Order of the Red Star, #411674, Platoon Leader, 82mm Mortar Company, 1292nd Rifle Regiment

[Bill Garvy]

Award issue record

The Order of the Red Star to:
10. Nikolai Mikhailovich Kondrakhin; Lieutenant; December 30th, 1943

411674 534167 Rifle Division Order nr. 029/N of December 10th, 1943

Record card of an awardee

Last name: Kondrakhin
First name: Nikolai
Patronymic: Mikhailovich
Rank: Lieutenant
Position and unit: 82-mm mortar platoon leader in the 1292nd Rifle Regiment, 113th Rifle Division

Awarded:

Awarded which order of medal Date of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Awarded for what
Order of the Red Star Order nr. 029/N of December 10th, 1943 [Stamp: For the fighting with the German invaders]

[Blue stamp: Award issued]


Home address: 113th Rifle Division, 2nd Ukrainian Front

Biographical particulars

1. Year of birth: 1918
2. Place of birth:
3. Party membership and period: Member of the Communist Party
4. Nationality: Russian
5. Period of service in the Red Army:
6. Award documents are located in file nr.:

Awards issued:

Order or medal Date of issue Place of issue Serial number of the order or medal Number of the award document Remarks


Other remarks:

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Kondrakhin, Nikolai Mikhailovich
2. Rank: Lieutenant
3. Duty position: Platoon Leader – 82mm Mortar Company, 1291st Rifle Regiment, 113th Rifle Division
Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star
4. Born: 1918
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: since September, 1943
7. Previous combat: Patriotic War Steppe Front beginning September, 1943 and 2nd Ukrainian Front since October, 1943
8. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
9. In Red Army: since 14.07.1941
10. Inducted by: Fokin Regional Military Commissariat, Molotov Oblast
11. Previous awards: n/a
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

In fighting 14th-30th November of this year, mortar platoon commander Lieutenant Nikolai Mikhailovich Kondrakhin was among the first to set the example of firing from a mortar on direct lay from an open position. Despite the continuous fire he moved into the infantry’s fighting positions at the necessary moments. Enemy counterattacks especially seize him. At these times he is absolutely fearless. On 22nd November of this year near Krasnaya Konstantinovka, the enemy threw two companies into the counterattack. Comrade Kondrakhin was always present with the mortarmen, often switching out with the gunners.

In this engagement more than a company of enemy infantry was destroyed by him.

He is deserving of the Order of the Red Star.
Signed Commander, 1292nd Rifle Regiment, (?) Vorolev on 2nd December, 1943
Endorsed Commander, 113th Rifle Division, Guards Colonel Dmitriev on 8.12.1943
Awarded the Order of the Red Star by 113th Rifle Division Order 069/N dated 10.12.43. Signed Deputy Chief of Fourth Section, Captain of Administrative Services (?).

Unit Award Order

SECRET

[trans: handwritten “2nd Ukrainian Front 5.03.45”]

113th Rifle Division Order 029/N dated 10th December, 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:

2. Lieutenant Nikolai Mikhailovich Kondrakhin – Platoon Leader, 82mm Mortar Company, 1292nd Rifle Regiment

Signed 113th Rifle Division Commander Guards Colonel Dmitriev and Chief of Staff Major Dubrovskii

3 Copies Printed
Pech. Suchkova
10.12.43

Podvignaroda lists another Order of the Red Star for Lieutenant Nikolai Mikhailovich Kondrakhin, which initially was a recommendation for an Order of the Patriotic War in 2nd Class. That citation, shown here, upgraded/downgraded, I am not sure which, that recommendation to an Order of the Red Star. It is then listed as an Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, and then shown on Podvignaroda as a Red Star. Once the Award Card is located I am hopeful this documentary inconsistency will be resolved, unless any of my collector colleagues can shed some light on the matter. This remains a work in progress. . .

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Kondrakhin, Nikolai Mikhailovich
2. Rank: Lieutenant
3. Duty position: Platoon Leader – Mortar Company, 1288th Rifle Regiment, 113th Lower Dniester Red Banner Rifle Division
Recommendation for the Order of the Patriotic War II
4. Born: 1918
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: candidate member since September 1943. Candidate card #7409331
7. Previous combat: Patriotic War 7.43-16.9.43 on the SW Front, 16.9.43-15.10.43 on the Steppe Front, 29.11.43 – 22.2.44 on the 2nd Ukrainian Front, since 22.2.44 until present on the 3rd Ukrainian Front. 15.10.43-29.11.43 recuperating from wounds, 7.41-10.41 and 5.42-7.43 served (?) and 10.41-5.42 Sretinskoe (?) Academy
8. Wounds or shell-shock: lightly wounded 15.10.43 on the Steppe Front
9. In Red Army: since 7.1941
10. Inducted by: Fokin Regional Military Commissariat, Molotov Oblast
11. Previous awards: Red Star by 113th Rifle Division Order 029/N dated 10.10.43
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

In fighting to penetrate the enemy defense near the village of Yako (Hungary) 28-30.03.45 Comrade Kondrakhin corrected the mortar company’s fire. Upon his command the mortar platoon accurately placed mortar rounds on the enemy. In this fighting the mortar platoon destroyed three heavy machineguns and their crews and as many as 40 German soldiers. The mortar platoon’s fire caused heavy enemy losses, thus supporting our rapid advance, entering the enemy trenchline, then assaulting and capturing the village of Yako.

I am submitting Lieutenant N.M. Kondrakhin for the Order of the Patriotic War II Class.

Signed Commander, 1288th Rifle Regiment, Colonel Alekhin on 8th April, 1945
Endorsed Commander, 113th Lower Dniester Red Banner Rifle Division, General-Major Ki(?) on 14th April, 1945

Awarded the Order of the Red Star by 64th Rifle Corps Order 022/N dated 18.4.45, signed Corps Deputy Chief of Personnel Captain Ermolaenko

Unit Award Order

SECRET

64th Danube Rifle Corps Order 022/N dated 18th April, 1945

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 Patriotic War II Class to:

8. Lieutenant Nikolai Mikhailovich Kondrakhin – Mortar Platoon Leader, 1288th Rifle Regiment, 113th Lower Dniester Red Banner Rifle Division

Signed 64th Danube Rifle Corps Commander Guards General-Major Kravtsov and Corps Chief of Personnel Guards Major Konushkin

3 Copies Printed

Lieutenant Nikolai Mikhailovich Kondrakhin's Order of the Red Star, #411674.

My thanks to Paul Schimtt for his invaluable assistance.