Russia – Soviet: A Driver’s Medal for Combat Merits awarded to Private Konstantin Vasilyevich Baranov, a Driver in the 366th Vehicle Platoon of the staff of the 11th Army for disciplined service, he would go on to receive an Order of the Red Star and an Order of the Patriotic War, the latter for service with 53rd Rifle Corps during the East Prussian Offensive of early 1945.
Medal for Combat Merits, numbered 702917.
Condition: some red enamel remaining to the lettering, Very fine
Konstantin Vasilyevich Baranov was born in the village of Galitsy, Ugodsky Raion, Moscow Oblast in 1912. Having attained an elementary education he served in the Red Army between June 1941 and December 1945.
This Medal for Combat Merits was Baranov’s first award, issued to him by order of the 11th Army on 22nd December 1943 whilst he was serving as a Private and Driver in the 366th Vehicle Platoon of the staff of the 11th Army, and it was as a result of the following citation:
‘Comrade K.V. Baranov has been serving at the frontline since the very first days of the Patriotic War. During the period he has been serving as a driver in the vehicle platoon, comrade Baranov showed himself a disciplined and bright soldier, possessing a thorough understanding of technology and driving vehicles. His vehicle is always in good condition and always ready for any task. He has received a number of expressions of gratitude from the command. He is considered an authority among his comrades. He is politically stable and dedicated to the Party of Lenin and Stalin.’
Baranov was also awarded an Order of the Red Star by Order of the 53rd Rifle Corps on 16th October 1944 and subsequently an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class on 16th June 1945 again by Order of the 53rd Rifle Corps, most likely with regards to acts in the East Prussian Offensive where the 48th Army had been in action just prior to the award.
After the war, Baranov worked as a Driver at a Textile Industry MOU, whilst living at apartment 8, 17 Bolshaya Andronyevskaya Street, Moscow.