Russia – Soviet: A Stalingrad Veteran’s East Prussian Offensive Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Guards Red Army Soldier Sergei Grigorevich Baklitsky, Telephonist, Signals Company, 70th Guards Rifle Regiment, 24th Guards ‘Evpatoria’ Red Banner, Rifle Division for repairing 10 breaks in the telephone line under heavy mortar and machine gun fire, he would later kill 2 Germans whilst repelling a counterattack.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, flatback reverse, the reverse numbered 911688
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Sergei Grigorevich Baklitsky was born in the village of Malaya-Belozerka, Bolshaya-Belozerka District, Zaporozhye Oblast in 1909. A Ukrainian national he attained an elementary education and served in the Red Army between August 1941 and December 1945.
He would initially serve on the Western Front during the Defence of Moscow from 21st August 1941 until 17th December 1942, then he would take part in the fighting around Stalingrad with the Stalingrad Front from 17th December until 2nd February 1943, the liberation of southern Ukraine and the Crimea with the 4th Ukrainian Front between 25th June 1943 and 10th May 1944. He would later see service in the Baltic and in East Prussia with the 1st Baltic Front from 22nd July 1944 until 12th December 1944 and then with the 3rd Belarussian Front from 12th December 1944 onwards.
Issued with a Medal for Bravery by decree of the 70th Guards Rifle Regiment on 16th October 1944 and an Order of the Red Star by decree of the 24th Guards Rifle Division on 2nd May 1945 this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class issued to him by decree of the 13th Guards Rifle Corps on 12th December 1945 would be his third and final numbered award.
Issued as a Guards Red Army Soldier and a Telephonist, Signals Company, 70th Guards Rifle Regiment, 24th Guards ‘Evpatoria’ Red Banner, Rifle Division, the citation for the award reads:
‘Comrade Baklitsky, in battle for the settlement of Perkallen, East Prussia on 20th January 1945, provided uninterrupted communications between the battalion and regimental commanders. Over a single day of battle, under heavy enemy mortar and machine gun fire, Comrade Baklitsky repaired 10 breaks in the communications line. While repelling a counterattack, Comrade Baklitsky destroyed 2 German soldiers and officers.
Comrade Baklitsky deserves the government award of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.
The recipient would later be in receipt of a Medal for Victory over Germany and by 18th September 1956 would be employed as a Tractor Driver at the Chapaev Machine-Tractor Station, at this time he was living in the village of Malaya Belozerka, his birthplace.
