The ID is of simplified wartime format, 7.5 x 5.5 cm (approx. 3" x 2 ¼"), with a plain cardboard cover. The inscription on the front reads "NKO (Narkomat of Defense) of the USSR, Identification Card of the Red Army Command Personnel". Page 1 shows the name and rank of the owner; note that his rank is the early equivalent of Medical Corps Colonel (the latter would be introduced during the reform of the military ranks in mid-1943). Page 2 shows an ink stamp of the 55th Army Staff and is hand-signed by the Army Chief of Staff, a major general (the signature is unclear) and its Military Commissar.

Interestingly, the ID does not show any biographical data of its owner or the date of issue - all obviously omitted because of the field conditions in which the ID was issued. It does show however that Gofman was appointed Chief of "Sanitary" (i.e. medical) Department of the 55th Army on 31 January 1942. The ID was probably issued within a few days or weeks after his appointment.

The ID is missing the photo but is in otherwise excellent condition, perfectly clean and crisp. The binding is tight, the cover shows practically no wear.

A good amount of information about Semyon Gofman is available on the Russian archival website Podvignaroda.ru. It shows that he was born in 1905 to a Jewish family in Belorussia, joined the military in 1925 as a career officer, and was a member of the Communist Party. He took part in the Winter War against Finland and took part in the defense of Leningrad from the beginning of the Patriotic War. During the war, Gofman was awarded with the Orders of the Red Star and Patriotic War, 2nd cl. for his diligent service and was also decorated with another Order of the Red Star and Order of the Red Banner for length of service.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award commendations for the 1943 Order of the Red Star and 1944 Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd cl. from the Russian archival website podvignaroda.ru.