Russia – Soviet: An unusual Silesian offensive Order of Alexander Nevsky to double Order of Alexander Nevsky recipient Major I.L. Davydov, Battalion Commander in the 48th Rifle Regiment, 351st Rifle Division, 18th Army for his skilful command of his battalion during the capture of the city of Zary in what is now southwest Poland, personally going to the battle lines, he raised the spirits of his troops and through his examples of personal valour inspired the soldiers and officers in a battle which led to the destruction of 120 enemy soldiers and officers. He had previously received an Order of Alexander Nevsky for the fighting in Ukraine during January 1944. Only a small number of individuals would receive the decoration twice, thus this is a relatively scarce example.
Order of Alexander Nevsky, type 2, reverse numbered 27777
Condition: replacement screw plate, Good Very Fine
Ivan Lukyanovich Davydov was born in the village of Zolotye-Prudy, Aleksandrevsky District, Stalino Oblast during 1911. A Ukrainian national he attained an elementary education before joining the Red Army in November 1941. He would serve on the Southern Front from July 1942 and then in the North Caucasus during the German offensive of the summer and autumn of 1942. He would then later serve with the 4th Ukrainian Front which was responsible for the recapture of the Crimea in the early summer of 1944.
Davydov was first decorated with an order of the Red Star by decree of the 257th Rifle Division on 19th September 1943, this for fighting in the Don Basin in early September 1943. He would subsequently be awarded his first Order of Alexander Nevsky on 2nd February 1944. This would have been for the fighting in southern Ukraine during January 1944.
Davydov would be wounded on 19th February 1945, and at the time of this rare second award of the Order of Alexander Nevsky on 24th March 1945 would be serving as a Major and Commander of the 2nd Rifle Battalion, 1159th ‘Mukachevo’ Rifle Regiment, 351st ‘Shepetovka’ Red Banner Order of Suvorov Division, the recommendation for this award was as follows:
‘On 24.03.1945 in battle for the city of Zary, commanding a rifle battalion, he distinguished himself through his personal valour, courage, and skilful command of the battalion in challenging combat conditions.
Acting on the primary axis, he breached the enemy’s strong defences, burst into the city, and thereby thoroughly completed the combat missions assigned to the battalion by command.
As a result of the battle, the battalion, under the commander of Davydov, destroyed and knocked out of action more than 120 enemy soldiers and officers.
At the moment of the breach, Comrade Davydov personally went out into the battle lines, raised the troops’ spirits, and through his example of personal valour inspired the soldiers and officers to tenacity and doggedness in battle.
During the capture of the city of Zary, he was wounded and evacuated to hospital.
For valour and courage displayed, for breaching the enemy defences in the area of Zary, he deserves the government award of the Order of the Red Banner.’
Zary being a town in south west Poland, this action would have been part of the Silesian offensives that along with the offensives into Pomerania cleared the flanks in preparation for the final Red Army assault on Berlin.
Davydov would also be decorated with the Medal for the Defence of Caucasus and the Medal for the Victory over Germany.
Surviving the war Davydov would be working at Kursk station, Stavropol Krai at the time of being issued with his final award in July 1946, giving his home address as apartment 6, FUBRA (Foundation for the Improvement of Workers’ Living), Nogin Factory, city of Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast.
