JimZ

I'll be posting some pics of Soviet ODMS on the GMIC Photo Competition. Not that I'll get anywhere with them, but I think that the Soviet Section is not at all being well represented. In terms of membership following the Soviet sections, we Ivans are supposed to be one of the larger groups. And if I may say, we Ivans have some of the more impressive ODMs and groups among other things. And yet, we are letting the Tommies, Krauts, Limeys, Froggies and Nips outshine us!!! We are conspicuos more b our absence then our presence!! So come on dear Ivans, and lets show the rest of GMIC the beauty of the Soviet red storm!!! Stavai strana agromnaya!!! Jim :cheers:

To update the scores 19 points - JimZ 15 points - Harvey 10 points - Hauptmann 6 points - Christophe 5 points - Gunner 1 4 points - UB6365 3 points - Valter 2 points - kapten_windu 1 point - Tachel Both Christophe and UB6365 are each up by one point since the last score update. Also each is up by one place in the overall classification!! Well done to both. Question 65 is next and it will belong to UB6365! Jim

Urine??!! I understand Dubbin is more of a wax than a cream. I think any natural shoe products can be used to preserve and softhen leather. These take the forms of creams that are neutral in colour (not black or brown but usually a murky/transucent white) that can be applied straight to the leather. The creams will then be absorbed by the leather, moistening it and making it more pliable - it will not restore the leather to its former glory but may prevent it from cracking if bent slightly. It effectively returns natural oils that would have dried up over the years. I had used such a cream several years ago on a pair of dispatch rider boots for which the leather had dried up becoming rather brittle in parts! It worked wonders - I do not remember the brand unfortunately but I am sure that any modern cream that is both natural and neutral will help and should not causing any damage! Once I applied the cream some three times, I then proceeded to polish them up a bit. Not sure what you can apply to the steel studs given that they touch the leather soles.....I think that the leather will not take too nicely to any form of oil that can prevent/reduce rust and that may remain/become more of a problem if rust sets in. Hope that helps! Jim :cheers:

Looking at this HSU in detail and finally having access to my sources I would comment as follows: First - Serial number is possibly stamped too low down - typically the serial number is written within the top arm of the star. This means that if you had to draw a line at the base of the two sides of the top ray of the star, the serial number would typically fall in or at lowest, on this line. On this HSU, the serial number falls way below it. Compare to similar one "6980" on http://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEM.HTM?ITEM=25053 Second - given the positioning of the serial number it is convenient for this to be "669"7. Which means that all that was needed to stamp this number are the "6" and "7". Of course there probably existed a "6666" HSU and that would not be a reason to doubt it. I do find little else to pass comment on based on the above quality of the pics but ask for other comments nonetheless.

Please be aware that this HSU is up for sale again. Which probably means that there was some issue or other. http://cgi.ebay.fr/w...B:WNARL:FR:1123 As doubt has been expressed on this medal, I would advise one and all to check things out well prior to bidding on it. It would also be good if we may continue further discussion on this piece. Opinions are welcome.

Yes - as long as the person asking the question confirms the point keep it going!!! I just report the scores!!! 19 points - JimZ 15 points - Harvey 10 points - Hauptmann 5 points - Gunner 1 5 points - Christophe 3 points - Valter 3 points - UB6365 2 points - kapten_windu 1 point - Tachel The next question ......is already under way..... !!! (see post 654) Jim

Scoreboard update - Well done Christophe for a correct and lightening fast reply!!! 19 points - JimZ 15 points - Harvey 10 points - Hauptmann 5 points - Gunner 1 5 points - Christophe 3 points - Valter 2 points - kapten_windu 2 point - UB6365 1 point - Tachel And on to the next challenge of Question 62......Christophe - if and when you please..... !!! Jim

I'd have actually gone for something to do with Antonov aircraft...... With Oleg Konstantinovich Antonove being an HSL.....and with his A7 glider being produced in Kharkov...However I hardly think there are monuments to that! Perhaps Chrstophe is on the right track. Jim :cheers:

Hi Ub6365 - what is the question? Jim :cheers:

At this point I can see 2 members, 8 guests and 1 anonymous users reading the thread. Please feel free to join in and take up the challenge that is the SOVIET QUIZ!!!! JIM :cheers:

