Silver gilt, enamels; measures 41.0 mm in height (from the top of the flag to the bottom of the wreath), 37.0 mm in width; weighs 25.1 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Features distinctive counter-relief to the reverse. According to the reference guide The Order of the Red Banner by Durov and Strekalov, this piece was manufactured in 1943 at the Krasnokamsk Mint.

In fair to good condition. The red enamel is partly repaired on the banner and mostly replaced on the center star. The red scroll with "CCCP" is intact, showing only some tiny contact marks. The

Silver gilt, enamels; measures 41.0 mm in height (from the top of the flag to the bottom of the wreath), 37.0 mm in width; weighs 25.1 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Features distinctive counter-relief to the reverse. According to the reference guide The Order of the Red Banner by Durov and Strekalov, this piece was manufactured in 1943 at the Krasnokamsk Mint.

In fair to good condition. The red enamel is partly repaired on the banner and mostly replaced on the center star. The red scroll with "CCCP" is intact, showing only some tiny contact marks. The white enamel is essentially perfect.

The wreath, torch and flagpole show only minimal wear; the original gilt finish is present and clearly visible throughout. The order has been converted to suspension to comply with the post-1943 regulations by adding a makeshift suspension eyelet. That eyelet was later removed, leaving some scratches and evidence of the removed solder. The screw post however appears to be original and unaltered, and includes an original period screw plate in silver.

Petr Alferov was born in 1899 in the city of Saratov. In 1919 he joined the Bolshevik party and from May of that year until 1922, fought in the Civil War. He remained on active duty as a career officer and took part in the Patriotic War from its first day on 22 June 1941. In January 1944, Alferov had the rank of colonel and position of Commander of Artillery, 11th Rifle Division, 2nd Shock Army, Leningrad Front. In this capacity, he showed utmost professionalism and vigor during the Soviet January offensive that finally drove the Nazis away from Leningrad for good.

Codenamed Operation Spring Thunder (ака Neva-2), the offensive was launched on 14 January simultaneously from Oranienbaum beachhead on the shore of the Bay of Finland west of Leningrad and the Pulkovo Heights position south of the city. The 11th Rifle Division and other units of the 2nd Shock Army advanced from Oranienbaum and made more progress on the first day than the others, but in the end both Soviet armies of the Leningrad Front broke through the lines of the already severely depleted German 18th Army. Over the course of five days, the confident and well-equipped Soviet troops cleared the coast, linked up the Oranienbaum position with Leningrad, and liberated the town of Ropsha. In the following days, they succeeded in pushing the line some 100 km away from Leningrad and thus ended the nearly three-year-long Nazi siege.

On 21 January, two days after the conclusion of the first, most critical phase of the operation Neva-2, Col. Alferov was recommended for the Order of the Red Banner by his division commander. On 3 February, the award received the approval of the Commander of the 2nd Shock Army Lt. Gen. Fedyuninskiy and two weeks later, on 17 February, was officially bestowed by a general order of the Leningrad Front.

In early 1944, Alferov was put in charge of the 79th Light Artillery Brigade, 23rd Artillery Division. In the fall of that year, the brigade under his command covered 300 km during the offensive in Estonia, was the first to break into the town of Rakvere, and provided close fire support for the infantry during the capture of the Estonian capital of Tallinn and its seaport. For his contribution to the success of the Estonian offensive, on 1 October 1944 Alferov was awarded with his second Order of the Red Banner.

In November 1944, Alferov was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner again, this time for length of service. He however managed to receive yet another Red Banner for combat before the end of the war. During the Vistula - Oder offensive his brigade provided highly effective support to the troops of the 108th Rifle Corps and 8th Guards Tank Corps during the initial breakthrough and the capture of the Polish city of Ciechanow. In just the first four days of the operation, from 14-17 February, Alferov's artillerymen eliminated up to 140 enemy soldiers, repelled eight counter attacks of enemy tanks, destroyed 14 weapon emplacements and one tank, and neutralized a great number of other weapons. On 20 February, Alferov was recommended for his leadership for the Order of Suvorov, 2nd cl., but inexplicably, the recommendation resulted in yet another Order of the Red Banner - his fourth - awarded on 16 April 1945. This award was immediately followed by the Order of Lenin bestowed for length of service on 21 February 1945. At the end of the war, Alferov's brigade supported the 121st Rifle Corps of the 2nd Belorussian Front during the forced crossing of the Oder and advanced into German territory. On 31 May 1945, he was awarded with the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st cl., his final decoration of the war, for personal bravery and outstanding leadership during these final operations. After the war, Alferov was promoted to Major General and in November 1950, received one more Order of the Red Banner, making it a total of five - a very uncommon achievement for any Soviet officer! Interestingly, all of them were "plain" issues rather than "consecutive" awards with numeral plaque on the obverse (the serial numbers of the last four were 73133, 169502, 205559, and 340418). Maj. Gen. Alfterov retired from the military at the end of 1950.

Research Materials: b/w photocopy of the award record card and award commendation for the Order of the Red Banner.
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