Megan

OK, Ed, I have read the 3 threads you recommended and the relevant page on Yuri's site and now I'm even more confused than usual! Do we have 3 different orders, or one that keeps having radical changes of name & design? How ought I to present it in a logical yet accurate manner on my site?

Knight 2nd Class:

Knight 1st Class:

Honour Cross 2nd Class:

Honour Cross 1st Class

Grand Commander with Turquoise: Badge

Honour Cross, Civil:

Commander 1st Class Military: Badge & Star

Commander 1st Class Civil: Star

Grand Cross Star:

Collar of the Order:

Yuri has been out of circulation since the end of 2003. Whether he got caught up in business - the 'Netdialogue' site he was hosted on is an automatic translation/ISP/hosting service that's quite big in Russia - or lost interest for some other reason I don't know: we used to talk a lot and long before he dropped out he gave me blanket permission to use anything from his site. Really ought to try and track him down - did a bit of Googlefu this afternoon as it happens, got 2 or 3 business news stories about the company and a lot of links/credits to the medals site. As for information, I'm happy to stick with here - as you and some others are busy figuring it all out - and of course to throw in at least pictures that I can contribute. I shall go and amend what I've just posted in the light of your further information, for which I thank you, and then I suppose I need to start rooting around for stuff on the Order of Civil Valour... I think that comes next unless someone can tell me different. Please keep the information coming, folks. It's much appreciated and can only go to make my site even better!

And then the 1970 version: Would appreciate some help to sort this lot out, please...

1945 4th Award:

1945 3rd Award:

The 1945 2nd Award:

Next the 1945 version (which Yuri calls Type 3 - hence my comment earlier):

And the 4th Award of that:

Then what Yuri says is the 1940 version:

And a variant of that:

Then I think I already need to go & modify the page I have just uploaded to my site! Which was based on your previous listing in the thread you just recommended, and pictures on Yuri's site (I am not trusting his dates any more...). What I think I have is: - Order of Military Valour 1926-31

This is the 3rd type, isn't it?

Fascinating. I've just amended my entry to reflect your more accurate information, thank you (yet again!) Ed.

Then I think I'd better scamper off & change my dates... Got it from Yuri Yashnev's site, if you are interested in the source of my info. Not sure what his authority was!