Russia - Soviet: A Red Army Western Front first type Medal for Bravery awarded to Senior Lieutenant Ivan Mikhailovich Belyaev, a 76mm battery commander, 1270th Rifle Regiment, 385th Rifle Division, 10th Army for suppressing three firing positions whilst ensuring a retreat to the assigned line just before the Battle of Kursk, he had most likely seen fighting in the defence of Moscow and the counterattacks around Tula during the following winter.
Medal for Bravery, 1st type on original suspender with screw and plate, reverse numbered 287311
Condition: Some enamel of the red lettering still remaining, light wear, Very Fine
Ivan Mikhailovich Belyaev was born in the village of Tolstikovo, Bratkovsky selsovet, Chebsarsky District, Vologda Oblast in 1920 and having attained a middle school education serve in the Red Army from 19th October 1939.
Serving as part of 10th Army he would have seen action against German Army Group Centre during it’s drive on Moscow during 1941, during the counterattacks to the south of the city around Tula in the winter of 1942 and subsequent defensive actions in the area for the remainder of the year. He was awarded a Medal for Combat Merits by decree of 10th Army on 27th September 1942.
His unit, 385th Rifle Division was on a relatively quiet sector of the front for the remainder of 1942 and the early part of 1943 seeing only local German attacks and Red Army counterattacks. During early summer 1943, the Red Army launched several small scale attacks in an attempt to tie down German forces and prevent them from strengthening the German attack at Kursk which the Red Army had gained intelligence of ahead of time.
Belyaev was to be awarded a Medal for Bravery by Decree of the 385th Rifle Division on 7th June 1943, whilst serving as a Senior Lieutenant as a 76mm battery commander, 1270th Rifle Regiment, 385th Rifle Division, 10th Army as a result of the following recommendation:
‘On 05.06.1943 during reconnaissance by fire actions, correcting the fire of his battery, he excellently made a path for the infantry’s movement, and also fully ensured their retreat to the assigned line. In so doing, he suppressed three firing positions. Deserves the government award the Medal for Bravery.’
He appears to have survived the war and was later awarded a Medal for the Victory over Germany. After the war he was not working and living at the village of Kazarkino, Slobodsky selsovet, Lezhsky District, Vologda oblast.
