Original Item. Only One Available. This is an excellent pair of original Soviet WWII Orders of the Red Star (Орден Красной Звезды), bearing the consecutive serial numbers 1090843 and 1090844. The decorations are attributed to two lieutenants of the Soviet NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs), Mikhail Aleksandrovich Fomichev and Aleksei Alekseevich Fomkin, reportedly presented their awards on the same date in Moscow by General Obruchnikov.

Of particular historical interest, one of the two officers is also recorded as a recipient of the Medal "For the Defense of Moscow." His service citation states that, from October 19, 1941, to January 25, 1942, he carried out assignments from the command with distinction in defense of the city of Moscow. This association connects the grouping to the Soviet defense of the capital during one of the most critical periods of WWII.

Both orders are constructed from silver with translucent red enamel, displaying the familiar five-pointed star design. At the center of each is a circular silver medallion depicting a Red Army soldier wearing a greatcoat and holding a rifle with fixed bayonet. The figure is surrounded by the inscription ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН, СОЕДИНЯЙТЕСЬ!, translating to "Workers of All Countries, Unite!" Beneath the soldier are the letters СССР (USSR), with a hammer and sickle emblem at the base of the medallion.

The reverses retain their threaded screw posts and circular retaining nuts, with the raised mint marking:

МОНЕТНЫЙ ДВОР

Meaning "Mint," this identifies Soviet state mint production. Beneath the screw posts are the individually hand-engraved serial numbers 1090843 and 1090844, establishing their consecutive numbering.

Both decorations remain in very good overall condition, with expected age and handling wear. The red enamel retains its rich coloration and glossy finish, with light surface scratches and minor marks. The silver has developed an attractive aged patina, while the reverses display scattered oxidation, discoloration, and surface wear, somewhat more pronounced on one example. Both serial numbers and mint markings remain legible, and the screw posts and retaining nuts are present.

Historical Context

The Order of the Red Star was established on April 6, 1930, by the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union, with its original statute approved on May 5 of that year. The decoration recognized distinguished contributions to Soviet national defense, including personal bravery, successful military operations, and exceptional service in both wartime and peacetime. It could be awarded to members of the Red Army, Navy, border and internal security forces, as well as other personnel whose actions contributed to the defense of the Soviet state.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Order of the Red Star became one of the principal Soviet military decorations. Awards recognized courage in combat, successful execution of important military assignments, effective command, and distinguished service under wartime conditions. Its eligibility extended to personnel of the NKVD, whose responsibilities during the conflict included military security, protection of strategic installations, and direct participation in combat operations.

The NKVD, or Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del, was responsible for a broad range of internal affairs and state security functions. Its military formations included border guards, internal troops, and specialized units assigned to protect railways, industrial facilities, and other strategically important infrastructure. Following the German invasion of June 22, 1941, NKVD formations were increasingly committed to defensive operations, particularly in areas threatened by the German advance.

The defense of Moscow became a major concern during the autumn of 1941, when German Army Group Center launched Operation Typhoon in an attempt to capture the Soviet capital. Beginning on September 30, the offensive initially achieved substantial territorial gains, placing German forces within striking distance of Moscow and prompting the Soviet authorities to organize an extensive system of defensive positions around the city.

NKVD formations were assigned important responsibilities in these preparations. On October 7, 1941, the 2nd Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Division of NKVD troops was formed to reinforce the Moscow garrison. It operated alongside the Separate Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Division named after F. E. Dzerzhinsky, which was tasked with defending important approaches to the capital. These formations prepared defensive positions, organized observation posts, and stood ready to engage German forces attempting to enter the city.

On October 19, 1941, the Soviet State Defense Committee declared Moscow to be under a state of siege. NKVD forces received extensive responsibilities for maintaining security throughout the capital and its surrounding defensive zone. Personnel guarded roads, bridges, government installations, and important communications facilities while establishing checkpoints and regulating movement into and out of the city.

The Headquarters for the Protection of the Moscow Defense Zone, organized in October 1941, coordinated security operations across several sectors surrounding the capital. NKVD personnel were assigned to maintain order on major roads, prevent enemy infiltration, protect communications, and support the defensive preparations being carried out by regular military formations. Specialized units also participated in reconnaissance and operations against German forces approaching Moscow.

The defense reached a decisive stage in late November and early December 1941, as German forces attempted their final advance toward the capital. By December 5, the Red Army had begun a major counteroffensive, forcing German formations away from Moscow and ending the immediate threat of its capture. Fighting continued into the following spring, but the successful defense of the capital represented a major Soviet military achievement.

On May 1, 1944, the Soviet government established the Medal "For the Defense of Moscow" to recognize military personnel and civilians who had participated in the city's defense. Eligibility included members of the Red Army, Navy, and NKVD troops, as well as civilians involved in defensive construction, air defense, firefighting, and other essential wartime duties. Among the qualifying periods was service in the defense of Moscow between October 19, 1941, and January 25, 1942.

The Order of the Red Star and the Medal "For the Defense of Moscow" therefore represented different forms of official recognition. The former acknowledged distinguished military or state service, while the latter commemorated participation in the defense of the Soviet capital. For NKVD personnel, both decorations could form part of a wartime service record involving military assignments and the protection of Moscow during the German offensive.

The association of this consecutive pair with two named NKVD lieutenants, a reported joint presentation in Moscow, and a recorded connection to the city's defense gives the grouping a particularly interesting historical background. The serial-number sequence also preserves the direct numerical relationship between the two decorations, which have remained together as a pair.