Description

Soviet Order of the Red Banner #561615

Awarded to sapper Afanasy Yakovlevich Nabivach (Афанасий Яковлевич Набивач)

“Be sure to finish clearing this minefield; thus you will wreak vengeance upon the enemy to avenge my blood.”

The canal in the town Kerch

Order of the Red Banner: made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 44.84 mm in height and 36.51 mm in width. It weighs 24.9 gram. The serial number and mint mark are located at the 6 o’clock position of its reverse.

The order is in absolute mint condition with crisp details and flawless enamels. The gold plating is fully present and the award comes with its time period double layer steel suspension. Its ribbon is most likely original to the award and its connection ring has not been cut.

Beautiful catch-up award with amazing feats! Scarce as such

Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:

On April 6 Private Nabivach and a group of fellow soldiers were given orders to clear a minefield at the second bridge across the canal in the city of Kerch, which was 10 meters from the enemy, so our advancing units could push forward unimpeded.

At this time the enemy brought down withering fire onto the area where Private Nabivach was working, but he nevertheless continued carrying out his assignment in an utterly composed and persevering manner. When the assignment was nearly finished, an enemy bullet hit a mine which Private Nabivach was disarming.

The mine exploded, tearing off his left arm, blowing out his left eye, and wounding his right arm and entire face. Burning with raging hatred towards the enemy, he did not emit a single sound, in order not to give away his comrades working in the minefield, but merely whispered: “Be sure to finish clearing this minefield; thus you will wreak vengeance upon the enemy to avenge my blood.”

The assignment was then completed.

Private Nabivach is dedicated to the Party of Lenin and Stalin and the Soviet state.

Private Nabivach deserves the Order of the Red Banner.

The full translation of the research can be found here: Translation_Nabivach

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