Dragomir

Dear Ed, Some 30 years ago I got this poster in Baghdad. It displays Hassan al-Bakr, and you will notice curious collar he is wearing. Do you have any idea what that might be? Yours, Dragomir

I found my notes. This is the list of awards of K. Popovic presently in Historical Archives of Belgrade: Yugoslavian Orders, Decorations and Medals: 1- Order of the Partisan Star I (1944) 2- Order of the Partisan Star I (1945) 3? Order of the Partisan Star I (no Decree, dubious provenance) 4? Order for Bravery (1945) 5? Order for Bravery (no Decree) 6? Order of National Liberation (1945) 7? Order of Brotherhood and Unity (1947) 8? Order of Brotherhood and Unity I (1947, no Decree, probably substitution) 9? Order of Brotherhood and Unity (no Decree) 10-Order of the Yugoslavian Flag I (1954) 11-Order of the Yugoslavian Flag III (no Decree, perhaps belonged to K.P.?s wife) 12-Order of the Yugoslavian Flag III (no Decree) 13-Order of Freedom (no Decree) 14-Order of the War Banner (1954) 15-Order of the National Hero (1953) 16-Order of the Hero of Socialist Labour (1968) 17-Order of the Republic I (1961) 18-Order of Merit for the People I 19-Commemorative Badge for 1941. 20-Commemorative Badge for 1941. 21-Commemorative Medsal of Tito?s India and Burma State Visit (1954/ 5) 22-Commemorative Medal of 10th Anniversary of YPA 23-Commemorative Badge of the Union of War Veterans Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals: Afghanistan: 24-Order of the Sardar-e-Ala Argentina: 25-Order of May I (1954) Bolivia: 26-Order of Condor of the Andes I Brazil: 27-National Order of the Southern Cross I (1963) Bulgaria: 28-Order of the National Liberation I Burma: 29-Order of the Union I (the insignia by some error were stuck in same case with Ethiopian Order of Menelik; missing in the list of awards) Chile: 52-Nationla order of Merit I (1962, HOURS, Santiago) Czechoslovakia: 49-Order of the White Lion 50-Military Order of White Lion ?For Victory? 51-Military Cross 1939-1945 Greece: 30-Order of George II, I (1954) Ethiopia: 31-Order of Menelik I (A.Bertrand, erroniously listed as ?Order of the Lion?) Hungary: 34-Order of the Hungarian Flag I (1964) Iceland: 32-Order of the Icelandic Falcon I (1960) Italy: 33-Order of Merit for the Republic of Italy I (1965) Mexico: 35-Order of the Aztec Eagle I (1960, broad band, LA ESMERALDA, MEXICO, HAUSER, ZIVY Y CIA CUCS.) Norway: 35-Order of St. Olav I (1966) Poland: 36-Grunwald Cross 37-Medal ?For your and our freedom? (1956) 40-Commemorative Medal for 20th Anniversary of Victory (1965) Finland: 45-Order of the White Rose of Finland I (1963) France: 46-Order of the Legion of Honour I (1956) 47-Order of the Lewgion of Honour III (1953) Netherlands: 48-Order of Oranien-Nassau I (1972) Spain (Republic): 53-Order of Liberty 54-Commemorative Medal of the YU Union of Veteras of Spanish Civil War 1936-1956 Sudan: 41-Order of Two Niles I (1st Version, GARARD, London) 42-Order of Two Niles I (identical as previous one) Tunisia: 43-Order of the Republic I (1965; 2nd Version, A.BERTRAND) UK: 44-HM Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953) USSR: 38?Order of Suvorov I 39-Order of Suvorov II You will note that the evidence of K.P. Legate is not in best order, and that there is some confusion regarding precise data. When I find some spare time, I shall try to make a complete review, with sketches and photographs. Dragomir

Orders, decorations and medals of General K. Popovic are presently owned by his own legate in the Historical Archives of City of Belgrade. Several months ago I made a thorough survey of his awards. Merry Christmas, Dragomir

The medal on the left side is the Serbian Commemorative Medal of the First Balkan War. instituted in 1913, and awarded to persons who participated in the war operations of the allied Balkan Christian States against Turkish Empire. Obverse displays the medieval Monastery Church of Gracanica with rising sun charged with war year 1912 and field canons; the inscription reads KOSOVO AVENGED. The reverse displays double headed eagle of the Serbian Coat of Arms within a wreath inscribed with places where battles took place. The proper ribbon is one with thin arrays of three-colour stripes. Two main variants differ in size (depending of the manufacturer). Dragomir

Green ribbon with narrow yellow side stripes and central silver-white stripe belongs to the Mauretanian National Order of Merit, Officer's class. All the best. Dragomir

In fact, his name was Wilhelm von Wied, from the ancient German feudal house of Runkel.