dragos03

An excellent idea. I can cover the Romanian section.

Yes, I have more similar shots. I didn't see you over there. Maybe we'll meet at the next fair in Brasov. I have long hair, maybe you noticed me around.

Double post.

Here are some pics from the Brasov fair:

I only have this medal (the one on the left). It is the Dukla Commemorative Medal, cased and with a document, awarded to a Romanian soldier in 1959. The one on the right is a post-communist Slovak medal, also awarded to a Romanian.

The military career of my grand-grandfather Ilie Deleanu (as Kevin requested by PM): - born in 1886 - 1910 - he graduated the University in Bucharest - 1913 - takes part in the 2nd Balkan War with the 4th Infantry Regiment "Arges" - 1916-1918 - during the First World War, he was the confessor of the 20th Infantry Regiment "Teleorman" - 1925 - promoted to Captain, transferred to 2nd Infantry Regiment "Valcea" - 1934 - promoted to Major and named as confessor of the Constanta garrison and the 34th Inf. Regiment "Constanta" - 1942-1943 - confessor of the 2nd Army Corps, took part in the Battle of Stalingrad - 1943 - promoted to Lt. Colonel, named confessor of the military units in Bucharest-Cotroceni - 1946 - in reserve - he died in 1969 Awards: - 2nd Balkan War victory medal (1913) - Medal of "Reward for church labor", 1st Class (1920) - Inter-allied Victory Medal (1921) - Order of the Crown, knight (1928) - Medal of Cultural Merit, 2nd Class, with ribbon for religion (1941) - his WW2 awards are now lost (except the Crusade against Communism Medal) He also wrote a number of books (poetry and religious books) and built churches in the cities of Zimnicea and Constanta. His veteran papers for 2nd Balkan War and WW1: At the oath ceremony, Constanta garrison, 1938:

The translation: Ministry of war Award Certificate Us, State Minister at the Department of War, confirm that by High Decree no. 3390 from 20 July 1921 His Majesty the King had the kindness to award [military] priest Deleanu Ilie from the 20th Infantry Regiment the "Victory" medal of the great war for civilisation 1916-1921. Signed: Minister of War, Director of personal Award certificate no. 3318, 30 September 1923, Bucharest

Award certificate for the Romanian Victory Medal that beloged to my grand-grandfather (sorry for the poor picture):

Igor, here is the translation of the last 2 documents. The first one authorises him to wear the distinctive lanyards which showed that his unut was awarded the Michael the Brave Order and Military Virtue Cross for bravery during WW1. The second awards him the "2nd Balkan War Victory Medal" for taking part in the victorious campaign against Bulgaria in 1913.

Excellent post Kevin. Please, also post this info on the worldwar2.ro forum. Few people know, even here in Romania, that the Inter-allied Medal of Victory was actually a Romanian idea and design. It was King Ferdinand of Romania who proposed such a medal and even designed the first variant (it had the "victory" on the front and the national coat of arms of each country on the reverse). The allies accepted the idea but not the layout and organised a design competition in Paris. The competition was won by another Romanian, Col. Constantin Cristescu (not "Kristesco"), who proposed almost the same design as the king for the shape and obverse of the medal. Each of the countries could use their own design for the reverse.

The holders of the Order of Michael the Brave had many privileges: they attended official ceremonies in a special sector, they received a plot of land from the state, they could travel by railway, plane or boat for free, free education for their children, etc. The Order could be awarded only to officers. The highest bravery award for lower ranks was the Cross of Military Virtue.

These men are all holders of the Order of Michael the Brave (the highest Romanian order awarded for bravery). They are wearing the special cape and hat of the order. According to the text on the photo, they are at a parade on 10 May 1939 (The Kingdom's Day) in the Cotroceni district of Bucharest.

I have never seen such fake bars. If you encounter them, please take some pics and post them.

Actually the official bar "ITALIA" is missing, since it was probably authorised later than the donation to the museum. I don't think that variations in the shape and style of letters denote fakes. There were probably many manufacturers of the cross and its bars. I also don't think that this award is faked yet. Thank you g_deploige for the excellent close-up of the bars of the cross in the museum.

The other documents are not very relevant. The first one simply confirms that he was awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class, while the small document confirms that he received the bravery ribbon for his service in WW1. As for his Order of Michael the Brave, he received it by Royal Decree no. 849/11 July 1917, "for the courage with which he led his company during the fierce combat on 11-15 June 1917, when he enveloped the Southern flank of the Manastioara Hill, forcing the enemy to abandon the position and capturing 2 officers, 150 soldiers and many weapons. He showed the same military qualities during the battles of Racoasa and Serei Valley."

