slava1stclass

To all:

A nice contemporary (May 6, 2008) shot of a surviving Full Cavalier's bar and rack. Absolutely textbook patina and ribbon wear.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

Check it out:

http://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEM.HTM?ITEM=18377

http://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEM.HTM?ITEM=18876

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

Some more insight into the reasons behind ever skyrocketing Soviet ODM prices.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Affluent Russians Buying Up Queensland

By Turi Condon

April 14, 2008 04:23am

Russians have become the biggest buyers of residential property on the Gold Coast and the third-biggest buyers in Queensland as their new wealth from oil and mining pushes offshore.

Buyers from the Russian Federation spent $35 million on Gold Coast apartments and houses in 2006-07, or 9 per cent of all foreign investment in Queensland residential property for the year, according to research by real estate agent DTZ.

Overall, offshore buyers ploughed $558 million into Queensland's residential market in 2006-07, an increase of 20 per cent on the previous year, but still a small proportion of the state's residential sales, according to DTZ director of project marketing, Paul Barratt.

Foreign investment in Queensland's residential market has grown 26 per cent a year since 2003 when it was $276 million.

But offshore investment has fallen, with 2003 down on the previous year's $308 million tally. The growth in foreign investment is likely to be checked by the credit crisis, Mr Barratt said.

"More than 1500 Queensland residential property contracts were settled by offshore entities last financial year, not including unconditional contracts in projects currently being sold off the plan or under construction," he said.

"While these figures bode well for continued growth, the impacts of the global credit crunch aren't to be underestimated."

Buyers from Britain dominated Queensland residential sales to offshore investors in 2006-07, spending $112 million or 27 per cent of foreign investment in the state, followed by New Zealanders with $93.6 million or 22 per cent, with Russians coming in third.

Brisbane attracted New Zealanders, while the British were the biggest buyers on the Sunshine Coast; buyers from the South Pacific (New Caledonia) were second to Russian buyers on the Gold Coast.

Russians have also been big spenders with an average investment of $550,000 each compared to Britons and New Zealanders, who each spent $220,000.

A high proportion of the new wealth in Russia has gone into buying boats, helicopters and the like, Mr Barratt noted. It's not surprising that it will also go into the property market, he said.

"Russians have been spending a lot of money everywhere."

On the Gold Coast, Russian buyers have headed to the upmarket enclave of Sovereign Island and have also bought penthouses at Stockland Group's Allisee apartment project on the coast, Mr Barratt said.

While British and New Zealand buyers were the biggest foreign buyers in Queensland, nationals from China, India and the Middle East are expected to push up the rankings in coming years, according to DTZ research analyst Sacha Reid.

That's another interesting one-- from the Armed Forces Jubilees, she was active military duty 1948 and 1958--

yet there are NO long service decorations at ALL in her group.

Obviously there is a "problem" with ACCURATE groups being worn by actual, real, living veterans.

I'd have rejected this ribbon bar as impossible if I found it loose. She is simply NOT wearing her complete awards correctly: No military long service awards.... are they missing, or the 1948/1958 now incorrectly ASSUMED to have been authorized simply for having been alive then?

Very very interesting--

Rick,

I've found the best way to identify U/I GPW-era HSU and Full Cavalier winners is to concentrate on rank (when depicted), principal orders/medals, Guards/Otlichnik badges and defense of/liberation of medals. The rest of the fruit salad is largely meaningless and, as you suggested, often inaccurate.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

The Hero City of Tula was awarded its title on December 7th, 1976 and presented with Hero Star serial number 11,422 (seen below). 10 years earlier, in December 1966, Tula was awarded the Order of Lenin (serial number 382,180) for its citizens' contributions to the Nazi defeat.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Tula.bmp

To all:

Another very nice image of an unidentified HSU.

Regards,

slava1stclass

"Your thought of a master HSU awards database is interesting although it is not something I personally would wish to pursue."

What? Semi-eternal grinding toil for no commercial result DOESN'T appeal to you?

I just sepnt 18 months transcribing and adding data to never-published handwritten German WW1 award rolls. Now they're published.

