Details
ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. Two documents signed ("Franklin D. Roosvelt") as President, comprising a Certificate awarding the Legion of Merit to Captain Nikolai Pavlovich Arkhipov, COUNTER-SIGNED BY SECRETARY OF WAR HENRY L. STIMSON, Washington, 26 June 1944, with accompanying typed Citation. Together two pages, 4to. The Certificate printed in multiple typefaces, with embossed design of the Legion of Merit medallion at top center, and embossed seal of the War Office at bottom edge. The Citation is on White House stationery.
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AWARDS THE LEGION OF MERIT TO A RUSSIAN WAR HERO
A very rarely seen artifact from World War II: A Legion of Merit Award to a Soviet soldier for outstanding service in the pivotal Battle of Kiev. "This is to Certify that the President of the United States... in Accordance with the order issued by General George Washington... August 7, 1782, and Pursuant to Act of Congress has awarded the Legion of Merit, Degree of Legionnaire, to Captain Nikolai Pavlovich Arkhipov, Red Army, U. S. S. R., for extraordinary fidelity and exceptionally meritorious conduct..." The citation records that Arkhipov "displayed high professional attainments...in the repulse of the German counter offensive south of Kiev." In a twenty-day period, Arkhipov "successfully repulsed approximately ten enemy counter attacks."
Captain Arkhipov joined distinguished company upon receiving this honor, THE FIRST AMERICAN DECORATION AWARDED TO FOREIGN NATIONALS. FDR created the medal in July 1942 for American soldiers and "personnel of the armed forces of friendly nations who...shall have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services." Chiang Kai-shek was the first recipient, Soviet commander Marshal Zhukov was another. Roosevelt clearly saw the medal as a device for cementing the unity of the multi-national Allied fighting coalition, and no member of that coalition was more important than Stalin's Red Army, which bore the brunt of the fighting against Hitler until the U. S. landed in France in 1944. Together two items.
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AWARDS THE LEGION OF MERIT TO A RUSSIAN WAR HERO
A very rarely seen artifact from World War II: A Legion of Merit Award to a Soviet soldier for outstanding service in the pivotal Battle of Kiev. "This is to Certify that the President of the United States... in Accordance with the order issued by General George Washington... August 7, 1782, and Pursuant to Act of Congress has awarded the Legion of Merit, Degree of Legionnaire, to Captain Nikolai Pavlovich Arkhipov, Red Army, U. S. S. R., for extraordinary fidelity and exceptionally meritorious conduct..." The citation records that Arkhipov "displayed high professional attainments...in the repulse of the German counter offensive south of Kiev." In a twenty-day period, Arkhipov "successfully repulsed approximately ten enemy counter attacks."
Captain Arkhipov joined distinguished company upon receiving this honor, THE FIRST AMERICAN DECORATION AWARDED TO FOREIGN NATIONALS. FDR created the medal in July 1942 for American soldiers and "personnel of the armed forces of friendly nations who...shall have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services." Chiang Kai-shek was the first recipient, Soviet commander Marshal Zhukov was another. Roosevelt clearly saw the medal as a device for cementing the unity of the multi-national Allied fighting coalition, and no member of that coalition was more important than Stalin's Red Army, which bore the brunt of the fighting against Hitler until the U. S. landed in France in 1944. Together two items.