Russia – Soviet: A ‘Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive’ Order of the Red Banner to Guards Captain Ivan Ivanovich Doroshenko, the Party Organiser of the 522nd Rifle Regiment, 107th Rifle ‘Kamenets’ Division for his work during an attack near the village of Olliv on 14th July 1944, where he was found amongst the rifle troops giving specific directions during the battle, he was later wounded, one of at least nine wounds received during the war, during the capture of the village of Knyazhe, but remained in the frontline, only after two further wounds did he depart for medical attention.
Order of the Red Banner, type 3, variation 1, numbered 157479
Condition: Good very fine
Together with an enamel Red Star cap badge, one of the lugs broken from the reverse and wartime ‘Guards’ badge with replacement paint instead of enamel work and replacement screw plate to reverse.
Guards Major Ivan Ivanovich Doroshenko was born in the village of Chervony, Irkliiv District, Poltava Region, Ukraine. Having attained a secondary education, he joined the Red Army in 1939 and became a member of the Communist Party in 1941.
Doroshenko was a combat hardened veteran who was wounded on at least nine occasions during the Great Patriotic War, the dates listed as follows: 08-1941, 10-1941, 12-1941, 05-1942, 09-1942, 08-1943, 12-1943, 02-1944, 22-07-1944.
The first award Doroshenko was to be awarded was an Order of the Red Star by order of 69th Army on 19th August 1943; the second an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class on 7th February 1944 by Order of the 38th Army
This Order of the Red Banner was his third award, issued to him by Order of 60th Army on 12th October 1944, whilst a Guards Captain and Party organiser of the 522nd Rifle Regiment, 107th Rifle ‘Kamenets’ Division, as a result of the following recommendation:
‘During his work as a party organiser of the regiment, comrade Doroshenko proved himself as a good party leader and a Communist mentor. He efficiently governed the regiment party organisation and led the Communists towards achieving the combat objectives given by the Command. Provided active support to the Komsomol organisations.
Prior to the combat engagements, the Communists fully understood their combat objectives and propagated this knowledge among the personnel.
In the combat operation for enemy defence breakthrough near the village Oliiv on 14th July 1944, the Communists were leading the way and assured achievement of the combat objectives. Comrade Doroshenko himself was among the rifle troops and was giving proper and specific directions to the Communists in battle. He participated in defence against enemy counterattacks. Advancing together with a rifle battalion, he was contused in the engagement for the village Knyazhe, but remained in line. Only after sustaining two more wounds, he departed to the medical company location.
For courage, bravery and skilful leadership of the party organisation, he deserves a state award – Order of the Red Banner.
Signed by the Commander of the 522nd Rifle Regiment, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Gunyage
Doroshenko would later receive a second Order of the Red Banner by Order of 60th Army on 29th January 1945, a Medal for Combat Merits for 10 years long service in November 1950, an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service in November 1954, and a Medal for 30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy. Doroshenko’s wartime service saw him awarded a Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus and a Medal for Victory over Germany.
Although it is hard to place his wounds exactly, the dates would most likely link with the summer 1941 battles to the west of Kiev, the initial days of Operation Typhoon (including the Bryansk-Vyazma encirclements), the early stages of the Red Army’s winter 1941-42 counteroffensives, the Second battle of Kharkov in May 1942, the battles in the foothills of the Caucasus during the autumn months of 1942, the fighting on the Kuban Peninsula in the summer of 1943, the 1943-44 winter offensives in the Ukraine, and the summer offensives of 1944 across Belarus and towards the Vistula river in Poland.
Doroshenko’s register card dated 12th September 1945, shows him as a former Party organiser of the 522nd Rifle Regiment, 107th Rifle Division, 60th Army, 1st Ukrainian Front, and at that time being hospitalised in the Main Military Hospital of the Red Army. He was noted as still a resident of the village of Chervony, Irkliiv District, Poltava Region, Ukraine.