Orders and Medals :

Order of Lenin, Type 5 Var. 1, #104666. The medallion is in solid 23 K gold, platinum and enamels; measures 43.2 mm in height (incl. the eyelet), 38.4 mm in width; weighs 32.6 grams (not incl. the suspension and connecting link). This "WW2 type" features a rounded medallion and circular depression to the reverse.

The Order of Lenin is in excellent condition. There are a couple of minuscule flakes to the red enamel on the bend of the banner, but they are practically invisible to the naked eye. The enamel is otherwise perfect. The platinum bas-relief and golden wreath are essentially pristine. The order comes on a late 1940s-1950's brass device for a medal, not the suspension it was issued with but clearly the one the original owner used for a long time judging by the ribbon (We prefer to keep it the way it is, but at the buyer's request, we can replace it with a correct suspension with a brand-new ribbon.) The connecting link appears to be original and has not been cut.

Order of the Red Banner, Type 4 Var. 1, #127019. Silver gilt, enamels; 37.3 mm wide. Relatively early Krasnokamsk Mint production of 1944 with "contoured" reverse. The plow does not touch the flagpole but comes very close. This early sub-variation features small font of the word "Monetnyi" in the mint mark. The first letter "M" is of the early style, with the mid portion lowered to the bottom of the line.

In very fine condition. The enamel is missing on one of the arms of the center star but is otherwise very nicely preserved and shows attractive luster. A good amount of the original gilt finish on the wreath is present. The connecting link is original and has not been cut. Overall, a very attractive piece. This order and eight of the medals come on a single 9-place suspension device with old ribbons, exactly as they were worn by the original owner.

Order of the Patriotic War, 1st cl., Type 2 Var. 1, #182690. Solid 14 K gold (starburst, hammer & sickle emblem), silver, and enamels; measures 45.8 mm in height, 43.5 mm in width; weighs 31.9 g without the screw plate. Sub-variation featuring the spokes on the reverse of the sunburst in approximately 2, 6 and 10 o'clock positions.

In very fine to excellent condition. The enamel shows beautiful luster and appears nearly perfect to the unaided eye. There are just a couple of tiny flakes to the red enamel on the edges of the lower arms, but they are nearly unnoticeable without magnification. The golden hammer & sickle emblem is essentially perfect; the golden starburst is pristine. All of the original factory-applied silver finish on the rifle and sword is still present. Very attractive toning to the golden starburst on the reverse. The screw post is full length, well over 13 mm measured from the reverse of the silver star, and comes with an original late-WW2 era screw plate

Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd cl., Type 2, "Starback" variation (Krasnokamsk Mint), #220117. Silver, 14K gold (hammer and sickle emblem), enamels. Measures 47.7 mm tall, 45.1 mm wide; weighs 28.3 g without the screw plate. The reverse is relatively flat, with just a hint of a pentagon "star" counter-relief. This piece is among the fourth series of "Starbacks" manufactured at the Krasnokamsk Mint in 1944. According to the Monvor.narod.ru website, its currently known serial number range is from 200030 - 246208.

In very fine condition. The red enamel has a couple of tiny flakes nearly unnoticeable without magnification, otherwise perfect and shows a very attractive luster. The upper part of the sickle of the hammer & sickle emblem is bent, but the emblem is otherwise intact, sound, and still firmly attached. Attractive patina to silver throughout. The screw post is full length and includes original, early type screw plate in silver.

Order of the Red Star, Type 4 Var. 3 (with a screw post base), #169217. Silver, enamels; 46.7 mm tall x 49.1 mm wide; weighs 29.8 g without the screw plate. This specimen was manufactured in 1943 at the Moscow Mint. Features screw post base and slightly curved up mint mark with the dash over the last letter in the word "Monetnyi" located above the letter. The screw post base is "sunk-in", located mostly below the surface of the reverse. /N. Strekalov, V. Durov, The Order of the Red Star, pp. 230, 231/.

In good to fine overall condition. The enamel is partly replaced on the lower left arm, apparently a very old repair. The lower right arm has a small surface chip at the lower edge, not penetrating to silver and not very noticeable. The enamel elsewhere is intact and shows very attractive luster. The center medallion is practically pristine; its details are perfect and exceptionally crisp. There is a nice dark patina to silver on both sides. The screw post is of full length, approx. 12.5 mm, and includes an original, early-type screw plate in silver.

Medals:

For Combat Service, Type 2 Var. 4 (unnumbered), 1967 issue. In silver and enamel, 32.2 mm wide. Sub-variation featuring a rounded eyelet. Excellent condition.

For the Liberation of Warsaw, Var. 2. In brass, 32.3 mm wide. Excellent condition.

For the Capture of Berlin, Var. 1. In brass, 32.1 mm wide. Excellent condition.

For Victory over Germany, Var. 1. In brass, 32.1 mm wide. Excellent condition.

In Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy. In brass, 32.1 mm wide. Excellent condition.

In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces. Excellent condition.

In Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of Victory. Excellent condition.

In Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Victory (War Participant's version) . Excellent condition.

Lenin's Centenary Medal (for Valiant Labor) . Excellent condition.

Badges:

Badge for 25th Anniversary of Victory. Aluminum, paint. Excellent condition.

