USSR. ALEXANDER NEVSKY ORDER. 800°/°° silver, gilt silver an - Lot 287

USSR. ALEXANDER NEVSKY ORDER. 800°/°° silver, gilt silver and enamel badge, first type, numbered 2051. Rectangular suspension and attachment tongue, with thumbwheel marked Monnaie. Height (badge alone): 55 mm. Length: 50 mm. Gross weight (without wheel): 53 g. Provenance: according to the central archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense, this badge was awarded on 10/21/1943 to Major Ivan Alexeyevich PROSVIRIN (1904-?) of the 153rd Rifle Regiment for the following: "In battle, he demonstrated courage, bravery and tenacity. During the offensive battles in the Didvino village area, from October 5 to 14, 1943, he courageously and skilfully commanded a rifle battalion and, with a reduced number of men, achieved significant successes in carrying out his combat mission. Brought up in a spirit of permanent hatred of the enemy, the well-trained Prosvirine fighters, under extremely difficult conditions, fought bravely against the enemy, inflicting heavy losses in men and material. The Prosvirine battalion broke through the first line of German defense and firmly held the reconquered line. During this period, the battalion repelled more than twenty counter-attacks by superior enemy forces and destroyed more than 180 German soldiers and officers...".