Russia – Soviet: A Fine Squad Commander’s Order of the Red Banner to Master Sergeant Leonid Andreevich Bychkov, of a submachine-gun platoon of the 7thSeparate Motorised Reconnaissance Company, Intelligence Section of the HQ of 1stBaltic Company, he had seen service throughout the Great Patriotic War at Smolensk, Moscow, Kursk, the Dnieper, Operation Bagration, Warsaw, Berlin and Prague being wounded at least 5 times, 3 of those severely, and being the recipient of at least two wartime awards.
Order of the Red Banner, type 3, variation 1, numbered 174739
Condition: Good very fine
Leonid Andreevich Bychkov was born in the village Fedorovka in Boshe-Ukskij district in the Omsk Region in 1918, he had served in the Red Army since August 1939 becoming a member of the Communist Party in October 1942.
Bychkov served on the Western Front from 20th October 1941 during the German advance on Moscow, when the Red Army desperately threw troops into the battle to hold up the Panzers thrusting towards the city. It is likely he was a part of the one of the units moved from Siberia and the Far East upon receipt of the knowledge that the Japanese did not plan to attack in that region.
Bychkov was subsequently wounded three times in the winter counterattacks of 1941-42, with a severe wound on 12th December 1941, another severe wound on 3rd February 1942 and a light wound on 18th March 1942, he had clearly seen much action in these desperate attacks to clear the Germans from the gates of Moscow, for his actions in the fighting over the course of the preceding few months, he was to be awarded the Medal for the Defence of Moscow.
By 8th June 1942, Bychkov had transferred to the Kalinin Front and was involved in fighting around the Rzhev salient and in the Velikiye Luki area. It was whilst fighting here on 23rd July 1942 that he was to receive his third severe wound, and having recovered he was again wounded lightly in the fighting around Velikiye Luki on 20th February 1943.
In May 1943, Bychkov transferred to the 7th Separate Reconnaissance Company where he served throughout the summer and on to the end of the war.
As head of the 7th Separate Motorised Reconnaissance Company, Intelligence Section of the HQ of the 1st Baltic Front, he was to received his first medal ‘For Combat Merits’ on 6th January 1944, followed later in the year by an Order of the Red Star by Order of the 1st Baltic Front on 9th August 1944, this at the time this front was looking to trap and destroy Army Group North. Part of the Army Group escaped, only to then be trapped in the Kurland pocket until the end of the war.
Bychkov’s final award was the Order of the Red Banner which he was awarded on 17th May 1945 by Order of the 1st Baltic Front, the citation being as follows:
‘Comrade Bychkov has been serving in the field forces since the first day of the Patriotic War. In this period, he sustained 3 severe and 2 light wounds.
He has been part of the 7 Separate motorised reconnaissance company since its first day and occupied the positions of the platoon commander and company Sergeant Major. He personally participated in 11 reconnaissance missions, which resulted in 9 captured prisoners.
Comrade Bychkov, together with the motorised group, infiltrated behind the enemy line. He has also been the commander of the honour guards during the fronts exhibition.
Comrade Bychkov is devoted to the part of Lenin-Stalin and the Socialist motherland. Morally stable, ideologically strong, politically and tactically educated.
Conclusion: He is worthy of a state award – order ‘Patriotic War II Class’
Signed by the Commander of 7 separate motorised reconnaissance company intelligence section of the HQ of 1st Baltic Front Major Lavrenyuk.
After the war he was a Squad Leader of the Directorate of the Correctional Labour Facilities of the and was living at Apartment 43, 18 Maryanovskaya Street in the city of Omsk.
