Description
Group of a Soviet Awards to a Hero of the Soviet Union
Awarded to commander of a sapper platoon and Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Aleksandrovich Parygin (Иван Александрович Парыгин)
For fighting at the Battle of Kursk
The group consists of the following items:
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class #118549
Made of silver, gold and enamels. Measures 45.33 mm in width, 47.71 mm in height and weighs 25.1 gram without its screwplate. Scarce and much sought after ‘eccentric’ variation produced by the Leningrad Mint (LMD) characterized by a well-defined circle on its reverse with a diameter of apx 22 mm.
The order is in decent condition with enamel damage underneath the hammer and sickle. The white enamel and the red enamel on the 5 rays of the red star is problem free and all retails are still crisp. The screw has not been shortened and the order comes with its original silver screwplate.
Medal for Bravery #370020
Made of solid silver and lacquer. Measures 37.32 mm in width, 42.23 mm in height including its eyelet and weighs 25.6 gram without its suspension.
The medal is in nice condition with light to medium wear on the higher laying parts like the tank. Its details are still visible and crisp but most of the lacquer filling the lettering has been lost.
This medal was originally worn on a rectangular suspension which was replaced with a new -pentagon shaped- one one to comply with the new 1943 regulations of wearing Soviet awards.
Order of the October Revolution #40090
Made of solid silver, gold and enamels. Measures 43.30 mm in width, 33.35 mm in height including its eyelet and weighs 31.2 gram. This early variation with 4 rivets is made out of three parts; the base piece, the pentagon center piece showing the Aurora cruiser and the gold hammer and sickle.
In excellent condition with several small dings and scratches on its obverse and problem free enamels. The details of the higher laying parts like the cruiser are perfectly visible. The serial number and mint mark are also crisp and there are only few dings or scratches on its reverse. The gold hammer and sickle is original to the order and its connection ring has been cut.
Unfortunately the Hero Star and Order of Lenin are missing from his group. One can only speculate where they are (melted down for their gold content?).
Still, a nice opportunity to have awards to a true Hero of the USSR with a Bravery Medal for Kursk and a scarce variation of the Order of the Patriotic War at the same time!
Translation of the citation for the Order of the Patriotic War:
Lt. PARYGIN distinguished himself during 01-08 February 1944 by constructing a wooden bridge capable of 30 ton load over the river Ptich’, 1km south of the village Gorodische, Konkavičy district, Polesie region.
Working continuously under the enemy rifle and machine-gun fire, Lt. PARYGIN led his platoon and drove 34 piles by hands into the ground and laid bridge over 7 spans. He personally explored the river bed and planned for the bridge deployment. Only thanks to his personal leadership qualities, he ensured the construction in time despite the mortal danger.
For excellent leadership during the assigned mission, for personnel courage and bravery, comrade PARYGIN deserves order “PATRIOTIC WAR II CLASS”.
Translation of the citation for the Bravery Medal:
In the difficult defensive battle during 05-08 July 1943, Junior Lieutenant PARYGIN constructed 3 command centres for the division commander. On 07 July 1943, after having walked 25km march, he received the order to construct a command centre near the village Bobrovka, Ponyri district, Kursk region. There was lack of transport vehicles, such that the lumber had to be brought in by hands. Inspired by comrade PARYGIN, the soldiers carried the lumber on their shoulders over the 300-400m stretch, despite the physical exhaustion and giving out all their energy to the cause. By personal example and exercising his authority, comrade PARYGIN ensured the construction was finished 2 hours ahead of the schedule. For excellent execution of the assigned mission, for good and efficient work of the platoon, he deserves state award medal “FOR BRAVERY”.
