Alfred

Great picture !!

Interesting book, I have one copy too. I have heared that reprints of the book are on the market! Not all books are from 1945. regards Andreas

Hi Dan, to me the bar looks like put together. The suspension is made out of aluminium and looks brand new, although the newest medal is from 1945. As I am on holiday, I have no eccess to my pictures according to the labour medal with number. But compare the upper tip of the red star with orıginal photos. The peak must touch the rim of the medal and compare the position of the letters P and B in the word SATPYDOBYJ with the two ends of the star. regards Andreas

Great Group regards Andreas

Yes !

Are they made out of brass or aluminium? regards Andreas

What I found is, that the 347 Rifle Division was before April 1944 part of the 51 Army and in April 1944 it was trasfered to the 2. Guards Amry. regards Andreas

Yes, you kann ask ..... In the other bible of research: The Red Army Order of Battle in the Great Patriotric War Robert G. Poirier and Albert Z. Conner 1985 regards Andreas P.S. Sometimes you find a copy to sell try google with the title

Here are some information about the 347 Rifle Division: Units: 1175, 1177, 1179 Rifle Regiments 907 Artillery Regiment Raised at Krasnodar, North Caucasus Military District Sept. 1941 RVGK in North Caucasus w/56 Independent Army Oct. 1941 Caucasus Sep. 1942 Mozdok w/44 Army Jan 1943 Melitopol Operation Oct. 1943 South Ukraine w/55 Rifle Corps, 51. Army Jan 1944 Crimea w/ 1 Guards Rifle Corps, 51. Army Apr 1944 Memel w/10 Rifle Corps Oct 1944 347 Rifle Division - "Melitopol" Order of Red Banner, Suvorov

Looks like one of these veteran badges. regards Andreas

Both look good. Both have a document. Yes 100 $ for the oil badge is a good price. regards Andreas

Doc, this is an "Excellent MVD firefighter" badge. Yous looks a little bit disturbed. Normally the two tools are fixed in the lower part of the badge. By the way, this badge is heavily faked. here is an example in the last part of the page http://home.netcom.com/%7Emerezhko/fakes.html regards Andreas P.S. There are two variations a NKVD and an MVD badge. But both look a little bit different to yours. Both have an axe and an gaspipe pliers in the lower part.

Thanks, I have two other dates in my serial number data base. 1.101 - 29.07.1982 1.275 - 04.07.1985 regards Andreas

Pluribus, what is the number and when was it awarded? regards Andreas

In my oppinion they are okay. The fist one is a LMD - displaced ring production and rare the second one is a KMD starback production. nice pieces. best regards Andreas

Nice story regards Andreas

Ed, I have no clue if they are widely faked, in the last years I saw no other badge "For March to England" for sale on german e-bay. But I saw a lot of other faked rare and not so rare badges on ebay. regards Andreas

I have no clue if the badge is genuine.

and the reverse with the inscription

I have this photo which is connected to the journey to England in 1956. It seems to be a photo on the Cruiser Ordzhonikidze with 1. secretary ZK KPSS Chrustschov and Marshall SU Bulganin. 14.04.1956 The three names of the ships are: - Cruiser Ordzhonikidze - Destroyer Sowershennyi - Destroyer Smotryaschii best regards Andreas

Bifter, there are two variations of the Order of October Revolution. The first variation has 4 rivets (serial number 1 to ~58.000) and the second variation (serial number ~58.000 to ~112.000) has 5 rivets. Orders without rivets are definitely fakes. regards Andrea

Oh sorry, Echoes of War , Researching Soviet military decorations. by Paul J. Schmitt 75 USD , ISBN 0-9656289-1-4 regards Andreas

R?tsel gel?st! What do you think, when was my/the order issued? May/June 1945? Regards Stefan Yes that is possible, but only research will tell. PJS list serial number 662.588 for action in the German - Polisch erea in 06.03.1945 in his book. regards Andreas (Sorry Paul: post edit)

MPZZ is the short form for: Moskau "Platinapribor" Fabrik It is a factory located in Moscow. Due to the raising demand after Red Stars and OGPW?s a second factory started to produce them. MPZZ OGPW?s are a little bit rarer than OGPW?s from other mints. best regards nach Stuttgart Andreas

Oh, an MPZZ production OGPW with 20.000 issued awards. regards Andreas