AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Kulish, Boris Appolinarievich.
2. Military Rank: Guards Major.
3. Place of Service: Commander of 2nd Battalion, 49th Guards Mortar Regiment.
Recommended for: Order of Bogdan Khmelnitski 2nd Class.
4. Year of Birth: 1922.
5. Nationality: Russian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the VKP/b/.
7. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): In the Great Patriotic War from August 1941 – Volkhov, Trans-Caucasus, Southern, North-Caucasus Fronts, Independent Shore Army, 4th Ukrainian Front from July 1944 – 1st and 2nd Baltic Fronts and from April 1945 – 1st Belorussian Fronts.
8. Have any Wounds or Contusions in the Great Patriotic War: None.
9. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 1939.
10. Which Call-Up Station: Graduate from 3rd Leningrad Artillery School in 1939.
11. Received Which Awards (from which order): Orders: Red Star – orders of Ch.G.B., T.K.F. N. 08 from 27 Sept. 1942; Great Patriotic War 2nd Class – orders of the Commander of Artillery, O.P. Army No. 034/N from 9 July 1944; Aleksandr Nevsky – orders of Commander of Artillery 6th Guards Army, N. 072/N from 28 October 1944.
12. Home Address: Dnepropetrovskaya Oblast, Yurinskii Region, Village of Shahdrobka.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
On 24 April 1945 while chasing the retreating enemy armies in the region south-west of Frankfurt-an-Oder, our offensive units meet the enemy in the region of the station at Grosspit. The enemy gathered up to 2 battalions of motorized infantry, 8 tanks and tried to consolidate their hold on this point with heavy fire at our units. Moving with the advanced units and having the mission to support the offensive units with his fire, Comrade Kulish ignored enemy fire and quickly prepared information and passed it by radio to fire positions. His units fired three salvos at the center of the enemy’s line. With these salvos up to 100 Germans were killed, 2 tanks were burned and 6 half-tracks destroyed. The German blocking force was repulsed. Our units were able to take over the station and continue to pursue the enemy.
On 1 May 1945, in street battles on the northern part of Berlin, he was at the observation point in one of the buildings. The enemy was firing Panzerfausts and Stankov machine guns from windows and basements trying to stop our infantry. During the firing, he located 12 enemy firing positions at which the battalion salvoed their rockets and destroyed 7 firing points and suppressed the rest of them. On the same day he destroyed 9 more firing positions. Our units were able to capture 8 blocks in the territory of our Division’s actions.
He deserves to be award the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitski 2nd Class.
Commander of the 49th Guards Mortar Regiment,
/s/ Guards Lt. Col. Pankratov
10 May 1945
Deserves to be awarded the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitski 2nd Class.
Commander of Artillery, 3rd Shock Army,
/s/ Guards General-Major of Artillery Morozov
16 May 1945.
Deserves the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitski 2nd Class.
Exec. Commander of Artillery, 1st Belorussian front of G. M. Ch.,
/s/ Guards General-Lt. Of Artillery Shamshin
31 May 1945
By orders of the Commander of Artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front, N. 0211 from 2 June 1945, he is awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Kulish, Boris Appolinarievich.
2. Military Rank: Guards Major.
3. Place of Service: Commander of 2nd Battalion, 49th Guards Mortor Regiment.
Recommended for: Order of the Red Banner.
4. Year of Birth: 1922.
5. Nationality: Ukrainian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the VKP/b/.
7. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): In the Great Patriotic War from August 1941 – Volkhov, Trans-Caucasus, Southern, North-Caucasus Fronts, Independent Shore Army, 4th Ukrainian Front from July 1944 – 1st Baltic Front.
8. Have any Wounds or Contusions in the Great Patriotic War: None.
9. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 1937.
10. Which Call-Up Station: Graduate from 3rd Leningrad Artillery School in 1939.
11. Received Which Awards (from which order): Orders: Red Star – orders of Ch.G.B., T.K.F. N. 08 from 27 Sept. 1942; Great Patriotic War 2nd Class – orders of the Commander of Artillery, O.P. Army No. 034/N from 9 July 1944.
12. Home Address: Dnepropetrovskaya Oblast, Yurinskii Region, Village of Shahdrobka.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
On 5 September 1944 in the region north-west of Zhagare, after spotting a gathering of enemy forces preparing to launch a counterattack, he opened fire on the gathering using his own initiative. The fire of the battalion burned 2 tanks and killed more then a company of enemy infantry. The couterattack was never launched.
