Gerd Becker

Isn?t it likely that this is just a variation? The darker blue to distinguish it from the other grades? However, nice one and quite unusual

Wow. Nashorn Commander and the RK for Cassino, thats just fantastic!. Congrats, Rich, thats a group, you can be proud of. best, Gerd

I bet, it was a Hindenburg Cross Collector, they sometimes pay everything to get a piece like this. There are some very rare variations out there. The Bronze version for example is quite expensive now too.

Well i think, that is a killer piece and the first one, i have ever seen. Well worth the asked price with document, if you ask me...

but to answer your questions, at least the one i can say something about... Should loose medals stay loose ? No, not necessarily. See reply above. If you acquire a loose medal without a ribbon.. should you put a ribbon on it for display ? Yes, thats no problem in my humble opinion. But i do not like it to replace an old ribbon for a new more shiny one If you have a commanders neck award.. should it only be displayed in the case, or is it ok to hang on a uniform ? Both is okay, if you don?t have to mess with any original ribbons. If you have breast stars, should they be displayed on a uniform or left in a glass case ? Both is okay, no difference in my opinion.

Well in my opinion it is okay, if you really ONLY use loose pieces and repro ribbon for the construction of a bar and it has to be marked on the reverse as a constructed group in a way, that it is not removable. In my opinion there is nothing to say against it, if you do it like this. Gerd

Christophe, after looking again closely, i am now conviced, its definately a Lenin. I would even take a bet on it best, Gerd

Fantastic pictures everyone Here is another one from me: Stalingrad

Great stuff, Rick. There are obviously a lot of variations around of these badges. My badge was also obviously silvered at some time, but it is gone, except on a few places on the train. The enamel is very dark, looks like black, but i assume, its also a very dark blue. Looks, like i was lucky to get such an early one

Thank you very much, Dave.Thats fantastic! Interesting to see, that he served in WW2 as well. I also wonder, if he got any WW2 awards, maybe even a Knights Cross... Rick, i don?t have anything of him, but i have seen a documentary about Verdun ("The Hell of Verdun") and wanted to check some of the given facts and i also found this Bavarian Soldier interesting and wanted to know more about him. Particulary about his Iron Crosses, because he complained in a letter home, that he didn?t receive any yet and that he was very depressed about it. They said, he served with the 16th at Verdun, nothing more. Gentlemen, once again, many thanks for the effort, i appreciate it. regards, Gerd

Its him! Commander of the B.I.R 16 during WW1, just found out that info. Thank you very much, you guys are amazing!!! So he obviously got both EK, thats the main info, i was after. Thanks again regards, Gerd

Gentlemen, can anyone provide some background information and maybe a rank-list entry of (Rittmeister?) Karl (oder Carl) Freiherr von Andrian? He is probably Bavarian. I am particular interested in the information, if he had both iron crosses and maybe further awards. Thanks in advance Gerd

Nice research, Andreas I am sorry, but i don?t have any info on the 10th Rifle Corps in Sharps books. Did you check the armchairgeneral webpage?

Yes, i only noticed it on the scan too I am impressed of the quality and the multi-piece construction of this little badge. They are really nice!

Christophe, that looks like an Order of Lenin to me. Gerd

This one came in today (Peter ) S/N 40.822

Wilco, i have seen that for imperial german medals, so i assume, its not impossible, that russian veterans have their medals worked up for a parade.

Lukasz, thanks for the translation and compliments Please clean your pm-box, as i would like to send you a pm Thanks again Gerd

Someone suggested, these might be BOTH versions of these Medals, the military AND the labor type? Is that possible?

Here is a picture of Major of the Airforce Igor Ivanovich Senchenko on a 1968 dated photo. He wears the later type, like it seems with the bigger star, see closeup.

Hi Eric, as far as i know, the examples with pebbled reverse are the later types. I hope, one of the DDR-specialist can confirm that. best., Gerd

Hello Lukasz, you are the man! Thank you very much for the ID of Lt.Gen. Lozowicki. These pictures are part of a photo-album of Koldunov?s visit in 1984 the "Granit-84". I haven?t been able to find out, what that was exactly. Here is the dedication in the album. May i ask you for your help with the correct translation? Thanks again, very much appreciated! regards, Gerd

Thanks, guys. Wilco, thats, what i though first too, but the finish of the medal is still intact, so i assumed, it was regilded. I tend to agree with Paul, that its a worn out die. Well, at least its an interesting original, as everyone agrees so far

Paddy, i?d research them in this order: Nevsky OPW 1st class Red Banner Order of Glory 2nd class OPW 2nd class Combat Service Red Star best, Gerd

Mark, i think, the last medal on his medalbar IS the St. Anna 3rd class. At least it looks to me like it. best, Gerd