Sergei Frolovich Plotnikov

Sergei Frolovich Plotnikov

Order of Glory, 3rd Class nr. 477844 was awarded by Order of the 13th Army of June 6, 1945 to 34- or 35-year-old Guards Junior Sergeant Sergei Frolovich Plotnikov, gun crew member in the 3rd Battalion, 39th Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade, 13th Army, 1st Ukrainian Front.

Award citation

1. Last name, first name, and patronymic: Plotnikov, Sergei Frolovich
2. Rank: Guards Junior Sergeant
3. Position and unit: Gun crew member in the 39th Kiev-Rovno Twice Red Banner Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov, and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade

Nominated for: Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class

4. Year of birth: 1910
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership and period: Not a member
7. Participation in the Patriotic War: Since April 10, 1942
8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: No
9. Since when in the Red Army: Since April 8, 1941
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Bolshoye Soldatskoye Raion, Kursk Oblast
11. Previous awards (for which achievements): Medal for Combat Merit by Order of the 19th Guards Army Cannon Artillery Regiment nr. 10/N of August 12, 1943
12. Permanent home address: _______________

Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:

During the breakthrough of the enemy defenses near the Neisse River on April 16, 1945, Guards Junior Sergeant Plotnikov operated his gun efficiently and without interruptions, thus ensuring fast and accurate fire was brought down upon the enemy's firing positions. During the fighting the gun layer had to act as gun commander, after which his place was taken by Guards Junior Sergeant Plotnikov, who applied all his skill in aiming the gun at its targets. As a result of the fast and accurate way in which he aimed the gun at its targets, 3 enemy guns were destroyed, their crews dispersed, and up to a company of enemy infantry was killed.

On April 20, 1945, when the gun was firing over open sights on the western bank of the Spree River, Guards Junior Sergeant Plotnikov spotted a group of German soldiers and officers seeking to flee. He opened fire at them with his light machine gun, killing as many as 20 soldiers and officers.

For the valor and bravery he displayed in combat with the German-fascist invaders during the breakthrough of the enemy defenses on the Neisse River and the western bank of the Spree River, I nominate Guards Junior Sergeant Plotnikov for the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class.

Commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion
Guards Major [signed] /Slesarenko/
May 6, 1945

Order of Glory, 3rd Class nr. 477844 with order booklet

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