Silver gilt, enamels; measures 40.7 mm in height (from the top of the flag to the bottom of the wreath). 36.7 mm in width; weighs 24.8 g not including the screw plate. Features a mint mark with a slightly curved up first word. According to the reference guide "Order of the Red Banner" by Durov and Strekalov, this piece was manufactured in 1943 at the Krasnokamsk Mint.

The order is in fine condition - overall at least an average or above for the screw back Red Banner. As is often the case, the enamel is missing in an area near the flagpole and immediately above the center m

Silver gilt, enamels; measures 40.7 mm in height (from the top of the flag to the bottom of the wreath). 36.7 mm in width; weighs 24.8 g not including the screw plate. Features a mint mark with a slightly curved up first word. According to the reference guide "Order of the Red Banner" by Durov and Strekalov, this piece was manufactured in 1943 at the Krasnokamsk Mint.

The order is in fine condition - overall at least an average or above for the screw back Red Banner. As is often the case, the enamel is missing in an area near the flagpole and immediately above the center medallion. There is also a smaller chip in the lower right corner as well as some surface flaking along the lower and right edges of the banner. Nevertheless, the red enamel on the banner still has a nice luster and attractive overall appearance. The enamel is chipped on the right arm of the center star and is intact on the other two arms. The red scroll with "CCCP" has only a tiny amount of surface flaking at the lower edge, practically invisible to the naked eye - otherwise perfect. The white enamel is essentially perfect throughout.

The details of the wreath, flagpole and torch are nicely preserved and crisp with a good amount of the original gilt finish present. The reverse has acquired a beautiful toning to silver. The order has not been converted to suspension and retains its original, full-size screw post measuring approximately 13 mm long. The original silver screw plate is included. To summarize, the order is a very attractive unaltered piece. Although there are obvious losses to enamel, there are no repairs; the chips look "organic" to a combat award; the dark patina to silver in exposed areas makes it clear that the damage occurred a long time ago, likely during the war.

Born to a Jewish family in the town of Cheremkhovo of the Irkutsk Region of eastern Siberia, Samuli Faershtein enlisted in the Red Army in 1931 at the age of 22 and during the following year, joined the Communist Party. He fought in the Patriotic War starting from its first days.

In the initial period of the war, Faershtein, then already a major, served as the Chief of Staff of the 835th Artillery Regiment, 285th Rifle Division, 54th Army. In the fall of 1941, the army was deployed along the Volkhov River and when Leningrad was completely cut-off by the Germans, made one of the earliest efforts to break the blockade by attempting an offensive in the area of Kolpino. With his division, Faershtein took part in the desperate and chaotic fighting in October - November 1941 to first defend and then retake the railway juncture of Tikhvin - the battle that proved critical to Leningrad's ultimate survival. In the early phase of the battle, the 54th Army managed to stop the German thrust a few kilometers south of the town of Volkhov. Throughout the fighting Faershtein proved himself a fearless and highly competent leader, constantly encouraging his troops by personal example and providing much needed instructions to younger officers. On 21-22 November, he headed the soldiers defending the village of Chernetskoe southwest of Volkhov and personally led a reconnaissance group into the enemy rear. On many occasions he personally commanded artillery batteries repelling fierce German attacks. Faershtein was subsequently recommended for the Order of the Red Star by the command of his regiment and division. Although the recommendation was approved by the chain of command through the 54th Army, the decoration he actually received at the end was just a "humble" Medal for Combat Service, bestowed with a significant delay on 8 September 1942.

In late 1942, Faershtein took part in the Battle of Stalingrad as the Chief of Artillery of the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, 26th Tank Corps, Southwestern Front. In this capacity, he played a significant role in the capture of Kalach-on-Don - undoubtedly the most momentous event of the Soviet November 1942 counteroffensive. At the opening of Operation Uran ("Uranus") on 19 November, he personally commanded the brigade's artillery barrage near the village of Verkhne-Fominskiy. After tearing a hole in the Romanian and German northern flank in the area of Serafimovich, the Southwestern Front put the 26th Tank Corps into the breach; within the following four days, the corps rolled southwest and captured the all-important Don River crossing at the town of Kalach-on-Don, thus severing the key artery that supplied the German forces in Stalingrad. Faershtein and his artillery men made this possible by providing close fire support: from 19-25 November, they destroyed nine enemy ranks, two artillery pieces and up to 300 German soldiers. On 23 November, one of his squadrons by firing over open sights from a distance of 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) destroyed two pillboxes and neutralized an automatic cannon west of Kalach and thus allowed the brigade's infantry to capture the town. On 25 November, Maj. Faershtein personally commanded a Katyusha multiple rocket launcher squadron of the 85th Guards Mortar Regiment which was tasked with protecting the right flank of his brigade from a counterstrike. On that day, he was wounded in combat near the hamlet of Sokarevka located a few miles northeast of Kalach.

The achievement of the 26th Tank Corps in the capture of Kalach cannot be overestimated. It is invariably mentioned in WW2 history books whenever the Battle of Stalingrad is described in any detail. In recognition of its performance, the corps was almost immediately elevated in status to a Guards unit, becoming the 1st Guards Tank Corps. Faershtein was subsequently recommended for the Medal for Valor - a low- level decoration, considering his officer rank and level of accomplishment. The recommendation was soon raised to the Order of the Red Star by the Commander of the 12st Guards Tank Corps. It was approved by the chain of command but very uncharacteristically, raised again to the Order of the Red Banner. The latter was bestowed upon Faershtein on 22 March 1943 by the general order of the Southwestern Front. Although it can be explained in part by the fact that the Soviet high command became fairly generous with awards in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Stalingrad, it is highly uncommon to see such a drastic upgrade, It speaks volumes about the importance of the feat.

Faershtein remained on active duty after his combat injury and went on to receive many other decorations during and after the war. Among them were the Medal for Combat Service in 1944, the Order of the Red Star awarded in 1947, the Order of the Red Banner in 1952 (he received a "plain' version, even though it was his second award), and the Order of Lenin in 1954. All his latter awards however were for length of service rather than combat, which leads us to believe that after 1943 he served in mostly non-combat roles, possibly due to the wound received in November 1942 at Stalingrad.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award record card and award commendations for the Order of the 1943 "Stalingrad" Red Banner and 1942 Medal for Combat Service. Information about the 285th Rifle Division is available in the Volume IX Red Tide of the WW2 Soviet Order of Battle book series by Charles Sharp. The history of the 26th / 1st Guards Tank Corps and its role in the Battle of Stalingrad is available from countless printed and online sources.
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