Order of the Red Star, #339451, Senior Doctor

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card

Order Booklet 882810

1. Last name: Ganugrava
2. Name and patrionymic: Nikolai Davidovich
3. Rank: Major of Medical Services
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1916
6. Birthplace: GSSR, Kutaisi
7. Party membership: since 1943
8. Education: advanced
9. Nationality: Georgian
10. Time in Red Army: September, 1941 to February, 1946
11. Place of service at awarding: Regimental Chief of Medical Service – Independent Coastal Army
12. Place of work at present:
13. Home address: Georgian SSR, Kvareli Region, village of Akhalsolet

14. Awards:

Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Red Star 339.451 18th Army dated 8.11.43

Red Star 1.221.809 Independent Coastal Army dated 22.2.45

Defense of Caucasus Medal Edict dated 1.5.44

Victory over Germany Medal Edict dated 9.5.45

Verified by Kvareli Regional Military Commissariat Major of Administrative Services Gioshvili on 16 May 1946

Abbreviated Award Card

Card confirms ethnic Georgian Doctor 3rd Class Nikolai Davydovich Ganugrava, Senior Doctor of the 1371st Rifle Regiment, was awarded a Bravery Medal according to unspecified unit Order 075/N dated 27.3.43 for generic “combat with the German invaders.” Two address are listed: Tbilisi, Artillery St. #32, while the other on Pikhakova St., Stalin Region. The commissariat apparently issued the award, but lost record of it.

Unit Award Order

SECRET

18th Army Order 0183/N dated 8th November, 1943
On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for having displayed valor and bravery:

Order of the Red Star to:

5. Medical Service Captain Ganugrava, Nikolai Davidovich – Senior Doctor, 1371st Rifle Regiment, 414th Anap Rifle Division

Signed Commander, 18th Army, General-Colonel Leselidze, Member of the Military Committee General-Major Kolonin, and Deputy Chief of Staff General-Major Pavlovskii, verified by Chief of Personnel Colonel Katerushin.

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Ganugrava, Nikolai Davidovich
2. Rank: Medical Service Captain
3. Duty position: Regimental Senior Doctor – 1371st Rifle Regiment, 414th Rifle Division

Recommendation for the Order of the Red Banner
4. Born: 1916
5. Nationality: Georgian
6. Party membership: n/a
7. In Red Army: since 1916
8. Party membership: since 1941
9. Previous combat: since 1.8.42 on the Northern Caucasus Front
10. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
11. Previous awards: n/a
12. Inducted by: Tbilisi Regional Military Commissariat
13. Home of record: GSSR, Tbilisi, Artillery St. #32

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

During the Regiment’s offensive from 20.9.43 through 30.9.43 to cleanse the Hitlerites from Nizovev, Kuban, 410 wounded soldiers and officers were brought to the medical unit. Comrade Ganugrava was exceptionally dedicated to his duties despite the several difficulties of the combat conditions, evacuating wounded from the battlefield in a timely manner and rendering them medical aid after which time he sent them to the field hospital. He personally operated on seven soldiers, which saved the lives of these young patriots. He is deserving of the Order of the Red Banner.

Signed Commander, 1371st Rifle Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Managadze on 1st October, 1943
Endorsed Commander, 414th Rifle Division, Colonel Kurashchvili on 21st October, 1943

Endorsed 18th Army Chief of Medical Section, Colonel of Medical Services Kos(?) on 28.10.43

Recommended downgrade to Order of the Red Star by Commander, 18th Army General-Colonel Les(?) and Member of the Military Committee General-Major Kolo(?) in November, 1943

Awarded the Order of the Red Star by 18th Army Order 0183/N dated 8th November, 1943, signed Deputy Chief of Personnel 2nd Section Captain of Administrative Services (?)

Medical Service Captain, later Major, Nikolai Davidovich Ganugrava's Order of the Red Star, #339451.

My thanks to Paul Schmitt for his invaluable assistance.