Russia – Soviet: A Manchurian offensive Order of the Red Star awarded to Red Army Soldier M.F. Donets, a Driver with the 164th Independent Sapper Battalion, 52nd ‘Shumen-Vienna’ Rifle Division for his part in successfully delivering supplies during the difficult conditions of the advance through the Mongolian Desert and into Manchuria.
Russia – Soviet: Order of the Red Star, type 6, with straight 9mm mintmark made by MMD in 1945-46, reverse numbered 2537251
Condition: replacement backplate, Good Very Fine
Makar Fomich Donets was born in the village of Krinichevatka, Ustinovsky District, Kirovograd Oblast during 1915, a Ukrainian national he attained an elementary level of education before seeing service in the Red Army from 1937 onwards. He did not see service in the Red Army before the region in which he lived became occupied by the Germans. He would subsequently see service with the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts during the fighting against the Germans, being awarded a Medal for the Victory over Germany.
He would subsequently transfer to the Far East seeing service as a Private and Driver in the 164th Independent Order of the Red Star Sapper Battalion, 52nd ‘Shumen-Vienna’ Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Division. He would be awarded this Order of the Red Star by Order of the 52nd ‘Shumen’ Rifle Division on 20th September 1945 as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Private Donets, driver, meticulously readied and repaired his vehicle before the division’s march. In the waterless desert and heat of Mongolia, from 20.07.45 to 12.08.45, Private Donets facilitated the rapid deploying of engineering material and sappers for the construction of wells, and in addition, reconnoitering for drinkable water, delivered it in a timely fashion for the division’s personnel during the march.
In the challenging mountains of the Greater Khingan, in heavy rains and the absence of roads, in sands and in the overflowing waters of the Chinese river, from 12.08.45 to 01.09.45, Private Donets did not have a single vehicle accident. He always delivered the loads he was transporting to the appointed place on time.
For self-sacrificing work on his vehicle over the course of a 1450km and exceptionally challenging journey during which time driver Donets did not have a single breakdown or stoppage, for always delivered the loads he was transporting on time and thus ensuring the excellent fulfilment of the battalion’s missions, driver Donets deserves awarding of the Order of the Red Star.’
The advance into Manchuria by the Red Army along with the dropping of the atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought an end to the Second World War.
By January 1947 Donets was temporarily not working, and living in the settlement of Dolinskaya, Kirovograd Oblast.