Never expected to be rich, but at least generations yet unborn will say

"Thank goodness THAT guy had no life and did all this, so we don't have to!"

Rick,

You are to be commended. By choice, however, my toiling was limited to a specific interest area - the Order of Glory. I leave it to others to expand the field of knowledge. My contribution is but one small part.

Regards,

slava1stclass

I sure do wish somebody who owns the HSU recipients books would enter their listed awards into a database so combinations would be searchable.

This man would LEAP out of such a database.

Rick,

He will still leap out based on the work I've done. Given my interest in the Order of Glory, I have compiled a list of all HSUs who were either triple, double or single Order of Glory winners. I have yet to scrub my data to identify this gentleman. Given his double-double status, it will not be hard to do. His "Koenigsberg" time will also help. More to follow.

P.S. Your thought of a master HSU awards database is interesting although it is not something I personally would wish to pursue.

Regards,

slava1stclass

The US coins appear to be $10 gold pieces and by the markings on the white card, are all 1900 dated coins. They may be different dates, can't tell by the scans. Those gold coins are worth around 600 to 800 USD or so each in today's market, maybe more depending upon grade. Really, in comparison to the current market value of the Orders shown, the gold coins are pocket change - literally.

Andwwils,

The coin at bottom center appears to read 1881.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

A nice image of an unidentified HSU who is also a double Red Banner and double Glory winner. Not something you see all too often.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

..or the world's largest gold nugget.

Regards,

slava1stclass

What else do they have? A table full of Suvorov 1st?

To all:

How about U.S. gold dollars...

Regards,

slava1stclass

Lenins

HSLs

HSUs

To all:

Some nice images of holdings in the Russian Federation's State Archives Vault. Note that the slips of paper under each order/decoration reference the specimen's name, weight, and serial number among other things.

These items represent orders/decorations that were either: 1) awarded and never presented since the recipient could not be located and/or was MIA/KIA or 2) returned to the State Archives upon the recipient's death (until the point in time that policy was altered).

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

Some potentially very disturbing news out of Russia:

"В конце марта в Подольском Архиве был с инспекцией Министр Обороны некто Сердюков. Он очень недоумевал, как такая большая территория ЗЕМЛИ ещё до сих пор не продана. И почему до сих пор НИ КОМУ НЕ НУЖНЫЙ Архив существует. Принято решение в рамках одного из НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫХ ПРОЕКТОВ ЦАМО ЗАКРЫТЬ, а територию сдать коммерсантам, якобы для строительства жилья для военных. Знаем мы, какие там для военных будут построены дома. Скоро на территории БЫВШЕГО АРХИВА будут увеселительные заведения функционировать! Неизвестно, куда будет перевезён Архив. И что во время этого мероприятия потеряется или погибнет. Сколько женщин-архивохранителей в одночасье потеряют работу? И как у чиновника, да и просто человека, поднимается рука на святое?"

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

Sergeant V. S. Atyunin.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

The picture speaks for itself.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

Yet another unusual profession. A. G. Kortelev earned his Full Cavalier status as an "Elektroliznik" in an aluminum factory.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

Here is a nice wartime photo of the gentleman in post #4 above - Sergeant Major S. M. Zolnikov. The other quint "For Valor" winner was P. I. Gribkov.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

It is nice to come across a different profession. Gospodin N. A. Mardanov was a commercial fisherman.

Regards,

slava1stclass

I know that Russian and Soviet Geat coats were all cut a certain distance from the ground, but skirts? that seems wrong..and yet right..

To all:

Skirts? That's the least of their problems. What about the stilettos? Absolutely no shoe discipline whatsoever across this formation...shocking and unheard of in a professional army. Where will it all stop?

Regards,

slava1stclass

Rick,

If I am not mistaken, two persons were awarded 5 medals "Za Otvagu"

Marc

Rick,

Marc is quite correct. Here is one of them.

Regards,

slava1stclass

To all:

I'm certainly dismayed a forum moderator hasn't stepped in to get us back on topic. Absent their action, I will oblige.

Regards,

slava1stclass