On 20 September, in the region south-east of Dobele, Comrade Kulish prevented three more enemy counterattacks of enemy tanks and infantry by launching his battalions salvos on his own initiative. This caused large enemy loses in infantry and equipment. The defensive lines of our units remained strong.
In the period of the offensive battles in the region north-east of _____, Comrade Kulish, with his bravery and creativity made it possible for the battalion and our avangaurd offensive units to constantly move forward. He also conducted fire support at the proper time. The battalion’s salvos in the region of _______ on 6 October 1944 assisted in the quick occupation of strongly fortified enemy positions.
From 8 to 11 October 1944, the supporting units, which were protecting the right flank of the breakthrough, the battalion repelled 3 major enemy counterattacks through the precise fire and initiative shown by Comrade Kulish, and provided for the stable defense of our units.
He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the 49th Guards Mortor Regiment,
/s/ Guards Lt. Col. Pankratov October 1944
Deserves to be awarded the Order of Aleksandr Nevsky.
Commander of Artillery, 6th Guards Army,
/s/ Guards General Lt. Of Artillery, Makarov 25 October 1944
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Kulish, Boris Appolinarievich.
2. Military Rank: Guards Captain.
3. Place of Service: Commander of 270th Guards Mortar Battalion, 49th Guards Mortar Regiment.
Recommended for: Order of the Great Patriotic War 2nd Class.
4. Year of Birth: 1922.
5. Nationality: Ukrainian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the VKP/b/ from Dec. 1942.
7. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): In the Great Patriotic War from August 1941 – Volkhov Front; from April 1942 – Southern, Trans-Caucasus, North Caucasus Fronts, Independent Shore Army.
8. Have any Wounds or Contusions in the Great Patriotic War: None.
9. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 1939.
10. Received Which Awards (from which order): Order of the Red Star by orders of the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, N. 011/N from 7 Nov. 1942.
11. Which RVK Call-up Station: Volunteered in August 1939.
12. Home Address: Dnepropetrovskaya Oblast, Yurinskii Region, Village of Shahdrobka.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
In the battles for the Kerch Peninsula and in the Crimea, the battalion of Comrade Kulish, because of his bravery and initiative, caused large enemy losses in infantry and equipment. Fir example:
On 21 January 1944 on the Kerch Peninsula, while at an observation point, Comrade Kulish spotted a gathering of enemy infantry, which were preparing to counterattack. On his own initiative, he fired a battalion salvo at the gathering. The salvo halted the enemy’s counterattack and dispersed the gathering.
On 10 April 1944 on the Kerch Peninsula, after receiving information from scouts about a gathering of enemy infantry, and after checking it out personally, he authorized the battalion to salvo at the gathering. The salvo caused large enemy losses of infantry and equipment.
During the period of pursuing the enemy, he, through his brave and decisive actions, helped the battalion to move directly with the vanguard of the pursuing units and carried out fire missions at the right time.
On 11 May 1944, in the battle of Sevastopol, the battalion fired on enemy gatherings. This caused the enemy large losses that helped to destroy the Khersonskoi Group of Armies.
He deserves the State Award, the Order of the Great Patriotic War 2nd Class.
Commander of the 49th Guards Mortar Regiment,
/s/ Guards Lt. Col. Pankratov
1944
Deserves the Order of the Great Patriotic War 2nd Class.
Commander of Artillery, 3rd Mountain-Rifle Corps,
/s/ Col. Cheng___
8 June 1944
Deserves the Order of the Great Patriotic War 2nd Class.
Commander of Artillery, Independent Shore Army,
/s/ Guards Colonel Konoplev
6 July 1944
By orders of the Commander of Artillery of the Independent Shore Army, N. 034/N from 9 July 1944, he is awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War 2nd Class.
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Kulish, Boris Appolinarievich.
2. Military Rank: Guards Major.
3. Place of Service: Commander of 2nd Battalion, 49th Guards Mortar Regiment.
Recommended for: Order of the Red Banner.
4. Year of Birth: 1922.
5. Nationality: Ukrainian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the VKP/b/.
7. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): In the Great Patriotic War from August 1941 – Volkhov Front; from April 1942 – Southern, Trans-Caucasus, North Caucasus Fronts, Independent Shore Army; from July 1944 – 1st and 2nd Baltic fronts and from April 1945 on the 1st Belorussian Front.
8. Have any Wounds or Contusions in the Great Patriotic War: None.
9. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 1939.
