WWII Soviet Order of the Red Star – Guards Sergeant Anatoly Ignatievich Usoltsev – 221st Guards Rifle Regiment (77th Rifle Division)
Original wartime Soviet Order of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды), serial numbered 1,714,457 and complete with its original screwplate which was awarded to Guards Sergeant Anatoly Ignatievich Usoltsev, who served in the 221st Guards Rifle Regiment / 77th Rifle Division.
Guards Sergeant Anatoly Ignatievich Usoltsev was born in 1910 in Altai Krai and served in the Red Army from 1942 until the end of the war. He fought on the Central Front and later the Belorussian Front, where he distinguished himself in combat.
The highlight of this research set is the detailed combat citation for his Order of the Red Star.
During the battle for the village of Lyashkovo, German forces launched a counterattack. Usoltsev moved his weapon forward into the infantry line, held fire until the enemy approached at close range, and then opened devastating fire. According to the official citation, he personally accounted for up to 11 German soldiers killed during this engagement.
In the battle for the village of Lyashkovo, when the enemy launched a counterattack, Comrade Usoltsev moved his machine gun forward into the infantry line and allowed the enemy to approach to close range, then opened fire on the Germans. In this battle he killed up to 11 Hitlerites.
For this action he was awarded the Order of the Red Star in May 1945, during the final phase of the war.
The records also show that after the war he returned to Altai Krai, where he worked as a tractor driver at the collective farm “Red Ploughman.”
Interesting to note is that he had previously also received the Order of Glory 3rd Class, although this research set is focused on his Order of the Red Star records.
The Order of the Red Star was one of the Soviet Union’s most respected military decorations and was awarded for bravery, distinguished combat service, and military merit during the Second World War. This example dates to approximately 1945 and represents a genuine wartime award from the height of the Eastern Front campaigns.
The order retains attractive original enamel, clear details, matching serial number, and pleasing age patina. A highly collectible wartime Soviet decoration and an excellent addition to any WWII or Eastern Front collection. Comes with digital scans of his award records, including the original award recommendation sheet (Наградной лист) and postwar registration records.
Features:
- Original WWII Soviet Order of the Red Star
- Wartime serial number 1,714,457
- Original screwback construction
- Original screwplate included
- Good enamel and detail
- Authentic combat-era decoration
€155,00
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Historical Description
The Order of the Red Star was established on 6 April 1930 and became one of the Soviet Union’s most recognizable and respected military decorations. It was awarded to members of the Red Army, Navy, NKVD troops, border guards, military institutions, and occasionally civilians who distinguished themselves through exceptional service to the defense of the Soviet state.
During the Second World War, known in the Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945), the Order of the Red Star became one of the most frequently awarded Soviet combat decorations. Unlike many service medals, it was generally bestowed for specific acts of bravery, skillful leadership, successful combat operations, or exemplary military service under wartime conditions.
Recipients ranged from frontline infantrymen and tank commanders to fighter pilots, artillery officers, reconnaissance personnel, combat engineers, signalmen, and medical staff. The decoration often recognized individuals who demonstrated courage under enemy fire, successfully led troops in battle, destroyed enemy positions, maintained communications during combat, or carried out dangerous reconnaissance missions.
The badge itself features a red enamel five-pointed star, the universal symbol of the Soviet armed forces. At its center stands a Red Army soldier holding a rifle, surrounded by the revolutionary slogan:
“Workers of all countries, unite!”
Beneath the soldier appears the hammer and sickle, representing the alliance of workers and peasants that formed the ideological foundation of the Soviet state.
By the end of the Second World War, millions of Soviet soldiers had fought across a vast front stretching from the outskirts of Moscow to Berlin.
Today, the Order of the Red Star remains one of the most sought-after Soviet military decorations, valued both for its striking appearance and its direct connection to the soldiers and officers who served on the Eastern Front during the largest and most destructive conflict in human history.
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