Artillery Captain Igor Bagrin

[Auke]

This nice group belonged to Captain Igor Valentinovich Bagrin. He initially commanded a platoon in the 522nd Howitzer Artillery Regiment, then a 203 mm howitzer battery in the 522nd Very Heavy Howitzer Artillery Regiment, and later became a battalion chief of staff in the 200th Guards Light Artillery Regiment.

The OPW initially came on a suspension, was apparently later converted to screwback and later converted back. The Red Star's serial number has been erased for some reason.

[Auke]

His first award was a Combat Merits Medal (which I don't have, unfortunately). Bagrin was awarded this medal on February 18, 1942, as a 21-year-old Lieutenant serving as the commander of the 1st platoon, 10th battery, 522nd Howitzer Artillery Regiment:

Comrade Bagrin is a fearless platoon commander. He repeatedly evacuated materiel from under fire without personnel losses and anew brought down his fire upon the enemy. Comrade Bagrin personally displayed heroism and bravery while admirably executing an order of the regimental command. He made his way deep into the enemy rear area, risking his life to deliver valuable information to the staff about the enemy forces and their troop concentration. Together with a group of 40 soldiers he was encircled by the enemy and was situated in the enemy rear area for nine days. While in the rear area, he didn't lose heart, but as a true bolshevik, together with captain comrade Rezvanov, organized the struggle with the enemy in his rear area, and on the tenth day evacuated his group out of the encirclement to his unit.

I recommend he be awarded the Bravery Medal.

[Auke]

On July 7, 1943 he was awarded his Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, at the age of 23 (now a Senior Lieutenant) and serving as a 203 mm howitzer battery commander in the 522nd Very Heavy Order of the Red Banner Howitzer Artillery Regiment:

Occupying combat positions during the period of operations in the breakthrough area of the enemy defense line, his 203 mm battery destroyed a number of bunkers at the front line. While manoeuvring he hit enemy troops and materiel.

Being redeployed to the area near the city of Voronezh after the breakthrough, he led a long-range action group and while personally located with the infantry, determined the locations of the enemy firing positions. His battery destroyed a number of bunkers near a hospital and a school, that were the primary pockets of resistance, which enabled the successful advance of our infantry.

Due to his activities with his personnel, his unit, transferring to the reserve after the operation, reached the first place in the regiment in combat and political training.

Comrade Bagrin deserves to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class.

[Auke]

His Red Star was awarded on November 27, 1944. I'm still waiting for the citation for this one.

Shortly thereafter he was promoted to Captain and chief of staff of the 1st battalion of the 200th Guards Light Artillery Regiment. On April 14, 1945, just before the end of the war and four days before his 25th birthday, he received his fourth bravery award, an Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class:

During the period he was serving in the battalion, comrade Bagrin displayed courage and bravery in the struggle with the German-fascist invaders. Comrade Bagrin particularly distinguished himself during the offensive fighting on January 12, 1945. During the artillery offensive and the subsequent fighting, when during the artillery bombardment there were no communications with the observation point, comrade Bagrin on his own authority took over the command of the battalion and guaranteed the execution of the combat mission. The battalion destroyed one mortar battery, three mounted machine guns, and killed up to a platoon of enemy infantry, as a result of which our infantry broke through the heavily fortified enemy defenses.

When the enemy tried to hinder our units near the city of Kielce on January 15, 1945, comrade Bagrin prepared data and on his command the fire was opened, as a result of which three enemy machine guns were destroyed and the fire of one mortar battery was suppressed, which enabled the passage of our units towards the city of Kielce and the seizing of the city.

After being alerted, comrade Bagrin on January 26, 1945 headed a group of NCOs and men pursuing a group of Germans totaling up to 70 men. Despite the fact that the Germans were offering resistance with handguns, the pursuit continued under enemy fire for six kilometers. One soldier was taken prisoner and four were killed. Furthermore, during the same night under the command of comrade Bagrin, another ten Germans from another group, attempting to hit our combat formations, were taken prisoner.

For displayed courage and bravery, comrade Bagrin deserves the Order of the Red Banner.

[Auke]

Igor Valentinovich Bagrin was born in the Ukrainian city of Cherkassy on April 18, 1920 in a military family. After high school he was educated at Odessa Artillery School, where he graduated on June 2, 1941, a mere 20 days before the start of the war.

Bagrin was wounded three times during the war; lightly in 1941, severely in 1943 and lightly in 1944. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1944.

After the war he once again served as battery commander, until he was discharged from the army in August 1946. He then attended an Automotive Technical School.

This is Bagrin as an Artillery Lieutenant, probably just after graduating Odessa Artillery School on June 2, 1941:



And a photo of him just after he was discharged in August 1946 (note the screwback OPW2):



And this must be the type of 203 mm howitzer he had in his unit:

[Auke]

His order booklet, for some reason not listing his CMM:

[Auke]

This Guards Badge also came with the group, it could be his but I also got some stuff that definitely wasn't his, so I'm not 100% sure if this one is Bagrin's:

[talltom]

very nice thanks for sharing such a brilliant bit of history along with some very good pictures

tom

[RichieC]

Auke,

Thank you very much for taking the time posting and explaining this group and it's details. It is a wonderful presentation of part of someone's and a facet of the world's past.

Regards,
Richie

[Auke]

You're welcome!

Here's are larger scans of the most interesting award, the OPW2. All the pieces of the order seem to be original, but as the photo above suggests it was at some point converted to screwback. The soldering traces on the reverse also seem to point in this direction. Nevertheless it's a nice piece in above average condition for this early variation.