Guard's Badge, WW2 version by the NKPS Factory . In brass and enamels, 44.9 mm x 36.6 mm. Features a distinctive banner without a fringe.

In very fine condition. There is a single small chip to the banner just above the star and some small scuffs and contact marks elsewhere, but the enamel retains an impressive appearance and luster. The details of the wreath are perfect. The screw post is full length, well over 12 mm, and includes an original WW2 period screw plate marked "Mechanical Stamping Factory, NKPS".

Award Documents:

Order Booklet, filled-out on 18 October 1946. Shows the five orders listed above; the first four entries were made when the document was issued, while the last one - for the Order of Lenin - was added later, as was customary at the time. Shows 1 August 1943 as the date for the start of privileges, which corresponds with a July 1943 date of the first decoration, Order of the Red Star. The booklet has an original photo of the recipient wearing his decorations on an M-43 tunic. Note that the group is complete: all the decorations listed in the booklet are present.

The booklet is in excellent, near mint condition. There is practically no visible wear to either the exterior or internal pages. The binding is tight, the internal pages perfectly clean and crisp.

Document for the Combat Service Medal, filled-out on 3 November 1968. In near mint condition.

Document for the Liberation of Warsaw Medal, issued on 19 February 1946. Signed by Commander of the 11th Tank Division Maj. General Yushchuk and shows the unit stamp. Excellent condition.

Document for the Capture of Berlin Medal, issued on 31 October 1945. Signed by Commander of the 11th Tank Division Maj. General Yushchuk and shows the unit stamp of the 11th Guards Tank Corps. Very good to excellent condition. Shows a couple of light stains on the cover and tiny spots on the inside, otherwise perfect.

Document for the Victory over Germany Medal, issued on 18 April 1945. Signed by Commander of the 11th Tank Division Maj. General Yushchuk and shows the unit stamp of the 11th Guards Tank Corps. Excellent condition. There are a few tiny spots, otherwise perfect and crisp.

Document for the 30th Anniversary of the Army & Navy Medal, issued on 5 November 1948 by the Otyabrskiy District Military Commissariat, city of Ivanovo. Excellent condition.

Document for the 50th Anniversary of the Armed Forces Medal, issued on 11 February 1969 by the Kirovskiy Military Commissariat in the city of Riga, Latvian SSR. Excellent condition.

Document for the Lenin's Centenary Medal, issued on 27 March 1970 by the Kirovskiy Military Commissariat in the city of Riga, Latvian SSR. Very good to excellent condition. There is minor soiling to the first internal page, otherwise perfect.

Document for the 25th Anniversary of Victory over Germany Badge. Excellent condition.

The recipient, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Geshtovt (Владимир Александрович Гештовт) was born in 1902. Judging by his last name, he was probably of German or Jewish ethnic background, although his "nationality" is stated as Russian in the archival documents. He joined the Red Army in 1922, became a career military officer, and took part in the Patriotic War starting from June 1942. In the early part of 1943, Geshtovt, having the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, served as Deputy Commander for the Rear of the 356th Rifle Division, Bryansk Front. In this capacity, he distinguished himself during the breakthrough of the German defensive line from 20-23 February in the area of the villages of Sivkovo and Kukuevka, when he managed to provide his unit with all the necessary ammunition and hot food despite the deep snow covering the terrain. On many occasions, he was performing his duties on the front line under enemy aerial attacks. For his contribution to the success of the offensive, he was awarded with his first decoration of the war, the Order of the Red Star which was bestowed on 4 July 1943 by the command of the Bryansk Front.

By the early summer of 1944, Geshtovt had been promoted to Deputy Commander of the 46th Rifle Corps in Charge of the Rear. On 5 June, he was recommended for an Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd cl. by his Corps Commander for flawlessly supplying the corps with all that was needed, including food, ammunition, horse feed, etc. On 10 July, the award was approved by the Commander of the 3rd Army; on 21 July, received the final approval by the Chief of the Rear of the Belorussian Front; and on 26 July 1944, was officially bestowed by a general order of the 1st Belorussian Front.

Starting from December 1944 through the rest of the war, Geshtovt, by then already a full Colonel, served as Deputy Commander in Charge of the Rear of the 11th Tank Corps. His diligent work on storing ammunition, lubricants and fuel ensured the success of the corps on 14 January 1945, the first day of the Vistula - Oder strategic offensive. Within 22 days, the corps covered the 600 km distance from the Vistula to the Oder while being engaged in non-stop combat. For his exemplary work on preparing and executing the offensive, Geshtovt was awarded on 11 May 1945 with his final combat decoration of the war, an Order of the Patriotic War, 1st cl. Beside the three combat awards, Geshtovt also received the Order of the Red Banner based on a November 1944 Supreme Soviet decree that bestowed this award on all military officers with at least 20 years of uninterrupted service.

Judging by the Order of Lenin awarded to him in 1949 for the length of service, Geshtovt remained on active duty at least until that year. In all likelihood, he had retired from the military before 1952. After his retirement, he initially lived in the city of Ivanovo and then moved to Riga, Latvia.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award commendations for the four WW2 orders including the length of service Red Banner as well as the relevant pages of the award decrees and a photo of Geshtovt found on the Russian archival websites.