Order of the Red Banner
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Order of the Red Banner, Type 1 Var. 1, #153, circa 1932-1934 issue. Among
the first USSR Orders of the Red Banner and one of only 170 of its variation
ever produced. This extremely rare version features "Mirror" reverse with
serial number engraved at 10 o'clock position. Superb piece in very fine
condition.

Order of the Red Banner, Type 1, Var. 2, Sub-var. 2, #3586, awarded in November
1939 to an NKVD officer who served in SMERSH Counterintelligence later in the war
and remained on active duty in MGB State Security until 1954. The award was almost
certainly for either the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939 or the
fighting against the Japanese at Khalkhin-Gol in August 1939. The order is a very
early and uncommon version of the "Mirror Reverse" Red Banner. In very fine
condition, far better than the average for the screw back type.

Order of the Red Banner, Type 4 Var. 1, #85429, awarded in August 1943 to a Rifle
Battalion Commander, 1st Guards Army. The serial number is among the lowest
observed for a "true" suspension type Red Banner; the award decree is also the
earliest we've seen for the Type 4. The recipient showed outstanding leadership
and personal bravery in the Izum-Barvenkovo Operation, a spoiling offensive in
Donbass that prevented the Germans from sending reinforcements to their hard-
pressed forces engaged in the Battle of Kursk. The offensive was otherwise
largely unsuccessful and very costly on the Soviet side, so the awards for this
operation are scarce. The order is in fine condition. Comes with archival
research.