Russia – Soviet: A Siege of Breslau Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Captain Ivan Ivanovich Chevyrev, Assistant Chief of the Personnel Department, Artillery of the 6th Army, 1st Ukrainian Front for undertaking missions to study and take account of the officer cadres during the fierce street battles during the fighting for Breslau.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, numbered 530604
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Ivan Ivanovich Chevyrev was born in the city of Ryazhsk, Sloboda during 1914. A Russian national, he attained a higher level of education before joining the Red Army in June 1941.
Initially serving with the Voronezh Front in 1941, he would take part in the defence of Moscow, being awarded the medal for the defence of the city.
His first gallantry award would be the Medal for Bravery by decree of the 40th Army on 27th February 1943 most likely for an act during the fighting for the city of Kharkov which changed hands twice during the month, firstly liberated by the Red Army and then swiftly recaptured by the Germans.
At some time during 1943 he is noted as having been concussed, although it is unclear when specifically.
Serving throughout the war, Chevyrev’s final numbered award would be this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class issued to him whilst serving as Captain and Assistant Chief of the Personnel Department, Headquarters of the Commander of Artillery, 6th Army for the following:
‘Working as Assistant Chief of the Personnel Department of the army’s artillery. Captain Chevyrev I.I. has been the exemplar of industriousness in his work.
He runs the assigned area of work correctly. He accomplishes all assignments on time and conscientiously.
In the conditions of an offensive by forces of the Army, Comrade Chevyrev, without regard to his personal time, carefully carried out his primary work on awarding and attestations for the personnel and other work on the registration and appointment of the officer corps. He also conducted operations missions from headquarters, driving out to the units in the field.
During battles for Breslau, Comrade Chevyrev on numerous occasions carried out missions to study and take account of the officer cadres, with this goal driving out directly to the units’ combat lines.
In conditions of fierce street battles, Comrade Chevyrev is cool and collected.
He is fully deserving of the Government award of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
Breslau was the last major German city to surrender during the war, this happening on 6th May 1945 after a long and bloody siege that had lasted for six months.
Surviving the war in February 1946 he would be serving as a the Base Commandant, Central Military Base No. 46 in the city of Reutovo.
