Russia – Soviet: A Relief of Leningrad, Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Lieutenant Boris Yakovlevich Buturov, Mortar Platoon Commander, 857th Rifle Regiment, 294th Rifle Division who was wounded in the battles for Larionov Island, suffering a severe concussion and a fractured leg.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, the reverse numbered 839558.
Condition: Extremely Fine with enamel work in good order
Boris Yakovlevich Buturov was born in the village of Ogibalovo, Yukhnovksy District, Kaluga Oblast in 1922. A Russian national he attained an elementary education before joining the Red Army in 1942 fighting on the Volkhov Front.
This Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class issued by decree of the Supreme Soviet on 6th November 1947 would be his sole award. Awarded for his service as Lieutenant and Mortar Platoon Commander, 857th Rifle Regiment, 294th Rifle Division, Volkhov Front the citation reads:
‘Lieutenant Butorov B. Ya, as mortar platoon commander, 857th Rifle Regiment, 294th Rifle Division, took active part in battles with the German-fascist invaders.
On 20th January 1944, in battles on Larionov Island, Volkhov Front, Lieutenant Buturov suffered a severe wound with fracture of the femur and a severe concussion.
For exemplary performance of missions from Command on the front of the struggle with the German-fascist invaders, and for suffering a severe wound in the process. Lieutenant Buturov, Boris Yakovlevich deserves the government award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
The injury suffered would result post war in Buturov being unemployed and listed as an invalid of the Patriotic War 2nd group whilst living in Proletarskata Street in the city of Slutsk, Bobruisk
The Leningrad–Novgorod strategic offensive was a strategic offensive during World War II. It was launched by the Red Army on 14 January 1944 with an attack on the German Army Group North by the Soviet Volkhov and Leningrad fronts, along with part of the 2nd Baltic Front, with a goal of fully lifting the siege of Leningrad. Approximately two weeks later, the Red Army regained control of the Moscow–Leningrad railway, and on 26 January 1944 Joseph Stalin declared that the siege of Leningrad was lifted, and that German forces were expelled from the Leningrad Oblast. The lifting of the 900-day-long blockade was celebrated in Leningrad on that day with a 324-gun salute. The strategic offensive ended a month later on 1 March, when Stavka ordered the troops of the Leningrad Front to a follow-on operation across the Narva River, while the 2nd Baltic was to defend the territory it gained in pursuit of the German XVI Army Corps.
The Germans had suffered nearly 72,000 casualties, lost 85 artillery pieces ranging in caliber from 15 cm to 40 cm, and were pushed back between 60 and 100 kilometers from Leningrad to the Luga River
