slava1stclass

To all: Need I say more? Regards, slava1stclass

To all: A recent quick scan of IM's website revealed that his normally well-stocked categories are looking mighty thin these days. His HSU, Lenin, Top Soviet Military Orders, Order of Glory and Army & Navy Bravery Medals (among others) were all rather low on stock. Heaven's goodness. Could we soon be facing yet another NOTA BENE situation? Regards, slava1stclass

Ed, This is a first class driver's license. It authorizes him to operate vehicles (automobiles) with the exception of buses and ambulances. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: This U/I Tank Troops Polkovnik is well on his way to seeing his "pyramid" rise from the sand. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: I knew something was up in the old Soyuz! No wonder the prices of Soviet ODM continue to skyrocket. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: I like it. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: A nice example of a hybrid Category 2 (see post # 1 above) Full Cavalier booklet. It is classified as a hybrid since it lacks the date of issue, but displays the issuing military commissariat's official stamp. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: Full Cavalier of the Order of Labor Glory M. N. Radkov. As a machine excavator operator, he was awarded all three classes for his contributions to building the Baikal-Amur Motorway. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: Yet further proof of Allied solidarity during World War II/the Great Patriotic War. Regards, slava1stclass

Guards Captain V.I. Andrianov

To all: Although unable to become Full Cavaliers of the Order of the Glory once promoted to Lieutenant, these two Soviet aviators didn't fare too badly once everything was said and done. Regards, slava1stclass Guards Captain T. Ya. Begeldinov

Ed, His naval rating (military occupational specialty) is listed as radio-telegraph operator. Regards, slava1stclass

Ed, The real take away from this case is that even archival research, to wit: Gnitienko's Special Awards Record Card (SARC), was found to be in error. The people who compiled the book listing the serial numbers of all Orders of Glory for the Full Cavaliers used these SARCs as their sourcing. All of us (Paul McDaniel, Dudeman, NavyFCO and myself) found it difficult to believe that something as important as a Full Cavalier's records could be prone to administrative error. We went with the standard convention that archival research (in this case Gnitienko's SARC) was gospel - until this case demonstrated otherwise. This only begs the question of how many other Gnitienko-like errors are out there. Regards, slava1stclass

Herr Zulus, I am very happy that the "heavy cloud of suspicion/doubt" concerning this set has now been lifted and that sunny skies are shining upon you. Congratulations! You certainly did the right thing by following our advice and securing the last (and most critical) piece of evidence - the Awards Record Card. As I said all along, the orders themselves looked fine and the Full Cavalier booklet looked fine (again, I have yet to encounter a fake/counterfeit Full Cavalier booklet). After reviewing the awards record cards a few observations: 1) There is nothing to suggest/indicate how serial # 3646 came to be recorded as that for his Order of Glory 1st Class on his Special Awards Record Card. We will likely never know. 2) His erroneously twice-issued Order of Glory 2nd Class, serial # 47164, was returned to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, USSR on March 17th, 1981. Hope this helps. Congratulations again and welcome to the exclusive club of Category 1 Full Cavalier set owners! Regards, slava1stclass

To all: An interesting photograph of infamous Soviet SMERSH Chief, Colonel General Viktor Semyonovich Abakumov, seen in his M1945 Victory Parade uniform. Good thing, too, as he never got to wear the M1954 VP uniform. He was executed on December 18th, 1954 for his role in the "Leningrad Affair." Regards, slava1stclass

To all: The Soviet soldier referenced above is S. T. Kuzin. Regards, slava1stclass

Rick, In post # 5 it's down as "Dekhtyar." Regards, slava1stclass

Ed, His patronymic is Petrovich. Regards, slava1stclass

Ed, His last name is Dekhtyar. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: One final unidentified Full Cavalier. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: Another shot of Sergeant Aleksey Strakhov (post # 2 above) seen at at his Kremlin guard post. Regards, slava1stclass

Ed, You're welcome. I will provide the name and source citation for the double-double winner I mentioned above as well as any other cases I can verify after I have an opportunity to review my source material. Unfortunately, I'm unable to comment on the official policies and/or general practice governing the wear of these decorations during the inter-war period. It is an area outside the scope of my personal expertise. Regards, slava1stclass

PaulR, My area of expertise is Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory. I need to check my references, however, concerning possible "double" Full Cavalier winners i.e., Saint George Cross for Bravery and the Order of Glory. There are documented instances of Soviet enlisted men who were awarded the Saint George Cross during World War I who were later awarded the Order of Glory during the Great Patriotic War. I am aware of one such case wherein an enlisted man was awarded two classes of the Saint George Cross for Bravery and later was awarded two classes of the Order of Glory - a double double if you will. Not all enlisted men of World War I who were Saint George Cross winners went on to become officers. The vast majority were demob'ed after that war only to be remob'ed during the Great Patriotic War. It's not as much of a dream as Ed suggests. Regards, slava1stclass

PaulR, Excellent question. The answer is yes. One must consider, however, that 23 years had passed from the end of World War I to the start of the Great Patriotic War. Throw in Stalin's purges of the late 1930s and it is amazing that some of these guys were still aound. Among them was Full Cavalier of all four classes of the Saint George Cross for Bravery, Colonel General K. P. Trubnikov. Trubnikov earned his as an enlisted man in World War I. Seen here in his M1945 Victory Parade dress uniform, note that in addition to his Saint George Crosses, he also wears at least three other imperial medals in the same row. As Rick L. is fond of saying, the proof is in the picture. Hope this helps. Regards, slava1stclass

To all: Sergeant Aleksey Strakhov, 16th East Siberian Rifle Regiment. Won all four classes during the China campaigns in World War I. Regards, slava1stclass