Russia – Soviet: A Guards Lieutenant’s Carpathian offensive Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, the reverse numbered 756645 awarded to Guards Lieutenant Aleksandr Pavlovich Pakhotin, 1st Rifle Battalion, 230th Guards Rifle Kutuzov Order Regiment, 80th Guards Rifle ‘Uman’ Suvorov Order Division for his actions at Dombovar, Hungary on 1st December 1944 where with the war cry ‘For Motherland!’ ‘For Stalin’ he raised his company into an assault under a hurricane of enemy fire, as a result of this effort, the town was seized, 100 enemy troops were eliminated and many were captured.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, the reverse numbered 756645
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Aleksandr Pavlovich Pakhotin was born in the village of Likhomodovo, Yuriev District, Ivanovo Region in 1922 and would serve in the Red Army from 12th August 1941 and would receive two decorations during the conflict, the first of these being an Order of the Red Star issued to him by decree of the 4th Guards Army on 30th June 1944.
This award of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class was issued to him by decree of the 4th Guards Army on 5th February 1945 whilst serving as a Guards Lieutenant and Party Organiser, 1st Rifle Battalion, 230th Guards Rifle Kutuzov Order Regiment, 80th Guards Rifle 'Uman’ Suvorov Order Division:
‘On 1st December 1944 in the offensive operation for the town Dombovar (Hungary) comrade Pakothin was temporarily assigned to replace the wounded deputy battalion commander. Executing these duties comrade Pakhotin talked to his men 1 hour before the battle and inspired them to accomplish the combat mission. As the result of this effort, the unit had high offensive spirit. During the assault on the town, comrade Pakhotin was present among the rifle combat formation of the 1st Rifle Company. His personal conduct inspired the men for combat feats. At the pivotal moment in the battle, when the assault signal was communicated, the 1st Rifle Company was pinned down by intensive enemy fire and was not able to raise into assault. Risking his life under hurricane of enemy fire, comrade Pakhotin managed to raise his company into assault. With the war cry ‘For Motherland! For Stalin!’ comrade Pakhotin drew his men to follow him into the attack. As the result of this effort, the town was seized, many war prisoners were captured an up to 100 enemy troops were eliminated’
Initially recommended for a Patriotic War 1st Class this was later downgraded to this, a lower 2nd Class award.
After the war he would study forestry and is noted as living in the village of Likhmodovo, where he had been born.
