Russia – Soviet: Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 203709 awarded to Junior Sergeant and Gun Layer Viktor Nikandrovich Fomin, 1119th Rifle Regiment, 332nd Rifle Division for knocking out a German machine gun during the battle

Russia – Soviet: Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 203709 awarded to Junior Sergeant and Gun Layer Viktor Nikandrovich Fomin, 1119th Rifle Regiment, 332nd Rifle Division for knocking out a German machine gun during the battle for the village of Zhadunok on 6th March 1944, he had earlier received three wounds, one of them severe during the Great Patriotic War.

Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 203709

Condition: some enamel loss to 5 o’clock arm, Very Fine

Viktor Nikandrovich Fomin was born in the city of Leningrad in 1907, a Russian national he completed an elementary education and joined the Red Army on 11th May 1942. He would be wounded on 29th June 1942, 19th January 1943 and again on 3rd January 1944

He would be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by decree of the 83rd Rifle Corps on 10th July 1944. At the time he was serving as a Junior Sergeant and Gun layer, medium machine gun – 1119th Rifle Regiment. The recommendation reads:

‘In battle for the village of Zhadunok on 6.3.1944, our units were assigned the task of breaking through the enemy’s defences. When the men, on signal, rose for the attack, an enemy machine gun opened a heavy fire and did not allow us to move forward. The Comrade Fomin wheeled his machine gun to an advantageous position and with a long burst silenced the German machine gunners, as a result of which Comrade Fomin facilitated the general success of our units; the assigned task was completed.

Comrade Fomin has been a participant in many battles with the German invaders. He has taken part in attacks and counterattacks numerous times and has suffered 3 wounds, of which one was severe. He deserves the Government award the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’

He would shortly after go on to be awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class by decree of the 332nd Rifle Division on 9th August 1944, and surviving the war, by December 1946 would be working as a carpenter, 2nd District Housing Administration, Dzershinsky District whilst living at No. 18 Mokhovaya Street, Leningrad.