Historical photograph by Kuramshin from July 1945 depicting Regiment Commander R. M. Liberman presenting the Order of the Red Banner for the Battle of Berlin to Major F. M. Zharkoy.
Presentation of the Order of the Red Banner to Major F. M. Zharkoy in Güstrow (July 1945)
This solemn archival photograph, captured by military correspondent Kuramshin in July 1945, documents an official award ceremony held on the parade grounds of the 74th Heavy Tank-Self Propelled Regiment in Güstrow, Germany.
Commander of the regiment, R. M. Liberman, is pictured shaking hands with Deputy Commander Major Filipp Mikhailovich Zharkoy while presenting him with the Order of the Red Banner awarded for courage and tactical leadership during the storming of Berlin.
The Award Ceremony Context
Following the cessation of combat operations and the consolidation of heavy breakthrough units into the 74th Heavy Tank-Self Propelled Regiment, military authorities conducted formal presentations of state decorations earned during the final battles of World War II in Europe:
- Commanding Officers Present: Regiment Commander R. M. Liberman (center right) presents the decoration insignia. Seated at the administrative field desk on the right is Chief of Staff M. Bolokhonkin, recording official award citations and personnel records.
- Valor in the Assault on Berlin: Major Zharkoy served continuously through the Eastern Front campaigns, directing heavy IS-2 armored actions from the Oder River bridgeheads through the heavily defended urban sectors of central Berlin.
- Exclusive Provenance: Preserved within the personal archives of veteran Colonel F. M. Zharkoy (author of the memoir Tank March), this primary document offers an authentic visual record of post-war military recognition.
Archival Significance
Official ceremony photography from July 1945 highlights the formal transition of frontline Red Army combat personnel to peacetime garrison protocols while honoring individual heroism in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
📍 Location: Güstrow, Germany
📅 Date: July 1945
📷 Photographer: Kuramshin (Military Press Corps)
📰 Primary Source: Personal Archive of Colonel F. M. Zharkoy & Regimental Records
Recommended reading:
- Major F. M. Zharkoy: Biography, combat decorations, and the memoir 'Tank March'
- The Order of the Red Banner: Criteria and awards during the Berlin Strategic Offensive
- 74th Heavy Tank-Self Propelled Regiment: Command roster of R. M. Liberman and M. Bolokhonkin
- Post-War Staging in Güstrow: Garrison life of Soviet armored troops in summer 1945