Photographs
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I am looking for anything related to the 333. Infanterie-Division (Grenadier-Regiment 679, 680, 681 and units 333). Contact me: wolfganghistorica@gmail.com.
Soviet Portrait – Yakov T. Ryabenko – Order of Glory Recipient – 196th Artillery Regiment
€30,00Original Soviet portrait photograph of decorated Red Army veteran Yakov Timofeevich Ryabenko (Рябенко Яков Тимофеевич), a documented Order of Glory recipient.
The reverse identifies the recipient as: Ryabenko Yakov Timofeevich. Photographed: 15 January 1968
Archival research confirms Ryabenko served as a gunner (layer) in the: 196th Artillery Regiment
Born in 1926, Ryabenko entered the Red Army in May 1943 and fought on the Baltic Front during the Great Patriotic War.
Award records show he was recommended for the Order of Glory III Class for bravery during offensive combat operations in 1944.
During fighting near Soldatskie Uchastki, Ryabenko’s battery moved into firing positions under intense enemy artillery and mortar fire. When the regular gun-layer became a casualty, Ryabenko immediately assumed the role himself and continued combat operations under fire.
His actions contributed directly to:
- Destruction of 1 enemy firing position
- Suppression of enemy resistance
- Support of Soviet offensive operations
For courage, initiative, and steadfastness in battle, he was awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class, one of the most respected Soviet enlisted bravery awards.
The portrait shows Ryabenko later in life wearing his wartime decorations and campaign medals.
Included:
- Original named Soviet portrait photograph
- Handwritten identification on reverse
- Digital scan of wartime award documentation
- Full research on recipient and service history
A desirable researched Soviet portrait grouping belonging to a decorated artillery veteran and Order of Glory recipient.
Soviet Officer Portrait – Captain Petro M. Ryabenko – Red Star Recipient, Communications Battalion Commander
€25,00Original 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.
Soviet Tank Officer Portrait – Lt. Colonel V.K. Sergeev – T-34 Commander – Multiple Awards
€45,00Original 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.
Soviet Guards Officer Portrait – Guards Captain Ivan V. Melnik – 35th Guards Tank Brigade – Stalingrad – Multi Award Recipient
€35,00Original 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.
Soviet Officer Portrait – Engineer-Major V.P. Pisimorev – Medal for Courage Recipient – 27th Rifle Division
€20,00Original Soviet portrait photograph of Engineer-Major Vladimir Pavlovich Pisimorev (Владимир Павлович Писиморев).
The reverse is officially stamped and signed by the personnel department of Military Unit 25580, certifying the identity of the photographed individual in 1969, making this a fully named and documented Soviet portrait.
Research confirms Pisimorev served in the Red Army during the Second World War as a radio operator in a mortar battery of the 725th Rifle Regiment, 27th Rifle Division.
He was awarded the highly respected Medal for Courage (Медаль “За Отвагу”) in July 1944.
According to his wartime award citation, during combat operations near Grumlinki on 26 July 1944, Pisimorev displayed exceptional courage under heavy enemy fire by repairing 12 breaks in communication lines, ensuring uninterrupted communications between divisional headquarters and his battery.
During this action he was seriously wounded in the head and leg.
For his bravery and devotion to duty he was awarded the Medal for Courage, one of the Soviet Union’s most respected decorations for personal battlefield heroism.
The portrait also shows him later in service wearing multiple decorations and campaign medals, reflecting a long military career after WWII, ultimately reaching the rank of Engineer-Major.
A highly attractive researched Soviet grouping, ideal for collectors of Red Army portraits, Soviet awards, and named WWII militaria.
Soviet Officer Portrait – Lt. T.Y. Tverdokhleb – Order of the Red Star Recipient – 387th Rifle Division
€20,00Original wartime / early postwar Soviet portrait photograph depicting Lieutenant Timofei Yakovlevich Tverdokhleb (Тимофей Яковлевич Твердохлеб) in uniform.
A very attractive named portrait showing Tverdokhleb wearing his wartime decorations, including the Order of the Red Star and two campaign medals, identified as:
- Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus
- Medal for Victory over Germany
- Order of the Red Star
The reverse is fully handwritten and identifies him as:
Lieutenant Timofei Yakovlevich Tverdokhleb
Chief of Supply / Economic Service
871st Rifle Regiment
387th Rifle Division
Research confirms Tverdokhleb served from April 1942 onward and participated in combat operations from the Caucasus campaign through to Germany.
He was awarded the Order of the Red Star in July 1945 for distinguished service as a logistics officer. His award citation describes how he repeatedly ensured uninterrupted supply deliveries under heavy combat conditions, often bringing food and essential supplies to frontline troops under enemy fire and in severe terrain.
A notable action mentioned in his award recommendation took place on 26 January 1943, near Samurskaya, where he personally organized and led a supply column through snow, mountainous roads, and enemy shelling to deliver provisions to frontline battalions. His actions ensured the unit remained combat effective.
Excellent display and research item for collectors of Soviet WWII militaria, Red Army portraits, and award-related groupings.