Soviet Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz

[Alfred]

The conqueror of Berlin.

[Gerd Becker]

Sorry I don't have much time on my hand to write a good question. So I'll just ask this.

1. Who is this man?

2. Tell which important cities did his forces captured and liberated during WWII?

to 2: Kursk, Belgorod, Odessa, Kharkov, Kiev, Krakow, Berlin

Gerd

[Bryan]

Gerd is the winner for this round, but you forgot to add Prag to your list.

Here are some informations:

When Germany attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941, Koniev took command of the 19th Army in the Vitebsk region, and waged a series of defensive battles during the Red Army's retreat, first to Smolensk and then to the approaches to Moscow. He commanded the Kalinin Front from October 1941 to August 1942, playing a key role in the fighting around Moscow and the Soviet counter-offensive during the winter of 1941-42. For his role in the successful defence of the Soviet capital Koniev was promoted to Colonel-General.

Koniev held high commands for the rest of the war. He commanded the Western Front until February 1943, the North Western Front February-July 1943, and the Ukrainian Front (later renamed the First Ukrainian Front) from July 1943 until May 1945. During this latter command he participated in the Battle of Kursk, commanding the northern part of the Soviet counter-offensive that successfully enveloped Erich von Manstein's army.

After the victory at Kursk, Koniev's armies liberated Belgorod, Odessa, Kharkov and Kiev from the Germans, and advanced to the Romanian border. For his achievements on the Ukrainian Front Koniev was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union in February 1944.

During 1944 Koniev's armies advanced from Ukraine and Byelorussia into Poland and later into Czechoslovakia. By July he had advanced to the Vistula River in central Poland, and was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In September 1944 his forces, now designated the Fourth Ukrainian Front, advanced into Slovakia and helped the Slovak partisans in their rising against German occupation.

In January 1945 Koniev commanded the Soviet forces which launched the massive winter offensive in western Poland, driving the Germans from the Vistula to the Oder river. In southern Poland his forces liberated Krakow. In April his forces, together with the First Byelorussian Front under his competitor, Marshal Georgi Zhukov, forced the line of the Oder and advanced towards Berlin. Koniev's forces entered the city, but Stalin gave Zhukov the honor of capturing the Reichstag and hoisting the Russian flag over Berlin. Koniev was ordered to the south-west, where his forces linked up with elements of the United States army at Torgau and also liberated Prague shortly before the final surrender of the German forces.

[Gerd Becker]

Arghh, i thought, i added Prag.

However, give me a little time to find a decent question for you guys.

Gerd

[Christophe]

Christophe, I am the specialist for dumb questions, you should know that by now

Gerd

A dumb one ? No, just kidding...

Congrats for your answer, and thanks to Bryan for the trivia.

Gerd, your turn now!!

Cheers.

Ch.

Edited November 25, 2005 by Christophe

[Gerd Becker]

Ok, lets try it this way:

WHO AM I?

I was born 1744. I attended the Naval Gentlemen Cadet Corps , which i finished in 1766. I took part in the Turkish/Russian war of 1768-1774 as a ship commander. Later i commanded the battleship "Victor" that guarded merchant chips from the piratical activities of the English Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1784 i was the commander of the battleship "Saint Pavel"and a year later i helped to buildt up the Sebastopol Navy base. Further i became the commander of the Black Sea Navy in 1789.

These are just a few stations of his career, but its too obvious, if i add more. If noone knows (what i doubt) i will add more hints.

Gerd

Edited November 27, 2005 by Gerd Becker

[Christophe]

Gerd,

Nice one. What would you say of Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (1744-1817) ?

Cheers.

Ch.

[Gerd Becker]

Gerd,

Nice one. What would you say of Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (1744-1817) ?

Cheers.

Ch.

Argghh....

I know, that one is too easy for you guys

Your turn, Christophe

Gerd

[Christophe]

Thanks Gerd,

Now, here is who was Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov - (1744-1817)

"Ushakov was born in Burnakovo village of the Yaroslavl province in the family of a small nobleman. After finishing the Naval Gentlemen Cadet Corps in 1766 he was sent to the Navy in the rank of warrant officer.

In the period of the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 he served in the Azov-Don small fleet as a ship commander and took part in military operations in the Black Sea. And he distinguished himself in his first battle. In 1780 Ushakov was appointed the commander of the Imperial Yacht, but he abandoned the court career and preferred to come back to the Navy. In 1780-1782 he commanded the battleship "Victor" that guarded merchant chips from the piratical activities of the English Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.

In 1784 Ushakov was promoted to the rank of captain and appointed the commander of the battleship "Saint Pavel". From 1785 he took active part in the building of the Sebastopol Navy base.

In 1787 he commanded a battleship and the 3-rd squadron of the Russian Black Sea Navy. In the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 Ushakov commanded the vanguard of the Russian Black Sea Navy and in 1788 smashed the Turkish Fleet at Fidonisy island. In this battle Ushakov took the initiative and not waiting for an order of the Fleet Commander attacked the outnumbered enemy ships. In spite of the rules of the line tactics that was in use then he at first attacked the flagship of the first enemy column.

In 1789 Ushakov was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral and appointed the Commander of all the Black Sea Navy that based in Sebastopol. Under his command the Russian Navy won the victories in the battles at Kerch (1790), Tendrovo (1790) and Caliakria (1791). These naval victories together with the victories of the Russian Army under the command of Suvorov on land let Russia gain a foothold strong of the Black Sea coast.

