Russia – Soviet: A ‘for wounds’ Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Junior Lieutenant Nikolai Aresntevich Smirnov, Platoon Commander, 84th Naval Brigade, Northwestern Front who was severely wounded in the forearm of the left arm as a result of which both bones were fractured and he was sent to an evacuation hospital for recuperation.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, the reverse numbered 912863
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Nikolai Arsentevich Smirnov was born in the village of Khnygino, Parfenevsky District, Yaroslavl Oblast in 1916. A Russian national he attained an incomplete middle school education before joining the Red Army in June 1940. He would see service during the Patriotic War between July 1941 and March 1942 with the Northwestern Front and then from July-November 1943 with the 4th Ukrainian Front.
Smirnov is noted as having been awarded an Order of the Red Star with the 1st Guards Army in May 1943, and would later be awarded this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by decree of the 6th November 1947 whilst serving as a Junior Lieutenant and Former Platoon Commander, 84th Naval Brigade, Northwestern Front. The citation for the award reading:
‘Jr. Lieutenant Smirnov, as platoon commander, 84th Naval Brigade, Northwestern Front, on 20 March 1942, was severely wounded in the forearm of the left arm, as a result of which both bones of the forearm were fractured and he was sent to an evacuation hospital for recuperation.
For active participation in the battles with the German invaders and blood spilled for the Motherland. Comrade Smirnov deserves the government award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
Smirnov would also be awarded a Medal for the Victory over Germany and by 3rd October 1955 was employed as a Supply Manager and Shipping Agent in the main shoe store in the city of Vilnius where he was a resident.
