Description
Soviet Medal for Bravery #219548
Awarded to Tanker and Master Sergeant Nikolaj Fedorovich Voropaj (Николай Федорович Воропай)
For attacking pill boxes with grenades while opening the tank lid and eliminated up to 15 Hitlerites with his machine-gun. Despite being wounded, he remained with his tank crew and continued his mission
Made of solid silver. Measures 37.24 mm in diameter, 2.73 mm in thickness and 42.12 mm in height including its eyelet. The eyelet itself is 5.40 mm wide and the medal weighs 26.2 gram without its suspension.
In a nice, above average condition with light to medium overall wear. The details of the higher laying parts like the rivets on the side of the tank and the canons are all visible. A fair amount of the red lacquer filling the lettering is still present and the small silver connection ring is original and has not been cut.
This medal was originally on a rectangular suspension and was replaced with a new one to comply with the new 1943 regulations of wearing Soviet awards.
The family of the awardee chose to keep the booklet but we managed to get a picture of the relevant pages. These can be found in the picture gallery.
Short translation of the research:
He proved himself as a courageous and decisive warrior in the battles against the German invaders near the village Krimskaya during the period 27 January – 02 February 1943. While destroying the enemy pill boxes, he was opening the tank lid and attacked the pill boxes with grenades. During the combat engagements, he eliminated up to 15 Hitlerites by the fire of his machine-gun and grenades. Despite being wounded, he remained with his tank crew and continued his mission.
For exhibited courage and bravery, he deserves state award – medal “FOR BRAVERY”.
Commander of 62 separate tank battalion
Colonel signature /PONOMARENKO/04 February 1943
The full translation of the citation can be found here
More information on Sgt. Voropaj can be found here
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