Russia – Soviet: A scarce 1st type Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering to Captain Boris Grigorievich Blinkov, the senior aide to the head of the operative section of Army headquarters for his role in bringing combat orders to the surrounded enemy troops and preventing them from retreating in disarray.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 1, reverse numbered 7970
Condition: suspension ring cut, one small chip to the enamel on the 12 o’clock on the arm, otherwise Good Very Fine
Boris Grigorievich Blinkov was born in the village of Shamysheika, Kuznetsk district, Saratov region during 1911, joining the Red Army in 1934, he was to become a member of the Communist Party in 1939, and served throughout the Great Patriotic War receiving a number of awards.
Blinkov’s first award was a Medal for Bravery issued to him by Order of the 40th Army on 24th August 1942, he was then involved in the fighting at Stalingrad for which he was to receive a Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad and an Order of the Red Star by decree of the 5th Shock Army on 26th December 1942. The 5th Shock Army was hastily thrown together over a period of 4 days to try and counter German attempts to relieve the encircled fighters in Stalingrad.
This Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class would be Blinkov’s next award issued to him by Order of the South-Western Front on 9th March 1943 as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Captain Blinkov exhibited courage and bravery while being on the enemy controlled territory. Many times, he executed the combat missions for arranging for the combat coordination between the units and organising local tactical operations. On top of that, he performed combat reconnaissance of the enemy bringing back valuable intelligence. He was also bringing the dispatches with the combat orders to the units, which were cut off from the main force by the enemy. Under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, he was stopping the groups of soldiers from the 10th and 18th Tank Corps, who were retreating in disarray. He brought them into order and redeployed on an organised defence line.
He deserves state award – Order ‘Patriotic War II Class’
signed by the Commander of the South-Western Front, Lieutenant General Popov on 4th March 1943.
Blinkov would subsequently receive an Order of the Red Banner by decree of the Bryansk Front, most likely for actions in the post-Kursk counteroffensives. He would then receive a Medal for the Defence of Moscow for his part in the defence of the city in late 1941 and early 1942.
On 5th October 1944 he would receive an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class by decree of the Leningrad Front, shortly followed by a Medal for Combat Merits on 3rd November 1944 for 10 years long service. Subsequently Blinkov would go on to receive a Medal for the Victory over Germany, an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service in November 1950 and an Order of the Red Banner for 20 years long service in October 1955.
His position on his Register card is given as Lieutenant Colonel and ‘Aide to the head of the operative section of 61 Army, Aide to the head of the operative section of 40 army, Liaison officer of Stalingrad, Personal envoy of the commander of 2 Baltic Front.’ After the war he served as Personal envoy of the Commander of the Lviv Military District, whilst living at apartment 7, 26 Vuletskogo Street, Lviv.
