905949:
15. Telephone operator, 2nd battery, Guards Private Plyaka Pavel Dmitrievich, on 14 January 1945, during the repulse of an enemy counterattack from the region of Noah-Trackenen (East Prussia), when the artillery shelling damaged the telephone line with the military orders of artillery and infantry, ignoring the danger to life, under heavy enemy fire, he corrected 19 telephone line breaks, ensuring uninterrupted artillery fire to the counterattacking enemy.
Due to the uninterrupted operation of the telephone line, artillery fire from batteries, which repelling the enemy’s counterattack, destroyed up to 20 German counter-attacking soldiers, suppressed artillery fire from anti-tank guns and destroyed two bunkers. The enemy’s counterattack was successfully repelled.
The full translation of the research can be read below:
More information on Private Plyaka can be found here
All numbered awards are present so this can be considered a complete grouping
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