Russia – Soviet: An unusual Far East Invasion of Manchuria Ground Attack Regiment Staff Officer’s Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class to Major later Lieutenant Colonlel Vasily Ivanovich Serebryansky, Deputy Chief of the Combat Training Section of the 24t

Russia – Soviet: An unusual Far East Invasion of Manchuria Ground Attack Regiment Staff Officer’s Order of the Patriotic War 2^nd Class to Major later Lieutenant Colonlel Vasily Ivanovich Serebryansky, Deputy Chief of the Combat Training Section of the 24^th Air Army, formerly of the 9^th Air Army who had earlier seen service at Lake Khasan in August 1938.

Order of the Patriotic War 2^nd Class, type 2, flatback reverse, numbered 689382

Condition: Some light contacting to enamel, overall Good very fine

Major Vasily Ivanovich Serebryansky was born in the city of Dnepropetrovsk in 1909, he joined the Soviet Army in November 1941 and became a member of the Communist Party in 1932. It appears he served in the Far East throughout, he is noted as being present in the fighting at Lake Khasan between 1^st August and 12^th August 1938, when the Japanese Puppet State of Manchukuo attempted to attack Soviet held territory in the Far East and were resoundingly beaten. He was awarded a Medal for Combat Merit for 10 Years Long Service in November 1944, but his main action came in the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria that began on 9^th August 1945 for which he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2^nd Class on 29^th August 1945..

‘Between August 9^th 1945 and August 20^th 1945 Major Serebryansky put a great deal of effort into ensuring the successful outcome of the 906^th Ground-Attack Regiment’s operations on the 1^st Far Eastern Front.

On 9^th August 1945 he personally organised the aerial reconnaissance and as the day progressed the regiment operated on the basis of the intelligence that was obtained about the enemy.

Over the course of the combat operations he skilfully led the staff. The staff performed superbly. Information the commander needed to make decisions was prepared in a timely manner and the aircrews’ flight preparations were monitored well. He personally conveyed the situation on the ground and in the air to the aircrews, verified they studied their combat missions, and checked the routes to area of enemy resistance they would take.

Command and control of the squadrons on the ground and in the air was organised well. All means of communication functioned smoothly. The commanders’ orders and instructions were passed on to their executors promptly and without any distortions.

He properly organised the garrison duties and maintained internal order, as well as the arrangement and protection of aircraft and the quartering of personnel.

On 11^th August 1945, he came up with a well-thought-out plan to relocate to a new base, after which he skilfully supervised the relocation. The regiment was redeployed from Sun Yat-sen airfield to Barano-Orenburgskoye airfield in six hours.

Conclusion: For his conscientious and skilful supervision of the staff, for organising the regiment’s combat operations well, and for ensuring uninterrupted command and control of the squadrons, both on the ground and in the air, he deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star.’

The Recommendation is signed by Lieutenant Colonel Makarov, the Commander of the 252^nd Ground-Attack Division.

Serebryanksy continued to serve in the Red Army after the war, being awarded the Medal for the Victory over Japan for his part in the Manchurian Campaign, he was subsequently awarded an Order of the Red Star for 15 Years Long Service on 30^th April 1947 and then an Order of the Red Banner for 20 Years Long Service on 30^th April 1953. At the time of his award of the Order of the Red Banner in September 1953 he was serving as the Deputy Chief of the Combat Training Section of the 24^th Air Army and his home address was given as 4 Dvortsovaya Square, Apartment 30, Leningrad.