Document for a Medal for the Defense of Odessa, awarded on
12 September 1944 to Sergeant Major Petr Sokolov. The
document shows an ink stamp of the Ordzhonikidze Infantry
Officer School and is hand-signed by its commander Col.
Zadorin.
The document is in good condition. It has been folded
several times for storage. Although it has developed
separations at the edges along the fold lines, the document
is sound. Some of the folds have been strengthened with
clear tape applied to verso. There are no missing parts or
significant wear to the edges; the document is clean having
only some minor spots and normal age toning. The text is
completely legible.
Comes with a photocopy of the award decree for the Odessa
Medal issued by the Ordzhonikidze Officer School where Sgt.
Maj. Sokolov was apparently enrolled at the time. According
to the decree, Sokolov took part in the defense of Odessa
as
a squad leader of the reconnaissance scout company of the
157th Rifle Division. Based on the order of battle
information available in the Vol. VIII "Red Legions"
by C. Sharp, this division arrived to Odessa by sea in late
September from Taman Peninsula to reinforce the beleaguered
garrison that had been isolated by the Nazi advances. It
remained in the city through the end of the next month,
until the end of the heroic defense, and its surviving
troops were successfully evacuated by the Soviet Black Sea
Fleet to fight another day - most prominently, in the
December 1941 landing on the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea. In
May of the following year, the division took severe losses
when the Crimean Front crumbled under the German
Trappenjagd
offensive, but bulk of its forces escaped once again to
Taman; from there, the division was sent to fight at
Stalingrad as part of the 64th Army. Its performance at
Stalingrad was so remarkable that it earned it the title of
a Guards unit, and it was re-designated 76th Guards Rifle
Division.
We can only guess at this point about Sgt. Maj. Sokolov's
exploits while he was serving as a recon squad leader with
this illustrious division. His conduct apparently had been
impressive enough judging by the fact that he was sent to
an
officer school. We can assume that he probably got
commissioned before the end of the war, and that his
service
record - as well as record of any decorations he may have
earned - should be available in the Russian archives. His
Odessa award document may well be worth further research.
Item# 31586
$340.00 