Russia – Soviet: An Operation Bagration Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Junior Sergeant Anatoly Ilyich Kozharik, a Motoryclist with the 74th Independent Motorcycle Battalion, who carried out communications tasks under intense artillery, mortar and machine gun fire including delivering directions and order from the Headquarters of the 3rd ‘Uman’ Order of Suvorov Tank Corps to the Corps’ units.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, the reverse numbered 94580
Condition: dark toned, Nearly Extremely Fine
Anatoly Ilyich Kozharik was born in the village of Sulatskoe, Breitovsky District, Yaroslavl Oblast in 1910. A Russian national he attained a middle school education before serving in the Red Army between July 1942 and November 1945. He would see frontline service on the Central Front from 5th May 1943 until 1st January 1944, the 1st Ukrainian Front from 1st January 1944 until 15th June 1944 and finally on the 1st Belarussian Front from 19th June 1944 onwards.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class issued by decree of 3rd Tank Corps, 2nd Tank Army on 6th August 1944 was awarded for his service as a Junior Sergeant, Motorcyclist, 74th Independent Motorcycle Battalion, the citation reading:
‘During the period of battalion’s combat actions, Comrade Kozharin carried out operational tasks for communications between active units and the headquarters of the 3rd ‘Uman’ Order of Suvorov Tank Corps. Under intense enemy machine gun, artillery and mortar fire, Comrade Kozharin accurately and in a timely fashion forwarded directions and orders from the headquarters of the 3rd ‘Uman’ Order of Suvorov Tank Corps to the corps’ units.
For courage and bravery in battles with the German invaders, Comrade Kozharin deserves the government award the Order of Glory.
He would later receive a Medal for Bravery by decree of the 9th Guards Tank Corps, 2nd Guards Tank Army on 17th January 1945 and an Order of the Red Star by decree of the 9th Guards Tank Corps on 16th May 1945.
The date of the citation and the fact he was serving with the 1st Belarussian Front suggests that this was an award for Operation Bagration, the Soviet offensive that led to the destruction of Army Group Centre.
By 30th January 1947 he was working as an Engineer at the State Union Design Institute in the city of Leningrad.
