Order of the Red Star #799823

[Woolgar]

Another Red Star arrival today!



An interesting Operation Bagration Red Star type 2 to Guards Sergeant Viktor Alekseyevich Slizhenkov, a telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 53rd Guards Rifle Regiment for repeatedly repairing severed telephone lines whilst under heavy enemy shelling.
Slizhenkov was born in Vitebsk Oblast in 1921. He joined the Red Army on 11th November 1940 and served until 15th November 1945 being the recipient of a number of awards… Medal for Combat Merit March 1943, Medal for Courage August 1943, Order of Glory March 1944 and the Order of the Red Star August 1944.
As a member of the 18th Guards Rifle Regiment, Slizhenkov was to take part in the capture of Königsberg in April 1945 for which he received the Campaign medal. His final award was the Order of the Patriotic War awarded April 1945 by order of the 36th Neman Guards Rifle Corps, most likely for his part in the capture of the city of Königsberg.
He subsequently received the Medal for Victory Over Germany as per all participants of the Great Patriotic War.

[Marcel Banziger]

Another nice one. A fact often overlooked but these guys repairing cables were all very brave men. Always in constant danger exposed to everything a battlefield was throwing at them, yet they kept on going repairing those breaks. I truly think these guys deserve a lot more respect for their bravery.

[Woolgar]

I couldn’t agree more Marcel, heroic in every way

Nick