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Original Soviet officer portrait photograph depicting Vasily Ivanovich Naumenko (1920–?), a decorated Soviet anti-aircraft artillery officer and veteran of the Great Patriotic War.

The reverse identifies him as Major Vasily Ivanovich Naumenko, with the portrait dated May 1959, making this a fully named and documented photograph.

Digital archival research links this portrait to Naumenko, who served during the Second World War as a platoon commander within the 522nd Small-Caliber Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

Naumenko, of Belorussian nationality, entered the Red Army in 1939 and participated in combat operations from 1941 onward. He was a Communist Party member from 1942 and served throughout the war without recorded wounds.

Archival records confirm he was awarded the Medal “For Battle Merit” and later the Order of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды) for distinguished service and exemplary leadership.

The award citations describe Naumenko as one of the regiment’s most capable officers, praised for discipline, leadership, and exceptional skill in training personnel. During combat operations around the Narva River, he distinguished himself through initiative, strong command ability, and successful execution of important combat tasks.

The portrait shows Naumenko later in service as a Major, wearing his wartime decorations, including the clearly visible Order of the Red Star, alongside several Soviet campaign and long-service medals.

A highly attractive researched Soviet officer portrait with strong wartime provenance, named identification, and documented frontline service. A desirable piece for collectors of Soviet militaria, anti-aircraft units, and researched Eastern Front material.

Included:

• Original portrait photograph
• Digital archival research scans

Original Soviet officer portrait photograph depicting Evstafiy Ilarionovich Sologub (1918–?), a decorated Soviet signal officer and veteran of the Great Patriotic War.

The reverse identifies him as Senior Lieutenant Evstafiy Ilarionovich Sologub, making this a fully named and documented portrait.

Digital archival research links this portrait to Sologub, who served as commander of a telegraph-construction company within the 365th Independent Signal Battalion.

Sologub, a Ukrainian officer, served in the Red Army from 1934 and was drafted by the Veliky Burluk Military Commissariat, Kharkov Region.

He participated in military operations in:

• Western Ukraine
• Northern Bukovina
• Bessarabia
• Great Patriotic War

Archival records confirm he was recommended for the Order of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды) in 1942.

The award citation highlights Sologub’s exceptional courage and dedication while maintaining vital frontline communications under extremely dangerous combat conditions. During combat operations between 13–20 April, communications lines were repeatedly destroyed under intense enemy shelling.

Leading by personal example, Sologub operated under heavy fire, crossed flooded terrain, and personally supervised the restoration of damaged communication lines. Despite severe battlefield conditions, he remained at his post until communications were fully restored.

His unit was recognized as one of the strongest within the battalion, and his service was praised as a model of leadership, reliability, and battlefield determination.

The portrait shows Sologub wearing his wartime decorations, including the clearly visible Order of the Red Star, along with several Soviet campaign medals.

A highly attractive researched Soviet officer portrait with strong wartime provenance, named identification, and documented frontline service. A desirable piece for collectors of Soviet militaria, signal corps material, and researched Eastern Front groups.

Included:

• Original portrait photograph
• Digital archival research scans

Original vintage Soviet officer portrait photograph depicting Mikhail Leontievich Beketov (1921–?), a decorated Red Army officer and veteran of the Great Patriotic War.

Beketov served as a Lieutenant and communications platoon commander in the 229th Rifle Regiment, 52nd Rifle Division. Archival award research confirms he entered the Red Army in March 1941 and served at the front from July 1941 onward, seeing heavy combat throughout the war.

During his wartime service, Beketov was wounded three times:

• 24 August 1941 – serious chest wound
• 18 August 1943 – gunshot wound to left thigh
• 17 November 1943 – wounded in left arm during fighting in the Kirovograd region

Despite repeated wounds, he continued frontline service and distinguished himself as a communications officer under heavy enemy fire.

Digital archival research shows Beketov was awarded the Order of the Red Star for bravery and exceptional service. His citation states he maintained critical battlefield communications under intense combat conditions, personally repaired communication lines, ensured uninterrupted command between battalion headquarters and frontline units, and during combat personally eliminated 5 German soldiers while capturing 3 enemy soldiers prisoner.

The portrait shows Beketov wearing his wartime and postwar decorations, including the clearly visible Order of the Red Star, along with multiple Soviet campaign/service medals.

An excellent researched Soviet officer portrait with strong wartime history, combat awards, and documented frontline service. A highly desirable piece for collectors of Soviet militaria, researched award groups, and Eastern Front material.

Included:

• Original portrait photograph
• Digital research scans of archival award documents

Original Soviet military portrait photograph of decorated Red Army officer Captain Petro Mikhailovich Ryabenko (surname slightly difficult but appears to read Ryabenko / Rybchenko).

The reverse carries official military identification, while archival research links the portrait to a documented wartime award recipient.

Research confirms Ryabenko served as: Captain – Commander, 10th Separate Communications Battalion

Born in 1918, Ukrainian, and serving in the Red Army from 1939, he participated in frontline combat operations during the Great Patriotic War.

