Russia – Soviet: A good crossing of the Narew River Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Sergeant Ivan Efimovich Ivanov, Rifle Squad Commander, 1345th Rifle Regiment, 399th Order of Suvorov Rifle Division for his courage in the widening of the bridgehead on the right bank of the Narew near the settlement of Sitno, Novy-Semya and Mashuil-Many, Pultusky District when he went around the enemy flank and with a sudden, bold and heavy strike sowed panic in the enemy’s ranks and pursuing the retreating enemy, destroyed up to 25 German soldiers and officers and two machine gun positions.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, the reverse numbered 891095
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Ivan Efimovich Ivanov was born in 1903, a Russian national he saw service in the Patriotic War from May 1942 onwards, and was twice wounded, firstly in September 1943 and then for a second time in June 1944.
This Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class was issued to him by a decree of 6th November 1944 and was for service whilst a Sergeant and Rifle Squad Commander, 1345th Rifle Regiment, 399th Order of Suvorov Rifle Division, the citation reads:
‘In offensive battles on 11-12th October 1944 while widening the bridgehead on the right bank of the Narew near the settlement of Sitno, Novy-Semya and Mashuil-Many, Pultusky District, Warsaw voivodeship, with display of courage and bravery risking his life, skilfully manoeuvring in challenging terrain, with his squad he went around the enemy flank, and with a sudden, bold and heavy strike sowed panic in the enemy’s ranks, and pursuing the retreating enemy, destroyed up to 25 German soldiers and officers and two machine gun positions. Deserves awarding of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
This medal would later be sent to his wife, Ivanova, Evdokiya Pavlovna who was resident of the village of Alekseevo, Nikiforovsky Selsovet, Ustyuzhensky District, Vologda Oblast.
