Soviet Medal for Combat Merit #22861

Description

 

 

 

Soviet Medal for Combat Merit #22861 Type 1

 

Awarded to Chief Petty Officer Yefim Yakovlevich Marushchenko (Ефим Яковлевич Марущенко)

 

For risking his life on the battleship ‘Marat’

 

 

 

Made of solid silver. Measurements; 32.16 mm in diameter and 2.87 mm in thickness. The height of the medal; 36.32 mm (including the eyelet). The eyelet itself is 4.92 in width and the medal weighs 17.3 gram without its suspension. The suspension measures 25.02 mm in width at its narrowest point and 30.86 at its widest point. 

 

The medal is in great, well above average condition with only some small dings and scratches. Nothing distracting from the overall appeal of the medal. The details are all present and well visible and the enamel is flawless. The silver suspension is original as is the silver screw, the nut, the plate holding the ribbon and the screw plate tightening it all up. However, the known serial number range for this first type medal is between 9 and 30308. Since type 1 medals have a different suspension it is hard to say if it belongs to the medal or not. The ribbon is wrong but it is obvious that this was done a long time ago. We therefor, as always, choose to let it be the way it is. On request we can deliver a new red ‘correct’ ribbon if you decide differently.

 

Interesting information: The citation mentions a German airstrike on the Marat the 23rd of September 1941. That day the ship was sunk by the doings of Stuka pilot Oberleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel. 326 sailors died on board (source). Below a Luftwaffe aerial photograph of Marat in Kronstadt that day.

 

 

Interesting research and in excellent condition. Scarce as such!

 

Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or accomplishments

“During combat on September 16 comrade Marushchenko was thrown overboard by an explosion. Coincidentally, his gas mask got caught behind a broken pole. From the cold water he got back onto the ship and immediately returned to his battle station. Risking his life, he put out the burning ammunition stocks. Upon extinguishing the fire, he put together a gun crew using four seamen from other sections and opened fire at the enemy troops who had reached the shores near the Pishmash Factory.

On September 23, 1941, when fascist aircraft launched an airstrike on our ship and aerial bombs were falling, he put together a gun crew using men from outside the antiaircraft section in order to ward off additional attacks by the fascist aircraft and opened fire at the enemy aircraft attacking the ships in Kronstadt harbor.”

 

Full translation of the research: Translation_Marushchenko

 

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