Serbia Serial numbers on Yugoslav decorations during the war

[bovec1313]

Most of the decorations of Socialistic Yugoslavia are numbered with serial numbers on reverse. Many collectors consider lower serial numbers as ''better items'', as it is the case with many Soviet awards. But in Yugoslavia lower serial number, especially on high classes, doesn't mean always an early award. Namely, during the war, when delivered from Soviet Union, packages with decorations were sent to various parts of Yugoslavia to local partisan HQ (i.e. to Slovenian partisans, Croat partisans, Macedonian etc.). Packages with decorations were briefly opened and decorations awarded. Serial numbers, which were entered in respective certifications (uvjerenje), just follow the serial numbers from the orders from the package.

I have in my collection Order on National Liberation (the 1^st, Soviet made model) with serial number 1014. I've seen two more in Slovenia, booth numbered between 1010 and 1020. It's clear that package with these decorations sent to Slovenia consisted orders with serial numbers started from (most likely) 1000. In fact only 262 awards were made in total until year 1985.

I've got a certification (uverenje) for the Order of Partisan Star Class I (with golden wreath), awarded to Hero of Yugoslavia, Petar Brajovich. He was awarded on December 6, 1944 (one of the first awards), but it's serial number (as stated on certification) is 963 (!!). And all together only 627 awards were made in total. Most likely, package with Partisan stars Class I for Serbia contained orders starting with serial numbers 900 or maybe 950. (I'm guessing).

It's interesting, that on certification, P. Brajovich doesn't have stated his rank (major general), but he's addresses as CORPS COMMANDER. Certification was issued to him almost a year later, on October 1945.

With decorations, which were in vast numbers awarded after the war (as Order of Brotherhood and Unity, Order Merits to the People, Order of Work), lower number definitively means earlier award.

[bovec1313]

I'm posting pictures of my Order of the National Liberaiton, the 1st model. These orders were later replaced by the 2nd, star-shape model. Thse were manufactured in IKOM. Old awards were collected back. in spite of fact that over 5000 Orders were produced in Soviet Union, only handfull survived in collections. All the rest were later melted.

My example, numbered ''1014'' was awarded either to Edvard Kardelj, Slovene and one of most eminent communist political figures in Yugoslavia; a ''great'' theoretic of communist science and inventor of socalled self management, either to his wife Pepca Kardelj.

[bovec1313]

Reverse of the Order on National Liberation, 1st model, numbered 1014

[Mister No]

Beautiful and extremely rare Order.