Order of the Red Star, #181106, Messenger, 14th Independent Signals Battalion, 3rd Rifle Corps

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card

Order Booklet V 077263

1. Last name: Chitashvili
2. Name and patrionymic: Lazar Mikhailovich
3. Rank: Private
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1918
6. Birthplace: Georgia, Gori
7. Party membership: n/a
8. Education: elementary
9. Nationality: Georgian
10. Time in Red Army: 1938-1941 and 6.1941-5.1946
11. Place of service at awarding: Driver – 3rd Mountain Rifle Corps, 14th Independent Signals Battalion
12. Place of work at present: Mukachevskii Municipal Section, Uzhgorod Auto-Cooperative Administration – Driver
13. Home address: Uzhgorod, Kolvariya #4

14. Awards:

Designation/Serial Number/Awarding Organization

Red Star 181.106 3rd Rifle Corps dated 20.2.1943

Defense of Caucasus Medal Edict dated 1.5.1944

Victory over Germany Medal Edict dated 9.5.1945

Verified by Uzhgorod Combined Krai Military Commissariat Guards Colonel Skvortsov on 27th January, 1947

Unit Award Order

[trans: handwritten “Northern Caucasus Front” and other administrative data]

SECRET

3rd Rifle Corps, Northern Caucasus Front Order 02/N dated 20th February, 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:

7. Private Lazar Mikhailovich Chitashvili – Report Center Messenger, 14th Independent Signals Battalion, 3rd Rifle Corps

Signed Commander, 3rd Rifle Corps, General-Major Sergadkov and Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Zhelnikov

3 Copies
1 – Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR
2 – Peoples Commissariat of Defense Personnel Director
3 – 3 Rifle Corps File

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Chitashvili, Lazar Mikhailovich
2. Rank: Private
3. Duty position: Reports Center Messenger – 14th Independent Battalion
Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star
4. Born: 1918
5. Nationality: Georgian
6. In Red Army: since 1941
7. Party membership: n/a
8. Participation in combat: since 20.8.42
9. Wounds or shell shock: n/a
10. Previous awards: n/a
11. Inducted by: Gori, Gori Regional Military Commissariat
12. Home of record: Gori, Dzialadze St. 47

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

As a Report Center messenger, Comrade Chitashvili has always delivered the command’s correspondence on time in difficult, mountain conditions. Neither obstacles nor enemy bombing can stop him. He is disciplined, morally upright, and dedicated to the Motherland.

He is deserving of the Order of the Red Star.

Signed Commander, 14th Independent Signals Battalion, Captain Vakhrushev on 17th February, 1943

Endorsed Chief of Communications, 3rd Rifle Corps, Major (?)
Awarded the Order of the Red Star by 3rd Rifle Corps Order 02/N dated 20.2.43. Signed Corps Acting Chief of Personnel Technical Quartermaster 1 Class Moseev

Private Lazar Mikhailovich Chitashvili's Order of the Red Star, #181106. He was also awarded an Order of the Patriotic War in 2nd Class, Jubilee Issue.

My thanks to Auke & Paul Schmitt for their invaluable assistance.