This is a fine original Soviet Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, serial No. 230,758. In excellent condition with only minor signs of age - mostly in the form of patina. Matching spinner is present. Difficult to upgrade from!
 
 
The Order of the Patriotic War (or Орден Отечественной войны in Russian) is a  Soviet military decoration established on 20 May 1942 and awarded for heroic deeds during the German-Soviet War to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, as well as to partisans.
 
This was the first Soviet order established during the war, and the first Soviet order divided into classes. Deeds are awarded with the order (shooting down three aircraft as a fighter pilot, destroying two heavy or three medium or four light tanks, capturing a warship, repairing an aircraft under fire after landing on a hostile territory, etc) were awarded with the first class.
The medal was also given to some allied troops and commanders, including western allies. Altogether, over 324,903 of the 1st class and 951,652 of the 2nd class were issued during the war.