Opw2 #52344

[Egorka]

Hello!
Got this one today and expect it to be a little challenging, but very interesting in research.
The cavalier, Ivan Ivanovich Stepanov, was the head of staff (and later deputy to the head of staff) in 143 tank regiment.
More information is to follow!

[Adrian Stevenson]

I look forwards to reading more!

[Bagration]

I look forwards to reading more!

Same !

[Egorka]

Got the documents. A little curly stuff... but here is a quick overview.
Military career since 1930.
By the end of 1941 in 44 Tank Regiment, 22 tank division, company Commander.
In 16 Feb 1942 declared MIA. But survived.
Severely wounded by a bullet in the leg in April 1942.
After that on less active service positions.
Still by 1956 he got his long service Lenin order.
more to come...

[Bagration]

Nice one, can't wait to see more !

[Egorka]

It is even more interesting, than I thought.
Here is the start of it:
Lt. STEPANOV was serving as a Company Commander in 44 Tank Regiment (tanks T-26) of 22 Tank Division, 14 Mechanised Corps.
The 22 TD (143 and 44 tank regiments, 22 Motorized Infantry Regiment) was located in Brest fortress on 22 June 1941 and was hit heavily by artillery barrage during the first hours of German offensive. The division lost most of it's tanks, fuel supplies, and ammunition. The remnants of the division had several heavy engagements in the following days. But by 28 June 1941 it lost practically all tanks and most of the personnel and was disbanded.

So Lt. STEPANOV must had been MIA from June 1941. The formal decree formalised the MIA status on 16 Feb 1942. It was formally cancelled in 1952.
But he was back in service by the beginning of 1942 or even earlier, I think. He was awarded medal for Combat Service (a big deal by at that time) in March 1942 for the action on 08/Feb/1942. He served in 143 (a different 143rd, I think) Tank Regiment of 2 Gu. Motorised Rifle Division (earlier 107 Motorised Rifle Division)

Here is the decree stating that Lt. STEPANOV is declared MIA.
The hand written text is cancellation dated 08/May/1952.

[Bagration]

The 22 TD (143 and 44 tank regiments, 22 Motorized Infantry Regiment) was located in Brest fortress on 22 June 1945 and was hit heavily by artillery barrage during the first hours of German offensive.

Didn't know the German offensive "Barbarossa" started in 1945 ! That's indeed more interesting than you thought, what a revelation !

More seriously nice found ! The tank corps suffered alot during the first days of Barbarossa he was lucky to get out alive especially on such difficult area.

[Egorka]

Didn't know the German offensive "Barbarossa" started in 1945 ! That's indeed more interesting than you thought, what a revelation !

Right... the consequence of doing research after midnight...

More seriously nice found ! The tank corps suffered alot during the first days of Barbarossa he was lucky to get out alive especially on such difficult area.

22 TD was in action for 6 days.
On 22 June 1941 it had 235 tanks, 34 cannons, and 8800 personnel.
As follows from the 4 Army report issued on 28 June @21:00, the division had only 450 people, zero tanks, 45 trucks, and 85 officers left...

The personnel loss was about 90% in 6 days.
Not all of them were killed, but some were imprisoned.

[Bill Garvy]

. . .

[Bagration]

With all due respect, Operation "Barbarossa" started Sunday June 22nd, 1941, not 1945.

That's not possible !