slava1stclass

Gents, My take: - The obverse of "967" clearly bears the hallmarks of an original, mint-produced OGI. - Gantsev's OGI was approved on April 10, 1945. He died in 1968. - I have never encountered a mint-issued official duplicate OGI whose serial number was hand engraved. All serial numbers were stamped. The stamped Cyrillic letter "D" (for duplicate) was found above the serial number. - I believe USSR's OGI to be a non-issued/unawarded example whose original serial number was four digits. That serial number was removed and serial number "967" was added. It is anyone's guess as to why "967" was chosen. For illustrative purposes, the attachment shows the reverse side of two sequentially numbered non-issued OGIs. As Christian noted, their very pronounced stippling clearly matches that of USSR's OGI. While USSR's OGI's authenticity is not in doubt, the fact it was altered will clearly affect its long-term value. In my personal view, it would have been better if the original serial number had not been removed - even if it was a non-issued piece. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Just listed on the well-known NYC-area dealer's site. Price: $11,750.00. He was a SU-85 self-propelled gun mechanic-driver. His OGI citation and a rare wartime photograph of him and his fellow regimental Full Cavalier winner are included in my book. His buddy went MIA before Moscow approved his OGI and therefore his friend's OGI was a posthumous award. Regards, slava1stclass

Christian, For all the questions you're asking, you're going to owe me a nice Apfelstrudel mit Vanillesauce the next time I'm in Vienna! 1) There are four known variants of the Special Award Booklet for the Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory. I'm unaware of any version separately produced by the Russian Federation once the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. I would assume those Orders of Glory First Class awards issued post-1991 used USSR-produced booklets that remained in stock. 2) Orders of Glory First Class authorized post-1991 were based on orders, not decrees, issued by either the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation or Ukraine. The RF, and I would assume Ukraine, also published separate laws/guidance concerning the rights and privileges granted to Full Cavaliers as well as to HSUs. 3) As noted in my book, the final Orders of Glory First Class for Great Patriotic War valor (all of which were post-war corrections of wartime administrative errors) were authorized in 1996. Other than tracking down and presenting OGIIs and OGIIIs to those veterans who were approved for them during the war or in the immediate post-war years, i.e. 1946 and 1947, I'm unaware of any new OGII or OGIII award approvals for GPW service as was the case with OGIs. Here is a story (in Russian) of a vet who only received his OGIII a little over one month ago - in December 2016 - 72 years after he was first approved for it: http://www.slavcentr.kz/index.php/blogs-menu/blogs/a/8703-Orden-Slavyi-nashel-svoego-geroya.html Regards, slava1stclass

Christian, I can confirm that slightly over 1,700 of the Special Award Booklets for Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory were issued - either to the Full Cavaliers or to their next of kin. There are likely more, however, the 1,700 figure represents those for which I have the actual booklet serial number. Regards, slava1stclass

Christian, You're welcome. There is nothing I came across in my research to confirm OGIIIs were awarded for any major post-war Soviet operation/engagement other than those referenced in my book. While I am aware of confirmed Soviet military decorations awarded for action in the Korean War, there are no confirmed OGIII awards from that conflict of which I'm aware. There are of course confirmed awards of decorations like the HSU and the Order of the Red Star connected with Soviet operations in Afghanistan. Regards, slava1stclass

Christian, Thank you for your question. Of the nine Full Cavaliers approved for the Order of Glory First Class via MSU Vasilevskiy's order of September 23, 1945, only two were for action against the Japanese. The remaining seven were awards he approved based on those soldiers' combat action against the Germans. All nine are included in the total Full Cavalier count of 2,656. All nine are recognized as Full Cavaliers - that is not in question. It's just that for some reason they were never subsequently included in an official PSS decree. The other two Full Cavaliers whose OGIs were awarded for action against the Japanese were among the 437 post-war corrections. Their initial Orders of Glory for action against the Japanese were erroneous repeat awards of an Order of Glory class they had already received. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet would later amend/upgrade them to the Order of Glory First Class in 1955 and 1958. BLUF: Only four Full Cavaliers earned their Order of Glory First Class/their Full Cavalier status fighting the Japanese. Regards, slava1stclass

Christian, Thank you sincerely for your kind words. I hope you enjoy the book. As you will note when you read further chapters, there are many very interesting and little-known facts and statistics associated with the 2,656 Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory. They are now brought to light for the very first time. The 200 Order of Glory First Class award recommendations included in the book are clearly among the very best of the 1,800 to 1,900 I reviewed during its drafting. At the moment, I plan to use the eBook format although I may consider a bound version (possibly paperback) in the future. Have a nice weekend. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Many years in the making, the work is now done: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N38DNYR/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1485546711&sr=1-1&keywords=Onward+to+Berlin%21 Regards, slava1stclass

cimbineus, Ferdinand's suspicions were correct. While there was indeed an individual by that name, his only award was the Order of the Red Star approved via 1st Belorussian Front order No. 684/N dated June 30, 1945. Born in 1902, he was a captain assigned to hospital for lightly wounded and sick soldiers with duties as a "propagandist." One can thus assume the other decorations were added to the booklet in an attempt to peddle it for a greater profit. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, As Ferdinand notes, that piece of information is critical. That said, and in all likelihood, the recipient was assigned to the 1232nd Rifle Regiment, 370th Rifle Division, 69th Army at the time he was awarded his OGII in late March/early April 1945. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, The BIN price was lowered to $1,599.00 earlier today. Regards, slava1stclass

