Stalin, Joseph

Printed document signed ("J. Stalin"), being the State Stalin Prize Award for Vasily Vasilyevich Aborenkov, 8 pages (13 7/8 x 9 3/4 in.; 358 x 255 mm), Moscow, 10 April 1942, ; light browning; bound in deep brown leather with inset bas-relief medallion with profiles of Stalin and Lenin on upper cover, gilt lettering Together with: certificate of award recipient, Aborenkov Vasily Vasilievich with blue and yellow ribbon from medal (not present) inserted; bound in deep brown leather  with gilt lettering on upper cover

The Stalin Prize for a new weapon. The prestigious Stalin Prize existed from 1941 to 1954 and was the Soviet Union's state honor. The present prize was awarded to Vasily Vasilyevich Aborenkov for his role in the development of the multiple rocket launchers BM-13 later nicknamed Katyusha (Little Katie). Katyusha gained an immortal glory as a symbol of Soviet artillery power in World War II. The rocket's devastating destructive power helped to lower German morale enormously. First used on 14 July 1941 in battle at Orsha in Belarus, Katyusha completely destroyed a station with numerous supply trains and severely debilitated the German Army.

A highly important document signed by Stalin rewarding an engineer for his contributions in building a weapon that caused massive destruction in World War II.