From ouskirts of Moscow to Berlin-Huge gruping to a Guards sergeant

[Marcel Banziger]

Excellent grouping and excellent research!!!! Thanks for sharing.

[Marinecollector42]

Thank you for kind comments.
Actually something went wrong with my internet yesterday and I wasn't able to finish the topic. What would be research of a award without trip to a former battlefield
First, map from my previous post whows situation on 13.8 in Studzianki area.
Second-the T34 monument in a mousoleum-tank filled with ground and remains of unidentified victims of the battle of Studzianki. Rest of tchem was burried in Soviet-Polish cementry in Warka. The tank stands at the edge of a forest, in a place where on afternoon of 14.8 sourroundered was the last group of "HG" tanks and grenadiers-4 infantry companies and 10 tanks.

After failed attempt on 13.8, on 14.8 synchronized attack of 3/140 and 3/137 with two Polish tank companies closed "Storch Hals".

Now let me show you the battlefield-area of operations of 2/140 and the erea of "stork's gorge"-photographed last October, over 74 years later.


First-1st forest clearing with view in the direction of "the Dyke"

Second photograph, view from the crossroads-1st forest clearing mentioned in 47th division's report and the Dyke, view in western direction. place of combat of 2/140 on 13.8 to clear the Dyke from Germans.

[Marinecollector42]

Second thing I was able to find was the trench mentioned in Molodtsov's citation.
Here you can see how the battlefield looks like when we remove all the trees-two lines of trenches right next to the Dyke-exactely the place of described Molodtsov's action

One more thing, I've wrote 13.8 while on citation is 20.8, that's because of authors mistake Award citation with incorrect action date?

[Marinecollector42]

Sight in southern direction-to the Dyke just west fron the first forest clearing. And a stone plaque one the base on tank-monument "To the soldiers of 140 Guards rifle regiment"-very significiant right in a place where they fought (exactly-area of operations of 1/140)

[Marinecollector42]

And some last photos, Molodtsovs award booklet with a photograph-this one was loose in his late ID book opened in October 1944, probably taken during the period he was at sergeant major's course. Nice to see a face of a hero.

What later happend to Molodtsov is patricipation in vistula Oder offensive (should have a medal for Warsaw, but it seems he never got it) and Oder crossing. On 14 April 1945 he was seriously wounded-one schrapnel piece stuck in right shin and another one went throught his left hand while attaking group of barns 1 kilometer east from town Golzow in Germany. He spent Victory Day in evacuation hospital 274.

Was discharged in September and returned to Kungur.


Best Regards
Jacob

[Egorka]

Jacob, you exceed yourself every time! :-)
Very interesting and educational!

[PembrokeYeo]

An inspiring piece of research. Thanks very much Jacob. PY.

[Dom]

Jakob,

What later happend to Molodtsov is patricipation in vistula Oder offensive (should have a medal for Warsaw, but it seems he never got it) and Oder crossing.

Already seen a few similar cases without finding an explanation

Otherwise it is a very beautiful group, congratulations