Description:

Harry S. Truman Signed Legion of Merit Citation Awarded to Soviet Airman Veteran

A World War II-era Legion of Merit certificate awarded to a Soviet Airborne Division officer, along with the corresponding citation, the latter signed by 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972).

The lot is comprised of:

1. A 1p typed document entitled "Citation for the Legion of Merit / Degree of Legionnaire" signed by President Harry S. Truman as "Harry S Truman" at the center. N.d., n.p. On a single leaf of watermarked stationery with "The White House / Washington" embossed in blue at the top. Numbered and pencil inscribed in Russian at upper right. Isolated minor wrinkles, else near fine. 8" x 10.5."

The citation was awarded to "Major General Dmitri Drubushef, Assistant Commanding General, 5th Guard Airborne Division, Red Army," who "displayed exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and contributed materially to the success of combined operations in Europe."

2. The official "Legion of Merit" award, granted to Major General Dmitri Drubushef. Issued from Washington, D.C. on April 9, 1945. Countersigned by Edward F. Witsell (1891-1969), U.S. Army Adjutant General from 1946 to 1951; and by Robert P. Patterson (1891-1952), U.S. Secretary of War from September 1945 to July 1947.
Partly printed and partly typed on cream stock paper, with an embossed colorful Legion of Merit emblem at top, and a blind embossed "War Department" seal at the bottom center. Docketed in Russian at upper right. Expected light wear including isolated foxing and light edge wrinkles, else near fine. 12" x 9.875."

Legion of Merit citations awarded to foreign nationals are rare, and most became available on the American collector's market following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

No personal details about the Legion of Merit recipient Major General Dmitri Drubushef can be traced. However, the 5th Guard Airborne Division to which Drubushef was attached had been established by the Stavka, or Soviet military high command, in the fall of 1942. Soviet airborne forces were sometimes converted into rifle divisions and attached to the infantry as auxiliary forces. It was in this capacity that the 5th Guard Airborne Division accompanied the Red Army as it charged its way through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Austria, and Hungary towards the end of World War II. The 5th Guard Airborne Division, along with the 2nd Ukrainian Front and 3rd Ukrainian Front, participated in the Vienna Offensive which had liberated the city by mid-April 1945.

The 5th Guard Airborne Division of the Soviet Red Army is the direct military antecedent of the 169th Training Centre, part of the modern-day Ukrainian Ground forces.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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June 22, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
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