SOVIET ORDERS RED STAR & OGPW 2 cl. Cruiser "MOLOTOV" OFFICER RESEARCHED

Description

On offer is the original, rare and complete
group of two Soviet - Order of Red Star and Order of Great Patriotic War 2nd class awarded to Captain-Lieutenant Naumenko - gun group commander of Soviet cruiser "MOLOTOV"
,
with archival research.
Impressive Award Citation - Captain-Lieutenant Naumenko participated in 10 bombardment missions of Germans and Axis troops in support of Soviet troops in Sevastopol, Feodosiya, Staryi Krym, Koktebel, etc.
Also awarded medals "For the Defence of Sevastopol",  "For the Defence of the Caucasus".
As the only ship in the Soviet Navy with radar, Molotov remained in Sevastopol for the initial period of Operation Barbarossa to provide air warning. The advance of German troops into the Crimea in late October 1941 forced her to transfer to Tuapse where she continued to provide air warning.However, the ship did bombard German troops near Feodosiya with nearly 200 180 mm shells on 9 November before returning to Tuapse. Molotov helped to carry the 386th Rifle Division from Poti to Sevastopol between 24 and 28 December 1941. While off-loading troops on 29 December her stern was damaged by German artillery and she shelled Axis positions in retaliation, firing 205 180 mm and 107 100 mm shells. The ship evacuated 600 wounded upon her departure on 30 December.
Molotov reprised her role as a transport during the first week of January. She made a number of bombardment sorties in support of Soviet troops on the Kerch Peninsula until 20 March when she returned to Poti. On 12 June Molotov transported 2998 men of the 138th Rifle Brigade to Sevastopol, shelling German positions while unloading. She evacuated 1065 wounded and 350 women and children as she departed. On 14–15 June the ship returned, carrying 3855 reinforcements in company with other ships, bombarded German positions again, and evacuated 2908 wounded and refugees. On 2 August, while returning from another bombardment mission near Feodosiya, 20 metres (66 ft) of her stern was blown off by Heinkel He 111 torpedo bombers of 6./KG 26 acting in concert with Italian MAS motor torpedo boats.The damage reduced her speed to 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and Molotov had to be steered by her engines. Molotov was under repair at Poti until 31 July 1943
Both orders are in
great condition - there are very minor surface scratches & contact marks - as is common.
Original enamel and nice dark patina.
Included are
electronic copies
of the Award Card, Award Citation and
Prikaz
for Red Star and Officer's Service Record from the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (TsAMO).
English translation is not included.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
.
SHIPPING TO UK, CANADA and USA.