Russia – Soviet: An Operation Bagration Order of Glory 3rd Class to Red Army Soldier Nikolai Aleksandrovich Zubarev, 221st Independent Sapper Battalion, attached 150th ‘Idritsa-Berlin’ Rifle Division for his part in capturing and defending a bridge over the river Malta in July 1944. His Division later took part in the storming of the Reichstag in central Berlin, two members placing the victory banner on the roof in a moment that signified Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 115950
Condition: Toned, Good very fine
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Zubarev was born in the city of Kotelnich, Kirov Oblast in 1914, serving in the Red Army between April 1936 and October 1945. Zubarev was to receive two decorations during the Patriotic War, the first of which was a Medal for Combat Merits issued by decree of the 150th Rifle Division on 29th June 1944.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class was Zubarev’s second decoration by issue of the 150th Rifle Division on 11th August 1944 whilst serving as a Sapper in the 221st Independent Sapper Battalion on the back of the following recommendation:
On 27.07.1944, carrying out a combat mission to capture a bridge across the river Malta in the village of Malta-Trupy, Red Army Soldier Zubarev, moving in the centre of the capturing group, stealthily crawled towards the bridge, preliminarily feeling out a path in front of the bridge towards the mines. He was fired upon from the western bank of the river but kept his wits. With a swift dash he crossed the explosive-rigged bridge and, opening fire on a fleeing group of Germans, threw himself into pursuing them. Having received an order to entrench himself to the right of the road, Comrade Zubarev covered the work on de-mining the bridge from the right, from the side of the rye field. Acting decisively and boldly, Comrade Zubarev helped to save an important crossing from demolition. He deserves the government award of the Order of Glory 3rd Class.’
The 150th Rifle Division was one of the units to later storm the Reichstag in Berlin, Meliton Kantaria and Mikhail Yegorov, two members of the Division being recognised as the first to place the victory banner on top of the building. Although this is now believed to be false, the two actual soldiers being airbrushed out of history for being politically unreliable. It is not clear if Zubarev was with the unit still at this time, although he was noted as still serving in the Red Army.
After the war Zubarev worked as a construction supervisor in the city of Namangan, Oblselelektro in the city of Namangan, he lived at the Izhbi Mayat Collective Farm, Tatbulak Selsovet, Namangan District, Namangan Oblast, Uzbekistan.
