Soviet Soviet Wound Badges (Stripes)

[JensF.]

For many many years now I search for a pair of soviet Wound Stripes (red and yellow). Does someone has pictures of them and maybe a pair for sale?

[Christophe]

Jens,

Here is a drawing of them as depicted in the Soviet 1989 Uniforms Regulation Book.

Ch.

Pic : Alexei Merezhko.

Edited November 12, 2005 by Christophe

[Christophe]

A real pic.

Ch.

Pic : Alexei Merezhko.

[Christophe]

Another one.

Ch.

Pic : Collectrussia.

[Christophe]

Another one in wear.

Ch.

Pic : Mondvor.

[Christophe]

If you're interested, this one is for sale (not by me), with its yellow counterpart.

"Wound stripe for a light wound (red), 1940s, excellent unissued condition. About 12mm wide by 70mm long."

Hope this helps.

Ch.

Pic : Collectrussia.

[NavyFCO]

Here's one from a uniform I had:

[NavyFCO]

Here's a pic of some veterans wearing them...

[NavyFCO]

The veteran on the left was wounded six times in one engagement while crossing the Dnepr River. He was nominated for the Order of Lenin, but was instead awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his bravery. These are his stripes.

Dave

[NavyFCO]

Here's the backside of his homemade stripes...

[NavyFCO]

Here's a general's uniform (he was a KGB officer) who wore a single "light" wound stripe...

[Guest Rick Research]

Fronts and backs

[attachmentid=15489]

[attachmentid=15490]

SIX wounds for Guards armor Colonel I. M. Dovgy

[attachmentid=15493]

[attachmentid=15494]

[Guest Rick Research]

It isn't always easy to see in period photos what variety was being worn-- but it is obvious that there were MANY varieties, and that for wahtever reason, most soldiers eligible for them did not wear them, or did not continue wearing them. Rather surprising, that!

Airforce Guards Jr Lt Kashintsev, light

[attachmentid=15506]

Major General Io. M. Keda, light

[attachmentid=15508]

Guards Sr Lt I. K. Shatokhan, light and severe

[attachmentid=15509]

apparently those entitle to multiple stripes always wore them mounted as some sort of single backing unit, not sewn on as individual stripes.

[Paul R]

Here is my contribution...

[Paul R]

Closer...

(thanks to my new scanner skills!)

[Paul R]

another scan

[Paul R]

Reverse...(inside the tunic)

[Guest Rick Research]

I've wanted to see those for a long time!!!

[NavyFCO]

I totally missed these, and this group is sitting right across from me! This fellow's heavy wound was being shot in the mouth and losing the "parts" that go in there...

Dave

[NavyFCO]

Here's the backside of it...

[NavyFCO]

Here's a photo of the happy fellow...

[Paul R]

Rick,

I kept forgeting to post them! Thank you for the reminder

Dave,

That is an awesome grouping! Is that photo still attached to his awards book? If so, what medals and orders are listed?

Were the wound stripes documented as awards in the books?

Paul

[NavyFCO]

Dave,

That is an awesome grouping! Is that photo still attached to his awards book? If so, what medals and orders are listed?

Were the wound stripes documented as awards in the books?

Paul

Paul-

The wound stripes aren't documented anywhere in his group, not in his order book, by any other award document in his service history or in his personnel file. The only mention I can find of them is in the following letter:

***

Second Report

Report of the Senior Political Instructor Andreev, Vasily Ivanovich 16 November 1942.

To the head of PURKKA, member of the Military Council Comrade Scherbakov

Report

My request regarding being appointed to do political instruction work in the armoured trains union was passed on to you on November 8 of this year. As far as my professional experience is concerned, I am a railway electrician. Since 1935, I have been working in the economic, administrative and party lines of work. By my higher education degree, I am a junior aviation specialist. On 16 July 1941, as a volunteer political instructor/soldier, I was dispatched to the Leningrad Front. I served as a Communications Engineer, and the Commander of the Communications Unit of the 313th Artillery Regiment of the 115th Rifle Division. In December, I was transferred to the infantry as a Company Political Instructor of the 638th Rifle Regiment, and in January this year, I was appointed the Military Commissar of a Rifle Battalion. I took part in battles from August to April of this year. On 10 April, I was heavily wounded in my face: My lower jaw was destroyed, and I lost all teeth in the upper jaw. I was discharged from the hospital on 18 October this year. Possessing a physical impediment (prosthesis in my mouth) I am no longer able to serve in rifle units as I cannot eat solid food, even bite bread crusts, and each time I eat, I have to wash my prosthesis to avoid inflammation. I am asking you to grant my request as I am familiar with railway service, and I will quickly learn the new type of fighting and will be able to crush the enemy with no lesser strength. In the beginning of April this year, I was to be attested and appointed Battalion Commissar and given the rank of a Captain by the leadership of the 638th Rifle Regiment but I was wounded soon after and was evacuated far away from the front line. On 7 July this year, according to the order across the units of the 115th Rifle Division and on the order of the Military Council No.284 from 18 June 1942 of the Volk. Front I was given the rank of Senior Political Instructor.

I am asking you to honour my request.

***

He was in hospital from April through October of the same year having his face rebuilt. Talk about a guy who really earned those wound stripes!

Dave

[NavyFCO]

Inside his order book:

[Paul R]

Dave,

That is a sobering letter. Such commitment and pride! Not many people like that around these days, that is for sure!! What awards are listed there in his book?

Regards

Paul

Edited November 13, 2005 by Paul Reck