slava1stclass

Gents,

  Although I'm active in the Russia sub-forum, I thought I'd post this here, too, for those who might be interested and who don't normally frequent that sub-forum. 

  My latest book.  It was high time this subject was covered in detail in one volume:  We Were Allies Once: U.S. Army Decorations Awarded to Red Army Personnel in World War II: Empric, Bruce E.: 9798838850041: Amazon.com: Books

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  My latest book.  It was high time this subject was covered in detail in one volume:  We Were Allies Once: U.S. Army Decorations Awarded to Red Army Personnel in World War II: Empric, Bruce E.: 9798838850041: Amazon.com: Books

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  My latest book:  We Were Allies Once: U.S. Army Decorations Awarded to Red Army Personnel in World War II: Empric, Bruce E.: 9798838850041: Amazon.com: Books

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This duplicate Full Cavalier set is currently at auction in the former Soyuz.  The opening bid is set at $22,598.00.   

  The recipient was sergeant major who served as an anti-tank rifle squad leader.  He was assigned to a rifle regiment in a rifle division subordinate to 5th Army, 3rd Belorussian Front when recommended for his OGI.  He was also decorated with the ORB and BM during the war and participated in the operations against the Japanese in Manchuria in August 1945. 

  Note the deep gouges on the edge of the OGI's lower right point's reverse side.  These crude gouges were made to verify the piece was indeed made of gold. 

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This unissued OGI, serial number 2169, is currently available on the well-known auction site for a buy-it-now price of $8,999.00.

Regards,

slava1stclass

On 20/11/2013 at 13:06, slava1stclass said:

 

Gents,

 

Another example of dark patina found near/around the eyelet. It's not as uncommon as one would think.

 

Regards,

 

slava1stclass

 

Gents,

  This OGI to a Full Cavalier is an example of extreme patina throughout the gold.  As these pictures attest, there are indeed legitimate OGIs that are not brilliant gold throughout. 

  The recipient of this piece was a Guards senior sergeant serving as a squad leader in an independent Guards sapper battalion subordinate to a Guards rifle division assigned to 5th Shock Army, 1st Belorussian Front when recommended for his OGI.  He was cited for valor in action in the vicinity of the Oder River two days before the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation commenced.  He participated in the assault on Berlin and was wounded in action during street fighting in the city in late April 1945.  In addition to his three Orders of Glory, he was also awarded a BM during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

23 minutes ago, Bob said:

Easy question to ask, perhaps not so easy to answer.

 

any OG 1st class awarded tied to actions in/near Mongolia?

Bob,

  It's an easy question to answer - no, there were not.  The closest awards to Mongolia would have been the OGI awards to four Soviet soldiers for action against the Japanese in Manchuria in August 1945.

Regards,

slava1stclass

On 03/11/2020 at 19:17, slava1stclass said:

Gents,

 

  This Full Cavalier set is currently available with a West European dealer.  The asking price is $11,060.00.  The group includes many of the Full Cavalier's additional orders and medals such as his ORS and CSM as well as various defense and capture medals. 

 

  It should be noted, however, that the OGII and OGIII are not original to the recipient, but rather OGIIIs whose original serial numbers were eradicated and the serial numbers corresponding to this Full Cavalier's awards substituted in their place.  The OGII in this set is in fact an OGIII that has had its central medallion gilded to represent an OGII.

 

  The recipient was a Guards sergeant major serving as a reconnaissance scout assigned to an independent Guards reconnaissance company in a Guards rifle division when recommended for his OGI for action in the Battle of Berlin.  It is also interesting to note he received his OGIII for valor while serving his sentence in an independent penal company.  This fact is addressed in my book Onward to Berlin!  Red Army Valor in World War II The Full Cavaliers of the Soviet Order of Glory.

 

Regards,

 

slava1stclass

 

Gents,

  After being offered for almost a year, this Full Cavalier set also recently sold.

Regards,

slava1stclass

On 16/10/2018 at 11:57, USSR said:

Wow, that’s rather steep. Even in today’s market and for a full set. 

Here another full cavalier: Awarded to jr sergeant Mikhail Vladimirovich Getmansky (Михаил Владимирович Гетманский)

For street fighting in the very center of Berlin during the Battle of Berlin. 

