Russia – Soviet: Medal for Bravery, type 2, awarded to Efreiter I.A. Zuev, 76th Independent Signals Line Battalion, 8th Army for restoring ruined underwater cables between Virtsu on the mainland of Estonia and the island of Muhu off of the coast in cold water during combat operations against the Germans.
Medal for Bravery, type 2, reverse numbered 2193954
Condition: a good proportion of the red enamel lettering still present, significant wear to original ribbon, overall Good Very Fine
Ivan Alekseevich Zuev was born in the village of Sabitsi, Luzhsky District, Leningrad Oblast during 1906 and was awarded this Medal for Bravery by decree of the 8th Army on 31st May 1945 whilst serving as an Efreitor and Lineman in the 76th Signals Line Battalion as a result of the following recommendation:
Efreitor Zuev, I.A., lineman of the telephone pole company, during combat operations to liberate Soviet Estonia from the German invaders, displayed selflessness, courage, and persistence in restoring ruined underwater cables between Virtsu and Kuivastu.
Aware of the importance of the tasks at hand, Efreitor Zuev, over the course of two days, in cold salt water, with primitive instruments searched for the end of the blasted cable. Thanks to the self-sacrificing and indefatigable work of Efreitor Zuev, the underwater cable was located and restored. The Army’s Command was given reliable telegraph and telephone communications across the Greater Sound.
For bold and self sacrificing work and for bravery work and for bravery displayed, Efreitor Zuev deserves the Government award the Medal for Bravery.’
Zuev would have survived the war as it is noted he was issued a Jubilee version of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class in 1985.
