Russia – Soviet: A Winter War Veteran’s Relief of Leningrad Order of the Red Star awarded to Captain Vasily Gavrilovich Izmailov, Assistant Chief of Radio Communications, 72nd ‘Pavlovsk’ ‘Red Banner’ Rifle Division, who displayed high mastery of directing radio communications during the offensive to relieve Leningrad in January 1944 and during the fighting on the west bank of the River Narva as well as finally during the fighting against the Finnish Defences during the continuation war of 1944.
Order of the Red Star, the reverse numbered 644012
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Vasily Gavrilovich Izmailov was born at Log Station, Stalingrad Oblast in 1915. A Russian national, he completed 7 grades of education before joining the Red Army in 1936. He would see action against the White Finns in the winter of 1939-1940 and would then serve on the Leningrad Front from June 1941 onwards, earning the Medal for the Defence of Leningrad.
This Order of the Red Star was issued by decree of the forces of the 21st Army on 22nd June 1944, originally a recommendation for the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, it was awarded to Izmailov whilst employed as a Captain and the Assistant Chief of Signals for Radio Communications, 72nd Pavlovsk Red Banner Rifle Division, the citation reading:
‘In the challenging conditions of the winter offensive from 15.01 to 30.03.1944, in battles to relieve the siege of the city of Lenin, Izmailov displayed high mastery of directing radio communications. Knowing the responsibility laid upon radio communications as the only means of communication capable of supporting control of forces under …… (unclear) by the enemy. Comrade Izmailov, during the entire duration of the combat operations, was situated on the most important sectors of the battle, directly managing the radio equipment. In battles on the western bank of the river Narva in the area of …. (unclear), where it was impossible to maintain wired communications, Comrade Izmailov proved himself a true master of organising radio communications. There was not a single instance when radio communications did not provide Command with …. (illegible) control of their forces. In battles to breach the heavily fortified Finnish defences in the area of Beloostrov, the radio communications organised by Comrade Izmailov worked accurately and without fail. In heavy combat to take the strongpoint of Kut on 15th June 1944, communications broke down with one of the regiments. Comrade Izmailov, scorning danger, personally went out to the regiment and directly managed the regiment’s signals. For excellent management of the work of radio equipment, and for great efforts in training radio operators, he deserves the award the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.’
Izmailov would later be awarded an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class on 23rd May 1945, a Medal for Combat Merits for 10 years long service on 30th April 1947, an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service on 13th June 1952 and an Order of the Red Banner on 5th November 1954. He was also in receipt of a Medal for the Victory over Germany.
On 4th December 1946 he was employed as the Battalion Chief of Signals, 13th Independent Artillery Battalion, Coastal Defence, Kronstadt Naval Defence Region
