Description

Soviet Order of Suvorov 3rd class #9591

Awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Pavel Nikolaevich Zubov (Павел Николаевич Зубов)

For breaking through a Finnish strongly fortified and deep defence line by being the first to cross the river Svir, forcing the enemy troops to abandon their advantageous positions and repelling 5 counter attacks killing 150 enemy soldiers

Made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 48.70 mm in height, 50.23 mm in width and weighs 25.4 grams without its screwplate. The serial number and the mint mark Monetni Dvor are located on its reverse. The minimum known serial number is 2142 and the maximum is 12247 but only 4012 3rd classes were made.

This original order of Suvorov is in excellent, well above average condition with flawless enamels and a beautiful dark patina on its obverse. Most details are crisp and even the higher parts of the order show light wear only. Both sides show relatively few dings and scratches and nothing distracting from the overall appeal of the order. There have been no repairs but the screw appears to be shortened by a few millimeters. The order comes with its time period silver screw plate.

A beautiful, rare piece with interesting research!

Short Description of his feat of arms:

“Comrade ZUBOV exhibited exceptional steadfastness and persistence in achieving his combat objectives during the division combat operations for breaking through Finnish strongly fortified and deep defence line since 20.06.1944, in the forced crossing of a body of water – the river Svir, and in the subsequent enemy pursuit operations.

Advancing on the spearhead of the division, comrade ZUBOV’s regiment was the first to reach and force cross the river Svir, which enabled orderly and rapid river crossing by the rest of the main force.

Pursuing the retreating enemy, literally stepping on their hills, he imposed fighting upon the enemy forces and thus denied them opportunity to organise coherent defence on the intermediate positions.

On 26.06.1944, the enemy manned previously prepared defensive line near Megrozero lake. This was a large defensive stronghold surrounded by several rows of barbed obstacles, provided with trenches and fortified firing positions.

Comrade ZUBOV’s regiment, supported by the artillery, swiftly attacked the enemy and inflicted significant losses upon him, forcing the enemy to retreat. By the offensive stance on 27.06.1944, comrade ZUBOV forced the enemy troops to abandon their advantageous positions near the settlement Gora and the regiment later reached and cut over the main road Olonets-Petrozavodsk.

The enemy, trying to regain the lost ground, attempted 5 counter-attacks, which all were repelled with significant losses to the enemy. Only as killed, the enemy sustained up to 150 casualties. A certain amount of military trophies was captured.

Acting on the spearhead of the main force, comrade ZUBOV’s regiment acted energetically and heroically, thus enabling the whole division in accomplishing its combat mission in proper time. He deserves state award – order “SUVOROV III CLASS”.”

Below you can read the full translation of the research:

– register card

– citation

More information on Lt. Col. Zubov can be found here

Translation of the description of the 414th Rifle Regiment, 18th Rifle Division actions of June 1944 (scan in the picture gallery):

SHORT DESCRIPTION of the combat operations of 414 rifle regiment in the breakthrough of the enemy intermediate defence line in front of the river Svir, during the forced crossing of the Svir river in the period 20-24 June 1944.

By 14:00 on 21 June 1944, overcoming the enemy resistance and fighting its way through, the 414 rifle regiment reached the intermediate enemy defence line. The reconnaissance groups uncovered, that the enemy forward line is equipped with two lines of full height trenches with numerous connecting trench branches, a large number of armoured pillboxes, well equipped machine-gun nests with firing fields cleared of obstacles. A number of artillery pillboxes were spotted. The field in front of the enemy trenches was protected by 3-4 uninterrupted lines of tilted barbed wire obstacles (spiral Bruno type), height up to 2 meters. All the bridges across the creeks and paths across the mashes were demolished by the enemy.

As part of the combat objective decision, the commander of 141RR decided to carry all the regimental artillery by hands to the open sights positions, and to organise 3 assault teams, which received specific pillboxes as the assault objectives. There were organised 3 mine field and barbed obstacles clearing teams. One rifle battalion was to engage and hold pressure on the enemy, while the other rifle battalion (coordinating with a battalion from 419RR on the eastern flank) to break through the enemy defence line. The plan was to pass the main enemy fortifications on the eastern flank, where the terrain was most impassible and thus the enemy didn’t expect the main thrust I this sector. The third rifle battalion was to remain in the commanders reserve.

All the assault preparations were finished by 24:00 on 21 June 1944.
At 00:30 on 22 June 1944, the regiment commenced the assault. By 03:00, the enemy intermediate defence line was broken by means of the decisive actions of the assault groups and the flanking battalion, which were supported by massive artillery fire delivered by the regimental artillery.

Exploiting the initial success, the regiment commander engaged a submachine-gunners company reinforced by sappers, which objective was to capture the crossing site across the Svir river in a swift assault.

The main force pursued the enemy, captured the regional centre, town PODPOROZHYE, Leningrad region, and reached the southern bank of Svir river at 08:00 on 22 June 1944.

The submachine-gunners company did’t linger in PODPOROZHYE, but went around on the right side and swiftly approached the floating crossing site on the Svir river. Having eliminated the enemy crossing site guarding detachment on the southern bank, they captured the crossing site, which was fired at by the enemy from the northern bank.

At the same time, the crossing site, which was set ablaze and exploded by the enemy, broke over in one place and began floating away being carried away by the water current.

By energetic effort of the submachine-gunners company and the sappers, the enemy firing points on the other bank were suppressed and it was possible to extinguish fire on the crossing site and pull it back into place by some metal wires.

The submachine-gunners company, not awaiting for arrival of the main regiment force, crossed the river Svir on some improvised floating devises. They pushed the small enemy groups away from the river and thus protected the river crossing for the main force.

By 08:00 on 22 June 1944, the main force reached the Svir river. Those, who could swim, crossed the river themselves holding their weapons. The rest of the troops used available floating devises and boats. By 09:00, the regiment had mostly crossed the river, captured and firmly held the bridgehead, thus enabling proper crossing for the rest of the division forces. At the same time, floats were being constructed for carrying over the regimental artillery and mortar pieces.

Chief of Staff of 18 rifle “Mga” Red Banner Suvorov order II class division.
Colonel /STREBKOV/

Also included in the picture galelry is the combat diary of the 18th Rifle Division of June 1944 and several digital relevant battle maps and operation plans.