Description
Order of the Red Star #2264877 with booklet and military passport
Awarded to Guard Junior Lieutenant Petr Afanasyevich Getman (Петр Афанасьевич Гетман)
For navigating his SU-76 skillfully through heavily wooded and swampy terrain, ensuring a flawless advance without accidents or breakdowns. Under heavy fire, he led his crew in a circular defense, destroyed an enemy ambush, cleared a mine-free path, and successfully completed his mission
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 47.95 mm in width, 46.41 mm in height and weighs 30.6 gram without its screwplate. The mint mark is located above, and the serial number underneath the screw post.
In nice overall condition with most details visible but several deep dents on the lower part of the center medallion. The enamels are well preserved without repairs and show a small superficial chip above the hammer and sickle only, barely visible with the naked eye. Its screwplate is time period to the order and the screw has not been shortened.
The order comes with its award booklet which is in good vintage condition with all pages present. This Order of the Red Star is mentioned together with a Medal for Bravery which is not present in this lot.
This lot also contains Getman’s military passport featuring his picture on the first page.
Brief translation of the citation:
While driving the commander tank during the traverse of a state boundary in difficult conditions through a heavily wooded, swampy area, in the course of battle, Guard Junior Lieutenant Getman P. A. completed the movements without a single accident or breakdown. In the attack against a ambush group, when the division was placed in the spot of a railroad side-track ambush, Junior Lieutenant Getman quickly organized the crew members for a circle defense and on 08/21/45 demolished the enemy forces with steady fire. He marched in difficult conditions, leading his tank under a heavy fire. He cleared a path for himself free of landmines without hampering the advancement of the formation which was moving under a heavy fire attack. He carried his battle task diligently and in a timely manner and arrived at the designated place at the predetermined time. Along the way, he conducted reconnaissance and demonstrated courage, bravery, and resourcefulness.
He merits the government award with the Order “Red Star”.
Commander of the 498th Separate Self-Propelled Artillery Division
Guard Major Radinsky
23/08/45
The full translation of the citation can be read here and more information on Lt. Getman can be found here
We found a Biography of Lt. Getman online written by his niece Alexandra Nikolaevna Porshneva (Александра Николаевна Поршнева):
Date of birth: 1923
Place of birth: Arkhangelsk region, Plesetsk district, village Malye Izby
Petr Afanasyevich Getman. Year of birth 1923.
On April 26, 1942, he was called up by the Red Army by the Plesetsk RVC of the Arkhangelsk Region, Plesetsk District, to serve in the Red Army with the rank of senior sergeant in the 38th Guards Tank Regiment on a T-34 tank as a radio operator and gunner.
Fought: 1) Volkhov Front from June 1942 to March 1943;
2) 3rd Ukrainian Front from September 1943 to December 1943;
3) 4th Ukrainian Front from December 1943 to February 1944.
10/17/1943, in battles with the enemy in the area of the Bezymyanny farmstead – field camp, with the rank of radio operator-gunner of the T-34 tank, commander of the 1st platoon, he ensured the execution of a combat order – he destroyed 20 Nazis from his machine gun.
On October 27, 1943, the 38th Guards Tank Regiment was awarded the Medal “For Courage” on behalf of the President of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for exemplary performance of combat missions of the command on the front in the fight against the German invaders and for the “valor and courage” displayed in doing so. Signature: Commander of the 38th Guards Tank Regiment, Guards Major Konstantinov Chief of Staff of the 38th Guards Tank Regiment – Spirin.
Then, in the rank of guard junior lieutenant, being the commander of the self-propelled gun – SU-76 of the 498th separate self-propelled artillery division (OSAD), working on this machine with the crossing of the State border in difficult conditions: mountainous-wooded-swampy terrain in a combat situation, he completed a march without a single breakdown or accident.
During a battle during an attack by a sabotage group while the division was in the ambush patrol, (junior lieutenant) organized a circular defense with members of his crew and on the night of 21.08.1945 fired to destroy the enemy.
While marching in difficult conditions, driving a vehicle in a guide column under fire, clearing his path of enemy mines, without delaying the column’s advance, he completed the assigned task in a timely manner and arrived at the designated area at the appointed time – thereby reconnoitering the route: at the same time, he showed himself to be brave, decisive and resourceful.
For such a feat, by order of August 29, 1945, the 159th Vitebsk Red Banner Order of Suvorov Rifle Division, on behalf of the President of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for exemplary fulfillment of command assignments on the front in the fight against the Japanese imperialists and the valor and courage demonstrated in doing so, was awarded the “Order of the Red Star.” Signature: Commander of the 159th Vitebsk Red Banner Order of Suvorov Rifle Division, Major General Kalinin.
Combat path: 1) 38th Guards Tank Regiment;
2) 159th Rifle Vitebsk Red Banner Order of Suvorov Division
Porshneva Alexandra Nikolaevna: “I believe that my uncle is a “Hero”, because he was a very young man at that time, but he was brave, decisive, resourceful in the fight against the enemy, he protected us all from enemies, he is a true defender of our Motherland!”
(Source here)
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