Silver gilt, enamels; measures 41.4 mm in height (from the top of the flag to the bottom of the wreath not including the projections of the flagpole and torch), 36.9 mm in width; weighs 26.2 g without the screw plate. According to the reference guide Order of the Red Banner by Durov and Strekalov, this piece was manufactured in 1943 at the Krasnokamsk Mint, one of the last Red Banners made prior to the change in design from screw back to suspension. Note its very high serial number, close to the upper limit of the serial number range for the screw back type.

In very fine condition, outstanding for a Type 2 screw back version. The red enamel on the banner is essentially perfect, free of the usual chips, repairs, rubbing, significant flaking or any other wear visible to the naked eye - a very uncommon case! There are only a few microscopic shallow flakes and contact marks, all of them completely invisible without magnification and not immediately obvious even under a 10x loupe. The enamel on the banner retains a beautiful luster. The red enamel is expertly replaced on the left arm of the star, while the other two arms are perfect. The enamel on the red plaque with "CCCP" has a couple of tiny flakes that are nearly invisible without magnification, otherwise intact. The white enamel is perfect.

The details of the wreath, flagpole and torch are exceptionally well-preserved and crisp, nearly pristine. The original fire gilt finish is intact and bright throughout - also a very unusual case. The reverse is essentially pristine exhibiting beautiful toning to silver and the characteristic "spillover" gilt along the edge and on the screw post base. The order has not been converted to suspension and retains its original, full-length screw post measuring approx. 12 mm from its base. Comes with an original silver screw plate. To summarize, this is an exceptionally well-preserved and beautiful example of the Type 2 Red Banner.

Ivan Sergeenko was born in 1914 in the small town of Krasnaya Gora, Oryol Region. In 1939, he graduated from a teachers college and after being drafted into the Red Army in 1939, briefly served as a gun layer in a howitzer regiment. In 1940, he enrolled in the Ordzhonikidze Military Signals School and upon completing it, was commissioned Lieutenant on 5 May 1941 - just six weeks before the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Even before being commissioned, Sergeenko was awarded with the Badge of Excellent RKKA Serviceman.

When the Patriotic War began, Sergeenko must have demonstrated impressive performance, quickly rising through the ranks. Although wounded in combat in June 1942, he remained on active duty and by November 1942, reached the rank of Major and the position of Chief of Staff of the 587th Rifle Regiment, 160th Rifle Division, 3rd Tank Army, initially assigned to the Southwestern Front. The recently assembled army did not take part in the Battle of Stalingrad and was instead held in the front's reserve until re-subordinated to the Voronezh Front in early January 1943. In mid-January, Sergeenko's regiment along with the rest of the 3rd Tank Army took part in a major Soviet offensive south of Voronezh codenamed Operation Malyi Saturn ("Little Saturn"). The operation came as a follow-up to the Stalingrad Operation Uran two months earlier and followed its double envelopment scenario, albeit on a smaller scale. The highly successful offensive - later dubbed Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh Operation by Soviet military historians - struck a crippling blow against Italian and Hungarian troops in the area of the Don River, bagging a large number of prisoners. and created conditions for further advance towards the Donbass and Kharkov.

On 19 January, one of Sergeenko's battalions was ordered to perform a reconnaissance-in-force, as the remaining two battalions were finishing to mop up an enemy contingent near the village of Novaya Rossosh. The regiment commander led the reconnaissance mission, while Sergeenko was left in command of the two battalions in Novaya Rossosh. The regiment was thus split in two, a situation the enemy tried to leverage. With a superior force in armament and personnel, the enemy attempted to wedge in between the battalions and destroy them piecemeal. Communication between the battalions was severed, but Major Sergeenko quickly and decisively came up with an effective solution. His battalions undertook a complex maneuver which resulted in repelling the enemy who suffered heavy losses in materiel and troops. With the help of other Red Army units which had arrived to assist, the enemy group was completely destroyed, Sergeenko's regiment was reunited and continued its offensive operations. For Sergeenko's excellent tactical skills and decisive actions, Commander of the 587th Rifle Regiment Col. Tsygankov recommended him for the Order of Suvorov, 3rd cl. The order (#186) was awarded on 23 February (Red Army Day), 1943.

Sergeenko earned his next decoration of the war in the Battle of Kursk while serving as the Chief of Staff of the 270th Guards Rifle Regiment, 89th Guards Rifle Division, 69th Army. The division was apparently held in reserve of the Voronezh Front for the first few days of the battle, but was already fully engaged on 10 July near the village of Ternovka a few miles north of Belgorod. On that day, Sergeenko personally commanded the defense when his regiment was attacked by 50 German tanks. The enemy was stopped cold leaving three burned-out tanks and some 80 dead on the battlefield. On the night of 12-13 July, Sergeenko led a battalion-strength recon force that managed to seize an advantageous position and capture a prisoner for interrogation. On 15 July, he personally led a special forces group of his unit out of an encirclement, saving most of the personnel. On 24 July, he led an infantry assault that resulted in the liberation of two villages and significant losses to the enemy. On 27 July, Sergeenko was recommended for the Order of the Red Banner for his bravery and exemplary leadership in the initial stage of the Battle of Kursk, but as it often happened at that stage of the war, the award was later downgraded to the Order of the Red Star.

In October 1943, Sergeenko's division, then a part of the 37th Army, Steppe Front, was expanding the bridgehead on the Dnieper's right bank south of Kremenchug. On 17 October, his regiment succeeded in seizing an important hill near the village of Likhovka. An enemy battalion, supported by tanks and artillery, undertook a counterattack. Skillfully leading his troops, Sergeenko mobilized all available resources and repelled the counterattack, retaining the control of the hill. The enemy lost three tanks, one artillery piece and 120 troops. For his decisive and successful leadership, Sergeenko was recommended by the division commander for the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 2nd cl. However, the award was changed up the chain of command to the Order of the Red Banner. It was of course quite uncommon for a major to be even considered for the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky in a class higher than the third.! The change to the Order of the Red Banner was nevertheless an upgrade at least in the official ranking of the award, although not in its generally recognized status.

Sergeenko did not receive any other wartime decorations. According to his archival file, he was discharged from the Red Army cadre on 27 September 1944, having the rank of Guards Lieutenant Colonel. The most likely reason for the early retirement was a serious combat injury or illness, judging by the fact that he underwent treatment in a number of military hospitals starting from as early as August 1944.

Research Materials: b/w photocopy of the award record card; award commendations for both wartime decorations; first (main) pages of the military photo ID confirming service in the 270th Guards Rifle Regiment, 89th Guards Rifle Division; service record; and the military archival photo.