In 1793 Ushakov became a Vice-Admiral. The commanded the Russian Squadron that took part in the Mediterranean campaign in 1798-1800. This campaign was a part of military operation of the Russian Army against the Napoleonic Forces in Italy. The Russian troops on land were under the command of Count A.V.Suvorov.

In this naval campaign Ushakov distinguished himself in the assault of the fortress of Corfu in 1799. In this action the Russian Navy blocked the fortress, attacked it from sea, landed troops and they captured the fortress. It was just against all the military rules of those times. For this battle Ushakov was promoted to the rank of Admiral

Short time after capturing the fortress and island Corfu and all the Ionian Islands the Russian Squadron blocked the French Naval bases on the Italian coast (Genoa, Ankona and others) and landed troops that took active part in the military operations against the Napoleonic Forces in Italy and in the assaults of Naples, Roma and others. Suvorov appraised the action of the Russian Squadron very high. Ushakov was not only a talented naval commander but a skilful diplomat too. He defended the interests of Russia in the Mediterranean Sea very strongly and consistently.

Alexander I, who became the Russian Emperor in 1801 and his court were hostilely to Ushakov and his reforms in the Navy, and Ushakov fell into disfavour. At last he was compelled to retire from the Navy in 1807.

In the war of 1812 Ushakov was elected the commander of the militia of the Tambov gubernia (province).

He died in autumn of 1817 in his estate in the Tambov gubernia."

From the excellent site :

"Russian Generals of the Napoleonic Epoch" : http://www.100megsfree4.com/rusgeneral/index.html

Ch.

Pic : from the site above mentioned.

[Christophe]

Indeed, Ushakov is well known of the Soviet awards collectors, as he inspired the institution of the Order of Ushakov 1st and 2nd class and of the Medal of Ushakov, all three established on 3 March 1944.

Here is the Medal of Ushakov.

Ch.

Pic : Art Bates - www.soviet-awards.com

[Christophe]

And, here is the Order of Ushakov 1st Class (only 47 awarded, including 10 to units).

Ch.

Pic : www.Collectrussia.com

[Christophe]

The Order of Ushakov 2nd Class (194 awarded, including 13 units).

Ch.

Pic : www.Collectrussia.com

[Christophe]

So, its' my turn now.

Let's do an easy one :

Leonid Brezhnev has been awarded the Soviet Order of Lenin 8 times.

The absolute record for this Order is 11 times !!!! Ony one man succeeded in this.

Question : Who has been awarded the Order of Lenin 11 times ?

Good luck!!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Wild Card]

... and only one of them was awarded during he war??? The ultimate political flunky.

Come on guys!

P.S. anyone who has seen and handled one of those Ushakov stars will never put down the quality of Soviet awards again.

Edited November 28, 2005 by Wild Card

[Christophe]

... and only one of them was awarded during he war??? The ultimate political flunky. (...)

In fact, 3 of them have been awarded during the war, or more exactly before 1945 : on 08.02.1939, 03.06.1942 and 05.08.1944.

As usual, 4 amongst the other 8 have been awarded as a birthday present...

Ch.

[Christophe]

(...)

P.S. anyone who has seen and handled one of those Ushakov stars will never put down the quality of Soviet awards again.

I can only agree!!!!

Now, back to the question : Who has been awarded the Order of Lenin 11 times ?

No one ?

Cheers.

Ch.

[Bryan]

4 amongst the other 8 have been awarded as a birthday present...

Wish I could also get 4 Order of Lenin as a birthday present.

[Christophe]

Bryan, please, don't be too impatient ; he (who ?) received them for his 50, 60, 70 and 75 years birthdays.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Gerd Becker]

Bryan, please, don't be too impatient ; he (who ?) received them for his 50, 60, 70 and 75 years birthdays.

Cheers.

Ch.

Well even after an extensive google-search i did not find the answer. Would you find the answer on a forum, which i don?t visit anymore, per chance?

best,

Gerd

[Hendrik]

Just venturing a pure guess and showing my complete ignorance : Chrutsjev (or whatever you want to spell his name like) ?

[Christophe]

Well even after an extensive google-search i did not find the answer. Would you find the answer on a forum, which i don?t visit anymore, per chance?

best,

Gerd

Gerd,

The answer has very probably been dealt in one place or in another in the Soviet forum. I'm quite sure of this, as part of a thread dealing with Mr X pictures, if I remember well...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Just venturing a pure guess and showing my complete ignorance : Chrutsjev (or whatever you want to spell his name like) ?

Hi Hendrik,

A good try, but it is not Nikita Khrushchev.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Gerd,

The answer has very probably been dealt in one place or in another in the Soviet forum. I'm quite sure of this, as part of a thread dealing with Mr X pictures, if I remember well...

Cheers.

Ch.

I've checked it. It is dealt in the Soviet forum. But other sources exist... Books...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

I really can't believe no one can answer the question : "Who has been awarded the Order of Lenin 11 times ?"...

Let me give a clue : his birth and death dates are : 1908-1984.

Any idea ?

Ch.

[Vatjan]

If I remember well, Brezhnev collected orders.

Oh, and jokes aswell, he said himself he had gulags full of them.

Jan