Bill, Thank you. This is the set I referenced in my December 9, 2016, post above. Regards, slava1stclass

shim, The suspension medal he is wearing is not Soviet - it is the Czech Bravery Medal. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A few comments: 1) "another fact is, that - in relation - many more mortar crews survived the war, than machine gun squads, rifle men or snipers." Mortarmen clearly operated at the tactical level and were exposed to just as many dangers as their combat arms brethren. To state a greater number of mortarmen survived the war without furnishing facts to substantiate said claim is spurious at best. Many Full Cavaliers who were mortarmen were organically assigned to the rifle regiments they supported and not to Mortar or Artillery-Mortar Regiments. Mortarman serving as forward observers in the infantry's ranks were clearly operating in the FEBA as were the mortarmen themselves. As a group, riflemen, submachine gunners and snipers produced more Full Cavaliers than mortarmen. 2) "Due to the fact, that the OG is NOT a posthumous award..." The Order of Glory was in fact awarded posthumously either for being killed in the cited action/subsequent combat or succumbing to one's combat wounds before the award was formally approved in Moscow or could be presented to the recipient if already approved. Sniper Sergeant Major Nina Petrova is but one such posthumous example. While the decoration itself was not presented, the OGI award approval and Full Cavalier status were conveyed in posthumous cases 3) "So, most full cavalier sets resulted from the capture of Berlin." Untrue. Full Cavaliers resulting from the assault on Berlin proper and its near approaches amounted to roughly 10% of all Full Cavalier awards. 4) "Generally: The quality of the 3 heroic actions in spring/summer 1944 for becoming a full cavalier are rather different..." Agree. Christian's Gnitienko Full Cavalier set is far more representative of a typical Full Cavalier set - regardless of at what point during the war it was awarded. As I've stated previously in this thread, to own any Full Cavalier set places one in a very exclusive club. Congrats Christian! 5) "Anyhow, a full cavalier set of the OG has to rank ABOVE a HSU, due to 2 facts: It is an authentic FEBA-award (besides of mortar crews ...) and you have to show (and survive) 3 heroic deeds for becoming a full cavalier!" Clearly, there are many elements of truth to make this case. As Christian notes, it was a purely tactical-level combat valor award. Full Cavaliers were on par with HSUs when it came to status and privileges in Soviet society. More importantly, there were far, far fewer Full Cavaliers than HSUs. Taken together, I'd select a Full Cavalier set over a HSU any day. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Christian is correct in stating that more Full Cavaliers came from the ranks of mortar crewmen than those who were machine gunners or snipers. I cannot comment, however, on whether mortar-related Full Cavalier sets have traditionally drawn lower prices. I would be interested in seeing examples that support the claim. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of Full Cavalier sets come nowhere close to having each of their OGs resulting from three distinct bell-ringer battles or operations. Far from it. A set that includes at least one of the OGs (especially the OGI) connected to a Sevastopol, Breslau, Koenigsberg, Berlin, Budapest or Vienna action for example, will always command a premium in my view. The role this Full Cavalier's Rifle Regiment and Division played in the final assault on Berlin and capture of the Reichstag - of which he played a part - is by far the most critical element contributing to this set's value and ultimate sale price. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, As noted in my above post, a variety of factors can influence the ultimate sale price. The lot in question in the upcoming auction is to a Full Cavalier whose OGI recommendation was for action in the heart of Berlin in late April 1945 as a 120mm mortar crew commander. He was assigned to a 3rd Shock Army Rifle Regiment/Division that played a key role in seizing the Kroll Opera House during the final assault on the Reichstag. The opera house was located directly across from the Reichstag on the western side of Koenigsplatz. That said, it will be interesting to see how this Full Cavalier set fares. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A hybrid Category I Full Cavalier set (the Full Cavalier booklet has a military commissariat stamp on the cavalier's photo, but lacks the handwritten date of issue) is being offered at the XLI New York Sale Auction on January 12, 2017. The opening bid is $10,000.00. It, as well as other Soviet-related items up for auction, may be found at this link: http://www.dmitrymarkov.com/dm/pics/nysale41-medals.pdf Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A month on and the group is still available. There have been no subsequent price reductions although the seller will entertain best offers. None has been made to date. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, HSU Guards Colonel Vasiliy F. Orlov seen wearing the Legion of Merit in the degree of Officer which he was awarded in 1944. He commanded 6th Guards Mechanized Corps, 4th Guards Tank Army, 1st Ukrainian Front. Severely wounded in action on March, 17, 1945, he died the next day. He was posthumously awarded the HSU title on April 6, 1945. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A partial Full Cavalier set (the OGII went missing) with Full Cavalier booklet that was available in the former Soyuz over the past few months. The asking price that was being kicked around was $10,000.00. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, He's lowered the price once again by $500.00. The current BIN price is set at $1,999.00. You have to give him credit for recognizing the realties of today's market. Considering these two OGs were to a Full Cavalier who was an Il-2 Shturmovik aerial gunner-radio operator, it's starting to look tempting. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Just six days later, the price has dropped another $500.00. The current BIN price is set at $2,499.00. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, With no takers thus far, he dropped his BIN price to $2,999.00. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, Although I had my reservations, a knowledgeable fellow collector has confirmed the OGIII's authenticity. One correction. Osipov's OGIII recommendation credited him with damaging and not shooting down a Me-109 fighter. After three long bursts from his machine gun, the German fighter began trailing smoke and returned to its lines. Regards, slava1stclass

Gents, A Bravery Medal and another nice ribbon rack attributed to Full Cavalier V. I. Finogenov that recently sold for $130.00 at auction in the former Soyuz. Regards, slava1stclass