Description
Soviet Order of the Red Star #17881
Awarded to Sr. Lieutenant (later Colonel) Mitrofan Petrovich Nikiforov (Митрофан Петрович Никифоров)
For exemplary execution of the combat missions on the front of struggle against the Finnish Whites in 1940
Made of silver and enamels. The order measures 49.21 mm in width, 48.07 mm in height and weighs 31.6 gram without its screwplate. The serial number is located at the 6 o’clock position and the mint mark on the 12 o’clock position of its reverse. This early variation has a round base ‘heel’ of the screw.
This original order of the Red Star is in near mint condition. The details are all crisp and the stunning enamels are flawless. The reverse is in superb condition too with virtually no dings or scratches. There have been no repairs and the screwpost is full length. It comes with its time period silver screwplate and both sides show an appealing medium patina.
Sr. Lieutenant NIKIFOROV was bestowed Order of the Red Star number #17881 on 07/04/1940 for exemplary execution of the combat missions on the front in the struggle against the Finnish Whites.
In the Patriotic war: Captain NIKIFOROV was the 2nd rifle battalion commander of 501 rifle regiment, 162 rifle division. Approximately on 06 July 1941, Cpt. NIKIFOROV fell victim of a railway accident during the unit transport and was sent to the hospital in Smolensk.
The accident must had been severe, as he was not sent to an active duty, but rather to a more desk position as a district military commissar in town Penza (a scan describing this train incident can be found in the picture gallery).
Next to impossible to upgrade and awarded for the Finnish War. Rare as such!
The full translation of register card can be read here
More information on Col. Nikiforov can be found here
Also included in the picture gallery is a scan of an image of Nikiforov wearing this very same Red Star
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