Russia – Soviet: A good Order of the Red Star and Order of the Red Banner pair awarded to Lieutenant Colonel G.S. Radchenko, Deputy Commander of Signalling Troops of 40 Army, who during the retreat from Voronezh at the start of Operation Blue the German Summer Offensive of 1942 successfully managed to transport his troops and equipment across the River Don, before later commanding the troops in the operations at Olomouc and Prague during the final days of the war. A much decorated Officer he would go on to be awarded another Order of the Red Banner, an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class and an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class as well as an Order of Lenin for 25 years long service.
Pair: Order of the Red Star, type with screw post (PYATKA), reverse numbered 93718; Order of the Red Banner, type 4, reverse numbered 249540
Condition: Good Very Fine
Grigory Samuilovich Radchenko was born in the town of Volchansk, Kharkov Oblast in 1901. A Ukrainian national, and having attained a secondary education joined the Red Army in September 1922.
Seeing service in the Patriotic War from June 1941, he would be serving as the Deputy Commander of signalling troops of 40th Army, responsible for radio communications with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in late June 1942 when his unit was hit by the full might of the opening of the German offensive ‘Operation Blau’, he would later be awarded the Order of the Red Star by the Voronezh Front on 20th January 1943 for his actions in that combat, the recommendation reading as follows:
‘Lt. Colonel Radchenko, as the deputy commander of the army signalling troops responsible for radio communications, has managed to achieve good results in the short time available, find personnel, organise radio station crews, and send them out to deliver radio signalling between the army units.
During the combat period 28.6.1942 – 4.7.1942, his example of courageous and brave conduct helped to maintain calm working environment among his radio crews, mostly staffed by female personnel. The radio crews maintained focus on their combat mission, providing radio communications, which was the only remaining option in those days. All this was achieved under heavy enemy aerial bombardment and direct threat of the enemy armoured forces.
During the retreat of the army troops to the other side of the Don river, despite intensified enemy air strikes under direct threat of the enemy armoured forces, comrade Radchenko managed to transport his troops across the river saving the equipment and personnel. All this, thanks to his analytical mindset, determination and courage.
In his day to day work, he delivers scrupulous work for providing radio communication links to the army units and achieved good result in this matter.
He spent a lot of effort for establishing radio specialist training among the army personnel and procedures for their efficient use. The formed radio station crews are fully capable to maintain functionality of the radio equipment. He made a lot improvement proposals for increased efficiency of radio equipment applications among the active field forces. By applying these proposals in the field, he achieved good results in providing uninterrupted communications to the troops.
For personal bravery and determination, for impeccable service ethics, he deserves state award – Order of the Red Star.’
Radchenko’s next award would be an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by decree of the 1st Ukrainian Front on 3rd December 1943, this for actions during the summer of 1943 which would have included the defensive actions during the Battle of Kursk and the subsequent counterattacks that pushed to the Dnieper. This was followed by an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class by Order of the 38th Army on 15th June 1944 this was for combat actions that took place west of the Dnieper during March and April 1944. In November 1944 he would received his first Order of the Red Banner for 20 years long service.
The Order of the Red Banner present within this pair was awarded to him by decree of the 4th Ukrainian Front on 6th June 1945 whilst he was serving as a Colonel and Deputy Commander of Signalling Troops of 40th Army, responsible for radio communications. The citation for this award reads as follows:
‘He provided and ensured reliable radio communication between the Army level headquarters and the units in a number of combat operation during 1944 and 1945. He developed a good radio network plan and assigned the roles to the radio units and their equipment for the combat operations, which assisted the success of our forces.
In the engagements for the towns Olomouc and Prague, comrade Radchenko (as the signalling troops commander) personally commanded the signalling troops in the Bondarev’s mobile detachment. He prepared the radio station for the mobile operations, which enabled constant availability of the signalling link towards the mobile group. Following his own initiative, he reported the combat situation and the reached objectives to the Army headquarters, which assisted the success of the mobile detachment mission and its entry to the city of Prague.’
Radchenko would remain in the Red Army after the war, receiving an Order of Lenin for 25 years long service in November 1947, at which time he was still serving as Headquarters of teh38th Army Signalling Section, deputy commander of signalling troops of the army, responsible for radio communications.
He was also awarded the Medal for the Liberation of Prague and the Medal for the Victory over Germany.
