ORIGINAL and COMPLETE Documented Group of Awards to a WW2 Soviet Officer. This fabulous group includes 18 decorations, medals and badges as well as 17 award certificates (documenting every award in the group). Awarded to Major Sergei Avetishovich Markarov. The group includes the following awards. Order of the Red Star. #3026417; Order of the Patriotic War , 2. Class #5385593; Medal for Combat Service #1703798; Medal for the Defense of Caucasus ; Medal for Victory over Germany ; Labor Veterans Medal ; Lenin Centenary Meda l (Labor issue); Medals for 20. Anniversary of Victory over Germany ; Medals for 50. Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces ; Badge for 25. Anniversary of Victory ; Badge of Shock Worker of Communist Labor ; Badges of a Winner of Socialist Competition of 1973 and 1974. The Order of the Red Star is a post-war issue, from early 1950s. Its made in Sterling Silver with high quality enamel, measures 49.0 mm wide, weighs 30.3 g not including the screw plate (which is made in Melchior alloy). The order is in NEAR MINT condition, with flawless enamel and perfect details. Shows no visible scratches, dings or other wear. The silver parts have attractive dark patina. The screw post is full length; the screw plate is original to the order. The Medal for Combat Service is from mid-1945, variation with rounded, separately applied eyelet (Type 2, Variation 1 according to McDaniel classification). Made in Silver and lacquer (covering the letters). The medal is in excellent condition. The fragile red lacquer in the letters is completely intact, free of the usual chips. The details of the rifle and sword are perfect and crisp. The suspension device is original, a WW2 two-layer model in steel, with self-locking pin. The medal includes original connecting link that has not been cut. The Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class is Type 3, 1985 veterans issue in Sterling silver and enamels. Weighs 26.6 g not including the screw plate. The order is in perfect condition. The Medal for the Defense of Caucasus is a WW2 Variation 1 (with separately applied eyelet). The medal is in outstanding condition shows almost no wear and has perfectly defined, crisp details. Much of the original fire gilt finish is still present and bright, although there is a small blemish on the reverse. There is nice toning to the brass at the high points of the artwork. The medal comes on original suspension, a WW2 model is steel (same type as the Combat Service Medal above). The Medal for Victory over Germany is in excellent condition and comes on original brass suspension. All the other medals and badges are likewise in very fine / excellent condition, with some occasional blemishes but no significant flaws of any kind. All the ribbons are correct and in new or like new condition. The group includes following award documents (18 in total). Issued on 24 July 1952. The booklet contains entries for two numbered decorations that had been issued by that point: the Red Star and Combat Service Medal listed above. Both entries were made at the same time and are undoubtedly legitimate (this is not one of the made-up groups that we have seen on the market). It is interesting to see that the page showing awards and their serial numbers also has a rectangular ink stamp War veterans ID has been issued. The booklet is in excellent, near mint condition, with tight binding and nicely preserved gold inscription on the cover. The internal pages are immaculately clean and crisp. Order Booklet for the Order of the Patriotic War, 2. In near mint condition. Award Certificate for Medal for the Defense of Caucasus. Issued on 27 May 1945 to Captain Sergei Markarov, it is hand-signed by his current commanding officer, Captain Suvorov, Commander of the 115th Separate Signals Battalion of the Air Forces of the Transcaucasian Front. The document shows ink stamp of the unit. The Caucasus document is in GOOD condition. It has been folded in four for storage as was customary, and as usual, the folds resulted in separations near the margins. To prevent the document from falling apart, the original owner applied backing paper to verso along the folds. The document is free of significant soiling or stains. Award Certificate for Medal for Victory over Germany. Issued on 27 December 1945 to Captain Sergei Markarov, the document is signed by Capt. Gamankov, Commander of the 115th Separate Signals Battalion of the Air Forces of the Tbilisi Military Signals. Interestingly, at that point the unit was still using the old stamp which reads Air Forces of the Transcaucasian Front. Note that documents issued by the Tbilisi Military District are quite rare, because the district had this name for only a very short period, from July 1945 May 1946. The Victory Medal document is in good condition. Shows moderate wear to the edges and some minor finger prints, but overall very presentable and sound. The written text is completely legible. Award Certificates for ALL other medals and badges included in the group. All are in excellent condition. It is interesting to see that the document for the only post-Soviet medal in the group, the 50. Anniversary of Victory (from 1995), is printed in Armenian language, because the recipient lived in Armenia after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It is however filled-out in Russian, and still refers to Margarov by his military rank of Major. Judging by the entries in the jubilee medal documents as well as documents for Socialist Competition badges, Margarov lived in the city of Leninakan (Armenia) after his retirement from the military and worked there in machine building industry. This award group to a WW2 veteran is certainly worthy of further research! Note that the group is COMPLETE: all the awards listed in the documentation are present. The item “Soviet Russian WW2 Order of Red Star GROUP of 18 Medals & Badges +17 Doc-s Major” is in sale since Wednesday, March 8, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Surplus\Medals, Pins & Ribbons”. The seller is “collectrussia” and is located in Tenafly, New Jersey. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Russian Federation
- Country: Soviet Union
- Category: Collectibles
- Original or Reproduction: Original
- Region or Culture: Russian
