Hi
Finally have a Chance to share with you my first Order of Glory 3rd class nr. 103208 awarded to young krasnoarmeyets-submachine gunner of sub machine guns company, 1331 mountain rifle regiment, 318 mountain-rifle Novorossiskoy division awarded to Ivan Ivanovich Tsybulsky on 4th of June 1944 for action on 7th May 1944. But first let me introduce you into his history...
His history is a bit messy because two different citations for OGIII and order of red star from November 1944 gives some conflicting informations and in this case Red Star citation seems more trustworthy to me. Mostly because OGIII citation mentiones being drafted in Chernigovsky oblast in 1942 (this sector was liberated by Red Army in september 1943 so not possible), and geaven nationality as Russian (surnames with last syllable "-sky" are rather characteristical for Poland and Ukraine as Khmelnitsky), also his surname was misspelled in citation as "Tsibulkin" which was corrected in award order.
Anyway, he was born in 1922 in Chernigovsky oblast, drafted to RKKA right after liberation of his home sector in september 1943, after basic training was sent to Taman peninsula arriving there in late 1943. He was sent to 318 Rifle Division recovering from heavy casualties suffered after failed attempt to establish bridgehead near Etligen on Crimean peninsula in october 1943.
In early 1944 318 rifle div. was once again put into action as part of Separate Coastal Army of 4th Ukrainian front and geaven a role to play in incoming Crimean offensive which started on 8th April 1944. 318th attacked along southern coast of Crimea pushing German and Romanian forces west, in the direction of Sevastopol.
In early days of May 1944 sourrounded German 17th army was defending it's positions outside city of Sevastopol. On 7th May 1944 318th rifle div. succesfuly broke through German defense line north of town Balaklava in kolkhoz "Bolshevik area". On this day Red Army man Tsybulsky distinguished himself:
"In fierce battle for kolkhoz "Bolshevik" near the city of Sevastopol during breakthrought of heavily fortified enemy defense lines on 7th of May 1944 brave submachine gunner Tsybulsky was one of the first to reach enemy trench and involve enemy in granade fight. By his example of valor and bravery red army man Tsybulsky lead submachine gunners into grenade fight and in result caused big casualties among enemy and his man power."
His Red Star citation from November 1944 mentions him being wounded in May 1944.
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