 

One of the very last OG1s

 

https://sovietorders.com/product/order-of-glory-1st-class/

 

 

Gents,

  It took just over three years to move, but this OGI recently sold.  Its last asking price was slightly over $11,000.00.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  For those who may be interested.  Amazon is currently offering both versions of my second book at a discount/deep discount (paperback) - $9.60 for either.  Amazon unilaterally offers these discounts on rare occasions:  Storming the Beast's Lair: Red Army Valor in the Battle of Berlin: Empric, Bruce E.: 9781710970692: Amazon.com: Books

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This OGI to a Full Cavalier sold via an auction house in Germany on April 10, 2021.  Sale price:  11,000 Euros ($13,076.80).

  The recipient was a senior sergeant who served as a T-34 tank mechanic-driver in a tank battalion subordinate to a tank brigade assigned to 3rd Guards Tank Army, 1st Ukrainian Front when recommended for his OGI.  He was cited for valor in action while engaged in street fighting during the Battle of Berlin in April 1945.  In addition to his three Orders of Glory, he was also awarded an OPWII and ORS during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This extremely worn OGIII to a Full Cavalier recently sold on the well-known auction site.  Sale price:  $91.01.  As I've noted previously, one can still find Full Cavalier-related items there if one knows what to look for.

  The Full Cavalier who was awarded this OGIII was a sniper who had 194 confirmed kills during the war.  He was a sergeant assigned to a rifle regiment in a rifle division subordinate to 5th Guards Army, 1st Ukrainian Front when recommended for his OGI for action in Lower Silesia in late February 1945.  He was also awarded a BM during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  At the annual The New York Sale which concluded yesterday, one Full Cavalier-related item was listed at auction and sold.  With the opening bid set at $7,500.00, it sold for $8,250.00 (plus a 20% buyer's premium).

  A rare wartime photograph and information on this Full Cavalier are included in my book Onward to Berlin!

Regards,

slava1stclass

On 04/01/2022 at 05:30, slava1stclass said:

Gents,

 

 This nice OGII awarded to a Full Cavalier is currently available at a West European dealer.  Asking price:  $1,186.57. 

 

  When recommended for his OGI, he was a junior sergeant serving as a reconnaissance squad leader in a rifle regiment subordinate to a rifle division in 33rd Army, 1st Belorussian Front.  He was cited for action in the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation in April 1945.

 

  He was also awarded an ORS and BM during the war.

 

Regards,

 

slava1stclass

 

 

Gents,

  This fine example did not last long.  It has sold.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

 This nice OGII awarded to a Full Cavalier is currently available at a West European dealer.  Asking price:  $1,186.57. 

  When recommended for his OGI, he was a junior sergeant serving as a reconnaissance squad leader in a rifle regiment subordinate to a rifle division in 33rd Army, 1st Belorussian Front.  He was cited for action in the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation in April 1945.

  He was also awarded an ORS and BM during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

On 10/04/2018 at 08:20, slava1stclass said:

Gents,

 

  Five days prior to his OGI being approved on June 29, 1945, Senior Sergeant Писклов (Pisklov) marched in the historic June 24, 1945, Victory Parade on Red Square, Moscow.  He marched in the 1st Ukrainian Front's formation.  As addressed in my book, he numbers among the relatively few Full Cavaliers who marched in the Victory Parade.  This fact certainly adds another unique dimension to this set.

 

Regards,

 

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This set finally sold via a West European dealer.  Sale price for the set was in the $11,000.00 to $12,000.00 range.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  A nice photograph of Full Cavalier Pyotr Petrovich Paliy that sold at auction in the former Soyuz for $33.95 in late June this year.  The photograph dates to October 11, 1948. 

  Born in 1922, Paliy was a Guards sergeant serving as a mortar crew chief in a Guards mountain rifle regiment subordinate to a Guards mountain rifle division assigned to 3rd Mountain Rifle Corps, 1st Guards Army, 4th Ukrainian Front.  He was recommended for his OGI for valorous action in Slovakia in December 1944.  

  In addition to his three OGs, Paliy was also awarded an OPWII, ORS and BM during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

On 07/07/2018 at 07:23, slava1stclass said:

Gents,

 

  This thread has come a very long way over the past 12 and one-half years. 

