Russia – Soviet: A Vistula-Oder offensive Order of the Red Star to Junior Sergeant Aleksander Prokofievich Chukanov, 137st Separate Sapper Battalion, 171st Rifle ‘Idritsa’ Red Banner Division who served from April 1942, was wounded in the Second Battle of Kharkov in May 1942, and having remained with the Division throughout the war, served as a clerk in the personnel department during the Vistula-Oder offensive in February- March 1945, and may have taken part in the assault of the Reichstag in Central Berlin during the last days of the war.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, 1112699
Condition: a couple of scratches and one bruise to the enamel, this on the 12 o’clock arm, otherwise, Good Very Fine
Alesksander Prokofievich Chukanov, a Russian national was born in 1923 and served in the Red Army from 18th October 1941 and served on the front lines from 18th April 1942, being wounded on 12th May 1942 whilst serving on the South Western Front, this was the first day of the second Battle of Kharkov, the Red Army’s unsuccessful attempt to retake the city of Kharkov that led to a German counterattack and the loss of 250,000 Red Army troops in the resulting encirclement.
Later seeing service with the 2nd Baltic Front and finally with the 1st Belarussian Front, Chukanov would be awarded this Order of the Red Star by Order of the 171st Rifle ‘Idritsa’ Red Banner Division on 10th March 1945, whilst serving as a Junior Sergeant and Squad Commander of the 137 Separate Sapper Battalion, 171st Rifle ‘Idritsa’ Red Banner Division as a result of the following recommendation:
‘Jr. Sergeant Chukanov has been serving in the division since the first day of its formation in all the combat engagements. Defending the Homeland in battle, he sustained a severe wound in 1942.
Working as a clerk in the personnel department, comrade Chukanov has done a great deal of work organising documentation and reporting in registration of officer personnel. In the offensive operation during February-March 1945, being a part of the operative group of the divisional HQ, comrade Chukanov devoted all his energy and time and conducted all the assigned tasks in investigating officer personnel losses in the field among the battalions and companies.
With his daily meticulous effort, comrade Chukanov greatly contributed to the successful achievement of the overall combat mission given to the division.
For the selfless work in the combat operations, for shedding blood defending the Homeland, Jr. Sergeant Chukanov fully deserves a state award – Order of the Red Star.’
Chukanov, if he remained with his unit, would have fought in central Berlin and along with his unit been involved in the assault on the Reichstag building on 30th April-2nd May 1945.
