SovPha

Whatever certain collectors insisted, the mysterious commemorative badge “Karelian Isthmus” was neither instituted nor manufactured officially. In fact, Leningrad Mint did produce several pattern pieces intended to be shown to the highest Soviet leaders for their evaluation and probable institution. Despite full-scale warfare fought by the Red Army against Finland in 1939-1940, the institution of the badge was considered inappropriate because of the limited military success of Soviet offensives. Draft of the badge had an octagonal shape embroidered with a laurel wreath and topped with a stylized winter version of budenovka, i.e. broadcloth helmet with a big red enameled five-pointed star. Horizontal red enameled ribbon with a superimposed white enameled shield bearing the date the Winter War had begun – “30-XI 1939” – in two lines was placed at the bottom of the badge. A figure of the Red Army soldier in steel helmet wearing winter uniform against two 203 mm howitzers M1931 (B-4) was placed at the centre of the badge. The soldier held a hand grenade RGD-33 in his raised right arm and a rifle with red enameled small square flag fixed to the bayonet. An inscription “Karelian Isthmus” (“Карельский перешеек”) in capital letters was running in a semi-circle between two howitzer tubes. The reverse of the badge had strong counter-relief or so-called mirror reverse. The badge should have been manufactured of light bronze with red and white enamel layup. It was designed to be attached to the uniform with a screw soldered to the centre of the reverse and round brass nut. Interesting to know that the unrealized decoration described above was used as the basic design of a modern jubilee badge issued in 2004 at the Saint Petersburg Mint in commemoration of fights at the Karelian Isthmus.

You do always an outstanding job with researching awards... Simply awesome.

Today's flea market find. A nice celluloid bar without medals. 1st - Medal For Battle Merit, 2nd - For valiant labour in the Great Patriotic War, 3rd - Victory over Germany, and 4th - Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy".

A unique and beautiful photograph. A group of Soviet Army man posing after the battle of Berlin. Reverse: "For a long and kind memory, to my nephews and nieces from Ivan Mironovich with his comrades in honor of the victory over Berlin, May 9th 1945". I personally cannot imagine how happy they were, when the Great Patriotic War ended.

Sergey Andrianovich was basically a war corespondent (editor) who worked for the newspaper "Soviet Patriot". During the battles/fighting's on the Kalinisk and Northwestern fronts he provided the necessary assistance to the commanders during the mobilization of the corps...

Yeap)))

This is a part of the HSU photograph lot which I recently received for my birthday from my wife. Amazing photograph with a lot of history behind it. Reverse: Baltic Sea Shore - HSU Bukaev I. P. (http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=8381). Signature Bukaev 1945. It’s also interesting to see the Red Army posing with his trophy StG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44). Best regards, SovPha

Large photograph of a veteran with two Order of Alexander Nevsky, 1x ORB, 1x Medal "For Battle Merit", and couple other medals. Reverse is blank. The name of this veteran is unknown. Best regards, SovPha

Medal "for the Oder, the Neisse and the Baltic region battles" (see information below) with the award document for a Soviet service member (Ivan Ivanovich Pryshedko, YOB 1926). Ivan Ivanovich was the recipient of the medal "Victory over Germany" and Medal "For Courage" - https://bit.ly/3ceB3eu The Medal Za Odre, Nyse i Baltyk (Medal "for the Oder, the Neisse and the Baltic region battles") was instituted on October 26th 1945 by the Krajowa Rada Narodowa (Council of State PNR) to award those who directly participated in combat against the German Army for the release of Poland and the restoration of its old boundaries on the rivers the Oder, the Neisse and the coast of Baltic sea. The decoration was awarded to all soldiers and citizens, who took part in combat on Oder, Neisse and Baltic Sea in the period from March and April 1945. The borders of Poland on the Oder (bed), Neisse (Nisse-Luzhitskoy) and Baltic sea were reestablished by the Potsdam conference in 1945. Also awarded were the defenders of Polish coast during the defensive war in September 1939 and foreign citizens that had in any degree participated in re-establishing the Polish borders. A total of 321975 medals were awarded. The bronze round medal measures 33 mm in diameter. A small eagle placed at the top of the medal, holds a roll in its claws with on it an image of the map of Poland, with its main rivers and the city’s Warsaw (W), Gdansk (G), Shchetsina (S) and Vrotslava (W). The map is framed by narrow border. Around the map is the inscription: "ZA ODRE - NYSE - BALTYK" (for Oder, Neisse, Baltic). On the obverse there is the inscription: "RP-ZWYCIEZCOM-III.1945-IV.1945" (to the victors) in underlined words . There is a second version of medal, which differs from the first in terms of the fact that on the front side of the medal on the map there are no designations of the main Polish cities. The ribbon is 35 mm and dark blue with two longitudinal stripes of white-blue along the sides. Width of longitudinal stripes is 4 mm.| I wish everybody a great alter afternoon. Best regards, SovPha

Hello GMIC members, Got this Polish Militari Virtuti medal (bronze class) in my collection. Currently I am looking for a original ribbon. If somebody has a spare original ribbon, please let me know. I am also looking for the MV medal in bronze but with the Soviet flag in the background (See example pic). Best regards, SovPha Example pic

Always happy to help.

Got this 3rd class "Order For Courage - No 36282" from Ukraine. This award was handed out to Orlov Nikolai Semenovich, by the decree of the President of Ukraine from December 14th, 1999. Some additional information about the award - https://bit.ly/32JaRUX. Best regards, SovPha

Awesome piece. Best regards, Andrej

Hi Nick, Do you still have this badge? If yes, how much do you ask for it? Best regards, Andrej

Hi C, Thanks for sharing this doc with us. This is a gratitude for Demetrashvili A. V., who participated in the battle/liberation (July 4th, 1945) for the city Polotsk in Belarus. This gratitude was singed by the Unit commander - Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov / 1st Baltic Front. It's also interesting to see that Stalin thanked two times this twice-order-bearing unit. Best regards, Andrej

Some of my favorite photographs. Reverse are all blank. Enjoy. Pilot with his wife. A Guards Major (Artillery) with two OPW(1st class probably), Order of the Red Star, Medal for Defence of Caucasus, Medal for taking Berlin, Medal for The a liberation of Warsaw, and Victory over Germany. Service members at front of a IL2 - Sturmovik. A young commander. It seems like the son of an officer.

Cheers. I will provide more information on this bar in the next couple of days. Best regards, Andrej

Thank you for the feedback. I know many vets who mounted their awards on 1960's hardware. This was very common practice. Andrej

Thanks.

Hi Hugh, Thank you very much for the detailed information. Best regards, Andrej

My bad. Thank you.

Cheers. I just ordered a scanner and will start to post the photographs once I have taken care of couple of other things.

Received today this great lot from my brother (bday gift) which belonged to Lt. Gladun Roman Yakovlevich (YOB 1918). The missing rectangular suspension is already on the way. All citations can be found on podwig and pamyat naroda / see links below. - Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" https://bit.ly/2I7dExQ - Order of the Red Star https://bit.ly/387R56z - Medal "For Courage" - Type 1 (Rectangular suspension) https://bit.ly/2Tok296 I wish everybody a great weekend.

Unnamed US medal bar. Any additional information would be highly appreciated. Best regards, SovPha

Thanks Eric, I will post some very unique gems in the next couple of days and weeks. Best regards, SovPha