Russia - Soviet: A fine ex-Partisan Squad Commander’s Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class awarded to Lieutenant Petr Efimovich Eliseev, the Commander of the 7th Rifle Company, 194th Rifle ‘Tashkent’ Red Banner Regiment, 162nd Rifle Middle-Asia ‘Novgorod-Seversky’ Red Banner Division, for his part in the capture of an unnamed hill near the town of Neubrandenberg to the north of Berlin during the Berlin Offensive, he had earlier been a Partisan Squad Commander in the famous ‘Zheleznyak’ Partisan Brigade that caused much damage to the German occupiers in the town of Begoml and the wider vicinity during the occupation of Belarussia. Eliseev had been twice decorated for his work as a Partisan.
Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, reverse numbered 190585
Condition: Good Very Fine
Petr Efimovich Eliseev was born on 9th March 1922 in the town of Orsha, Belarus, and having attained a secondary education joined the Red Army in August 1941. It would appear at some point early in the war that Eliseev was either surrounded and left behind enemy lines or alternatively parachuted behind the lines to serve as part of the Partisan movement in Belarus.
A well decorated individual he was decorated on a number of occasions, initially Eliseev was recommended for an Order of the Red Star, but it appears this was never given to him, and does not feature on his award register card, the recommendation was dated 2nd January 1943 however, and was for his work as a Lieutenant and Platoon Commander of the ‘Zheleznyak’ Brigade, it states the following:
‘Platoon Commander Eliseev P.E. has been in the partisan unit, since September 1942. Lt. Eliseev’s platoon was conducting blockades of the garrisons guarding the bridges Kalnitsky (over the river Berezina on the main road Lepel-Begoml) and Buzyansky (over the river Buzyanka) on the aforementioned main road.
Bold, energetic, and daring actions of the group led by Lt. Eliseev forced the bridge garrisons to abandon the guarded locations, which allowed the partisans to destroy both bridges.
Lt. Eliseev commanded his platoon during the defeat of the German garrison in the town Begoml.
He exhibited courage, initiative, and resourcefulness during the street battles and led his men by personal example.
Lt. Eliseev is true patriot and an active participant in the struggle for the liberation of the Motherland.’
Continuing to serve with the Partisans, he would be awarded a Medal for a Partisan of the Patriotic War 1st Class by decree of the Belarussian HQ of the Partisan movement on 10th April 1944 (mistakenly 1943 on the record sheet)., at this time he was a Senior Lieutenant and Partisan Squad Commander of the ‘Zheleznyak’ Brigade, and was decorated as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Eliseev is the commander of the 6th Partisan Squad. He distinguished himself in organisation of the partisan movement in the Begoml region. He also distinguished himself in the combat operations against the enemy garrisons in Begoml and Dolginovo, and during the defence period 1943-1944 fighting off the punitive expeditions.
He was promoted to the squad commander positions from his previous positions of a platoon commander. He personally participated in blowing up 2 vehicles, 160 rails, and one bridge over the main road, eliminated 7 German soldiers and took 2 prisoner. He deserves to be recommended for a state award ‘Medal for Partisan of the Patriotic War 1st Class.’
Eventually the Red Army’s front line would overrun the German positions in Belarus and many of the partisans were swept up along the way to become regular Red Army soldiers, Eliseev was one such man, and by April 1945 served as a Lieutenant, and commander of the 7th Rifle Company, 194th Rifle ‘Tashkent’ Red Banner Regiment, 152 Rifle Middle-Asia ‘Novgorod-Seversky’ Red Banner Division, he was awarded this Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class as a result of the following recommendation whilst serving with the unit:
‘In the engagement for an unnamed hill on 29th April 1945 near the town Neubrandenburg, Sr. Lt. Eliseev masterfully deployed his company in the field under the enemy fire, quickly force crossed the river ford at the foot of the hill. Overcoming ferocious German resistance, he and his company rushed the hill and engaged the enemy in the trench battle employing hand-grenades. Being among his fighting men, comrade Eliseev eliminated 2 Hitlerites and with his courage and bravery inspired his men. After being wounded, he didn’t abandon the battlefield but continued the mission. In the following German counterattack, he was wounded for the second time, but understanding the importance of the moment, he remined in line until after the enemy was completely defeated and routed. He deserves the Order of the Patriotic War.’
This medal was issued to him by decree of 70th Army on 17th May 1945, 8 days after the end of the war in Europe. However in 1948 he would be awarded an Order of the Red Banner by decree of the Supreme Soviet as a reward for his partisan service during the war, the citation for this award notes that Eliseev served against the White Finns in Viborg in 1940, and then in Partisan units from August 1942, his deeds described as follows:
‘He distinguished himself in organisation of the partisan squad and in the assault at the enemy garrisons of Begoml, Dokshitsy, Parfianovo, Dolginovo. He acts boldly and decisively on the battlefield. He personally eliminated 8 enemy troops.
In the dire circumstances of defending against the enemy punitive expeditions during May-June 1944, he led his squad to the enemy rear and with active disruptions on the roads assisted the Red Army main forces in forced crossing of the Berezina river.
During June 1944, his squad eliminated: 12 vehicles with troops on the main roads, 210 enemy troops.
While chasing the enemy groups trying to escape in western direction from the Vitebsk region, his squad eliminated 86 enemy soldiers and 6 officers, and 135 took prisoner.
After the war he served as the Chief of Staff of the 630th Separate Construction Battalion, and his home address was given as Military Unit No.41433, Bykhov town, Mogilev region.
