Russia – Soviet: A Silesian Offensive Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Senior Lieutenant of the Medical Service of the Chief of the Medical Service, 1528th ‘Vladimir-Volynsky’ Red Banner Howitzer Artillery Regiment of the Reserve of the Supreme Command who had served on the frontlines from January 1943 on the Northwestern Front where he was wounded. He then served on the 1st Ukrainian Front from 21st September 1944 taking part in the offensive across Poland in early 1945 and the Silesian offensive that followed, rendering medical aid to numerous soldiers on the frontline saving the lives of over 100 individuals.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, flatback reverse, numbered 785285
Condition: enamel missing to the arm at 7 o’clock, otherwise Very Fine
Leon Kalinovich Samoilenko was born in Dagauvpils in 1921. A Ukrainian national he attained a Higher education before serving in the Red Army from 12th March 1942. Initially serving on the North-western Front between 2nd and 17th January 1943 when he was wounded.
After recovery he would serve with the 1st Ukrainian Front from 21st September 1944 and would received this decoration, his only one of the war as a result of a decree of the 3rd Guards Army on 16th June 1945 whilst serving as a Senior Lieutenant of the Medical Service and the Chief of the Medical Service, 1528th ‘Vladimir-Volynsky’ Red Banner Howitzer Artillery Regiment of the Supreme High Command and was as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Senior Lieutenant of the Medical Service Samoilenko L.K., serving in the position of Chief of the Regimental Medical Service from 21.9.1944 to the present, proved himself a bold and enterprising officer of the Red Army.
During the regiment’s offensive actions, he was continuously situated on the battle lines and regularly inspecting the troops, achieved the complete absence of infectious illness among them. He personally provided aid to more than 100 wounded privates, sergeant, and officers of the regiment, 45 of whom, in spite of the regiment’s frequent relocations, were healed at the regimental medical unit and returned to duty, which increased the regiment’s combat capability.
In battles to destroy the enemy grouping in the city of Glogow, Senior Lieutenant of the Medical Service Samoilenko L.K. was always situated on sectors where it was possible that troops might be knocked out of action. For example, the 5th Battery was on the northern outskirts of Brostau looking over open sights. The enemy attempted numerous attacks with superior forces on this axis. The battery had losses among its personnel, and Sr. Lt. of the Medical Service Samoilenko L.K., was with the battery over the course of 5 days, rendering aid to 12 wounded soldiers and sergeants, and saved the crew of one of our tanks.
For saving the lives of more than 100 wounded and displaying therein boldness and initiative, Senior Lieutenant of the Medical Service Samoilenko L.K., deserves the government award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
Glogow is a town in Silesia that would have been attacked during the offensive into the region beginning in later January.
Samoilenko would go on to take part in the Prague offensive and would be awarded the Medal for the Liberation of Prague as well as the Medal for the Victory over Germany.
Surviving the war by January 1947 he was living at 2 Shovarnaya Street, Divinsky, Latvia and working as a doctor in the city.
