Russia – Soviet: A Guards Airborne advance into Austria Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Guards Red Army Soldier, later Efreitor Ivan Vasilevich Gorbachev, a Machine-Gunner in to the 1st Rifle Company, 20th Guards Airborne Regiment, 6th Guards ‘Kremenchug-Znamenka’ Red Banner, Order of Suvorov 2nd Class Airborne Division for his bravery during the battles in the areas of the oilfields in Austria where he defended against enemy infantry supported by tanks, his foxhole being run over three times, but he did not waver and took ‘not one step back.’!
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, the reverse numbered 500661
Condition: Good Very Fine
Ivan Vasilevich Gorbachev was born in the village of Borisovka, Kursk oblast in 1909. A Ukrainian national, he attained an elementary education before joining the Red Army in February 1943, perhaps in the post Stalingrad offensives that took place.
Gorbachev would be the recipient of two awards during the war, the first the Medal for Combat Merits by decree of the 20th Guards Airborne Regiment on 3rd October 1944. The second would be this Order of Glory 3rd Class issued to him by decree of the 6th Guards Airborne Division on 30th May 1945.
Awarded to him whilst serving as a Guards Red Army Soldier and Machine-Gunner, 1st Rifle Company, 20th Guards Airborne Regiment, 6th Guards ‘Kremenchug-Znamenka’ Red Banner, Order of Suvorov 2nd Class Airborne Division the recommendation reads:
‘In offensive battles, as the gun-layer of a light machine gunner, he displayed boldness and bravery on numerous occasions. While forcing the river Vah, when the platoon commander was knocked out of action, Red Army Soldier Gorbachev, displaying initiative, took command and led the platoon into battle. Situated ahead of the company and inspiring the others forward by his example, he ensured the fulfilment of the platoon’s assignment mission. In battles in the areas of the oilfields (Austria), while repelling counterattacks by enemy infantry supported by tanks, he fired on the advancing Germans with his machine gun, and in spite of enemy tanks, thrice driving over his foxhole, he did not waver and took not one step back.
Then our units went on the attack, and Guards Red Army Soldier Gorbachev, again situated in the lead, inspired the others to follow him. The enemy was dislodged and thrown back.’
This action took part in the final stages of the fighting on the Eastern Front where the Red Army would advance through the remainder of Hungary and on into Austria before finally destroying the last large concentration of German troops in Czechoslovakia.
In July 1947, Gorbachev would be living on Mandrovskaya Street, Kharkov and working as a Cooper in the Kaganovichsky Food Wholesaler in the city.
