Description
Medal for Bravery #675574 ‘Duplicate’ with its medal booklet
Awarded to T-34 Senior Sergeant Victor Vasilievich Zaitsev (Виктор Васильевич Зайцев)
For bravery and dedication in the Kalinin region in 1943, serving on a T-34 as machine-gunner, radio operator, and company commander. He maintained vital communications under heavy fire for two days, ensuring effective command of combat assets, and risked his life when reporting on his tank and crew after his tank was hit
Made of solid silver and enamels. The medal for Bravery measures 37.26 mm in diameter and 42.46 mm in height (including the eyelet) and it weighs 27.9 grams without its suspension. Its serial number on its reverse is stamped in a small font style typically associated with duplicate awards.
The medal is in great condition with its details crisp and a medium dark patina to the silver on both sides. The original red enamel is perfectly preserved without repairs and its connection ring has not been cut. The brass suspension is time period to the medal.
Its accompanying medal booklet is in equally nice condition and shows a very neath handwriting. All pages are present and firmly attached to the cover and the booklet is dated 29 April 1985.
Duplicate awards were (seldom) given to awardees who lost their award due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control like combat or natural disasters. Scarce as such!
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
Fighting near the village Lugi (Kalinin region) during 23-25 November, Sergeant ZAITSEV performed duties of a machine-gunner, radio operator, and also as a company commander. He proved himself as a brave and cool NCO.
Being subjected to enemy artillery and mortar fire for 2 days, Sergeant ZAITSEV maintained uninterrupted communication link between the battalion headquarters and the tanks active on the battlefield. As the result of this effort, the battalion commanders had easy control of their combat assets on the battlefield. When his tank was hit, Sergeant ZAITSEV exited his tank. Risking his life under artillery-mortar and automatic fire, he crawled to the headquarters and reported on the conditions of the crew and the tank. For courage and bravery, he deserves state award medal “FOR COMBAT MERITS”. [later upgraded to a Medal for Bravery]
The full translation of the research can be read here
More information on Sgt. Zaitsev can be found here
It should be noted that Zaitsev is not wearing his Medal for Bravery in the photograph found on Pamyat, which is consistent with the image having been taken prior to 1985; i.e., he had not yet received his duplicate award.
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