Russia – Soviet: A Ukraine winter 1943-44 Medal for Bravery awarded to Guards Private Grigory Stepanovich Zakharchenko, Independent Guards Training Battalion, 68th Guards Rifle Division for being the first to rush into the enemy’s lines in the village of Skitka and destroying 5 German soldiers from his sub-machine gun.
Medal for Bravery, type 2, reverse numbered 881679
Condition: the majority of the red enamel lettering having worn away, Very Fine
Grigory Stepanovich Zakharchenko was born in the village of Rozhny, Brovary District, Kiev Oblast during 1924. A Ukrainian national he attained an elementary-middle school before later joining the Red Army in September 1943 most likely on its westward advance through his village. He served during the righting around Kiev and was concussed outside the city on 9th October 1943.
The recipient would receive this Medal for Bravery by decree of the 68th Guards Rifle Division on 18th February 1944 whilst serving as a Guards Private and Scout, Independent Guards Training Battalion, 68th Guards Rifle Division, the citation reading:
‘In battle outside the village of Skitka (?) on 29th January 1944, Comrade Zakharchenko was one of the first to rush into the enemy’s lines and destroyed 5 German soldiers with fire from his sub-machine gun. Deserves the government award the Medal for Bravery.’
He would later receive two Orders of the Red Star, the first by decree of the 68th Guards Rifle Division on 26th July 1944 and the second by decree of the 68th Guard Rifle Division on 27th April 1945.
Surviving the war, he would later be employed as a collective farmer, ‘Bolshevik’ Kolkhoz in the village of Rozhny whilst living in that village which is situated in the Brovary District of Kiev Oblast.
