Russia – Soviet: A Lower Silesia offensive Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Guards Sergeant P.M. Mulenko, Crew Commander, 23rd Rifle Regiment, 9th Guards Air Assault Division who during the fighting in Lower Silesia in mid-February 1945 destroyed over 20 Germans with his mortar as well as two machine guns and an enemy grenade launcher.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, reverse numbered 271623
Condition: Good Very Fine
Pyotr Makarovich Mulenko was born in the village of Novo-Nikolaevka, Kirovograd during 1922. A Ukrainian national, he attained an Elementary to Middle School education before serving in the Red Army from 11th December 1943.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class was his first decoration, issued by decree of the 9th Guards Air Assault Division on 29th March 1945 whilst serving as a Guards Sergeant and Mortar Crew Commander, 23rd Guards Airborne Regiment and was issued as a result of the following recommendation:
‘In battles with the German invaders, Comrade Mulenko proved himself a steadfast and courageous soldier. On 17.2.1945 during battles for the village of Lobush, the enemy laid down heavy artillery and mortar fire. Comrade Mulenko, risking his life, opened devastating fire from his mortar, destroying an enemy medium machine gun and 8 Hitlerites.
On 18.2.1945 in battles for the village of Damsdorf, with fire from his mortar, he destroyed an enemy machine gun and its crew and dispersed a group of infantry, destroying 9 Hitlerites in the process.
On 20.2.1945 during battles for the village of Ronkau, while repelling enemy counterattacks, he destroyed an enemy grenade launcher and 3 Hitlerites with his mortar. In this action, he was himself knocked out by a wound.’
Mulenko would go on to receive an Order of Glory 2nd Class by decree of the 5th Guards Army on 28th May 1945, as well as a medal for the Liberation of Prague and a Medal for the Victory over Germany.
After the war he was working as temporarily unemployed whilst registered with the Znamensky District Military Commissariat, Kirovograd Oblast and living in the village of Novo-Nikolaevka.
