Order of the Red Star, Type 6 Var. 3 Sub-var. 6 (Strekalov classification), #2787928 . Silver, enamel; measures 46.0 mm in height, 48.5 mm in width; weighs 30.7 g without the screw plate. Features a mint mark in relatively tall font, approx. 10 mm wide, and has a pronounced dash over the last character in the word "Monetnyi". There is a shallow depression on the reverse near the bottom. Interestingly, the serial number is slightly below the regular range for the Sub-variation 6 as stated in Strekalov's reference guide The Order of the Red Star . This piece is

Order of the Red Star, Type 6 Var. 3 Sub-var. 6 (Strekalov classification), #2787928 . Silver, enamel; measures 46.0 mm in height, 48.5 mm in width; weighs 30.7 g without the screw plate. Features a mint mark in relatively tall font, approx. 10 mm wide, and has a pronounced dash over the last character in the word "Monetnyi". There is a shallow depression on the reverse near the bottom. Interestingly, the serial number is slightly below the regular range for the Sub-variation 6 as stated in Strekalov's reference guide The Order of the Red Star . This piece is from the series with serial numbers 2759101 - 2809100 produced at the Moscow Mint in 1946.

Very fine condition. There is a tiny repaired area at the tip of the lower left arm and some small shallow scrapes and surface flakes to the top arm, all of it barely noticeable to the naked eye. The enamel has only some tiny contact marks elsewhere, retains a nice luster throughout, and presents very well overall. The center medallion shows a light wear to the high points, but the details of the artwork are well-preserved. The reverse exhibits a nice patina to silver. The screw post is of full length, over 13 mm long. The screw plate is a replacement which fits perfectly.

Medal for Valor, Type 2 Var. 1, #2726297. The medallion is in silver, measures 42.4 mm in height incl. eyelet, 37.2 mm in width, and weighs 27.3 g not including the suspension and connecting link.

Very fine condition. There is a modest amount of wear to the high points of the artwork, but its details are still relatively well-defined. The fragile lacquer in the letters is worn-out, as is often the case with WW2 issues. The medallion has a few minor dings and scratches but no nicks, significant edge knocks or other major flaws. There is a very attractive dark patina to the silver throughout. The medal comes on a late 1940s suspension device, a single-layer model in brass. The ribbon is old, possibly of the period; its shows some wear and fading but is still clean and completely sound.

Order Booklet, Series A #462784, issued on 10 December 1946. The group is complete: the document contains only the entries for the two decorations included with the group. The starting month for special privileges is April 1945, corresponding with the March 1945 award date of the first decoration, in this case the Medal for Valor.

The document is in very good condition. There is a small streak of what looks like white paint on the cover, not too detractive, but the cloth binding is sound and otherwise clean. There are some minor water stains on the first inside page and the usual stains from the rusted staples; the internal pages are otherwise clean and crisp. The hand-written entries are fully legible.

Aleksandr Olemskiy was born in 1907 in a village of the Kherson Region in Ukraine. He joined the Red Army in 1943. His native area being under German occupation from mid-August 1941 to March 1944, it could possibly be the reason for such late draft into active service.

In January 1945, he served in the 5th Guards Rifle Regiment, 3rd Guards Rifle Division, 13th Guards Rifle Corps, 2nd Guards Army, 3rd Belorussian Front as a horse handler / horse cart driver. On 13 January, General Chernyakhovsky's 3rd Belorussian and Marshal Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Fronts launched the East Prussian offensive. Despite the overwhelming 11:1 superiority in manpower, the Red Army made very slow progress due to the extensive minefields and a web of fortifications. In the midst of that fierce fighting, Guards Private Olemskiy delivered munitions to the front lines reliably and in a timely fashion. He was commended for that, and also for the excellent condition of his horses. This commendation went into the 1 March 1945 decree awarding Aleksandr Olemskiy with the Medal for Valor.

On 13 April, Olemskiy's 5th Guards and the entire 13th Guards Rifle Corps were resubordinated to the 43rd Army, 3rd Belorussian Front, advancing into the Samland Peninsula around the encircled and besieged Koenigsberg. Olemskiy was serving as a mortar loader and distinguished himself by providing continuing supportive fire for the infantry attack near the village of Germau in the northwest of the peninsula (modern-day Russkoye, Kaliningrad Region, Russia), disabling two enemy machine guns and dispersing up to a platoon of enemy soldiers. For his actions, Olemskiy was recommended for the Order of Glory 3rd cl. but his division commander upgraded it to the Order of the Red Star. It was bestowed upon Olemskiy on 16 May 1945.

Research Materials: b/w photocopy of the award decree for the Medal for Valor, award commendation and relevant part of the award decree for the Order of the Red Star.
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