The medallion is in silver; measures 42.1 mm in height incl. eyelet, 37.5 mm wide; weighs 27.7 g not including the suspension and connecting link.

In very fine condition, about average for the Valor Medal of WW2 vintage. There is light wear only; the raised details of the tank and airplanes are nicely preserved and crisp. The lacquer in the letters is missing, as is often the case. There are some light dings to the raised edge, but no significant bumps or other serious flaws.

Comes on original suspension device, a WW2 two-layer model in steel with self-locking pin. The ribbon is old and shows mild soiling but is still sound and attractive. The connecting link appears to be original, and its ends are soldered.

A resident of Voronezh Region of Russia, Kazartsev was drafted into the Red Army in 1941 at the age of 40. He was on the front lines from the first days of the Patriotic War, and starting from 1942, served as gun crewman with the 315th Howitzer Regiment, 74th Howitzer Brigade, 27th Artillery Division, 2nd Baltic Front. On 26 December 1944, then already a junior sergeant, he showed outstanding bravery and resolve in a battle in Latvia when his position was under intense enemy fire. He opened fire from his howitzer in a timely fashion, suppressing an enemy machine-gun nest which had been blocking the advance of the Soviet infantry. The Medal for Valor awarded for this action in January 1945 and physically issued to Kazartsev during the following month appears to be his only wartime decoration.

Research Materials: a copy of the 2013 note from the Russian military archives certifying the identity of the recipient of the medal; photocopy of the award decree containing a brief description of his feat. Information about the 74th Howitzer Brigade and 27th Artillery Division is available in the Vol. VI Red Thunder of the C. Sharp's Soviet Order of Battle series.