Russia – Soviet: A fine pursuit to the Oder Order of the Patriotic Class 2nd Class to Senior Lieutenant A.A. Lebedev, the Assistant to the Chief of Signals for Radios, 901st ‘Pechenga’ Order of Alexander Nevsky Mountain Corps Artillery Regiment for his part in maintaining communications under enemy artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire on numerous occasions during the fighting in East Pomerania and later in the pursuit to the Oder River.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, flatback reverse, numbered 683419
Condition: Extremely fine
Andrei Aleksandrovich Lebedev was born in Tserkovnichesky Selsovet, Plesetsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast during 1916, he served in the Red Army from June 1940, later becoming a member of the Communist Party in June 1944.
Lebedev was awarded three decorations for gallantry during the Patriotic War, the first of which a Medal for Bravery was issued to him by Order of the 126th Red Banner Light Mountain Rifle Corps, the second was an Order of the Red Star issued by Order of the 31st Independent Ski Brigade on 24th November 1944. Lebedev’s final award was this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class issued to him by decree of the 38th Army.
Lebedev was to receive the medal on 28th August 1945 whilst serving as an Assistant to the Chief of the Signals for Radios, 901st ‘Pechenga’ Order of Alexander Nevsky Mountain Corps Artillery Regiment on the back of the following recommendation:
‘In offensive battles to breach the enemy defenses in the area of Sorau and further pursuit to the river Oder, from 24.03.1945, Comrade Lebedev, working in the position of Assistant to the Chief of Signals for radios, was situated in the Regiment’s combat lines the entire time, numerous times under enemy artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, maintained radio communications with the regiment’s sub-units. On 24.03, during our preparatory artillery bombardment, telephone communication between the regimental commander, were disrupted by an enemy artillery strike. Restoring telephone communications required no fewer than 20 minutes. Under enemy artillery and mortar fire, Comrade Lebedev, scorning the danger, personally organised radio signals. By this, he ensured uninterrupted direction of the sub-units’ fire. On 27.03.1945 in battles for the city of Loslau, telephone communications between the regimental commander and the commander of the 3rd Battalion were cut by enemy artillery. Comrade Lebedev, under enemy artillery and mortar fire, quickly organised radio communications. By this, he enabled direction of the 3rd battalion’s fire. From 08.04.1945 to 13.04.1945, maintaining telephone communications with the 1st and 2nd battalions, which were situated on the west bank of the Oder, was impossible. Under enemy artillery and machine gun fire, Comrade Lebedev crossed to the west bank of the Oder and personally organised radio communications between the battalion commanders and the regimental commander. For skilfully providing radio communications during the entire period of offensive battles, for personal bravery and courage displayed in battle, Comrade Lebedev deserves the government award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
Lebedev was also to receive the Medal for the Defence of the Soviet Polar Regions and the Medal for the Victory over Germany, he would later also receive the Medal for Combat Merits for 10 years long service and an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service.
After the war he was serving as a Regimental Chief of Signals, 901st Mountain Artillery Regiment, whilst living at Tserkovnichesky selsovet, Plesetsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast
