Russia – Soviet: A fine Vistula Bridgehead Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Guards Senior Sergeant Pavel Vasilevich Koltsov, Reconnaissance Squad Leader, 9th Battery, 1st Guards ‘Kiev’ Artillery Brigade, 1st Guards ‘Glukhov’ Red Banner, Order of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Division of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command for correcting his battery’s fire resulting in the destruction of a Tiger Tank, uncovering enemy artillery positions, and for continuing to observe having been concussed and covered with earth by an enemy shell.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 192338
Condition: Good Very Fine
Pavel Vasilevich Koltsov was born in the village of Poddorye, Poddorsky District, Novgorod Oblast in 1904. A Russian national, he attained a Middle School education before serving in the Red Army from 13th July 1941 initially with the Southwestern Front, being lightly wounded on 1st September 1941, most likely in the fighting around Kiev. He would subsequently serve on the Stalingrad Front , and then the Central Front from 25th March 1943, the Voronezh Front from 5th October 1943 and finally on the 1st Ukrainian Front from 2nd November 1943, suffering a severe wound on 16th October 1943 and a light wound on the 26th August 1944 with the 1st Ukrainian Front.
Koltsov was in receipt of an Order of the Red Star by decree of 26th September 1943, A Medal for Bravery by decree of the 1st Guards ‘Kiev’ Artillery Brigade on 14th July 1943 and this Order of Glory 3rd Class by decree of the 1st Artillery Brigade.
At the time of this award of the Order of Glory 3rd Class, Koltsov was serving as a Guards Senior Sergeant and Reconnaissance Squad Leader, 9th Battery, 1st Guards ‘Kiev’ Artillery Brigade, 1st Guards ‘Glukhov’ Red Banner, Order of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Division of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command.:
‘On 17.08.1944 in the area of Lopat, Guards Senior Sergeant Koltsov, having advanced with three scouts to the forward lines of the infantry, reported the disposition of the enemy’s firing positions to the battery commander with the aid of a range deflection fan. After a long and powerful artillery bombardment, the enemy went on the offensive. Their tanks approached our infantry’s positions. Comrade Koltsov, correcting the battery’s fire on the enemy tanks, knocked out one ‘Tiger’. The enemy pushed back our infantry, but Comrade Koltsov did not leave the front line. Under heavy fire from machine guns and mortars, he continued to correct the battery’s fire, and withdrew only with the onset of night and on orders from the battery commander.
On 19.8.1944, Comrade Koltsov, observing the enemy, spotted a battery of 6 barrelled mortars in the area of Stodon.
On 24.8.1944, in the area of Studzianki, having advanced beyond the forward line of our infantry, he spotted 4 strongpoints, which were obstructing the advance of our infantry.
On 26.8.1944 in the area of Slaboshevichi, the enemy opened intense artillery and mortar fire on our forward line. Their anti-aircraft batteries were firing at our ‘Il’s’. Sr. Sergeant Koltsov was situated at an observation post and two shells fell on the dugout and observation sport. Scout Savin was killed, and Comrade Koltsov was concussed and covered with earth. Having worked his way out with the help of signalmen, he continued to observe.
Deserves the government award the Order of Glory 3rd Class.’
Surviving the war Koltsov would later receive the Medal for the Victory over Germany and would later work as a building manager at 19, Kirosnaya Street, Leningrad.
