Tuesday 7 July 2015

Another Heroic Sherman

"Award Order
  • Name: Sologub, Nikolai Andreevich
  • Rank: Lieutenant
  • Position, unit: tank commander, 134th Tank Regiment, 30th Noviy Bug, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Cavalry Division
    is nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
  1. Year of birth: 1915
  2. Nationality: Russian
  3. In the Red Army since: 1939
  4. Party affiliation: VKP(b) member since 1942
  5. Participation in battle: Crimean Front, North Caucasus Front, South-Western Front, 1st Belorussian Front.
  6. Wounds or concussions: concussed on May 2nd, 1942
  7. Previous awards: none
  8. Recruited by: Zdvin recruitment office, Novosibirsk oblast
Brief and specific description of heroism: Lieutenant Sologub, a commander of an M4A2 medium tank, is a brave and courageous officer tanker.

His tank regiment received the order to make a 40 km long raid along the enemy rear and capture the railroad junction and city of Stolbtsy on the Neman river. Comrade Sologub demonstrated the height of courage in this battle. He was the first to burst into the city and take the enemy by surprise. Battle raged on for the large railroad bridge in the center of the city. Tank units, including comrade Sologub, fought for 4 hours. The enemy was knocked out of the city. Comrade Sologub's personal score in the battle for Stolbtsy consisted of an armoured train, 3 guns, up to 10 machinegun nests, and up to 50 soldiers and officers.

On July 17th, 1944, the 30th Cavalry Division continued their raid and captured Videmlya, blocking the Kamenets-Brest highway. The enemy decided to take back the road and sent 12 tanks supported by artillery against the 138th Cavalry Regiment. The situation was critical. Lieutenant Sologub received an order: stop the enemy tanks. Bravely driving towards the enemy, Lieutenant Sologub waited until he was within 500-600 meters and then opened fire. The first few shots set two tanks on fire. The stunned fascist tankers started firing chaotically, turning in every direction. Comrade Sologub's tank was hit in the engine compartment and he could not move. The enemy, seeing that he was in trouble, got cocky. Comrade Sologub decided to keep firing from his disabled tank. One after another, two more tanks were knocked out. The rest routed and ran. In this battle, comrade Sologub destroyed 4 heavy tanks and up to 100 Germans. His heroic act affected the success of battle for the whole division; the Germans did not attack again that day. Lieutenant Sologub is worthy of the highest state award: the title of Hero of the Soviet Union."

CAMD RF 33-793756-45

The heavy tanks mentioned in the award order are likely Panthers, since the closest heavy tank battalion was quite a bit further to the north, at Grodno.

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