Description
Order of the Red Banner Duplicate #8533
Awarded to Armenian Junior Lieutenant Norayr Margarovich Aivazyan (Норайр Маркарович Айвазян)
For demonstrating exceptional bravery during an engagement with a company-sized force of White Finns. While attached to the 4th Rifle Company, he held his position under repeated attack, repelling six assaults with machine-gun fire. Despite being severely concussed, Aivazyan personally killed three enemy officers and captured valuable enemy equipment
Hard to find with such an extensive citation from 1940
Made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 44.50 mm in height, 36.28 mm in width and weighs 24.6 grams without its suspension. The serial number was engraved in a distinctive, familiar style over the original one, which had been removed by the Soviet mint. Positioned above the new serial number is the letter ‘D’, signifying that it is a duplicate.
In great, well above average condition. The details are crisp and the red and white enamels are extremely well preserved without repairs or flaking. Its original gold plating is fully present and the reverse is in equally nice condition as its obverse with virtually no dings or scratches. The connection ring has not been cut and the double sided steel suspension is time period to the award.
Duplicate awards were rarely issued and only in exceptional cases where the original was lost due to circumstances beyond the recipient’s control, such as combat or natural disasters. In this case, Lieutenant Aivazyan was taken prisoner and sent to a POW camp after receiving the Order of the Red Banner. The award was clearly taken from him by the Germans, and after the war, he was issued this duplicate to replace the one that had been confiscated.
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:
Junior Lieutenant platoon commander of the 2nd machine-gun company AIVAZYAN Narayr Margarovich, VKP(b) member candidate, while being attached to the 4th rifle company, was encircled by a band of White Finns (up to 1 company strong). AIVAZYAN opened machine-gun fire at the White Finn bandits. 6 times, the White Finns attacked, but were repelled. In one of the attacks, AIVAZYAN was severely contused, but despite that AIVAZYAN personally killed 3 officers in one of the attacks and captured war trophies: a pistol, a submachine-gun, binoculars, and a compass. Severely contused Junior Lieutenant AIVAZYAN was sent by the commanders to as hospital. Comrade AIVAZYAN exhibited courage and qualities of a true patriot. He deserves to be recommended for a state award order “RED BANNER”.
The full translation of the citation can be read here
Also included in the picture gallery are:
- the MIA and POW records
- info on the German Stalag XIII-C and XIII-B where Lt. Aivazyan was held prisoner
- the citation for his Medal for Bravery which he received in 1958 for being seriously wounded in the chest by a gunshot in 1941
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