Russia – Soviet: An Outstanding Anti-Aircraft Commander’s Defence of Kronstadt and Leningrad Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Captain Nikolai Pavlovich Smirnov, Commander of an anti-aircraft battery of the 2nd Guards Air Defence Division, Red Banner Baltic Fleet, whose battery had shot down at least 6 German aircraft during over 60 multi-wave air raids during the Autumn of 1941.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, concave reverse numbered 438055
Condition: Enamel missing from the 2 o’clock arm, reverse dark toned, possible replacement screwplate, Very fine
Captain Nikolai Pavlovich Smirnov was born in the village of Selskoye in Leningrad Oblast in 1912, he had joined the Red Navy in 1934 and become a member of the Communist Party in 1934. Serving as the Commander of the 88th Battery, 13th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, Air Defence Division, Tallinn Naval Defence Area, Red Banner Baltic Fleet., he had seen service since the outbreak of the war. Being wounded in his head and neck in 1941, he was involved in the defence of the Baltic Fleet’s important airfields in the autumn of 1941 and during the German’s initial assault on Leningrad and the city’s surroundings.
Smirnov’s first award was an Order of the Red Star (No.35534) by Order of the Kronstadt Naval Defence Area, Red Banner Baltic Fleet on 24th July 1943, this was followed by an award of the Medal for Combat Merit’s for 10 Years Long Service on 3rd November 1944. This award of the Order of the Patriotic War was by Order of the Tallinn Naval Defence Area, Red Banner Baltic Fleet on 14th May 1945 the citation for which was as follows:
‘Having served as Commander of the 707th Battery since the first days of the Patriotic War, he has shown himself a bold and able officer.
During the three-month period in which he defended several of the Fleet’s most important airfields, the battery warded off more than 60 multi-wave enemy air raids on the installations he protected.
All attempts by the enemy aircraft to conduct bombing and ground-attack raids on Kummolovo airfield, which was defended by Smirnov’s battery, were thwarted, and the battery shot down 3 Ju-88’s.
While defending an airfield near Koporye in September 1941, his battery downed 1 Ju-88.
While repelling enemy aircraft near Gory Voldai and Grafskaya Bay in 1942, the battery destroyed 2 He-111’s and a Fiat 50.
In April 1943 Guards Captain Smirnov was appointed commander of the 88th Battery, which was defending the Kronstadt shipyards and positioned at the docks. The battery was subjected to ceaseless enemy fire, with the enemy troops shelling the shipyards firing up to 40-60 shells a day at the battery’s firing position. Despite this fact the battery was able to repel a series of air raids on the ships , as well as massive air raids during attempts to lay mines in the fairway.
Utilizing the combat experience he has accumulated, he properly organised his men’s combat training and turned his battery into a tight-knit unit.
For his boldness and skilful leadership in battle, as a result of which his battery destroyed 7 aircraft during the hostilities, comrade Smirnov deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.’
The citation was signed by Guards Lieutenant Colonel Yermolayev, the Commander of the 2nd Guards Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, Air Defense Division, Tallinn Naval Defence Area, Red Banner Baltic Fleet.
After the war, Smirnov went on to be awarded an Order of Red Star for 15 Years Long Service in November 1950, and an Order of the Red Banner for 20 Years Long Service on 5th November 1954. For his wartime services he had also been awarded the Medal for the Defence of Leningrad and the Medal for Victory over Germany.
By the time of his final award he was serving as the Commander of an anti-aircraft battery of the 2nd Guards Air Defense Division, Red Banner Baltic Fleet, and was living at 132-4 Vene-Balti Street, Tallinn.
The Naval Base on Kronstadt Island near to Leningrad in the Gulf of Finland was a position of key strategic importance, it’s position allowed the Soviet Baltic Fleet, to interdict any German vessels that may have been able to assist in the siege of Leningrad, and also allowed Red Navy ships and submarines to access the Baltic Sea and sink German supply vessels reinforcing the forces in the Baltic countries. Suffering from numerous aerial assaults from the Luftwaffe and regular Artillery bombardment from the German Army, the fortress held strong throughout the way despite suffering numerous casualties. It also suffered severe deprivation as a result of the siege over in the form of starvation and malnutrition brought about by a lack of quality food for it’s inhabitants and workers.
