There is a so-called concept for military search.
To make it more convenient to sort this out, consider it in the form of a triangle. Divide the angles of the triangle by 1) Your ancestor is alive 2) Your ancestor is dead, 3) Your ancestor is missing (the most difficult corner). Consider these angles in more detail.
Stayed alive
Find old photos of your relative in uniform, if you are lucky, pay attention to shoulder straps, awards, collars (eyelets). Also pay attention to documents such as the Red Army book. It indicated the address, place of service, injuries, dates of demobilization. A military card, which contains the same information, only more complete, is also suitable. These books spell out the full military path of your ancestor. If there are no such books, pay attention to the awards.
Create the same triangle for the awards. The awards are divided into 1) Orders, 2) Battle medals, 3) Other awards. Award sheets were issued for orders and medals; they can be found on the website podvignaroda.ru. The reward is the path to further search. You can also contact your local draft board for information.
Dead or missing
First you need to find out the name of the regiment, but in wartime it was only digital codes, if you still have letters from the front, it’s good luck to indicate the number of field mail on the envelopes, but not the regiment, division, headquarters, but this is already something.
The soldier had a military specialty, which had its number, position (gunner, driver, helmsman, cook) and rank (sergeant, captain, major).
The article is based on a lecture by Vitaly Semenov, a genealogy historian.
Good luck in finding.
