Russia – Soviet: A fine Breaking of the siege Siege of Leningrad Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Sapper I.E. Yamshchikov, 731st Rifle Regiment, 205th Rifle Division for his pat in clearing enemy minefields and wire entanglements under machine gun fire, even though wounded he made a passage through the concertina wire destroying it using the mines that were entangled upon it, he then covered the attacking scouts using his sub-machine guns and grenades.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, reverse numbered 78643.
Condition: Dark toned, Good very fine
Ivan Egorovich Yamshchikov was born in the village of Ilovat, Ilovatsky District, Stalingrad Oblast during 1912. Serving in the Red Army from 23rd June 1941 to 9th January 1945.
Yamshchikov was first to receive a Medal for the Defence of Leningrad on 22nd December 1942, before he received a Medal for Combat Merits by decree of the 11th Independent Rifle Brigade on 7th February 1943, probably as a result of the same action in which he wounded on 3rd February 1943.
He would later be wounded again on 30th April 1944, during an action in which he performed an act of gallantry whilst serving as a Sapper in the Sapper Platoon, 731st Rifle Regiment, 205th Rifle Division, for which he was to receive this Order of Glory 3rd Class as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Red Army Soldier Yamshchikov has been on the front of the Patriotic War since June 1941. For courage, bravery and valour displayed in battles against the German-Fascist invaders when breaking the siege of Leningrad, Red Army Soldier Yamshchikov was awarded the Medal for Combat Merits by decree No6 of 7.2.1943 of the 11th Independent Rifle Brigade and the Medal for the Defence of Leningrad.
On April 30, 1944, Red Army Soldier Yamshchikov was given the task of making a passage through the enemy’s minefields and wire entanglements. Moving forward on top of hard snow in the twilight, not quite reaching 60-70 meters from the enemy, Red Army Soldier Yamshchikov was discovered and meet with sub-machine gun and machine gun fire. Skilfully using the terrain and pauses between bursts, he quickly moved forward, removing mines along the way. Making a passage in the cheval-de-frise. Red Army Soldier Yamshchikov was wounded by an exploding bullet in the back, but even wounded continued to work. Having made a passage in the cheval-de-frise, a ‘Bruno’ spiral (concertina wire) was stretched out in the sapper’s path. By fragments of an enemy grenade, Red Army Soldier Yamshchikov was wounded a second time. Choosing a convenient moment, overcoming the pain, rising on his knees, he cut the ‘Bruno’ spiral using mines that were entangled in it. After this, laying on the snow, he rejoined the covering group, and with fire from his submachine gun and grenades continued to cover the scouts making a dash through the passage made by Comrade Yamshchikov.
For courage and bravery displayed in battle with the German-fascist invaders, for the honour and independence of our Motherland, Comrade Yamshchikov deserves awarding of the government award the Order of Glory 3rd Class.
Signed by the Commander of the 131st Rifle Regiment, Guards Lieutenant-Colonel Mikhailov.
After the war Mikhailov was working as a security guard in the supply office of the Leningrad City Executive Committee, in the City of Leningrad, whilst living at apartment 38, block13, building 11, Moskovskoe Highway, city of Leningrad.