Award records show that during intense fighting against German forces in July 1943, Captain Ryabenko successfully commanded communications operations between 10–22 July 1943, ensuring uninterrupted radio and communications links under extremely difficult battlefield conditions.

Despite heavy:

• artillery fire
• mortar fire
• aerial bombardment

he maintained reliable communications essential for command coordination and combat effectiveness.

The citation notes that his unit completed all assigned tasks successfully and suffered no losses.

For exemplary leadership and outstanding performance under combat conditions, he was recommended for a state award. The recommendation was upgraded from the Medal for Combat Merit to the Order of the Red Star.

The portrait shows him in early postwar uniform wearing his wartime decorations, including the Order of the Red Star and campaign medals.

Included:

• Original named Soviet military portrait photograph
• Official identification on reverse
• Digital scan of wartime award sheet
• Full recipient research

A highly desirable researched Soviet portrait grouping belonging to a decorated communications officer and wartime Order of the Red Star recipient.

Original Soviet portrait photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Valentin Konstantinovich Sergeev (Валентин Константинович Сергеев). The reverse is officially typed, stamped, and signed, identifying the photographed officer as: Lieutenant Colonel Valentin Konstantinovich Sergeev. Photographed: 28 June 1965

A highly attractive researched Soviet officer portrait showing Sergeev wearing an impressive array of wartime and postwar decorations, including multiple combat awards earned during frontline service as a T-34 tank commander.

Research confirms Sergeev served as commander of a T-34 tank in the 87th Separate Tank Zhytomyr Red Banner Regiment attached to the 7th Guards Cavalry Zhytomyr Red Banner Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Division

Born in 1925, Sergeev entered the Red Army in 1942 and fought from an early age in major offensive operations during the later stages of the war. His wartime award citations document repeated acts of bravery and aggressive leadership during combat operations in 1944–1945.

Known awards include:

• Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class
• Order of the Red Star
• Second Order of the Red Star
• Campaign and victory medals
• Additional postwar service decorations

One award citation from July 1944 describes Sergeev skillfully leading his T-34 during breakthrough operations, where his tank destroyed:

• 4 enemy machine-gun positions
• 1 enemy tank
• Up to 30 enemy soldiers and officers

When his platoon commander came under enemy fire, Sergeev assumed command and continued the attack successfully.

Another citation from 19 July 1944 credits him with destroying:

• 1 mortar battery
• 2 machine-gun positions
• Enemy infantry concentrations

A later 1945 citation highlights his reconnaissance and combat leadership during final offensive operations in Central Europe. During heavy fighting, he personally engaged enemy automatic weapons and anti-tank teams while helping identify enemy concentrations and enabling successful armored operations.

The portrait beautifully reflects his decorated military career, showing a veteran officer who rose from young frontline tank commander to Lieutenant Colonel.

Included:

• Original named Soviet portrait photograph
• Officially stamped identification on reverse
• Multiple wartime award recommendation scans
• Full research on recipient and service history

An outstanding researched Soviet tank officer grouping with exceptional historical appeal, ideal for collectors of Soviet armor, WWII tank warfare, and named Red Army award groups.

Original Soviet portrait photograph of Ivan Vasilyevich Melnik (Иван Васильевич Мельник), officially identified on the reverse with military stamp and signature dated 11 March 1963.

A highly attractive researched Soviet officer portrait showing Melnik wearing an impressive array of wartime and postwar decorations, including multiple orders and medals.

Research confirms Melnik served in the Red Army from 1940 onward and rose to the rank of Guards Captain, serving as Assistant Chief of the Political Department of the 35th Guards Tank Brigade.

This researched group includes multiple wartime award recommendation sheets documenting his distinguished frontline service.

Known awards include:

• Order of the Red Star
• Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class
• Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad
• Additional campaign and long-service medals

An early award recommendation from December 1942—during the period of the Battle of Stalingrad—describes Melnik displaying courage and exceptional leadership under heavy artillery fire and aerial bombardment.

Comrade Melnik, serving in the 550th Rifle Regiment (126th Rifle Division) since 30 November, has shown himself to be a disciplined and brave commander. On 19 December 1942, in the area of height 116.2, despite strong enemy artillery fire and bombardment by hostile aircraft, Comrade Melnik and his company did not retreat from their assigned position and firmly held their sector. Thanks to his skillful leadership, the assigned combat mission given to the unit was fully accomplished. He is devoted to the cause of Lenin-Stalin and the Socialist Motherland.

Later citations from 1944–1945 document his service with Guards armored formations, where he distinguished himself as a political officer during offensive combat operations, repeatedly operating near frontline positions under dangerous battlefield conditions.

His award documents praise his leadership, devotion to duty, and significant contribution to maintaining morale and discipline during combat.

Included:

• Original named Soviet portrait photo
• Officially stamped identification on reverse
• Multiple wartime award citations (digital scans)
• Full research on recipient and service history

A highly desirable researched Soviet officer grouping with strong historical appeal, ideal for collectors of Soviet militaria, armored warfare, and Red Army award groups.