Single page format, measures approx. 8 ¼" x 5 ¾". In black and white, with Stalin's portrait top center and graphics depicting a soldier leading an attack. Signed by the Unit Commander. The citation has been folded in two at some point in the past but appears to have been kept unfolded for a long time lately, the fold being still visible but not obvious. Typically for this kind of citation documents, the printing ink soaked a little through the paper in places of copious application of ink, visible on the reverse.

In excellent condition. Despite being printed on thin low-quality paper very often used in WW2 citations, it is very well preserved, with only minimal wear along the edges and at the corners, and even and very mild age toning of the paper. The graphics, text, typed-in lettering, the unit ink stamp and signature of the unit commander in red pencil are clear and fresh.

Then Sr. Sgt., commander of the 15th Separate Motorized Pontoon-bridge Chernivtsi Order of the Red Star Battalion (6th Pontoon-bridge Kamenetz-Podolsk Brigade, 1st Ukrainian Front), Aleksandr Sergeyev was born in 1915 in the village of Emelyanovo, Tatarstan, into a peasant family. Ethnically Russian. Education - 4 years of elementary school. Drafted into Red Army in 1939; on active duty from July 1941.

By decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 10 April 1945 Senior Sergeant Aleksandr Sergeev was made Hero of the Soviet Union for bravery and exemplary performance in the battlefield during the crossing of the Oder River. During WW2 he was also awarded with the Order of Patriotic War 2nd cl., Order of the Red Banner, two medals for Combat Service and a medal for Victory over Germany.

Research Materials: photocopies of the award commendations for the Title of Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of the Red Star (awarded in October 1943), and Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd cl. (November 1943); photocopy of the article about Sergeev in the official Soviet era catalog Heroes of the Soviet Union (contains his photo). Ample additional information about him is available on many Russian-language websites such as Warheroes.ru, Pamyat-naroda.ru and Podvignaroda.ru.