Silver, enamels; measures 39.9 mm in height (from the top of the banner to the bottom of the wreath), 36.0 mm in width; weighs 24.3 g without screw plate. Features very sharp counter-relief to the reverse. The area with the serial number is slightly concaved, with well- defined borders and raised edge at the bottom. Manufactured in 1933 at the Leningrad Mint, this piece is among the last series of the "Mirror Reverse" Red Banners. /See The Order of the Red Banner by Durov and Strekalov, pp. 120, 121/.

In fine condition, very respectable for a Type 1 "Mirror Reverse" Red Banner. As is usually the case, the enamel on the banner has chips along along the flagpole and lower edge, as well a small repair in a very narrow strip immediately under the top of the torch. The red enamel also has extensive surface flaking throughout. Nevertheless, most of the enamel - in our estimate, no less than 80% - of the enamel on the banner remains intact, which is better than the average for the early type. The red enamel is missing on the center star. The red scroll has surface flakes and scratches but no penetrating chips. The white enamel has tiny amount of surface flaking in the center around the hammer & sickle emblem, unnoticeable without magnification, while the rest of it is perfect and shows a very nice luster.

The details of the wreath, torch and flagpole finial are nicely preserved and crisp; traces of the original fire gilt finish are still visible in recessed areas of the wreath, an uncommon occurrence. The reverse is absolutely pristine, showing an extremely attractive even patina to silver. The order has never been converted to suspension and retains its original, full-length screw post measuring nearly 11 mm in length from the screw post base and approx. 4.5 mm in diameter.

The order comes with an early screw plate in silver measuring approx. 32.0-32.1 mm in diameter. Interestingly, while this screw plate is correct for the earlier versions of the order, the sub-variation 3 typically has the screw plate of a smaller, 28 mm width. Nevertheless, the screw plate is definitely a very early one, designed for the Type 1 "Mirror Back" Red Banner, judging by its wider hole to accommodate the thick screw post (as compared to the screw plate for the later decorations.) Moreover, it fits the screw perfectly and exhibits patina matching that on the decoration itself. We therefore believe that the screw plate may be original to the order, representing a rare case when the early-style screw plate - possibly a leftover from the early production - was utilized at the mint for the Sub-variation 3 specimen. This is in line with the serial number of the award which is among the lowest for the Sub-variation 3.

Comes with original screw plate approx. 28 mm in diameter which is unique to this sub-variation of the "Mirror Back" Red Banner.

To summarize, this specimen is an essentially unaltered piece, except for the tiny repair on the banner. Although it shows wear and battlefield damage, it is still an attractive piece with a great amount of character.

Vladimir Stepanov was born in 1915 to a working-class family in Leningrad (then Petrograd). In 1936, he joined the Red Army, most likely by enrolling in a military officer school. In 1939-40, he took part in the Winter War against Finland, having the rank of junior lieutenant and serving as Coordination Platoon Commander with the 221st Artillery Regiment, 70th Rifle Division, 7th Army. In the initial phase of the Soviet invasion of Finland, the division was deployed on the western coast of the Karelian Isthmus, aiming to advance along the Gulf of Finland and eventually to capture or neutralize the Finnish coastal artillery batteries at Bjorko. The division was being supported by the Soviet battleship Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya deployed solely for that mission. Commanded by Mikhail Kirponos - the general who would be put in charge of the Southwestern Front early in the Patriotic War and heroically die in the defense of Kiev - the division encountered fierce resistance from the first day of the Finnish campaign. Although it captured its initial objective of the border town of Terijoki, it sustained severe losses and was put significantly behind schedule. On 25 December, less than a month from the start of the Soviet invasion, Jr. Lt. Stepanov was seriously wounded while correcting artillery fire from the front line.

Following a convalescence in a hospital, Stepanov returned in his unit in February 1940 and was soon wounded again by a bullet during the storming of the Mannerheim Line while reconnoitering an enemy position. He nevertheless refused to leave the battlefield until his mission was completed. In March, in the last days of the campaign, he got wounded again while correcting the fire of his battery; once again, he stayed in action until the battle was over. Immediately thereafter, he was recommended for the Order of the Red Banner jointly by his regiment's commander, chief of staff and commissar. The recommendation was approved by the Division Commander Kirponos and his military commissar on 15 March, two days after the armistice. On 21 March 1940, Stepanov was officially awarded with the Order of the Red Banner by a decree of the Supreme Soviet (this decree awarded a number of military personnel specifically for distinction in combat actions against the 'Finnish White Guards' - an odd name given to the Finnish defenders by the Soviet propaganda as an awkward excuse for the aggression.)

Later in WW2, Stepanov would go on to fight the Germans and once again the Finns at Petrozavodsk - the latter in what would be dubbed the Continuation War. He served valiantly from the first to the last day of the Patriotic War, received his fourth combat wound at Riga in October 1944 while commanding a 76-mm artillery battery with the 67th Guards Rifle Division, and was awarded with two more decorations: an Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd cl. in October 1944 and Order of the Red Star in May 1945. Stepanov retired from the military in August 1946 and then settled in the Latvian city of Liepaja where he found a job as a captain's mate of a fishing trawler.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award record card and award commendations for the 1940 Order of the Red Banner as well as the Orders of the Red Star and Patriotic War 2nd cl. (note that it is quite uncommon see a commendation for the "Finnish War" Red Banner: it is typically not available for the decorations from the pre-Patriotic War period.) Information about the 67th Guards Rifle Division where Stepanov served during the Patriotic War is available in the Volume IV Red Guards of Charles Sharp's book series "Soviet Order of Battle in World War II".