Ferdinand

Here are two more young boys, both with a Bravery Medal.

Ok, it's likely that KGB won't yield results, but still - year and the place of birth are helpful, not required. I still don't see why there's "no hope whatsoever". I'm planning to submit a name for research and don't see why I should be sceptical about receiving results.

Ed, why is it "very, very unlikely"? Is this your own experience with researching by name?

Hi Christian, This list came from the excellent site http://www.rkka.ru. A great source for information regarding the Red Army and the Soviet Union in the GPW, but in Russian. Auke

Zverev and Merkulov are correct, the others aren't. So, you have six correct answers, which is enough in my opinion. Congratulations, and go ahead with the next question. By the way, here are the 43 People's Commissariats: Defense - S.K. Timoshenko Navy - N.G. Kuznetsov Internal Affairs - L.P. Beria State Security - V.N. Merkulov Foreign Affairs - V.M. Molotov Justice - N.M. Rychkov Connections (signals) - I.T. Peresypkin Aircraft Industry - A.I. Shakhurin Medium Machine Building - V.A. Malyshev Ammunition - P.N. Goremykin Armaments - D.F. Ustinov General Machine Building - P.I. Parshin Industry of Building Materials - L.A. Sosnin Machine-Tool Construction - A.I. Yefremov Ship-Building Industry - I.I. Nosenko Heavy Machine Building - N.S. Kazakov Electrical Industry - V.V. Bogatyrev Power Stations - A.I. Letkov Light Industry - S.G. Lukin Meat and Dairy Industry - P.V. Smirnov Food Industry - V.P. Zotov Fish Industry - A.A. Ishkov Textile Industry - I.N. Akimov Oil Industry - I.K. Sedin Carbon Industry - V.V. Vakhrushev Non-Ferrous Metallurgy - P.F. Lomako Ferrous Metallurgy - I.F. Tevosyan Chemical Industry - M.F. Denisov Rubber Industry - T.B. Mitrokhin Communication - L.M. Kaganovich River Fleet - Z.A. Shashkov Sea Fleet - S.S. Dukelsky Construction - S.Z. Ginzburg Foreign Trade - A.I. Mikoyan Domestic Trade - A.V. Lyubimov Supplies - V.A. Donskoi Agriculture - I.A. Benediktov Grain and Cattle Sovkhozes - P.P. Lobanov Lumber Industry - F.V. Sergeyev Cellulose and Paper Industry - N.N. Chebotarev State Control - L.Z. Mekhlis Public Health - G.A. Mitelev Finance - A.G. Zverev

Hi Frank, The Soviets must have created some more between 1936 and 1941. I'll give the complete list of commissariats when the question is answered correctly. Stalin, Molotov, Beria and Shakhurin are correct; Donchenko, Pervukhin and Voroshilov aren't. Name three more and you're the winner. Good luck, Auke

Okay, let's just ask one. We'll stay with the Soviet government at the start of the GPW. At that time there were 43 People's Commissariats. Name, let's say, seven of them, including their People's Commissar. Good luck! Auke

I agree, the speed of the quiz should increase. After three days without an explanation of the winner, whoever has a good question is allowed to post it. Auke

Are you sure? Our researcher once wrote to me: "I need either his/her FULL (which means last, first AND patronimic names) name or the name of the award (ie "Bravery medal") and its serial number. Additionally the year and the place of birth of the recipient and date of awarding (either one or both of them) are very helpful but not required."

Hi Marc, Yes, that's the correct answer. The Jewish Rozalia Samoilovna Zemlyachka (n?e Zalkind) fulfilled this position from 1940 to 1943. She was born in 1876 in Kiev and died in 1947 in Moscow. Here's a short overview of her career (in Russian): http://www.zamos.ru/dossier/?tree_id=10&qid=201 Your turn again! Auke

Yes, I used cyrillic letters. I don't have much time so this will be an easy question I think. On 22 June 1941 there was one female Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissar's of the USSR. What was her name? Good luck. Auke

Many thanks Marc! It was interesting to find out more about this crash I had known nothing about until now. Christophe, I was just lucky with my Google search words... And once I was on the right track, it was easy - there appeared to be a lot of articles regarding this event on the internet. I'll think of a good new one and post it tomorrow. Auke

7 February 1981 really was a black day - 44 officers and men of the Pacific Ocean Fleet staff and 8 civilians died in that plane crash, and among them 16 Generals and Admirals They were all buried at the Serafimsky cemetary in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). For those who can read Russian: http://www.rigapodplav.narod.ru/Sel_Vl_T/spir.html

1) What is my family name? Postnikov. 2) Where was I born? The village of Chuyevka, now in the Zherdevsky Region. 3) What is my profession and in what location did I work? Your were a Rear Admiral and your last assignment was Chief of the Political Department of the Naval Base of the Kamchatka Flotilla. 4) What happened on 7th February? You died in a plane crash on 7 February 1981. 5) Where am I now? I have no idea... Auke

Around 1947 the Soviets stopped numbering Bravery and Military Merit Medals. Of the approximately 4.5 million Bravery Medals awarded by 1991, almost 3.8 million were numbered.

By the way, Tito received 16 Yugoslavian orders, an onknown number of Yugoslavian medals and 98 foreign orders and medals, according to Titoville.com. http://www.titoville.com/odlikovanja.html

Warheroes.ru has an interesting artice about Brezhnev's awards: http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1614 According to this article, Brezhnev received 4 HSU's, 1 HSL, 16 Soviet orders (among them the Order of Victory, which was revoked in 1989), 18 Soviet medals, 42 foreign orders and 29 foreign medals. Auke

So, the unnumbered MMM doesn't belong to the group, but replaces a numbered MMM, probably for 10 years of service around 1948... That means our Major should have received a Red Star and accompanying Order Booklet around 1953... And the group also misses some jubilee medals... But still, an interesting little group!

