Russia – Soviet: A fine breakthrough of the German Vistula defensives Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Guards Private Konstantin Vasilievich Kovalevksy, a Rifleman in the Guards 215th Rifle Regiment for being one of the first to rush into the enemy trenches and killing 10 Hitlerites in hand-to-hand combat.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, numbered 642815
Condition: Good very fine
Konstantin Vasilievich Kovalevsky was born in the village of Kovshary, Yuratishki district, Molodechno region in 1923. A Belarussian, Kovalevsky attained an Elementary Education before serving in the Red Army between September 1944 and April 1945 with the 215th Guards Rifle Regiment, 77th Guards Rifle Division.
It is likely given his date of birth and lack of prior service that Kovalevsky was one of many young men who were swept up in the Red Army’s advance across Eastern Europe and pressed into service to replace the casualties they were suffering.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class was issued by Order of 47th Guards Rifle Division on 6th February 1945 on the back of the following recommendation:
‘Comrade Kovalevsky distinguished himself by his military skills and courage in the engagement against the German invaders for the enemy defence breakthrough on the Western Vistula bank on 14th January 1945.
Being one of the first to rush into the enemy trenches, he eliminated not less than 10 Hitlerites in hand to hand combat.
Comrade Kovalevsky was wounded in this engagement.
Comrade Kovalevsky deserves state award – order ‘Glory III Class’
After the war Kovalevsky was noted as a peasant working at the ‘Komsomolets’ Kolkhoz whilst still living in his home village of Kovshary.
