Description
Soviet screwback Order of the Red Banner #6545
Awarded to paratrooper Victor Ivanovich Chetovsky (Виктор Иванович Четовский)
For eliminating 4 Japanese riflemen by bayonet and grenade and capturing enemy materiel at the Battle of Khalkhin-Gol
Chetovsky was reported MIA in August 1941
An early ‘Mirror Reverse’ variation with a strong counter relief. Made of silver and enamels. It measures 39.75 mm in height, 35.62 mm in width and weighs 23.6 gram without its screwplate. The serial number and mint mark are located at the 6 o’clock position of its reverse.
In a nice but worn condition. The details are mostly present and the higher laying parts like the centre wreath and the torch show medium wear. The white enamel is fully present but the red enamels show some loss on the top banner and the center red star. The reverse is in excellent condition with few traces of wear and full length screw. There have been no repairs and the order comes with its well fitted original screwplate.
Not in the best possible condition but with excellent research results and great eye appeal. Rare as such!
Short excerpt of his accomplishments:
On the night to the 30th of August (1939), several Japanese soldiers snack to the forward line of our defence. By the bayonet and grenade, CHETOVSKY V.I. eliminated 4 Japanese riflemen and captured enemy materiel: heavy machine-gun and 2 mortars.
More info on Chetovsky can be found here
Overview of the combat operation by 212 paratrooper brigade in the Khalkhin-Gol battle:
By the evening of 24 August 1939, the brigade reached the area 4 km northeast of the ruins and moved to the state border at the junction between the 9th motorized armored brigade and the 6th cavalry division. The commander of the 1st Army Group G.K. ZHUKOV in the Battle Order No.0094 dated 24 August 1939 noted: “The 212nd Airborne Brigade is the reserve and is located in the area 2km south of the captured Japanese fortified area.”
In Battle Order No.0098 of 27 August 1939, on the transition to the protection and defence of the state border of the Mongolian Peoples Republic, the 212nd ceased to be a reserve and received a combat mission. Together with the 1st Infantry Regiment, the 175th Artillery Regiment, two tank companies of the 11th Tank Brigade, the 87th Anti-Tank Division and the artillery battalion of the 5th Rifle and Machine Gun Brigade, the 212nd was to defend the section of the state border from the Hailastyn-Gol River to the point of intersection of the horizontal line 750m with the state border 13km north-east of the Bain-Tsagan mountain.
The goal was to prevent the enemy from entering the territory of the Mongolian People’s Republic, and in case of penetration into its borders, to destroy it. In addition, they had to build a defensive line in two lines of full-profile trenches with communication passages to the command posts of battalions and regiments, 3-4 km from the state border, as well as equip two anti-tank areas and put 4-5 outposts on the state border as part of a reinforced company each one.
The 212nd ADB was in the defence of the Mongolian People’s Republic until 01 September 1939, when, according to operational report No.121, it was replaced by the 5th rifle and machine gun brigade.
During the defence of the state border, the 212th brigade suffered losses (105 men). According to the Memorial Book of the Russian Federation, 99 paratroopers were killed during 26-30 August 1939. After the 212th Airborne brigade left the border, its place of deployment was the area of lakes north of the Ahane-Khuduk well, and it again became the reserve of the army group. The brigade was in the Khalkhin-Gol area until 02 October 1939.
More info on the 212th Airborne Brigade here
Also included in the picture gallery are scans of the Khalkhin-Gol operations on 20-21 Aug 1939, a situation map of 24 Aug 1939, the combat path of the 212th Airborne Brigade at Khalkhin-Gol, his MIA report and a picture of paratroopers of 212 airborne brigade
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