 

  Having just surpassed 50,000 unique views and with almost 700 replies, it is by far the most popular non-pinned active thread in the entire GMIC Russia forum - thank you. 

 

  Here's to the next 50,000 views!

 

Regards,

 

slava1stclass

On 07/07/2018 at 15:17, Egorka said:

Let’s do it! 50001

Gents,

  In a span of just over three years, this thread has been viewed an additional 50,000 times now hitting the 100,000 unique views mark - the first thread in GMIC's Russia forum to do so.  By far, it remains the Russia forum's most popular non-pinned active thread.

  Thank you for your continued interest.

Regards,

slava1stclass 

Gents,

  This set to a Full Cavalier is currently available with an online dealer at an asking price of $16,900.00.  The OGII and OGIII are mint-issued official duplicates.  The group includes the recipient's Full Cavalier booklet.

  When recommended for his OGI, he was a Guards sergeant major serving as the senior enlisted man in a machine gun company assigned to a motorized rifle battalion.  The battalion was subordinate to a Guards mechanized brigade in a Guards mechanized corps assigned to the 2nd Ukrainian front.  The action cited in his OGI recommendation occurred in Hungary in December 1944.

  His three OGs were his sole decorations during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This very nice OGII was awarded to one of the very few Full Cavaliers who was assigned to a Guards airborne unit.  As a Guards senior sergeant, he was recommended for his OGI while serving as a gun commander in a battery assigned to a Guards airborne artillery regiment subordinate to a Guards airborne division in the 53rd Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front.  Additionally, he was among those Full Cavaliers who saw action against both the Germans and the Japanese.

  In addition to his three OGs, he was also awarded an ORB (for action against the Japanese), ORS and BM during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This OGI was awarded to Guards sergeant major who was serving as a recon platoon leader assigned to a Guards tank brigade subordinate to a Guards tank corps in the 3rd Guards Tank Army, 1st Ukrainian Front.  It was awarded for valor in fighting to capture the city of Czestochowa, Poland in January 1945.

  In addition to his three Orders of Glory, he was also awarded an OPWI (downgraded from the original HSU recommendation) and two ORS during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass  

Gents,

  Let me preface this post by stating that while this OGII and OGIII are not associated with a Full Cavalier, they are indeed special in and of themselves in that they were awarded to a Hero of the Soviet Union (HSU).  As we know, four Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory were also awarded the HSU title.  Less well known, however, is the fact that slightly under 100 HSUs were also awarded the Order of Glory Second and Third Class.  This recipient is one such example.

  These OGs recently sold separately at auction in the former Soyuz.  Opening bid on the OGII was $700.  It sold for $701.  Opening bid on the OGIII was $200.  It sold for $251.

  The recipient was a Guards private serving as a squad leader in a submachine gun company in a Guards rifle regiment subordinate to a Guards rifle division assigned to 8th Guards Army when recommended for the HSU title.  He and his men gallantly fought off a large German counterattack on the night of March 24, 1945, using a large quantity of captured German Panzerfausts.  They destroyed 11 armored personnel carriers, three tanks, five self-propelled cannons; killed 250 and captured 30 Germans.

  Beyond his Gold Star Medal and Order of Lenin, the two OGs were the only other decorations he received during the war. 

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  At present, the inventory of Full Cavalier-related items across major U.S. dealers remains low/static with minimal sales action.  Most sales are transpiring in the countries of the former Soyuz.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

  This set to a Full Cavalier is currently available with an American dealer.  The asking price is $12,750.00.  The recipient was a Guards sergeant major with duties as a forward observer squad leader assigned to a Guards rifle regiment subordinate to a Guards rifle division in the 1st Belorussian Front.  He was recommended for his OGI for valor during the Battle of Berlin.  Additionally, he marched in the Victory Parade in Moscow on June 24, 1945, and would later serve as a guard at the Nuernberg War Crimes Trial in Germany in 1946.  He was also decorated with two BMs during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass   

Gents,

  A very nice OGII awarded to a Full Cavalier that is presently at auction in the former Soyuz.  The current bid stands at $462.00.  The recipient was a corporal with duties as a senior forward observer in an artillery regiment subordinate to a rifle division in the 1st Belorussian Front.  He was awarded his OGI for action during the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation in April 1945.  He was also awarded a CSM during the war.

Regards,

slava1stclass