Jani Tiainen

Dear Friends, I have been lucky to be able to find and get the biggest collection of Soviet awards ever collected in Finland. The person who built this collection started buying Soviet material already in 1980's and when Iron Curtain was lift off, he did it heavily. As we know, good quality fakes approached very quickly, but in 1991/1992 they were not yet available. As I go deeper in to these files I may be able to track the year where certain items have been sold (as originals of course), but I also ask your help with the authenticity of some items. I will post now some examples what I have got: I would be grateful for all the comments, 1.) The Order for the service to the Homeland in the armed forces of USSR. 2nd class with award booklet for all three classes. Looks good! All the best, Janihttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-1035-0-06917500-1397558745.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-1035-0-13373400-1397558699.jpg

Dear Friends, When I received the new two volume book about EK's by Wernitz - I only noticed maker "KAG", which is quite common has always been unidentified. However, I have always thought (I can not remember from where I have got this information), that it would have been "Die Kommunale Arbeitsgemeinschaft", which is official German abbreviation, or Die "Königliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft" I guess these possibilities have been searched through and the KAG still remains as mystery? Jani

Many thanks for your input! Jani

Dear Friends, This pair looks as good as it can, but I cant date the EK2. I would appreciate if someone knows from what period is the type in my pair. It came directly from the family so I would expect it to be original. (You still never know With best regards, Jani

Thanks for the pictures, Some time ago - 2-3 years (?) there was an article at the BDOS (German Orders & Medals society) journal about using X-rays to detect "added" numbers on red banners. I cant find the magazine right now but I think strong x-ray machine was actually very good tool to see under the enamel and detect manufacturing details. Does anybody remember this article? Jani

Thank you, No they did not tell me why they think they were fakes/originals - I did not offer to sell them so I dont think they tried to fool me but who knows. My best source is the excellent web site: http://mondvor.narod.ru/ordpage.htm but these mixed opinions made me suspicous. Best reproductions are just so high quality that it is difficult to get 100% answer from the pictures at the internet. Thank you again., Jani

Red Banner "4" #332 I would appreciate any help and will post better pictures when needed. Jani Tiainen

Close up of the number plate on obverse and reverse. There is a faint square line that makes me believe the "number"-section might have been added to regular Red Banner decoration (red arrow)

Dear Friends, These are very tricky. I would be pleased to hear your comments on these two red banners. I have asked two friends already and their opinion differs - One says the "3" is copy and "4" original - the other one vica versa. I personally like "4" more... but lets hear you. First: Red Banner "3" #4381

A bit of wake up here as well... ..."Coulda, woulda..." does not look good on a Tombstone... Amen Jani

Thanks, That is exactly what happened! Now I need to find out who was Sadao Nishimura. Jani.

Dear Friends, I recently acquired cased set of Imperial Japanese Navy Officer's parade hat & epaulettes. I have seen similar sets with similar maker's tag, but not named. It will take a while before I actually get the case, so I have only these pictures. It seems that this case has name / names written in Kanji (Someone has actually written two names with pencil on the case). Sadao Chigusa Sadao Nishimura I checked the names and Kanji character's and it seems like the tag says: 西村 = Nishimura? But the two other Kanji charachters are not in my opinion for name Sadao? I better stop speculation and ask for help With best regards, Jani

That golden badge is one of the few Finnish awards I have never had. The estimated number of awards is about 10. Jani PS. I have Jaguar E-type on my wanted list.

The golden one is badge of the merit of the Liberation war invalids association. It is very small compared to the actual Liberation war wound badge (Picture attached). Jani

And finally Steinheur & Luck made Mannerheim Cross 2nd class. (They actually manufactured 1st class as well. It is exactly like this 2nd class but without wreath--- so completely different than originals). With best regards, Jani

For comparison, three different Stenheuer & Luck made Crosses of Liberty 3rd class with swords. When looking at these, I would have expected, that S&L 2nd class would be different than the ones pictured above. However, I have no idea...

I think these are the same as the cross pictured from eBay. 1. Has anyone seen these before ? I have never seen 2nd class like this before 2013. 2. I have not yet checked, but it seems, that at least my crosses might actually have original Finnish made wreath(?) 3. As you see from the picture attached, the center is actually for the Order of the White Rose (with blue enamel behind the rose).

First, pictures of the 2nd class crosses I recently got - both with swords and without

This looks like the early type made by Stockman (Common german made type is more square). I cant tell for sure before I find picture from my references. Jani

Hello, That cross is not Finnish made. Post 1945 crosses that are official awards have both sides enamelled and they are made in silver. This reminds me of the post war replacements made by Steinheuer & Luck (I have seen quite a few of them, but never in original medal bar). I have few different 3rd and 4th class crosses with swords made by S&L in my collection. They do not have year on reverse and the cross arms are slightly curved on the edges. S&L manufactured these "replacements" for German veterans without the authorization from Finland. I know that S&L made all the classes of Crosses of Liberty - even Mannerheim crosses (Only 191 awarded and all to Finns), but I am not sure if this is one made by them. I just recently got two exactly similar crosses of 2nd class from Estonia. When I saw this one on eBay I first thought they are some new fakes coming from eastern Europe - however I contacted the seller and he was actually German guy I have known several years. He told me this came from veteran and is German replacement (?). So I dont know what these actually are for sure... I will post pictures of mine tomorrow. There are few interesting details. Jani

Hello, There were some British volunteers in the Winter war between Finland and Soviet Union 1939/40. They were part of the multinational volunteer unit called SISU-battalion. However, they never made it in to battle before the war ended and I can not remember any awards for gallantry. In case of SISU-btl veteran, I would also expect to see winter war medal ribbon on the ribbon bar. The ribbon looks identical to the Medal of Liberty 2nd class - there were slight variations with the widht of the yellow stripes and colors... still I believe that is something else. Jani

Many thanks! I got the identification from the seller - I bought because of its quality. I have no idea where the seller got the idea of it being Polish. Jani

Hello friends, Does anybody have any additional information on this badge: It is gold with real diamonds. Unfortunately I am waiting it to arrive by mail, so I can not tell what are the hallmarks. With best regards, Jani

Hello, I will ask If I can find the list of foreign recipients for the Estonian award (Should be available) - I would expect to find only few Germans. I will be in touch with you. Jani