Stogieman

OK, I'll move this along. Front of a typical JFS IAB

I cannot imagine that piece from France is anything but a very bad copy... I've handled about 200 Signum Laudis in Silver & bronze and never seen anything that's even close to that piece... One could easily confuse it as a "reduktion".... but the quality is not consistent with what I would expect (and have seen) in these "Prinzen" specimans...

Yikes! Where's Antti??????

Nice sabers.... I could be persueded to trade you a more "normal" looking one ;>)

Yep, always considered to be one of the nicer Veteran's pieces...

And a very nice Aviation (Pilot) Academy:

One of my (current) favorite things. This little Academy badges are quite beautiful! Left: Lenin Political Academy (Think NKVD..) Right: Sverdlovsk AAA Academy

Hi Micha, beautiful little piece in superb condition. Had my eye on it too... How many different marked paper packets do you have now?

Hi Dolf, did you think the bidder was this fellow? ;>) http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?View...wwcollectrussia

Interesting... Thanks George! I did not know they were donation pieces.

Very beautiful Jan, Thanks for sharing! What a superb trip!

I have moved this badge into this forum for discussion regarding authenticity. I have also removed the sale details for now. Have at it!

Hi Dolf! Yes, but that's not who you think... ;>) I could not read the numbers from his photos.... thought that was the highest ORB number I've ever heard!! Never mind the "Mark of The Beast" innuendo potential with that serial number...

Thanks Mike, pretty fair, even with the premium..

I have no interest and would not begin to comment on authenticity... http://cgi.ebay.com/Russian-Soviet-Medals-...1QQcmdZViewItem but take a look at the number he claims to have on the ORB!! 666320

Great fotos and how neat is that? meeting up with Ed!! The 2 State Security badges are very interesting....

I know of one in Canada... asking price is $600 USD, no takers as of yet. Attractive jetton for sure, but strictly a "sweetheart" piece, sorrect?

OK, I can accept Poland... just noticed the case is actually hinged on the left. That's NOT typical of German cases, post 1945.., or of that style of case. Has anyone ever seen a box for a Lenin that comes close to this? Maybe ask him for a photo of the lid?

Can anybody tell me what the cased St. Henry RK brought? I didn't jot down the item number. Thanks! Rick

So.... the veritable shower of Hero Stars that were given for this forced crossing (what is it, 25% of the WW2 total for this one action?) and our very Jr. officer gets his ORB..... nothing more. Then quietly returns to a life on the Collective Farm.

Because.... (Translation courtesy of Rick Research) Citation for Order of the Red Banner shows him as company commander {{{because of casualties?}}} in the 200th GRR/ 68GRD: ?On 24th September 1943 for forcing the River Dnieper with the regiment, in the area of the city of Shtuch?ino, Kiev Oblast, Comr. Kuliba was the first to cross his company to the right bank of the River Dnieper and quickly seized the directed boundaries. In the course of the first two days, repulsed 14 enemy counterattacks. Comr. Kuliba at all times participated in combat conditions, skillfully led in combat, demonstrated heroism and firmness." Deserves to be awarded the Order ?of the Red Banner.? 2 October 1943 Commander 200th Gds Rifles Rgt, Lieutenant Colonel ?Bushtruk? 4 October 1943 Deserves to be awarded the Order ?of the Red Banner? Commander 68th Gds Rifles Division, Major General ?{{{illegible}}}? {No Date} Deserves to be awarded the Order ?of the Red Banner? Commander of Forces, 40th Army, Lieutenant General ?Moskalenko? Commander of Front Military Council, Major General ?Kra?ikov? ?

Are you as curious as I was when I saw this lone ORB in this book?

And why, you wonder (???) is this such an exciting ORB?

The scrawled citation for the one lonely award:

Here's page two of the ARC, confirming his one and only, lonely award: