Russia – Soviet: A fine Western Ukraine Order of the Red Star, Liberation of Lvov Order of the Red Star and capture of Potsdam Order of the Red Banner group awarded to Guards Major Pavel Grigorievich Kozakov, Deputy Head of the Political Office of the 49th Mechanised ‘Kamanets-Podolsky’ Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st Class Order Brigade, 6th Guards Mechanised ‘Lvov’ Red Banner Corps, 4th Guards Tank Army who had seen service in the Caucasus with the North Caucasus Front, and with the Bryansk Front around the time of the Battle of Kursk before serving with the 1st Ukrainian Front during the liberation of Western Ukraine, including Lvov in an action that led the destruction lost 22 tanks and 15 armoured personnel carriers during 5 enemy counter attacks. He would finally take part in the Berlin Offensive taking part in the crossing of the Spree River and the capture of the towns of Spreewitz and Potsdam in heavy fighting, before taking part in the final offensive of the war, the liberation of the city of Prague in May 1945.
Order of the Red Banner, reverse numbered 265254
Order of the Red Star, reverse numbered 815465
Order of the Red Star, reverse numbered 815600
Order of the Red Star, reverse numbered 3295575
Medal for Combat Merit, unnumbered post 1947 reverse
Condition: minor enamel damage around the flag pole of the Red Banner as commonly found, otherwise Good Very Fine
ID booklet without photograph, confirming these awards plus that of an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class numbered 170088
Pavel Grigorievich Kozakov was born in 1910, and became a member of the Communist Party in 1941, he was called into the Red Army via the Kiev city military Commissarriat and served on the North Caucasus Front from 5th December 1942 until 20th March 1943. He subsequently served on the Bryansk Front from July-September 1943 before seeing action with the 1st Ukrainian Front from February 1944, he was wounded on 29th March 1944 during the fighting in Ukraine, he would receive his first decoration, the First Order of the Red Star as a result of the following citation:
‘He proved himself as a courageous Political Officer during the battles on the 1st Ukrainian Front in March 1944. In the engagement for the village of Manacin, he participated in the defence against two enemy counter-attacks, while being among the 2nd Battalion.
In the battle for the town of Skalat, he was right among the combat troops and participated in the capture of the town and in the defence of it. Near the town of Skalat, comrade Kozakov was assigned to be in command of a group of 4 tanks and 2 SPGs. This group was covering our main force during their exit from the town. The group destroyed 2 enemy tanks during the defence. Comrade Kozakov was wounded in his leg in this engagement.’
Returning to the front line Kozakov would be serving as a Guards Major, and Deputy Head of the Political Officer of the 49th Mechanised ‘Kamanets-Podolsky’ Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st Class Order Brigade, 6th Guards Mechanised ‘Lvov’ Red Banner Corps, 4th Guards Tank Army when he would be decorated with his second Order of the Red Star as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Comrade Kozakov proved himself as a courageous and brave political officer in the battles on the 1st Ukrainian near the village Ivachuv, town Peremyshlyany, town Bobrka, town Lviv, town Sambor and village Bardo.
Being in the forward combat group (one tank regiment, one motorised infantry battalion, artillery squadron), comrade Kozakov took direct part in the engagements for capturing the towns Peremyshlyany, Bobrka, Stoke and Lviv. In the battle for the town of Lviv, he participated in fighting off 5 enemy counter attacks. In this actions, the enemy lost 22 tanks, 15 armoured personnel carriers, and a lot of equipment was captured.
As the deputy head of the political office, he ensured efficient governance of the political officers during the combat, which assisted in the capture of town Lviv.
Near the village Bardo on 30th August 1944, he participated was in the 1st motorised battalion and participated in the defence against ferocious enemy attacks and later in regaining the lost ground. The enemy suffered severe losses. Up to 400 enemy troops were killed and one SPG destroyed. He was active as the secretary of the political office and arranged the process for the new party members. 150 new party members joined during the latest combat period. He deserves state award ‘Red Banner’
This decoration was eventually downgraded to the Order of the Red Star before being awarded, although it is unclear who by, as all those checking the recommendation bar one (who recommended an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class), recommended the Order of the Red Banner!
Kozakov would be decorated with the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class in March 1945, presumably due to his performance in the Red Army’s winter offensives across Poland, and would still be with his unit, now renamed 35th Guards Mechanised ‘Kamamets-Podolsky’ Bogdan Khmelnitsky and Kutozov Order Brigade in recognition of its excellent prior performance in the war, at the beginning of the Berlin offensive on 16th April 1945. Kozakov’s final combat decoration would be an Order of the Red Banner as a result of the following recommendation:
‘In the battles on the 1st Ukrainian Front from 16th April to 9th May 1945, he participated in the combat operations for forced crossing of the Spree River and in the capture of the towns: Ketzin, Potsdam, Prague and many other settlements. He acted bravery and courageously in these engagements.
During the forced crossing of the Spree river, comrade Kozakov was among the combat formations of the 3rd motorised battalion and participated in the capture of the settlement ‘Spreewitz’. In this action, the battalion inflicted severe losses upon the enemy personnel and material. Comrade Kozakov inspired the troops by his personal conduct.
In the battle for the town Potsdam during 26-27 April, he was among in the 3rd motorised battalion and participated in the forced crossing the canal and in the street fighting. The battalion crushed the opposing force and captured 4 food and military equipment depots.
In the combat engagements for the towns of Stucken and Zauchwitz on 2-3 May, he participated in the actions being among the combat troops.
He was active as the secretary of the Communist Party commission and organised for the most distinguished soldiers to become members and join the party. He deserves state order ‘Red Banner’.
It is evident that Kozakov survived the war as he would receive an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service but little else is known about him after this point.