Okay, here are some corrections / additions: Nov 1926 - Assistant Platoon Commander - 1st Zaporozhe Cavalry Division, 1st Gurbono Kazakh? Corps Dismissed for long term leave - 23 Nov 1928 Jul 1941 - Assistant - 59th Western Rifle Regiment Dec 1941 - Regimental Commissar - 113th Rifle Battalion Dec 1941 - ? Party Bureau - 661st Artillery Regiment Feb 1943 - Regiment - 206th Rifle Division Feb 1943 - Deputy Commanders Course ? Jul 1943 - Server? ['Sluzhatel', I don't know the English word for this] - Lenin Military Political School, Moscow Military District Jul 1943 to Sep 1943 - In reserve of the Political Department? ['Sostava', I don't know the English word for this] of the Main Political Department of the Red Army Sep 1943 to Oct 1945 - Inspector of ? Corps - 107th Rifle Corps, 4th Ukrainian Front Oct 1945 - Secretary - 501st Artillery Brigade Jan 1946 - Party ? - 318th Guards Rifle Division, city of Mukachevo Signed by the Verchne-Dneprovsk Region Military Commissar, Major Kalaitanov. 'Polk' is regiment, 'polkovnik' is Colonel (a Colonel is normally a regimental commander, that's why 'polk' is in the name). Hope this helps a bit. Maybe Rick will be able to fill in some blanks. Auke

Signed on 16 May 1945 by Lieutenant-Genral [sic] Gordeyev. Deserves OPW 1st Class. Signed on 20 May 1945 by Major-General Grishayev.

Yes, the OPW2 is probably from 1956. Although awarded to him per decree of 12 March 1945 it probably didn't get to him in time, as he left the army in April. Rick, Why do you think the OPW2 citation would be interesting? I guess it was awarded for his serious wound from 12 February 1942. Weren't most late OPW2's awarded for GPW wounds?

Translation of the citation: 1. Last name, patronymic and first name: Vasetsky, Nikolai Antonovich 2. Rank: Guards Private 3. Position, unit: Scout in 4th Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade, 1st Guards Red Banner Ridkhovsk Artillery Division Recommended for: Order of the Red Star 4. Year of birth: 1922 5. Nationality: Ukrainian 6. Dedication to the party: Not a member 7. Participation in the Civil War and other military actions aimed at the defense of the USSR and the Patriotic War (where, when): From 20 November 1941 to 12 February 1942 Western Front. From 15 March 1943 Central Front. 8. Wounds or contusions received during the Patriotic War: Serious wound on 12 February 1942, Western Front 9. In the Red Army since: Since 19 September 1941 10. Drafted by which Regional Military Commissariat: Rodino Regional Military Commissariat 11. Which previous awards (for which merits): None 12. Permanent home address of the awardee and the address of his family: Altaisk Krai, Rodino Region, Rodino Village I. Brief description of personal feat or merits: During defensive and offensive fighting, he has proven himself a fearless, bold, and courageous scout. In defensive fighting he has displayed heroism and bravery. While in the regimental observation point, he discovered two enemy artillery batteries, one mortar battery and a column of enemy infantry moving to the front lines. On 26.8.43 near Yaroslavka while situated with the infantry, he discovered two enemy mortar batteries, determined their position, and transmitted their location to the battery and the enemy batteries were destroyed. On 28.9.43 near Strakholese while in the infantry formations he revealed an enemy infantry concentration preparing for a counterattack. Having transmitted this location to the battery, it then scattered and destroyed as much as a company of enemy infantry. He is deserving of the Order of the Red Star. Commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade Guards Captain [signed] /Kavmin/ 10 October 1943 II. Conclusion of the Higher Command Will be decorated with the order of the Red Star Commander of the 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade Guards Colonel [signed] /Kerp/ 21 October 1943

Translation of the Award Record Card: 1. Last name: Vasetsky 2. First name and patronymic: Nikolai Antonovich 3. Military rank: Private 4. Sex: Male 5. Year of birth: 1922 6. Place of birth: Altaisk Krai, Rodino Region, Stepnoi Kuchuk Village 7. Dedication to the Party (since which year): Member of the VKP(b) since 1943 8. Education: Elementary 9. Nationality: Ukrainian 10. Since which year in the Red Army: From September 1941 to April 1945 11. Place of service and duty position at the time of the awarding: 1st Guards Artillery Brigade - Scout 12. Current Place of service and duty position: Michailovsk PMS, Sinelnikovsk Region - Mowing Machine Operator 13. Home address of recipient: Lenin Kolchoz, Garsky Rural District, Sinelnikovsk Region 14. Received awards: Order of the Red Star nr. 398067, Order Booklet nr. A-858239, Prikaz of 21 October 1943 Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class nr. 913181, Order Booklet nr. A-858239, Prikaz of 12 March 1945 Medal for Victory over Germany, Certificate nr. 0361779, Ukaz of 9 May 1945 [signed Vasetsky] Sinelnikovsk Regional Military Commissar Lieutenant-Colonel [signed] /Savelyev/ 24 October 1956

Citation for the Red Star, obverse: Reverse:

The Award Record Card, obverse: Reverse: