Gerd Becker

LOL. Don?t you love it, when germans try to make jokes in english In the most cases i get my research very quickly after i paid it. I think i only once waited longer than 2 weeks. What does he need a website for? I?ve sent him at least 10 new customers last year andi know, i am not the only one. He won?t have the time for my research anymore

Thats true. They are probably well aware, whats going on, but maybe have their reasons, not to step in. Its another question, if they have a way at all to step in. Although, the guy yesterday really looked like someone from the FSB Gerd

Yes, exactly

Well, i guess, i am going to collect entiry estates from Generals from now on... I have never knowingly bought a piece, which belonged to a group, but i must say, i was temted to bid on the soviet pieces from the Mielke estate a few years ago, but i wasn?t entirely sure, if i want to collect soviet at that time. Now i wish, i did. A Red Banner to a German would be a centerpiece of my collection.

Its absolutely of use, Jim. When you see, how many people still bid on this crap on ebay... Oh my...

Thanks, Chris

Thanks for the confirmation, Rick

The Red Banner looks good to me, compared to the one on the Mondvor website. Nice one, Ilja. Too bad about the missing awards. The second Red Banner was numbered (2nd) too, right?

Dave, that thought already crossed my mind Maybe i am really going to do that, but not right now. Still have some awards, which i am more curious to learn about their story than to find out Nikitchenko?s awards. But, i?ll keep it in mind, definately... Gerd

Ed, thanks a million Interesting to note that Nikitchenko was the one responsible, that the accused were hanged and not shot. Thanks again Gerd

Allright then... Don?t say, i didn?t warn you Nr. 409128 is an LMD(Leningrad Mint) "concave reverse" piece observed S/N-range lowest 407001, highest 480590 Nr. 714487 is a KMD (Krasnokamsk Mint) "flatback" example, observed S/N-range lowest 680669, highest 758394 Nr. 116666 is an interesting example, its most probably a LMD made "concave revese". Nr. 109370 is the same variation like 116666, observed S/N-range for the last both pieces is lowest 100913, highest 133548 491888 is a KMD piece "flatback", observed S/N-range lowest 482705, highest 496733 (source www.soviet-screwbacks.com )

Unfortunately i don?t have any of the early MMM?s or Bravery Medals, but they will be some of the next things to add to the collection.

Thank you, Christian and i agree with your explanation. They probably got something like a BoH, RBL or maybe even a Lenin for their work, very likely one of the higher awards due to the prestige of the trial. It would be interesting to find out the names of the judges. Anyone know? regards, Gerd

Reverse of Nr. 146113

Thanks everyone for your contributions Ed, you have some wonderful examples there. If you are interested to hear, where the particular pieces were produced(ie. Krasnokamsk Mint, Leningrad Mint), just let me know. But thats probably only interesting for variations-nerds like me Bryan, definately let us know, what the research brings for this group. Its true, every veteran, who was still alive in 1985, received such an OGPW. At least every veteran was authorized, but i doubt, that really everyone got one. Jim, i agree, they had more serious problems than to worry about the variation, they got. Here is another one of mine, a nice starback Nr. 146.113, researched to Iosif Egorovich Soloviev, awarded for action on the Crimea in 1944, see http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10282

Ed, unfortunately i don?t have anything to add to your badge-threads, but be aware, i enjoy to look at the pieces, you add nearly every day very much. You must have an amazing collection, i don?t even dare to start to think about it One thing though: Could you go back and post all the reverses of the badges Thanks a lot for your participation here Gerd

Great info, Ed. I think, thats a big step forward Gerd

Ed, thats a beautiful example and you have nothing to worry about, its absolutely original. It has a nice Brass Hammer&Sickel, there are two theories (I know, you don?t like theories, but i?ll mention them though), why some OPW?s have Brass Hammer&Sickel. Some say,these were "trench-shop" replacements for lost Gold H&S and others say, these were done like this in the mint, when they ran out of Gold ones. Either way, an interesting piece with a great patina. Jim, as far as i know, they would be awarded a WW2 version, if available. But i have seen 1985 versions awarded for WW2 action, but i don?t know, if they were legit or not. At least i have seen 1985 OPW Duplicates for WW2 versions, so i?d say, the first mentioned case is possible too. Thanks, gentlemen Gerd

Fantastic group, Heiko And great job reuniting them! Rick will go crazy about the Tamara-ribbons Whats the next to last on the second bar, which is missing now?

Gentlemen, does anyone know per chance, if the russian judges in the Nuernberg Trial got any awards for their participation? What would a Military Judge got awarded for the most important trial in history? Thanks for your opinions. best regards, Gerd

Rich, welcome. Soviet awards are either researchable over the serialnumber or over the name of the awardee, so it should theoretically be possible to research a documented campaign Medal. I am not sure, if a sole Medal required an award card, but the VoG-Medal and Campaign Medals are mostly noted on it. So, if you have a name, then try it. You probably got a pm from someone already, but if you still need a contact, send me a pm. The costs are 40 Dollar for the award card, 15 dollar per citation and 20 Dollar for the personal record, if its available. Not exactly cheap, but well worth the result in my opinion. best regards, Gerd

Nice ones, Bryan, especially the pinback. Are you going to get this group researched? I remember, when it was for sale, as i thought about to buy it myself. Thanks Gerd

Andrei or Alexei, if one of you guys read this, do you think, Nr. 101.270 is a KMD or a LMD piece? The mint mark looks a lot like the typical LMD mint mark. TIA Gerd

Thats indeed a beautiful order, but we know the Bavarians allways knew, how to design nice orders and medals. Red, whats the material? It looks like Gold in the picture. Congrats to a really nice and rare set

Yes, it looks to me too like the name was doctored. Why would they reissue used documents for such a Medal? Doesn?t make sense to me....