Ferdinand

Many thanks on the additional info but where on the documents does this match to? If you could post the number of the post, etc., that would be a great help. And as I don't read but a very few words of Russian any additional info on this or the Bravery medal documents would be deeply appreciated... that is if there is anything else there that might have been missed.

Thanks!

Dan

Hello Dan, the first document in post #6 says that he was awarded a Military Merit Medal on 17 November 1939 "For combat near the Khalkhin-Gol River", that was bestowed on 13 May 1941. I have a (Russian) list with all early decrees awarding Bravery and Military Merit Medals, including the 17 November 1939 decree. Aleksandronets' MMM was awarded by this decree that decorated 9201 persons with the Bravery Medal and 2784 persons with the Military Merit Medal.

Yes, that was the max.

The Mondvor site has a picture of a mortarman that received five Bravery Medals:

- http://mondvor.narod.ru/MOtvaga.html

I too think that the booklet is good. It is uncommon that the wartime MMM comes after the later Red Star, but it is indeed possible that the recipient had a temporary certificate, and when he was awarded a Red Star in 1949 the MMM was also entered into the booklet.

And here's a 3rd Class with Crown:

I wouldn't worry too much about these warnings if you have a decent firewall and anti-virus software. Web browsers tend to be quite paranoid. I had no problems accessing this page.

Although I mainly collect Soviet awards, I also have a couple Bulgarian Orders of Military Merit, simply because they are beautiful.

Here's a boxed 5th Class with Crown and War Decoration from the Boris III period:

If you seriously want to dive into this area, I would recommend trying to acquire the book "Нагрудные знаки Красной Армии (1941-1945)" (Breast badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945) by B.V. Airapetyan. It is written in Russian, but covers all the wartime Soviet badges, including all variations and rarity ratings. It's not an expensive book, I bought my copy in St. Petersburg for around 20 USD.

The awards are indeed non-military and the 2nd Class OPW indicates that he didn't receive any bravery awards, so there are probably no documents for him in the archives.

It seems to be good, but I'd like to see pictures of the obverse and reverse at a 90 degrees angle (right on top).

Research by serial number will cost you at least 65 USD, by name slightly less. It all depends on the researcher; some of them charge up to 100 USD. And navy or KGB research costs even more. It isn't cheap, but in the end it is usually worth it in my opinion.

It looks like a star in the 900K range, so it's probably an engraving error (a digit too much). Interesting.

(Good to have you back by the way. A new beginning? )

Unfortunately it has the wrong connecting ring (should be silver) and the wrong ribbon (this one is for the 50 Years of Armed Forces Medal).

Some awards (including fakes):

Some more awards (including fakes):

And the originals:

With his son John, currently the US ambassador to Russia, and president Clinton:

Earlier this month I visited the Great Patriotic War Museum in Moscow, where they had this interesting exhibition on Beyrle, including some interesting photos, newspaper articles and his awards. I can post some photos if people are interested.

The Mondvor classification is the most up to date one. The McDaniel/Schmitt classification is already 13 years old and outdated. Several of their types or varations have been removed or split up in newer classifications.

Good luck with the research. Red Banners in this serial number range are often quite interesting.

Nice, original one. It was probably awarded by the 1st Belorussian Front in April or May 1945. Worth is just over 200 euro.

And a list of officer casualties of the 69th Mechanized Brigade. Mamoshin is the only loss on 4 February 1945:

So, as deputy commander for combat affairs of the 2nd Rifle Battalion of the 69th Mechanized Brigade, he was wounded in Western Ukraine on 30 March 1944. After that, he spent four months in a hospital, and in that period he was awarded his Red Banner. This was his first award. In July 1944 Mamoshin became the first adjutant of the 1st Motorized Rifle Battalion of the 69th Mechanized Brigade. On 31 August he received a Red Star. Mamoshin was killed in action in February 1945. On 9 March 1945 he was posthumously awarded an Order of Aleksandr Nevsky.

And the last part:

And:

And a third service record:

And reverse:

According to this he was born on 6 January. He was severely wounded on 30 March 1944.

His second service record:

Reverse:

It mentions that from August to October 1942 he was encircled near Rostov and then spent some months in an NKVD camp. Also in 1942, his party membership was revoked (coincidence?).

Mamoshin was born in Sevastopol on 19 January 1913, married, and party member since 1932. He was at the front since September 1941 and was a Senior Lieutenant since 21 June 1943.

His first service record:

And the reverse:

Translation:

Award sheet

1. Last name, first name, patronymic: Mamoshin, Ivan Ivanovich

2. Rank: Senior Lieutenant

3. Duty position, unit: Deputy commander for combat affairs of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Battalion, 69th Mechanized Brigade, 9th Mechanized Corps

Recommended for: Order of the Red Banner

4. Year of birth: 1913

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Party membership: Not a member

7. Participation in the Civil War, the following combat actions for the defense of the USSR, and the Patriotic War: Krim Front from 1 September to 10 November 1941, Northcaucasian Front from 5 June 1942 to 10 August 1942, 1st Ukrainian Front from 20 November 1943

8. Suffered wounds and contusions in the Patriotic War: No

9. Since when in the Red Army: Since February 1940

10. Drafted by which RVK: Sevastopol RVK

11. Which earlier awards (for which merits): Not awarded

12. Permanent home address of the recommendee and the address of his family: City of Chkalov, Soviet Street, house 17, apartment 36 (wife: Klavdia Ivanovna Mamoshina)

Short, concrete description of personal combat feat or merits:

As deputy battalion commander, comrade Mamoshin showed himself a courageous, brave, and decisive commander during the entire period of combat. During the fighting for the town of Bazalia on 5 March 1944, comrade Mamoshin, located with the 1st Rifle Company, ordered the company forward, and was the first to burst into the town of Bazalia, killing up to a platoon of enemy soldiers in the process. Commanding the foremost detachment during the fighting for the town of Kupel on 8 March 1944, comrade Mamoshin inspired the men by personal example, and through an assault with the foremost detachment captured the southern outskirts of the town of Kupel, hereby killing up to 30 enemy soldiers and officers and neutralizing three firing points. Comrade Mamoshin deserves the state award "Order of the Red Banner".

Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Rifle Battalion

Senior Lieutenant [signature] /Kozak/

10 March 1944

Deserves the state award "Order of the Red Banner".

Commander of the 69th Mechanized Brigade

Hero of the Soviet Union

Guards Colonel [signature] /Sukhovarov/

17 March 1944

I recommend him for the state award "Order of the Red Banner".

Commander of the 9th Mechanized Red Banner Kiev Zhitomir Corps

Guards Lieutenant General [signature] /Sukhov/

19 April 1944

Is to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Commander of 3rd Guards Tank Army

Guards Colonel General [signature] /Rybalko/

Member of the Military Counsil of the army

Guards Major General of Tank Troops [signature] /Melnikov/

29 April 1944