Silver gilt, enamels; measures 40.0 mm in height (from the top of the flag to the bottom of the wreath), 36.3 mm in width; weighs 23.7 g not including the screw plate. This piece is from the first series of the "Monetnyi Dvor" Red Banners manufactured at the Leningrad Mint in 1941 which came immediately after the "Mondvor" version. /See The Order of the Red Banner V. Durov, N. Strekalov, p. 126/.

In fine condition, better than the average for a very early Patriotic War issue. The enamel on the banner is chipped along the flagpole and has small surface flakes along the edges. The central portion of the banner however is well preserved and shows a nice luster. The red enamel is replaced on the small star in the center, while the enamel on the red scroll is largely intact, having only some minuscule surface flakes and microscopic contact marks. The white enamel is essentially perfect.

The raised details of both the small wreath in the center and larger wreath, as well as the torch and flagpole are extremely well-preserved, practically perfect: the only detectable wear is on the raised points of the flame in the torch. The original gilt finish is pale but fully present and clearly visible throughout. The reverse is pristine and shows a beautiful untouched patina. The order has not been converted to suspension and retains its original, full-length screw post measuring well over 10 mm long from its base. Original silver screw plate of early Patriotic War period is included. To summarize, this is an imperfect but attractive piece, in a condition respectable for the early screw back Red Banner.

The recipient, Mikhail Volovik, was born in 1912. In April 1939, he joined the Communist Party and immediately after enlisting in the Red Army in November of that year, took part in the Soviet invasion of Finland. Although it is unknown at this time what were his position and unit during the Winter War, Volovik apparently showed great distinction in that conflict: he became one of the relatively small number of Soviet servicemen decorated with a Medal for Combat Service "for fighting against the Finish counter-revolutionaries".

At the beginning of the Patriotic War, Volovik was still on active duty serving as a Senior Propaganda Officer with the 7th Army, then a part of the Soviet Northern Front (later, Karelian Front) facing the hostile Finnish troops at the national border north of Lake Ladoga. From the opening of the hostilities - referred to as the Continuation War by the Finns trying to merely restore the original frontier - Volovik took active part in combat leading his men from the front. On several occasions, he personally rallied the troops of the 52nd, 131st and 367th Rifle Regiments, leading them into a counterattack and restoring the situation for the hard-pressed Soviet units.

On 16 July, the Finns flanked the position of the 131st Rifle Regiment, broke into its rear, and reached the command post. At the most critical moment, Volovik took over the duties of the regiment's commissar, organized three groups of fighters, and led them in a bold strike, throwing back the Finnish troops and inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. On 7 August, Volovik was recommended for an Order of the Red Army by the Chief Political Officer of the 7th Army - one of the earliest such recommendations of the Patriotic War. The award was bestowed on 20 November 1941 by a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, at the time the only authority that could make a decision to award such a high decoration.

Volovik would go on to earn two more combat decorations before the end of the war. In the summer of 1944, then already a Guards Lieutenant Colonel, he served as the Chief Political Officer of the 38th Guards Rifle Division, 70th Army, 1st Belorussian Front. He excelled in this capacity and in particular, enrolled many servicemen into the Communist Party and issued a large number of decorations directly on the battlefield during the July - August offensive near the city of Brest. On 7 August, Lt. Col. Volovik was awarded for these achievements with an Order of the Patriotic War, 1st cl. His last decoration of WW2 was another Order of the Red Banner, awarded on 1 November 1944 for diligent work on organizing political work in his unit and for personal leadership in combat. Prior to that, on 9 October 1944, Volovik was seriously wounded in action and was probably out of active service for the rest of the war. As of December 1945, he was under medical care in Moscow's Institute of Prosthetics, so it seems highly likely that he had lost a limb as a result of his combat injury. In the post-war years, Volovik resided in Leningrad; he passed away in June 1966.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award record card and award commendations for the two Orders of the Red Banner and the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st cl.