Russia – Soviet: An interesting Order of the Red Banner awarded to Senior Lieutenant Semyon Ivanovich Razumovsky, later Head of the Ammunition Supplies, Military Section No.3 of the People’s Commissariat for Railways who had seen action from the early days of the war, being wounded on 5th October 1941 during the initial stages of the defence of Moscow, again during the Rzhev battles, he then fought as anti-tank rifle commander participating in the destruction of enemy self-propelled guns before being severely wounded in the street fighting near Vytebsk on 18th January 1944
Order of the Red Banner, type 3, variation 2, numbered 250276
Condition: Good very fine
Captain Semyon Ivanovich Razumovsky, Jewish by ethnicity, was born in the town of Karachev, Bryansk Region during 1922, and having attained a secondary education, joined the Red Army in May 1940, seeing frontline service from 12th July 1941 as part of the Central Front.
Razumovsky saw extensive service during the war, being wounded four times and serving with various units, almost exclusively against the German Army Group Centre.
This Order of the Red Banner was Razumovsky’s only numbered award, and was awarded to him whilst serving as a Senior Lieutenant and as Head of the Ammunition Supplies, Military Section, No 3 of the People’s Commissariat of Railways, by an Order published 6th August 1946, and as a result of the following citation:
‘He Commanded an anti-tank rifle company of the 2nd Separate Battalion, Central Front, since July 1941. Participating in the Moscow Defence, he sustained a severe head wound on 5th October 1941 in the engagement against the superior enemy armour force near the railway station at Stalnoj Kon’.
Since May 1942, he was deputy anti-tank rifle platoon commander and participated in the Rzhev battle as part of 29 Army, Kalinin Front. Acting in the assault detachment, he was lightly wounded into the chest during street fighting.
Since December 1942, he was anti-tank rifle company commander, 515th Rifle Regiment, 134th Division, and took part in liberation of town Bely. On 13.8.1943, he participated in the enemy defence breakthrough operation on the Smolensk sector and capture of the enemy defence stronghold Dukhovshchina. For his personal participation in destruction of the enemy SPGs, he was recommended for order ‘Red Banner’ but due to being wounded, the result of the recommendation is unknown. On 19th August 1943, he was lightly wounded into the leg and the jaw during the operation on the road Yartsevo-Smolensk, near the village of Dol’shino.
Since October 1943, he was an anti-tank rifle company commander, 973rd Rifle Regiment, 270th Rifle ‘Demidov’ Division, 43rd Army, 1st Baltic Front. He took part in liberation of Vytebsk region and forced a crossing of the Dvina River. On 18th January 1944, he was severely wounded into his right arm during the street fighting near Vytebsk.
At present, he is studying and improving his skills, sharing his knowledge and experience with other personnel. He provides an example of the discipline and reliability
He is recommended for order ‘Red Banner’’
Signed by the Head of the Military Section No.3 of the Peoples Commissariat of Railways.
Razumovsky was also to be awarded a Medal for Victory over Germany, a Medal for 30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy, and an unnumbered Combat Merits Medal for 10 years long service in the Red Army. He would later work as a Senior Inspector, Nizhnij-Amur Region Military Commissariat, Far Eastern Military District, while at the same time living at 88 Gorkogo, in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur.
