Russia – Soviet: A Tank Driver-Mechanic’s Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Guards Sergeant Leonid Maksimovich Karasev, 35th Guards Independent Breakthrough Red Banner Heavy Tank Regiment who in battles to breach the enemy’s defences in the area of Pillkallen and during the subsequent pursuit destroyed 5 anti-tank guns, 7 machine-guns 2 bunkers, 1 mortar battery and up to 60 Germans, when his tank was knocked out., he along with his crew, quickly repaired the tank and moved against the enemy anew, destroying enemy troops and equipment with their fire and crushing them with tank treads.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, the reverse numbered 369560
Condition: Good Very Fine
Leonid Maksimovich Karasev was born in the village of Sovetskaya Khakassia, Bagradsky District, Khakas Autonamous Oblast in 1917. A Russian national he attained an elementary education before joining the Red Army in 1939 and seeing frontline service from 1941.
Karasev would be decorated first with the Order of the Red Star by decree of the 72nd Rifle Corps on 8th September 1944. He would then be twice decorated on 20th February 1945 receiving two Orders of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, both by decree of the Armoured and Mechanised Forces, 39th Army.
This award issued to him whilst serving as a Guards Sergeant and Senior Driver Mechanic, 35th Guards Independent Breakthrough Red Banner Heavy Tank Regiment came with the following recommendation:
‘In battles to breach the enemy’s defence the forward line of the enemy’s defences in the area of Pillkallen and during the pursuit of the enemy from 15 to 26th January 1945, he proved himself a bold and brave warrior. Manoeuvring his tank excellently on the battlefield, he was invulnerable to the enemy. His crew destroyed 5 anti-tank guns, 7 machine-guns, 2 bunkers, 1 mortar battery and up to 60 Hitlerites.
When in the area of Henskischken, the tank was knocked out, the crew, headed by Comrade Karasev, quickly repaired the tank and moved against the enemy anew, destroying enemy troops and equipment with their fire and crushing them with tank treads.’
This period of fighting saw the opening of the Red Army’s Vistula-Oder offensive, which aimed to capture all the ground between the two rivers and possibly effect an assault on Berlin, although by the time the Oder had been reached a pause was required to allow Red Army logistics to catch up, as well as completing the capture of various garrison towns surrounded en route. Thus the Berlin offensive was delayed until 16th April 1945. Part of the wider Vistula-Oder offensive encompassed capturing the region of East Prussia, and the village of Pillkallen which was in the vicinity of the city of Konigsberg.
Karasev would also later receive the Medal for the Victory over Germany, and in March 1947 was employed as a Mechanic in the 473rd Road Maintenance Section in the city of Marrinsk where he was living. Mariinsk in located in Kemerovo Oblast.
