Russia – Soviet: A Supply Officer’s Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class to Guards Captain of the Quartermaster Service Vladimir Pavlovich Zhikharev, 2nd Gorodok Red Banner Guards Mortar Division who had seen service since the outbreak of the war, including being wounded during the defensive fighting in the Smolensk region in August 1941.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, numbered 528372
Condition: Good very fine
Vladimir Pavlovich Zhikharev was born in the city of Borisoglebsk, Voronezh during 1911, serving in the Red Army from 1939 onwards, he became a member of the Communist Party in 1944.
Beginning his wartime service with the Western Front from 1941-1942 he was wounded in August 1941 most likely in the defensive fighting in the Smolensk area, he went on to serve with the Bryansk Front between 1942 and October 1943, and then the 2nd Baltic Front between November 1943 until April 1945, before finally seeing service with the 1st Belarussian Front from 10th April 1945 until the end of the war.
Zhikharev was awarded an Order of the Red Star by Order of the Artillery Commander of the 1st Baltic Front on 13th February 1944, before going on to be awarded this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Order of the Artillery Commander of the 1st Baltic Front on 29th May 1945, the citation for this award being as follows:
‘Through his personal vigor and perseverance he ensured that the men of the division were adequately supplied with uniforms and gear.
Knowing the ins and outs of clothing supply, comrade Zhikharev trained the clothing supply officials on the job, managed the records and bookkeeping in an exemplary manner, and set up a network of repair shops, which perform all necessary repairs of footwear and uniforms.
Comrade Zhikharev is a disciplined commander who is demanding of both himself and his subordinates.
For carrying out his task of supplying units with uniforms and gear in an exemplary manner for properly organising repairs, comrade Zhikharev deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.
Signed by the Deputy Commander for the Rear of the 2nd Gorodok Red Banner Guards Mortar Division, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Okunev.
Zhikharev continued to serve in the Red Army after the war, being awarded the Medal for Combat Merit for 10 years long service on 24th June 1948 and then finally an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service on 30th December 1956.
