Russia – Soviet: A machine-gunners Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Guards Private Mikhail Efimovich Zaichuk, 2nd Motorised Rifle Battaloin, 21st Guards ‘Red Banner’ ‘Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky’ Mechanised Brigade for his destruction of 18 soldiers with his machine gun during a German counterattack supported by tanks on 17th July 1944 near the village of Vygorki. He would serve until the end of the war later taking part in the Liberation of Prague and being awarded a Medal for Bravery,
Order of Glory 3rd Class, 2nd type, the reverse numbered 686932.
Condition: Good Very Fine
Mikhail Efimovich Zaichuk was born in the village of Lyudovka, Zhmerinsky District, Vinnitskaya District in 1914. A Ukrainian national he attained an elementary education and joined the Red Army in March 1944 most likely picked up and conscripted during the Red Army’s advance across Ukraine during this period.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class would be Zaichuk’s first award, issued to him by decree of the 8th Guards Mechanised Corps on 10th August 1944 whilst he was serving as a Guards Private and Machine Gunner, 2nd Motorised Rifle Battalion, 21st Guards Red Banner, Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Mechanised Brigade. The citation for the award reads:
‘During the period of battles on the 1st Ukrainian Front on 17th July 1944 for the village of Vygorki (in an unknown oblast), Comrade Zaichuk, Mikhail Efimovich displayed courage and bravery. At the moment when the Germans went on the counterattack for the third time, supported by a large quantity of tanks, attempting to capture a village, Comrade Zaichuk, at his machine gun, destroyed 18 soldiers. He is fully deserving of a government award.’
Initially a recommendation for the Medal for Bravery this was upgraded to an Order of Glory 3rd Class.
Zaichuk would later also receive a Medal for Bravery by decree of the 828th Rifle Regiment on 28th May 1945 as well as the Medal for Victory over Germany and a Medal for the Liberation of Prague.
On 28th October 1952 he was working as a wagon driver at the ‘Novaya Zhizn’ Kolkhoz, Lyudovka, Zhmerinsky District, Vinnitskaya Oblast and was living in the same village.
