Red Banner for SPG regiment commander

[Egorka]

Hello!
Please meet Guards Major Aleksej Platonovich Mischenko, the commander of the 301th Guards SPG regiment during 23.07.1944 - 25.05.1945.

The regiment was formed on 20.05.1944 from 301th detached Guards Anti-Tank Artillery regiment. It was part of the 8th Guards Tank Corps during the rest of the war.

The order is given for the engagements during 18 - 22 August 1944. The interesting is that Mischenko just took over the 301st SPG regiment days before. So it was his first action in Regiment commander capacity.

The previous Regiment commander Gurds Colonel Lieutenant IONIS was killed during the battle of LUBLIN (25 July 1944). This is Mark Ionis portrait.

Information in the regiment history that the commander has been killed and buried in LUBLIN, Poland.

[Egorka]

301 Gv.SAP belonged to 8 Guards Tank Corps, 2 Shock Army. Here is the tactical sign of the 8 GuTC.

The heavy SPGs from 310 Gv.SAP in Danzig (Gdansk) 1945.

[Bagration]

Thanks for sharing with us, as you can guess I like it !
Do you have more information ? Like for what combat situation he received the Red banner order ?

SU-76 were mostly used as mobile artillery at the end of war because obviously the 76mm was "obsolete" against modern German tanks and the SU-76 itself was poorly armored (and open top).

[Egorka]

Hey, sorry for delay... Here is the citation for this ORB.

Regiment Commander Guards Major MISCHENKO distinguished himself in the fighting around TLUSH, KRUSHE-STARE, TROIANE and main road BELOSTOK-WARSAW. His regiment supporting the Corps's tank brigades was one of the first to cut the main road BELOSTOK-WARSAW, which cut of the main retreat way.

In the heat of the battle Mischenko was with his troops and despite the heavy artillery and mortar fire was directing the regiments forces.

During the engagement 18 - 22 August 1944 the regiment destroyed:
Tanks - 11
Veicles - 8
Artillery and MG positions - 16
Carriages - 10
Enemy troops - 145

For excellent execution of the orders and achieving the given battle goals, and exhibited personal gallantry MISCHENKO is recommended for the ordrer "RED BANNER".

22 Aug 1944
Signed by the commander of the 8 Gu. Tank Corps, Guards Colonel GRETSOV.

Guards Colonel Gretsov Victor Nikitovich 1907-1986.

[Bagration]

Really, really nice !

Thanks again for info and sharing !

[Marinecollector42]

Gerat medal and great research! Town of Tłuszcz is just about 30km from my home . During the tank battle of Tłuszcz 8th tank guards corps suffered heay losses. Area of Klembów, Krusze Stare, Trojany was defended by 3rd SS Panzer Div Totenkopf. East of Klembów this division lost Tiger tank (confirmed) and near Krusze probably 3 tigers (unconfirmed). In fact during the tank engagement East-South of Krusze st. 8th tank guards (mostly 62nd heavy tanks brig.) knocked out whole tanks company from Totenkopf.

[Egorka]

Thank you very much for additional info!
And it is great to see all those place names being spelled properly, which is sometimes a challange.
The namesare are translitterated in Russian and finding proper spelling in original language is not easy.
Thank you!

[Marinecollector42]

No problem
BTW if you want to learn more about actions of 8th tank guards corps between July 1944 and January 1945 send me a PM and I'll be able to provide you some detailed informations. This unit operated in area where I live that's why Im really interested in it's history.This corps patricipied in some heaviest battles in Warsaw vicinity including battle of Minsk Mazowiecki, Battles of Okuniew, Tłuszcz, liberation of Warsaw-Prague and October battles of Legionowo, Białołęka, Jabłonna and Nieporęt.

[Marinecollector42]

To mark 74th anniversary of the described combat action and to give better view into the mentioned battle, with Egorka's permission I'll post here photographs of places where 301st Gu.SPG's under major Mischenko took part in breaking German defense at linking point between 3rd SS and 5th SS panzer division in august 1944.


1st photograph-view in direction of Warsaw-Białystok railway in Tłuszcz.

[Marinecollector42]

Bridge over small stream between Tłuszcz and Krusze. SU76s and tanks from assisting 59th tank guards brigade rolled over it on August 18th 1944