Description
Soviet Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class #94675
Awarded to SMERSH Guards Captain Mikhail Ivanovich Greshishchev (Михаил Иванович Грешищев)
For preventing 2 cases of treason, exposing a spy, preventing over 13 cases of desertion and uncovering evidence of 8 mutilations. He also captured 4 German soldiers and knocked out a German tank
Made of solid silver, gold and enamels. The order weighs 24.7 gram without its screwplate and measures 44.17 mm in width and 46.44 mm in height. The minimum known serial number for this variation is 76677 and the maximum is 99999.
This original order of the Patriotic War 2nd class is in worn condition although most details are still present. The enamel is on the 5 and 7 o’clock rays of the red star is gone and the other tree arms have small contact marks only. The top of the gold sickle is bent toward the centre but is still firmly attached. It comes with its original and well fitted silver screwplate and its screw has been shortened by a few millimeters. Greshishchev engraved his family name and initials on the reverse of the order.
This Order of the Patriotic War is in a far from perfect condition but it shows lots of character and comes with absolutely amazing research. An absolute must have for the historical research collector!
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
“”Working as security officer of the DEPARTMENT OF COUNTERINTELLIGENCE, COMMISSARIAT OF DEFENSE (NKO) “SMERSH”, 56th Guards SSD, GRESHISCHEV showed maximum persistence and perseverance in efforts to detain enemy agents. During his work at the front of the Patriotic War, comrade GRESHISCHEV prevented two cases of treason and exposed a spy working in favour of the Germans.
Also in the process of investigative work, he featured three arrests that deserve operational interest. He prevented more than 13 cases of desertion and uncovered evidence of 8 mutilations. In carrying out his immediate counterintelligence objectives, GRESHISCHEV showed personal bravery and courage during the darkest days of military operations against the German occupiers.
In the battles for the city of Spas-Deminskaya and the city of White within a breakthrough of the enemy, he, together with his partner, captured 4 German officers and soldiers while being in the combat formations of the battalion. When a machine-gun crew was put out of action, GRESHISCHEV personally lay down with the machine gun and repelled two enemy attacks. At the time of the appearance of enemy tanks, GRESHISCHEV took an anti-tank rifle and opened fire on the tanks, with the result that a German tank was knocked out.
During the whole period, the security officer was in the combat formations and served the infantry battalion, participating in Spas-Deminskaya, when he was seriously wounded in the chest, head and left side. According to cure, he rejected his recommended holiday and came back to the front of the Patriotic War instead.”
More info on Greshishchev can be found here
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