Russia – Soviet: Zemland Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Private and Driver Ivan Mikhailovich Dobrov, Operation and Maintenance Company, 972nd Independent Signals Battalion for carrying out combat missions excellently during the destruction of Zemland grouping including on one occasion having been wounded.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, reverse numbered 264973
Condition: Good Very Fine
Ivan Mikhailovich Dobrov was born in the village of Seshenovka, Solntsevsky District, Kursk Oblast in June 1905. A Russian national, he attained an elementary education before joining the Red Army in July 1941.
This was his only numbered award issued to him by decree of the 72nd Rifle Corps on 23rd April 1945 whilst serving as a Private and Driver, Operation and Maintenance Company, 972nd Independent Signals Battalion, the citation reads:
‘During the destruction of the Zemland grouping, he time and again carried out combat missions from Command excellently. On 13.4.1945, having driven out with communication station equipment to organise an observation post for the headquarters of the 72nd Corps, he displayed the exemplar of courage and mastery in driving his vehicle under heavy enemy fire. He arrived exactly on time in the village of Kobjeiten.
On 14th March 1945 (this date probably mistakenly described and should be as above) while carrying out a combat mission as the village of Kobjeiten was being shelled by the enemy, he was wounded, but he accomplished the mission and remained on duty, and received treatment at the battalion medical station.’
He would go on to be awarded the Medal for Victory over Germany and the Medal for Victory over Japan.
After the war he would be working as a Driver of a Lenin Vehicle Trainer in the village of Ovlenka, Leninsky District, Northern Kazakhstan oblast whilst living in the same village.
