Russia – Soviet: An intriguing Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class to Colonel Motel Lazarevich Kesselman, the Chief of the Operations Section of the 270th Demidov Red Banner Rifle Division for working out the unit’s battle plan for Operation Baltika, the Baltic Offensive that began in October 1944, he had fought from the very first day of the war.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, concave reverse, numbered 286086
Condition: Good very fine
Motel Lazarevich Kesselman was born n the village of Khodiki, Korosten Raion, Zhitomir Oblast in 1914, noted as Jewish by Nationality serving initially in the Red Army from September 1936 until July 1937, he then subsequently served again from 1940.
Kesselman was to receive a number of awards during his service, the first of which was an Order of the Red Star by Order of the 6th Guards Army on 25th July 1944, originally a recommendation for the award of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, this eventually was changed to an Order of the Red Star with the following citation:
‘He has been taking part in the Patriotic War since June 22, 1941. He was stationed right on the front line for approximately 20 months. He devotes himself to his duties in a diligent manner and he carries out his assignments meticulously and to the letter, investing all his energy and experience in the cause. During the offensives conducted by the corps, including the crossing of the Western Dvina River, and the subsequent follow-through and pursuit of the enemy, comrade Kessleman repeatedly carried out assignments relating to battle control when visiting the corps’s battle formations. Working up to 72 or 96 hours on end without sleep or rest, comrade Kesselman maintained communications with the corps’s units and formations regardless of the combat conditions, and promptly informed corps command and the army staff about the situation at the front, thus helping them in making the proper decisions. As an operations officer he shows initiative in his duties. There were times when comrade Kesselman was the only operations officer remaining at the corps command post, but he carried out all tasks relating to command and control accurately and on schedule.
Comrade Kesselma is dedicated to the motherland and makes every effort in the struggle to defeat the German invaders. For the exemplary execution of combat missions and the bravery he displayed in the process, he deserves to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
Signed by the Chief of the Operations Section, Lieutenant Colonel Denisov.
Although recommended for the Order of Patriotic War it is likely that he was finally awarded an Order of the Red Star on 25th July 1944.
Kesselman’s next award was this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, which was this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, awarded to him by Order of the 6th Guards Army on 9th January 1945, the citation for the award was as follows:
‘Comrade Kesselman conceptualised and planned the battles to be fought by the 270th Rifle Division during Operation Baltika (Baltics). The battle plan was worked out in an efficient manner, with all the minutiae of the units’ movements factored in. All documents pertaining to the offensive were prepared in an efficient and expert manner.
The finely planned operation yielded magnificent results. Following the reconnaissance-in-force missions, which had a great success, the division’s main forces were committed to battle in order to build on the success.
The units’ rapid advance called for the deployment of pursuit detachments, which had been prepared in a timely manner Comrade Kesselman and reinforced with mobile assets, as a result of which the division was able to vigorously pursue and crush the enemy.
Throughout the operation comrade Kesselman put the division commander’s decisions into effect and achieved excellent results in battle command.
The co-ordination between units and the interaction with neighbouring units was organised perfectly by comrade Kesselman, as a result, the interaction between the supporting tank units and the infantry was well co-ordinated and the outcome of the fighting was excellent.
For planning the battles of Operation Baltika and conducting them in a fine manner, comrade Kesselman deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.’
Signed by the Chief of Staff of the 270th Rifle Division, Major General Belyayev.
On 28th June 1945, Kesselman was to receive the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class by Order of the 4th Shock Army. Subsequently, he went on to receive a sequence of long service awards, the first a Medal for Combat Merit for 10 years long service on 15th November 1950, the second an Order of the Red Star for 15 years long service on 5th November 1954, and the final award, an Order of the Red Banner for 20 years long service on 30th December 1956.
Kessleman had also received the Medal for the Victory over Germany and the Medal for the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy during his service.
At the time of his final award, he was serving as the Chief of the Air Defence Section of the 28th Army, Byelorussian Military District, while living at 4 Sverdlov Street, Apartment 12, city of Grodno