10. Received Which Awards (from which order): Order of Aleksandr Nevsky by orders of 6th Guards Army, N. 072 from 28 Oct. 1944; Order of the GPW 2nd Class by orders of the Commander of Artillery, I. S. A. N. 03/N from 9 July 1944; Order of the Red Star by orders of the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, N. 011/N from 7 Nov. 1942.
12. Home Address: Dnepropetrovskaya Oblast, Yurinskii Region, Village of Shahdrobka.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
During the period of the offensive battles in the region of Likhtenberg, on 21 April 1945, the enemy put up strong resistance against our offensive units. While at the observation point located with our fighting units of infantry and under intense enemy artillery fire, he personally located the gathering of 2 battalions of enemy infantry and 6 enemy firing points, which were blocking the path of our infantry. He fired 2 battalion salvos at the located enemy targets and as a result destroyed up to 80 Germans, 4 firing positions, and suppressed the fire of 1 mortar battery. With these salvos, he helped out units to successfully move ahead. Without and resistance, our units occupied Likhtenberg.
During the period of pursuing the enemy on 24 April 1945, while at the observation points in the region of Point 42 on the railway near Grosspits, he spotted a gathering of enemy infantry, tracked vehicles, tanks and an ammunition dump. He fired a battalion salvo at the gathering as a result of which were destroyed up to 50 Germans, 2 tanks, 6 tracked vehicles and set fire to the ammunition dump.
In the territory of the military operations of the 2nd Baltic Front on 2 Feb. 1945, in the region of Kaletu, during the period of offensive actions, he moved with a radio to the location of the enemy’s fighting units. While under strong machine gun and artillery fire, he observed the battlefield. The enemy launched a counterattack in the direction of Kaletu of a battalion of infantry and 10 tanks. Ignoring their fire and putting his own life at risk, he quickly prepared the information and fired 2 salvos. These salvos destroyed up to 40 Germans and 4 tanks. The enemy counterattack was halted.
While commanding the battalion over a period of two years, he has carried out all of his military missions at the proper time. The personnel of Comrade Kulish are well coordinated and trained to conduct a battle in any conditions.
He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the 49th Guards Mortar Regiment,
/s/ Guards Lt. Col. Pankratov
25 April 1945
Deserves the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of Artillery, 16th Rifle Corps,
/s/ General-Major of Artillery Kiselev
30 April 1945
Deserves the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the 16th Rifle Corps,
/s/ Guards General-Lt. Dobrovolskii
7 May 1945
By orders of the Commander of Artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front, N. 232 from 9 June 1945, he is awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Kulish, Boris Appolinarievich.
2. Military Rank: Guards Sr. Lt..
3. Place of Service: Commander of 2nd Battery, 271st Guards Mortar Regiment.
Recommended for: Order of the Red Star.
4. Year of Birth: 1922.
5. Nationality: Ukrainian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the VKP/b/.
7. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): In the Great Patriotic War from August 1941.
8. Have any Wounds or Contusions in the Great Patriotic War: None.
9. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 1939.
10. Received Which Awards (from which order): None.
12. Home Address: Dnepropetrovskaya Oblast, Yurinskii Region, Village of Shahdrobka.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
During the period of military actions on the battalion, Sr. Lt. Kulish displayed himself to be a brave and decisive commander.
In the battle near Mokraya Elmuta, on 27 July 1942, his firing position was under strong enemy artillery fire and while ignoring the danger, Sr. Lt. Kulish selflessly stayed under the fire in an open firing position, fired a salvo and as a result destroyed 4 tanks, 69 half-tracks, and suppressed 1 battery of small mortars.
On 2 August 1942 in the battle near Red Poliana, the battalion during ___ days, held off enemy tank attacks. Comrade Kulish, ignoring the closeness of the enemy tanks and strong enemy mortar fire, conducted the battery’s fire from an open firing point. As a result of this the battalion destroyed ___ tanks, 12 armored cars, 175 tracked vehicles and suppressed 1 battery of heavy mortars. On 5 August 1942, in the decisive battle near the Priluzhnii, while escaping from an encircled position, Comrade Kulish, from an open firing position, ignored strong enemy artillery fire, fired point-blank into the enemy’s tank columns. In that battle, the battalion destroyed 16 tanks, _2 tracked vehicles and the Staff of a German Tank Division.
The commanders of the 49th G.M.R. recommend Guards Sr. Lt. Comrade Kulish for the State Award, the Order of the Red Star.
Commander of the 49th Guards Mortar Regiment,
/s/ Guards Lt. Col. Sukhushin
8 Sept. 1942
Additional photos of Kulish's Group
