Russia - Soviet: An Operation Bagration and drive to the Baltic Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Sergeant Nikolai Nikolaevich Nikitin, Squad Commander 49th Independent Signals Regiment – 6th Guards Army for providing combat communications under fire during the crossing of the Western Daugava River, he was wounded three times during the course of the war.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, reverse numbered 447280
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Nikolai Nikolaevich Nikitin, a Russian national was born in Cherentsovo Station, Tikhinsky District, Leningrad Oblast in 1923 and having attained an elementary education served in the Red Army from 7th January 1942 until 7th May 1946. Nikitin would receive three wounds during 1942 on 19th April 1942, 5th December 1942 and 27th December 1942.
This Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class would be Nikitin’s sole numbered decoration of the Great Patriotic War and was awarded to him whilst serving as a Sergeant and Lineman in the 49th ‘Polotsk’ Independent Order of the Red Star Signals Regiment as a result of the following recommendation:
‘On the twenty-sixth of June 1944, Comrade Nikitin, providing combat communications for an observation post of the 2nd Guards Rifle Corps during the forcing of the Western Daugava river, under enemy fire, without regard for his own life, managed to ensure combat communications for the commander of the army with advancing units.
During the breach of the German defences by our forces on 5th October 1944 in the area of Maguny, Lithuanian SSR, Comrade Nikitin, under enemy fire quickly rectified the damage, which facilitated the successful advance of our units.
In battles with the German invaders, Comrade Nikitin has been wounded three times, two of them severely. For courage and bravery displayed in battles with the German invaders, I motion before the Military Council of the 6th Guards Army to award Comrade Nikitin the Order of the Patriotic War Second Class.’
Nikitin would also receive a Medal for the Victory over Germany. Having survived the war he would be unemployed in May 1946 and would be living at Cherentsovo Station, Tikhinsky District, Leningrad District.
