Russia – Soviet: A Crossing of the Oder River Order of the Red Star awarded to Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Ivanovich Denshchikov, the Chief of the Food Supply Service of the 67th Antitank Artillery regiment, 38th Independent Antitank Artillery Brigade for providing rations to the troops under heavy enemy shelling. He would go on to take part in the Capture of Berlin and would later receive a Medal for Combat Merit for 10 years long service in the Red Army.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, without screw post plate and with flared edges, numbered 1611772
Condition: Good very fine
Nikolai Ivanovich Denshchikov was born in the village of Kurapovo, Ryazan Oblast in 1919. Having attained a secondary education he joined the Red Army in 1938 before seeing service in the Great Patriotic War as part of the 1st Belarussian Front from September 1944 onwards.
This Order of the Red Star was Denshchikov’s only decoration and was issued to him by Order of the Artillery Commander of the 1st Belarussian Front on 19th April 1945 on the back of the following citation:
‘During the crossing of the Oder River and the subsequent fighting on the western bank Lieutenant of the Quartermaster Service Denshchikov showed exceptional concern for the provision of rations to the regiment.
Under the most arduous conditions, resulting from the absence of crossings over the Oder River, and subjected to heavy enemy shelling and bombardment, he delivered rations to the regiment’s units.
For the perseverance and selflessness he displayed in supplying the regiment with rations, Lieutenant Denshchikov deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
This award was downgraded initially to a Medal for Combat Merit, before being upgraded to a Red Star and issued to Denshchikov. He would subsequently take part in the offensive against Berlin, which began on 16th April 1945, being awarded the Medal for the Capture of Berlin, and would later receive the Medal for Combat Merit in 1949 for 10 years long service.
Immediately after the war he served as the Chief of the Food Supply Service of the 67th Antitank Artillery Regiment, 38th Independent Antitank Artillery Brigade, his registered address was Apartment 36, 34th Krasnoprudny Street in the city of Moscow.
