In silver; measures 45.3 mm in height, 44.8 mm in width; weighs 32.8 g without the screw plate. Type 1, featuring a separate, soldered center medallion. The right saber does not have a dot on the blade near the hilt found on other variations.

The order is in outstanding, excellent condition. The center medallion is nearly pristine, completely free of any wear visible to the naked eye, having only some microscopic contact marks. The raised details of the bas-relief portrait are practically perfect and exceptionally crisp. Note that even the mace and highest points of the fa

In silver; measures 45.3 mm in height, 44.8 mm in width; weighs 32.8 g without the screw plate. Type 1, featuring a separate, soldered center medallion. The right saber does not have a dot on the blade near the hilt found on other variations.

The order is in outstanding, excellent condition. The center medallion is nearly pristine, completely free of any wear visible to the naked eye, having only some microscopic contact marks. The raised details of the bas-relief portrait are practically perfect and exceptionally crisp. Note that even the mace and highest points of the face and plume are beautifully defined - an extremely unusual case for a Khmelnitsky 3rd cl. The ornamental band and starburst are likewise perfect; the edges are completely free of bumps or nicks.

There is a very attractive even toning to silver on both sides. The screw post is full length, approx. 12.5 mm, and includes an original WW2 period silver screw plate showing a matching patina. Condition wise, this is an absolutely superb example, especially considering that it was typically issued to lower ranks than the other Soviet "commander's orders" (its third class was the only one among them that could be bestowed even upon a private!)

The order comes with McDaniel Certificate of Authentication dated 1999. It shows a very high 7 out of 10 condition rating, which we find overly conservative (we would actually rate this superb example at least an 8 out of 10, possibly even 9 out of 10).

Nikolay Kazinov was born in 1919 in a village of the Orel region of Russia. In 1939, he joined the Red Army and was still on active duty at the outbreak of the Patriotic War in June 1941. In August 1942, while serving with the Bryansk Front, he received his first decoration of the war, the Order of the Red Banner (#31840). As of early 1944, Kazinov had the rank of major and commanded the 475th Mortar Regiment assigned to the 3rd Army, the position he would hold through the end of the war. In February of that year the regiment took part in the forced crossing of the Dnieper in its upper stream in Gomel Region of Belorussia. Kazinov's regiment performed extremely well during the operation, eliminating up to a battalion of enemy infantry and neutralizing 12 weapon nests. The mortarmen were also instrumental in repelling five German counterattacks. For his excellent leadership during the operation, Kazinov was awarded with the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd cl. (#172140).

The Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd cl. was chronologically his third decoration, earned in Operation Bagration, the great Soviet offensive of summer 1944 that effectively destroyed the German Army Group Center. On 14 June, the second day of the operation, Kazinov's regiment made a major contribution to the breakthrough near the village of Konoplitsa in Rogachev District, Gomel Region. The mortarmen eliminated up to 200 enemy soldiers, one mortar battery and three machine gun nests, thus allowing the rifle battalion they supported to advance without losses. On 1 July, Kazinov and his men repelled a fierce counterattack across the Berezina River, eliminating 200 German soldiers and destroying five machineguns. The regiment also showed great results in the follow-up advance and crossing of the Berezina. On the same day of 1 July, Kazinov was recommended for a decoration by the Commander of the Artillery of the 348th Rifle Division. His next in charge, Commander of the Artillery of the 3rd Army, specified that the award would be the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd cl. On 24 October, the recommendation received the approval of the Commander of the Artillery, 2nd Belorussian Front and on 16 November 1944 the award was officially bestowed by a decree of the Front.

Kazinov went on to earn three more orders before the end of the war: Order of Alexander Nevsky (#10409), Red Banner (#210220) and Red Star (#1740588). It is noteworthy that all of his six wartime decorations were for combat rather than length of service. He remained on active duty through at least the end of 1957, adding the length of service Medal for Combat Service and Order of the Red Star to his already very impressive list of awards.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award record card and award commendations for the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd cl. and four other wartime decorations; copy of the archival photo of Kazinov apparently taken at retirement.
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