Russia – Soviet: Assault On Konigsberg Order of the Red Star awarded to Private First Class Vladimir Ivanovich Starkov, a Driver in the 554th Independent Motorised Supply Company, 319th Dvina Red Banner Rifle Division for his role in delivering supplies under difficult conditions and sometimes under fire.
Order of the Red Star, type 2 without screwpost plate and with flared edges, numbered 1887128
Condition: Minor chip to enamel on 5 o’clock arm otherwise Good very fine
Vladimir Ivanovich Starkov was born in the City of Omutninsk, Kirov Oblast in 1910, attaining an elementary education he joined the Red Army in October 1941 and saw service throughout the war.
Initially serving with the Western Front in the area close to Moscow between December 1941 and February 1942 he would likely have seen action in the counterattacks in that area that began on 5th December 1941 and drove the Germans away from the city. Subsequently he saw service with the Northwestern Front between February and October 1942 when he was most likely wounded in the fighting near the village of Rusy. After a short time away from the front line recuperating, he once again saw service with the Northwestern Front between January and October 1943 during which time he was to receive a Medal for Combat Merit by Order of the 46th Independent Rifle Brigade on 6th September 1943. In October 1943 his unit became part of the newly formed 2nd Baltic Front with who it served between October 1943 and December 1944.
December 1944 saw his unit join the 3rd Belarussian Front with who he saw out the war including the assault on Konigsberg. This Order of the Red Star was awarded by the 319th Rifle Division on 24th April 1945 with the following citation:
‘He has been serving as a truck driver since March 1942. Throughout his time in this capacity he distinguished himself and he systematically performed exemplarily
He drives his truck excellently and accident-free, supplying the regiments with ammunition, provisions, and equipment while saving on fuel, lubricants and tires.
He put a great deal of effort into repairing his truck and keeping it in a constant state of combat readiness in order for him to execute his combat missions, taking great care of his truck and his personal weapon in combat situations, and evacuating wounded troops and captured weapons from the front to the rear.
During the preparations for the assault on Konigsberg, with the rains lasting many days and vernal mud season in earnest, the country roads and alternative routes became impassable for transport vehicles.
Driving Ford-8 prime mover nr. ZH-59-098 for two weeks, he transported bread and grain from the field bakery to Division Distributing Point nr.1. For 10 days a truck column transporting ammunition was serviced by Starkov.
On the night of March 17, 1945, when there was a complete absence of passable roads, a load of oats need to be urgently picked up at the front line of the 1344th Rifle Regiment. Repeatedly subjected to enemy machine-gun fire, his vehicles tracks broke down, but he did not ditch his vehicle; instead, he energetically repaired it and in doing so he displayed courage and bravery. He accomplished his combat mission superbly.
He is dedicated to the Party of Lenin and Stalin. He fully deserves the Order of the Red Star.
Signed by the Commander of the Logistical Section, headquarter so the 319th Rifle Division.
This was Starkov’s final numbered award of the war, and after the war he was working at Factory nr.269 whilst living in the village of Kirs, Omutninsk Raion, Kirov Oblast
