Russia - Soviet: Order of the Red Star, 2nd Type, reverse numbered in hand engraved form: ’1543690’, awarded to Efreitor M.S. Kolesnikov, 156th Rifle Regiment, 16th Lithuanian Division. A Lithuanian, he saw service in the Red Army from September 1942 thorough to August 1945, and was gun crewman in the Mortar team, being decorated on four separate occasions when fighting on the Central Front as part of the 48th Army. Awarded the Medal for Combat Merit in August 1943, and the Medal for Bravery in July 1944, he then fought in the liberation of his homeland of the Lithuanian SSR. In the fighting to breach enemy defences on the Kelme axis on 5th October 1944, he earned his Order of the Red Star. When under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, he fired on the Germans. When changing firing positions, it was necessary to move over open ground under a hail of enemy bullets. It seemed that it would be impossible to move forward, but Kolesnikov was first to rush forward and by his personal example, he inspired his comrades to follow him and fulfil the mission. At a point during the advance, when he was alone at the mortar and the others were bringing ammunition, he saw a group of German sub-machine gunners rushing the infantrymen. Alone, he opened fire with his mortar, and forced the enemy to drop. Keeping continuous fire on the prone enemy, they then turned to flee, but not until seven German soldiers were killed. He went on to be awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class later that same month.
Russia - Soviet: Order of the Red Star, 2nd Type, silver and enamel, with Monetny Dvor mint mark to reverse with the semi- to full flared edges and without screw-post base, reverse numbered in hand engraved form: ’1543690’. With original back plate.
Condition: enamel work good, some signs of wear, overall Good Very Fine.
Makar Semenovich Kolesnikov was born in 1919 in the village of Belodvorye, in the Moletai district of the Utena County in the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. Described in his education status as semiliterate, he went on to see service in the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War from September 1942 thorough to August 1945, when employed on the Central Front in the 48th Army as a Private and later Efreitor (Corporal) in the 156th Rifle Regiment of the 16th Lithuanian Division, and serving as a gun crewman.
Kolesnikov went on to be decorated on a number of occasions, being awarded the Medal for Combat Merit (No.732960) in the Decree of the 156th Rifle Regiment No.30/N of 16th August 1943, and then the Medal for Bravery (No.1180635) in the Decree of the 156th Rifle Regiment No.52/N of 19th July 1944, before going on to be awarded the Order of the Red Star (No.1543690) in the Decree of the Commander of the 16th Lithuanian Rifle Division No.151/N of 7th October 1944.
The citation, written on 18th October 1944, reads as follows: ‘In battles to breach enemy defences on the Kelme axis outside the village of Burbachi (?), Kelme County, Rasyainyai (?), Lithuanian SSR, on 5th October 1944, under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, he fired on the Germans. When changing firing positions, it was necessary to move over open ground under a hail of enemy bullets. It seemed that it would be impossible to move forward, but Comrade Kolesnikov was first to rush forward and by his personal example, he inspired his comrades to follow him and fulfil the mission. At a point during the advance, when he was alone at the mortar and the others were bringing ammunition, he saw a group of German sub-machine gunners impudently rushing our infantrymen. He opened fire with his mortar, which forced the enemy to drop. Keeping continuous fire on the prone enemy, they turned to flee. Moreover seven German soldiers were killed. For steadfastness, selflessness, courage, and bravery I motion for awarding the government award of the Order of the Red Star.
Kolesnikov went on to be awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class (No.281793) in the Decree of the Commander of the 16th Lithuanian Rifle Division No.187/N of 29th October 1944. As of September 1946, he was back at home, living in Launas, Lithuania, and working as an unskilled labourer.