Scoreboard update!!! 19 points - JimZ 15 points - Harvey 10 points - Hauptmann 5 points - Gunner 1 4 points - Christophe 3 points - Valter 2 points - kapten_windu 2 point - UB6365 1 point - Tachel UB6535 The next challenge (Question 61) is all yours!!! Jim

UB 6535 gave more than the answer that was requested..... He actually gave us the address!!! Indeed these are part of the central archives of the ministry of Defence located in Podolsk, just South of Moscow. For any of you who has researched a Soviet ODM, you must know that the documents received are stored somewhere in Russia.....Well this is part of the complex!! There is indeed a whole subforum dedicated to researched documents. If you have any such research please post there. Yes - Christophe. I indeed posted "Yes" to the Eastern part of Russia and edited it soon after as I realised that had overlooked East Russia. In my editing I also expanded on my comments not to keep them too dry. Well done UB6365!!!!

TacHel's none of your replies are correct. UB6535 is however on the right track showing us how the game should be played. - it's somewhere in Russia or former SU (blue post box) - YES - very much so... Russia - somewhere in Eastern part of Russia (plz mark Toyota RAV4 with right hand drive) - see above. - something related to defense (entry point style) - YES - I'd say it does - research or analytic facility, but not regular military unit (8 story building) - YES - this is not a regular military building The secrets in this place are accessible to anyone who knows how to get to them.... Jim

UB6365 is refering to GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye or the Military Intelligence Directorate of the Soviet Army. You are probably right about secrets flowing out of there sometimes!! But its another building and the secrets are of a different nature...they are more accessible than GRU secrets!!! Remember that the answer is in three parts 1) What is the place? 2) Where is it located? 3) What is the nature of the secrets that I refer to? Jim :cheers:

Still exhausted from the previous one....!!! However, seeing the participation that there was on the quiz this evening I want to keep things going. Question 60 This is a photo I snapped on my cell phone a few years ago. This is one of a complex of (rather nondescript) buildings that is well guarded and access to it is restricted to most. Had I not known what it was, (and that is why I was there) I might have simply passed it by. And yet it houses some well kept secrets which seem to flow out from time to time. What is the place? .....Where is it located?....... What is the nature of the secrets that I refer to? Good luck!!! Jim

Scoreboard update!!! 19 points - JimZ 15 points - Harvey 10 points - Hauptmann 5 points - Gunner 1 4 points - Christophe 3 points - Valter 2 points - kapten_windu 1 point - Tachel 1 point - UB6365 I'll set the next question as soon as I can and at latest by tomorrow!!! Jim

Its all semantics!! This must be the question that generated the most replies and comments!!! to UB6365 Jim :cheers:

Thanks for the comment Christophe. I am flattered! However in my books anyone who can get a couple of questions deserves credit as most of them pose much of a challenge to us all!! Jim :cheers:

If I may add, I do not know if this was practice in Imperial Russia but it definitely happened in the USSR.

Gunner 1 may have a bit of a point as most of Lithuania was annexed to the Russian empire at the time. That distinction went over my head. However UB6535 also has very much of a point. You will probably find that on his internal documents Smuskevich may very well had "Jew" as his NATIONALITY . It was that way even in the post-war Soviet Union. Politically incorrect by today's standards but a fact of the Soviet Union! Jim :cheers:

Yep crossed posts!!! I'll wait for UB6365 to confirm the victory...... I had him yesterday but for some reason I did not consider him! Mention of the double HSU brought him to mind straight away and the numbers suddenly made sense. This was indeed a challenge and if my answer was correct, UB6365 does indeed deserve to be congratulated for the subject he chose!!! Jim :cheers:

And that is his picture - He was Non-Russian as he was born in Lithuania.

Awarded HSU 29 in 1937 and HSU 5 in 1939!!! Khalkin Gol and Zhukov was the right link indeed!!! From wiki stub: Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich (Russian: Яков Владимирович Смушкевич; April 14, 1902 – October 28, 1941[1]) was Commander of the Soviet Air Force. He participated in the Spanish Civil War where he was known as "General Duglas" for which he received the Hero of the Soviet Union.[2] He was in charge of aviation for the 1st Army Corps at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, receiving Hero of the Soviet Union. He was the commander of Soviet Air Force from 1939 to 1940. He was arrested on June 8, 1941[3] and executed on personal order of Lavrentiy Beria on October 28, 1941.

Yakov Vladimovich Smushkevich must be our man!!!! More info coming up....