Comment of our researcher: On 07/05/1943, at the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, the 81RD was defending the front line west of Maloarkhangelsk, on the Olkhovatka direction (norther face of the Kursk bulge). At 11 o’clock on the morning of 07/05/1943, the German troops broke through the defence of the division. By the evening, units of the 81st Infantry Division fought intense battles on the Semyonovka, Buzuluk, Ponyri line, being already behind the advancing German troops, some units of the division were encircled. On 07/06/1943, Soviet troops launched a counterstrike, which unblocked parts of the division and it could regroup. At dawn on 07/07/1943, enemy units again attacked the 81st Infantry Division and broke through its defences. The division was forced to withdraw to the second line of defence, where the enemy was stopped. On the evening of 07/07/1943, the division was withdrawn to the second echelon (that is when PARYGIN had to built the new commander center after marching 25km).
The full translation of the citation can be found here
Short biography on Parygin:
Commander of a sapper platoon of the 196th separate sapper battalion of the 81st Kalinkovichi rifle division of the 61st Army of the Central Front, junior lieutenant.
Born on April 13, 1913 in the village of Mulino, now the Aleksandrovo-Zavodskoy District of the Trans-Baikal Territory, in the family of a political prisoner. Russian. Primary education. He worked as a miner and locksmith in a tin mine.
In the Red Army in 1935-37. He served as the commander of a sapper squad in the 37th Infantry Division in the city of Georgievsk, Stavropol Territory.
He was recruited into the army for the second time in July 1941. He graduated from the courses for junior lieutenants of the Trans-Baikal Front in Chita.
At the front in the Great Patriotic War since February 1942. Was the commander of a sapper platoon, company. He fought on the Bryansk, Central, Belorussian, 1st and 4th Ukrainian fronts. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1942. In battles he was wounded four times.
Participated in:
– in battles in the direction of the city of Bolkhov and defense in the area of the town of Novosil, Oryol region – in 1942 (I.e.Battle Kursk);
– in the liberation of the Ponyri station, in the defensive battle of the Kursk battle in the area of Olkhovatka and Ponyri, in the Oryol operation, in the Chernigov-Pripyat operation, including the crossing of the Dnieper, in the battles in the Belarusian Polesie – in 1943;
– in the Kalinkovichi-Mozyr operation, in the battles west of the city of Lutsk, in the Lvov-Sandomierz operation and the battles on the Sandomierz bridgehead – in 1944;
– in the Jaslo-Gorlice and Moravian-Ostrava operations, including the liberation of the Polish and Slovak Carpathians, the cities of Nowy Sacz, ilina, Přerov – in 1945.
Commander of a sapper platoon of the 196th separate sapper battalion of the 81st rifle division, junior lieutenant Parygin during the crossing of the Dnieper near the village of Glushets (south of the village of Loev, Gomel region), he collected and repaired 40 boats with his platoon, ferrying 2 rifle battalions to the right bank from October 1 to October 4, 1943. At the same time, he personally made 8 flights, ferrying 55 fighters to the right bank.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 15, 1944, for the exemplary fulfillment of combat missions of the command on the front of the struggle against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time, junior lieutenant Parygin Ivan Alexandrovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal “.
After the war, he served as a engineer company commander in the Central Group of Forces (TSGV) and in the Kharkov Military District (HVO).
Since 1948, Lieutenant I.A. Parygin is in reserve. He lived in the city of Chervonopartizansk, Sverdlovsk region, Voroshilovgrad (now – Luhansk) region of the Ukrainian SSR (now – Ukraine). He worked as a military commander in a secondary school, chairman of the city executive committee, a mining engineer at a mine in Chervonopartizansk. He died on November 19, 1977. Buried in the city of Chervonopartizansk.
In the city of Sverdlovsk, Luhansk region, a street is named after the Hero.
He was awarded the Orders of Lenin (01/15/1944), the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree (05/21/1944), medals, including “For Courage” (07/23/1943).
More info on Jr. Lt. Parygin can be found here, here and here
Also in the picture gallery are several pictures of Lt. Parygin and an infosheet for his Medal for Bravery and Order of the Patriotic War
Please contact us with questions
