This rather worn looking Type 1, Variation 1, Order of the Great Patriotic War, 2nd Class, number 345 (converted from hanging) was awarded to Major Nikolai Semyonovich Pentyashkin on 08 August 1942.
Major (later Colonel) Pentyashkin was a professional soldier, having served in the Red Army since 1918. He had been in combat against the invading Germans since July 1941, and had received a head wound in the battle for the town of Elnya, from an enemy shell splinter.
The only award he had prior to this one was an Order of the Red Star, for his command under fire against the Germans in January 1942. He would later end the War with an Order of Lenin, Order of Suvorov 3rd Class, and many, many other orders and medals.
August 1942 found him at the front with the 164th Rifle Division, which had only been in combat since July 1942. The next month, the division became part of the attacks near Rzhev, and was quickly losing both ground and people...
Awards List
Name: Pentyashkin, Nikolai Semenovich
Military Rank: Major
Position, Section: Chief of Staff, 1221st Reserve Motorized Howitzer Regiment
Awarded with: Order of the Red Banner
1.Date of Birth: 1913
2.Nationality: Russian
3.Joined Red Army in 1918
4.Party Affiliation: a member of the Communist Party
5. Participation in battles (where and when): Since July 1941, Western Front
6.Wounds and contusions: Head wound. He was wounded on October 3, 1941 by an enemy shell splinter during the battle for the city of Elnya.
7.Previous awards (for what distinctions): For his exemplary execution of Command tasking during the fight with the German invaders, he was awarded with the Order of Red Star (the order N110 from January 30, 1942 of the Troops of the Western Front).
8.Joined Red Army: a military professional
9.Permanent home address: Altaiskii krai, Pavlovskii raion, the village of Pavlovsk, B/Staraya street,15.
Short description of personal distinction:
Comrade Pentyashkin N.S. is a tireless, brave commander. An organizer with a thorough knowledge of his business.
Under his command, the headquarters works precisely and accurately. At the Front with the 164th Rifle Division (of the 31st Army) he skillfully organized a reconnaissance of the enemy weapon emplacements.
He discovered 18 enemy artillery emplacements, that were quickly destroyed by the Regiment. His victory here created an opening for the Divisional sections to move forward.
Whenever there were unusual situations or setbacks during the battle, comrade Pentyashkin effectively managed the fire from the Division, providing an opening for the constant advance of our infantry and tanks, leading to victory.
He deserves to be awarded the Governmental order: “Red Banner”.
Commander Regiment Military Regimental Commissar
Colonel Nikitin Commissar Lazarev
08 August 1942