The document for the Order of the Star: "Captain Chiritescu Stefan is awarded the Order of the Star, knight, with ribbon for military virtue, for the bravure and skill with which he led his company during the fighting on the Pig's Hill (Hill 528), during 16-21 August 1917. He stayed with his men at all times and repulsed after a bloody combat the 12 assaults made by the enemy, who wanted to break the front lines at this point. He was wounded in action 3 times on 21 August 1917 but stayed with his men, continuing to command his unit until nightfall."

I'll help you with the translation: "The Order of the Crown, knight class with swords, was awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Chiritescu Stefan from 30th Regiment Muscel, for the bravure and skill he showed when he commanded his company during the fighting on Marghiloman Hill."

After the coup on 23 August 1944, the Germans were asked to retreat peacefully from Romania. The Germans agreed but, instead of doing that, they bombed the center of Bucharest and gathered forces to attack the Romanian capital. Only after this attack Romania declared war on the Germans. So the Romanians didn't "reneged on their promises" as PKeating claims, it was the other way around. It was the Romanian Para battallion that defeated the elements of the Brandemburg commandos on the airfields around the city and annihilated them, not the Soviets. They never actually took part in any combat jumps during the war but their performance during the fights in August 1944 shows they were a very good unit.

Two of the bars (Italia and Siberia) were authorised later than the others. These two bars are extremely rare. The precedence of the bars is usually cronological, but not always.

Info about the other bars: MARASTI: The offensive of the Romanian 2nd Army, in June 1917, which defeated the 1st Austro-Hungarian Army and broke its front, advancing 20 km. The offensive was stopped because the Russian armies did not cooperate as promised. MARASESTI: Following the defeat at MARASTI, the Germans decided to try and crush the Romanian Army and kick Romania out of the war. The Germans planned a two-pincer offensive, in the sectors held by the Russian troops (which were desintegrating because of the Russian Revolution). The Germans routed the Russians but were stopped after a fierce battle by Romanian reinforcements redeployed to the area. The battle of MARASESTI (August-September 1917) was indeed the "Romanian Verdun", also because of the large number of casualties on both sides. OITUZ: At the same time with the offensive at MARASESTI, the Central Powers also attacked the Romanian 2nd Army in the Carpathians, at the Pass of Oituz (August 1917). After a bloody battle, the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army was repulsed. TARGUL-OCNA: This bar was awarded to the troops that defended the town of Targu-Ocna during the Battle of OITUZ (August 1917). ITALY: Awarded to the Romanian volunteers that fought on the Italian Front. 1918: Awarded for the battles with the Hungarians in Transilvania and with the Red Army in Bassarabia. 1919: The war with the Hungarian Soviet Republic, which ended with the occupation of Budapest and the end of the Hungarian communist state. There is no "TRADITIE" bar for this medal. This bar was only authorised for the Trans-Danube Cross, which was awarded for the War of Independence (1877-1878). Only officers whose faters were awarded the cross were authorised to continue to wear it, with such a bar. Also, there are no common bars for the WW1 Cross and the Crusade against communism medal.

There are some serial numbered awards from both the RPR and the RSR period. In the early RPR period most awards, including badges, were numbered. Some examples here: http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=2732 Also, there are solid gold examples of the 1st/2nd class of the orders. These were given to high party officials or very important foreigners.

From 1932, the Order of the Star (military version with swords) had several ribbons: - red with two silver stripes (for officers during peacetime) - red with two silver and two golden stripes (war ribbon but not for bravery in front of the enemy) - red with two blue stripes ("Military Virtue" ribbon, only for bravery) Before 1932, the ribbon was red with 4 blue stripes. Many awards were given to German staff members but also many were given to combat troops. But usually, when a German unit cooperating with a Romanian unit distinguished itself in combat, the Romanians awarded the German officers and not the soldiers/NCOs. That's why officer awards (Order of the Star, of the Crown. of Queen Mary) are more often encountered in German groups than the Romanian awards for lower ranks (Medal of Military Virtue, Medal for Loyal Service, Cross for Loyal Service, Medal for Steadfastness and Loyalty). Other Romanian awards i've seen in German groups: Order of Aeronautical Virtue, Medal of Aeronautical Virtue, Order of Michael the Brave (the highest Romanian bravery award for officers), Medal of Sanitary Merit. Some German pilots received the Romanian badges for pilots or observers. I guess some Medals for Naval Virtue were also awarded to German sailors in the Black Sea. And of course, the "Crusade against communism" medal.