Ivan Dmitriyevich Rakhno

Ivan Dmitriyevich Rakhno

Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class nr. 571763 was awarded by Order of the Central Group of Forces of November 2, 1945 to 41-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Dmitriyevich Rakhno, military commandant of the Polish city of Bytom (German: Beuthen).


Promotions	Date
Lieutenant	1936
Captain	1940
Major	February 7, 1942
Lieutenant Colonel	August 18, 1943

Award citation

All fields to be filled out fully

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Rakhno, Ivan Dmitriyevich
2. Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
3. Position and unit: Military commandant of the city of Beuthen (Poland)

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

4. Year of birth: 1904
5. Nationality: Ukrainian
6. Party affiliation: Member of the Communist Party
7. Participation in the Civil War, the subsequent combat actions to defend the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where and when): In the Patriotic War since 1941
8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: No
9. Since when in the Red Army: Since 1931
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the city of Dnepropetrovsk
11. Previous awards (for which accomplishments): Order of the Red Star and Medal for Combat Merit
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and his family's address: _______________

Short, concrete description of his feat of arms or accomplishments:

Comrade Rakhno entered the city along with forward elements of the Red Army. Fires had taken hold of the city and the population of the city and neighboring villages were plundering warehouses, stores, and businesses. He quickly managed to establish strict order. All fires were immediately extinguished, all of the city's businesses were saved, and within a few days they started manufacturing goods for the Red Army. Electric power, water supply, and tram lines were restored for the city's population. Thanks to his perseverance, by April 15, 1945 the large Juhlenhütte[?] Ironworks, the Bobrin[Bobrek] Power Plant, and a number of other companies had been dismantled and transported to the USSR.

By May 1, 1945 a monument to the fallen soldiers and officers of the Red Army had been erected in the city.

Within the city excellent military order and outstanding revolutionary vigilance are being observed.

He fully deserves the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class.

For the chief of the Section for the Supervision of Military Commandant's Offices, 1st Ukrainian Front
Lieutenant Colonel [signed by deputy] /Y. Repin/
June 6, 1945

Ivan Dmitriyevich Rakhno

Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class nr. 571763, obverse and reverse