Russia – Soviet: A Moscow counteroffensive and Staraya Russa Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Junior Sergeant Yan Yanovich Spulle, a Squad Commander of the 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division, late 122nd Rifle Regiment, 201st Latvian Rifle Division who was wounded during the Moscow counteroffensive on 28th December 1941 and again near Staraya Russa on 28th February 1943 where he was severely wounded resulting in the amputation of his left leg.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, reverse numbered 888926
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Yan Yanovich Spulle was born in Siguldas District, Latvian SSR in 1910. A Latvian national he attained an elementary education and joined the Red Army on 12th August 1941. He would see frontline service with the 122nd Rifle Regiment, 201st Rifle Division, later renamed to the 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division.
He would be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by decree of the Supreme Soviet on 30th May 1951 whilst serving as a Junior Sergeant and Reconnaissance Squad Commander, 122nd Rifle Regiment, 43rd Rifle Division where he was working as a volost Party Organiser… the citation reads:
‘Junior Sergeant Spulle Yan Yanovich joined the Soviet Army on 15.08.1941, 122nd Rifle Regiment, 201st Latvian Rifle Division, later renamed to the 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division, where he served until 28.02.1943.
He suffered two wounds, one light on 28.12.1941 (our note - during the counter offensives in the Moscow area); upon recovery he went again to the front in the area of Staraya Russa, where on 28.02.1943 he was severely wounded in the left leg while carrying out a combat mission to reconnoitre the movement of tanks and self-propelled guns. And in spite of the wound he did not leave the battlefield until the mission was completed.
At present, he is an invalid of the Patriotic War of the 3rd group.
His left leg was amputated. He works as a volost Party Organiser. His evaluations are positive. Deserves awarding of the Order of the Red Star.’
This was subsequently upgraded to an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.
At some stage Spulle is also confirmed as having been awarded an Order of the Red Banner of Labour.
By December 1951 he was working as a Selsovet Chairman at Zaubsky Selsovet, Ergli District and living in the hamlet of Sopaidis, Zaubsky Selsovet, Ergli district, Latvia
