Ferdinand

Just wanted to show my 4th Class with Crown:

Interesting! The new designs look pretty good.

:D Nothing wrong with this one... I just have a 'thing' for these campaign medal documents that were issued by military units, not the regional commissariats... :beer:

What bothers me most is this RS... Just compare...

Nice one! It was awarded to Guards Junior Lieutenant Mnatsekan Movsesovich Airapetyan (definitely an Armenian name). It was filled in on 11 December 1946 and signed by the commander of the "30th gv. m. D Kh O K B Kh Regiment", Guards Colonel Voronov. The abbreviation is a tough one, but my guess is "Guards Motorized Rifle ... ... Orders of Kutuzov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Regiment". My guess is the "m" must stand for "motostrelkovy" (motorized rifle) or "mekhanizirovanny" (mechanized), otherwise there would be no branch of service indicated. I'm clueless as to the "D Kh". They probably indicate the regiment's honorifics. Auke

A nice example of the first variation with soldered ring. Most Japan medals you see have an upside down U-shaped ring.

I'd like to hear their answers to my remarks... I guarantee you something isn't right here.

Can I see a close-up of the Vienna document?

What does that mean? :unsure:

I think it's original. Very nice group!

Is it just me or do some things not look right? The serial number and mint mark on the #2 Red Banner for instance look strange... As does the numerical shield on the #3 Red Banner... As does the serial number on the OPW1... But most of all the serial number of the first Red Star you posted. :unsure:

I'm sure you'll like it, Bob! Apart from all the information, it contains many awesome photos of recipients wearing their awards.

People have been saying that here for over three years now... I'm not holding my breath... :unsure:

The Stirnpanzer Forum has a quite large section on NSB awards: http://www.stirnpanzer.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=103

That last one looks good. There can be several reasons as to why someone didn't receive all the jubilee medals. I've seen quite a few documented groups where certain jubilee medals are missing (and were never there). The ribbon for the 20 or 30 Years of Victory Medal upside down isn't uncommon either.

Great! Any idea on how we can acquire it?

Both your BoHs are good. These types aren't being faked yet.

The name of the recipient is Volodya Zhorayevich Asatryan. Interesting, since it's the - I don't know how to call it in English - abbreviated, informal form of the name (≈ nickname). Officially the name is Vladimir. It's the same as for example Ivan - Vanya, Tatyana - Tanya, Nikolai - Kolya, etc. It is very uncommon to see this informal form on official documents.

The suspension, screwplate, and connecting ring are fake. The enamel / lacquer is replaced. The ring on the medal looks too round and new; these rings usually have a lot of wear on the inside. The medal itself seems to be original. Have a look at some original pieces here and compare: http://mondvor.narod.ru/MOtvaga.html

This one is absolutely made up. The first VoG was probably intended as a Glory 3rd, but the order of the ribbons is just completely wrong, and add to that all the different sizes... But the first eight ribbons could once have been a good bar I guess. I don't see why someone would put so much effort in turning a $3 bar into a $4 bar though.

Very nice picture, although it is postwar (15 September 1947). It shows two Guards Sergeants of artillery. Both are veterans of both fronts (against Germany and against Japan) and both have the Excellent Artilleryman Badge. This is the first time I have seen text on Soviet shoulder boards! The guy on the left seems to have a piece of cloth under his excellence badge and Guards Badge. The text on the back reads something like "In remembrance. To Lyoshka from Sasha. Let the dead remind the living. 15 September 1947."

That's a great group! Also a Nevsky and three Red Stars. Do you have the complete group?

Yes, it's probably not 150th Rifle Division, but it could be the 3rd Shock Army or at least the 1st Belorussian Front. If you want to get in contact with a researcher, feel free to PM me.

To: Senior NCO with the throttleman of the destroyer “Boiky” of the Black Sea Fleet Chief Petty Officer Ivan Nefedovich Mishanin Order of the Red Star 1. Year of birth: 1914 2. Nationality: Russian 3. Social situation and background: Worker from a family of peasants 4. Party membership and period: Candidate-member of the VKP(b) since 1942 5. Since when in the Red Army and Red Fleet: Since 1937 6. Participation in the Civil War: No 7. Wounds and contusions: Suffered a wound and contusion aboard the destroyer “Bystryi” 8. Earlier recommended for an award and for what: No 9. Which rewards and awards and for what: Received several rewards 10. Service in the White or other bourgeois armies and stay in captivity: No 11. Permanent address: Destroyer “Boiky” of the Black Sea Fleet When leaving for a combat operation on 30 November 1942, a leakage in the coolers appeared. A rise of the salinity threatened the ship’s speed and the manoeuvring capabilities of the main turbines. Chief Petty Officer Mishanin didn’t abandon his post for three days and thanks to his skilful management of the machinery, the technically adequate switching, and the displayed resourcefulness and initiatives, he prevented the boiler water from turning salt in a timely manner, guaranteeing the speed and manoeuvrability of the ship in the period of operations during attacks and bombardments of enemy ships. During the raid on Yalta comrade Mishanin organized excellent maintenance of the boilers with grease and water, despite the fact that the ship moved at high speed for several hours. The materiel was working excellent. During one combat operation the ship was damaged by an enemy shell, after which comrade Mishanin, as head of an emergency response team, repaired the damage, and the ship could continue fighting. He is as excellent specialist and a strong-willed commander. Comrade Mishanin deserves the Order of the Red Star. Commander of the destroyer “Boiky” of the Black Sea Fleet Captain 3rd Rank [signature] /G. Godlevsky/ 6 December 1942 Deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star. Commander of the 1st Destroyer Division Captain 2nd Rank [signature] /Melnikov/ Deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star. Squadron commander of the Black Sea Fleet Vice Admiral [signature] /Vladimirsky/ 7 December 1942

And