Gerd Becker

Thanks, Paul I like them too. Hope to add a few more soon...

Nice uniforms, gentlemen

Thank you, Dave.

Nice bar, Paul. Which classes of the Reuss Honorcross awards do the two ribbons represent? 3rd class with x and 4th class with x? Gerd

Bryan, this is from Charles Sharps series "Soviet Order of Battle for WWII". Its very useful, if you research soviet orders/medal and campaigns. CollectRussia has them for 19$ a piece: http://collectrussia.com/showcat.htm?cat=EASTBOOK best, Gerd

Bryan, here is a short summary of the unit history of the 230th RD: Formed on the 29. June 1943 from the 229th Rifle Brigade in the 1st Guards Army/Southwestern Front with 986th Rifle Regiment 988th Rifle Regiment 990th Rifle Regiment 370th Artillery Regiment 60% of the division were Ukrainians, 15% were Turkmenes and the last 25% were Russians and Siberians July 1943 STAVKA Reserves August 1943 9th Rifle Corps/5th Shock Army/South Front November 1943 9th RC/28th Army/4th Ukrainian Front February 1944 5th Shock Army/3rd Ukrainain Front March-August 1944 9th RC/57th Army/3rd Ukrainian Front August 1944 5th Shock Army October 1944 STAVKA Reserves, received a battalion of 13 SU-76 self-propelled guns October 1944-End of the war 9th Rifle Corps/5th Shock Army/1st Belorussian Front ended the war in Berlin in May 1945

Thank you, Bryan. Its indeed the same s/n style on mine and it also has this deeply stamped maker mark. Thanks again Gerd

Nice piece, Dave. I didn?t know, the soviets had miniature daggers too. Sorry, can?t help with info about Zubov. Gerd

Beautiful dagger, Sergey. Do you have more from your uncle or other members of your family? Can you tell us more about your uncle? I would love to add an Army Dagger to my collection, but allways some soviet orders come across my way, which i had to have, when i finally decided to buy one... Gerd

Also thanks from me for the additions. Sergey, i would be happy, if i could speak half as good russian as you speak english. No worries, we understand you very well, which goes for our other russian members too. And if we don?t understand, we will ask Gerd

Nice group, Bryan Could you post a closeup of the s/n of the ORB for me please? I have one with a 261.XXX number and would like to compare the s/n-style. Do you have translations for the research? Thanks for posting this group Gerd

Ahhh, thanks, Kevin. I?m obviously blind before i had my first coffee Gerd

Mike, thats an "Edelweiss", a tradition badge of the mountain troopers. Is it that, what you wanted to know? Gerd

Well, i hope not. Some collectors familiar with these medals hopefully see the difference.

I think, i would have returned this bar to Godet Thats not the typical Godet mounting style in my opinion, so i would give it a miss. Gerd

I think, the bar itself is okay. Its mounted in a Saxon Style with Saxon awards first, nothing unusual. On first place belongs the Bronze FAM in my opinion and on second an EK, like Tom already said. If he had the Silver FAM, wouldn?t he wear both then?

Gentlemen, has anyone of you ever observed any pieces with obvious signs of a die-weakness, i. e. bigger letters or the like due to a battered die? I am talking about the Defense, Capture and Liberation of - medals. Would be interesting to see a picture, if you can provide one. Thanks in advance regards, Gerd

Ganz genau, Andreas. These exaclty are the most obvious differences to a normal Variation 5 from the MONDVOR-website, what you show in your comparison. Andrew has discovered this variation. The torch and the "berries" of the wreath around Hammer&Sickel looks like on Type 4 ORB?s. all the best, Gerd

Thanks once again, Auke. I am a symetry-fanatic I have noticed, that the best way to keep OPW?s is to screw them simply on cardboard, as it does absolutely no harm to them. I really like this order, both classes are beautiful and its a Combat award, at least mostly, and there are a lot of interesting variations of the 2nd class. Beside that, i have had a very succesful research-rate with OPW?s, as far as i can say that with my little collection. Glad, you like it Gerd

Bryan, you are right. The left one is a Type 6, the middle one is a "short oval" and the right one is a "long oval". Gerd

Bryan, i have exact the same type with a 116.XXX number. They are indeed very nice. Here are my three, the T6 is with document. I still need a "semi-long-oval" Nice examples you have there

Here you go, Chris. Group to Baktybai Zholmukanov, born 1926 and served with the 365 Reserve Rifle Regiment and the 922nd Rifle Regiment/250th Rifle Division/35th Rifle Corps/3rd Army/1st Belorussian Front during the Berlin-Campaign. Here is the citation to his Military Merit Medal for the Berlin Campaign: "Military order to 922nd Infantry Red Banner Regiment of 250th Infantry Bobrujsk Red Banner and order of Suvorov Division # 0114/N May 16, 1945 Active Army On behalf of the Presidium of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the following people awarded with: ---Military Merit Medal--- ... 2. Telephone operator of the 1st mortar company, private Zhulmukanov Boris for his actions displayed in battles during eliminating of surrendered German troops south-eastern to Berlin on April 25, 1945. When Germans started a counter attack near important highway Frankfurt-Berlin, private Zhulmukanov provided constant phone connection with the observation point. Despite heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire he personally fixed 7 cuts of the phone line. Born in 1926, Kazakh, Youth Communist League member, in Red Army since 22 November 1944, recruited from Chapaevsky District Military Office of Western Kazakhstan Region. Home address: Western Kazakhstan Region, Chapaevsky District, Inbeksky village community, collective-farm (kolkhoz) Intaly." Hope, you like it. Gerd

I wonder, what THIS one would be worth today. That must be one of the most sought-after Glory-Cavalier groups out there... The group in post #11 would probably go for 10 times the price of 9800$ now.

Hallo Andreas, i will keep my eyes open for a document for the 1st and 2nd class. I have seen one for a 2nd class on german ebay a while ago, but wasn?t at home to bid on it, when the auction run out. Did you ask Alexei for a 1st+2nd class doc? best, Gerd

Nice. Do you have all classes with document now?