Copy of the Award Commendation. Single sheet 7 ¼" x 9 ¼", front and verso. This is a carbon copy of the original commendation, made for archival purposes. Due to the wear or low quality of the carbon paper, the text is somewhat blurred but is completely legible. In excellent condition: the paper is clean, unwrinkled and pliant, showing just barely noticeable corner bumps.

Military Archival Photo. Measures 2 ¾": x 4 ¼", printed on glossy photo paper. The verso shows a handwritten ID certification entry bearing the seal of the 87th Heavy Tank Regiment and is

Copy of the Award Commendation. Single sheet 7 ¼" x 9 ¼", front and verso. This is a carbon copy of the original commendation, made for archival purposes. Due to the wear or low quality of the carbon paper, the text is somewhat blurred but is completely legible. In excellent condition: the paper is clean, unwrinkled and pliant, showing just barely noticeable corner bumps.

Military Archival Photo. Measures 2 ¾": x 4 ¼", printed on glossy photo paper. The verso shows a handwritten ID certification entry bearing the seal of the 87th Heavy Tank Regiment and is hand-signed by its Chief of Staff. In very good to excellent condition. The image is in sharp focus, especially the awards: the Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner, and Medal for Victory over Germany. Tilting the photo to reflect a bright light reveals minor cracks to the emulsion at the left edge, and indentations from paper clips at top left. However, this wear is practically invisible when looking at the photo at a normal viewing angle. The seal and handwritten entry on the verso are clear and perfectly legible except for a line of dried glue that obscures one line of the text but not its meaning.

Vasily Panov was born in 1923 in a village in the Tula Region, finished the compulsory seven years of public school, worked in the local collective farm, then attended a textile vocational school in the Moscow Region. In the Red Army since August 1941. In September 1943 Panov graduated from the Stalingrad Tank School which was then evacuated to the city of Kurgan. Fought with the First Ukrainian Front, was contused in February 1945.

Then Lieutenant, Panov especially distinguished himself in the Battle of Berlin. On 2 May 1945, he assumed command of his company to replace its wounded commander and continued fighting, succeeding in the capture of the Schoneberg and Charlottenburg railroad stations, two districts to the south and west of the center of Berlin. His company's advancement completed the encirclement of Berlin. In the course of the battle, his company destroyed a large number of enemy tanks, guns and vehicles, and captured nearly 400 different vehicles and about 3,200 German troops. For his heroic actions that day, Lieutenant Vasily Panov was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Earlier, in January 1945, Tank Squad Commander Lieutenant Panov attacked the enemy while on a reconnaissance mission. His squad suppressed the enemy and captured Bergdorf and Kaulshorst, two Eastern suburbs of Berlin. For his action, Panov was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner.

Panov remained in the army until he was discharged to army reserve in 1966 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He lived in Moscow and died in 1990. He was buried at the Nikolo-Arkhangelskoye Cemetery in Moscow.

Research Materials: copy of the article about Panov in the catalog Heroes of the Soviet Union (contains his photo).

Please note that the pen in our photo is for size reference.
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