In 1945, Guard Captain Joseph Klyushnik served in SMERSH counterintelligence with the 5th Guards Mechanized Corps. He led efforts in Poland and Austria to identify and detain enemy spies and saboteurs during the Red Army’s offensive operations.
Record Card
Order Book No. A-708911
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Last Name: Klyushnik
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First Name and Patronymic: Ivan Antonovich
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Military Rank: Major
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Gender: Male
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Year of Birth: 1915
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Place of Birth: Sumy region, Konotop district, village Dementsi-Kamysh
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Party Membership (since which year): Member of VKP(b) since 1940
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Education: Basic
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Nationality: Ukrainian
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Service in Red Army: From 1941 to 1946
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Place of Service and Position at the time of award:
4th Tank Army, 24th Tank Corps, Head of SMERSH Counterintelligence Section of the “Siberian” Brigade -
Current Place of Service and Position:
Administration No. 15 of the Transcarpathian region -
Home Address of Awardee:
Transcarpathian region, city of Uzhgorod, ul. Lev Tolstoy, No. 2
Second Page
14. List of All Awards Received
| Name of Orders/Medals | Their Numbers | Document Numbers | Basis for Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order of the Red Star | 213366 | 873663 | Order No. 024/N, 4th Tank Army, 5.28.1945 |
| Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Cl. | 547169 | 655964 | Order No. 0223/N, 4th Tank Army, 5.27.1945 |
| Medal "For Victory over Germany" | 27.5.1945 |
Signature of Awardee: [Signed]
Verified by: Uzhgorod Regional Military Commissar, Colonel [Signed]
Stamp: Uzhgorod Regional Military Commissariat
Year: 1947
Since being at the fronts of the Patriotic War from 1941, Guard Captain Klyushnik Joseph has shown himself as a brave and disciplined officer. Serving as the head of the SMERSH counterintelligence department of the brigade, Comrade Klyushnik skillfully guided the work of all operatives, assisting the command by exposing and apprehending enemy agents infiltrating the brigade units, thereby strengthening the Red Army.
During the difficult offensive battles of the 5th Guards Mechanized Corps from March 1945 to May 8, 1945, in the areas of Leobschütz (now Głubczyce, Poland), Wernersdorf (Austria), and Beslitz, he constantly remained at the brigade command post, and through his practical work contributed to the successful execution of the brigade’s combat tasks.
In the mentioned period, he and the SMERSH counterintelligence department under his leadership uncovered a number of spies and saboteurs sent by enemy intelligence agencies to carry out sabotage work near the rear of the advancing Red Army units.
He is loyal to the Party of Lenin and Stalin.
