Harvey

Ok here's my question: I came to Tallinn harbor when my captain became ill. I was boarded, had my crew interned, and much of my equipment was confiscated. However, four days later my crew escaped, and I slipped out of the harbor on a foggy night. My escape was used as a pretext by the Soviet Union to annex Estonia, under the guise of "defense and mutual assistance." Who am I?

1. Where am I located (city) ? Kiev - on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. 2. What happened to me when I was first vandalised, and when ? On or about 1 July 2009, vandals attacked me with sledgehammers and broke off my nose and my left hand. 3. What happened again to me for the second vandalisation, and when ? On 27 November 2009, I was again attacked by Ukrainian nationalists who hurled red paint at me moments after I was unveiled following my restoration from the previous attack. 4. Who is now assuming my protection ? Well, probably the police or the local communist group. But really it doesn't matter since I'm due to be torn down pretty soon.

Ah, Jim, I'm sorry for not posting the next question for the quiz - I've been quite overwhelmed with issues at work these last several. Would someone else be so kind as to post the next question while I sit it out for a bit?

Sorry, Jim.... I had just posted the pic of Litvinov, but something didn't seem quite right. So I kept searching the archives (Mikoyan isn't too far behind Litvinov, fortunately) and finally found him. A quick Google Image Search of his name revealed the same picture Christophe posted. And to think I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to sort through the archives!

Well, after searching for awhile, I thought it might be this guy: Victor Yakovlevich Litvinov But he wasn't "special" enough, so a little more sleuthing revealed our Twice Hero of Socialist Labor to be.... ...Artem Mikoyan!

It looks like Colonel-General David Dragunsky, author of "A Soldier's Memoirs."

Ok, to help get this going, here's what I have for the medals: Row 1: Order of October Revolution (1967) Order of the Red Banner (3x) Row 2: 20th Anniversary of the Red Army (1938) Defense of Moscow Victory over Germany 20 years of Victory in Great Patriotic War (1965) Capture of Berlin 30 years of Soviet Army & Navy (1948) 40 years of Soviet Army & Navy (1958) 50 years of Soviet Army & Navy (1968) So we have someone who served for at least 30 years (1938-68) and participated in WWII - defending Moscow & helping in the capture of Berlin. Other than the 3 Orders of the Red Banner, there's nothing too distinguishing about this group that I can see as of yet.

Jim - you are correct, sir! The AMD-65 (Automata Módosított Deszantfegyver 1965; or Automatic Modified Landing Assault Weapon) was the Hungarian version of the AKMS, the upgraded, folding-stock variant of the venerable AK-47. It was intended for use by paratroopers and armored vehicle crewmen, since its compact shape and short barrel length made it easy to parachute with and was ideal for use in the cramped confines of a vehicle. Of note is the fact that no wood is used in the manufacture of large numbers of AMD-65s. The front handguard area is made of perforated sheet metal and typically has a gray plastic vertical foregrip (seen in the pictures) attached to assist in controlling fully automatic fire from this short weapon. In addition, the vertical foregrip has been canted forward to lessen interference with magazine changes, as the standard 30-round magazine tends to get in the way. Interestingly, the vertical foregrip is physically identical to the rear grip, with the former simply mounted backwards with respect to the rear.

It is not a Kalashnikov AK-47 - but it is a variant. It was not produced by Russia, but was manufactured in one of the Soviet satellite republics. And no disrespect to the website you linked, but that picture is not an AK-47, although the specification picture below does show an AK-47.

Here's another view from the other side:

Ok, here's one from me - not sure how hard or easy it'll be... Below is a picture of me in Georgia back in 2005. Question: what weapon am I holding? What country manufactures it?

1. What is my full name. Semyon Trofimovich Bychkov. 2. How did I fall from favor. On December 10, 1943, Bychkov was downed by enemy anti-aircraft artillery and captured in an unconscious state. After recovering in a German hospital Bychkov was sent to a camp for imprisoned pilots in Suwalki. In 1944 he agreed to collaborate with the Germans and joined the Russian aircraft group within the Luftwaffe. 3. What did I do to win the Nazi decoration? He was awarded the German Ostvolk Medal 2nd class with swords, presumably for his efforts in forming a Russian air group where he participated in military operations against the Russian guerrillas in Dvinsk from March - June 1944. After disbanding the group Bychkov created the 1st Aviation Regiment of what became known as the Russian Liberation Army. In December 1944 he was appointed commander of the 5th fighter squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment named after Colonel Alexander A. Kazakov. Additionally, he repeatedly made anti-Soviet propaganda speeches ​​in the prison camps with Eastern workers. 4. Why am I not in the major Soviet references listing those who received the Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union? On August 24, 1946, Bychkov was charged by the tribunal of Moscow Military District and sentenced to death. The next day Bychkov submitted an appeal for pardon, but it was rejected and the sentence was executed on November 4 of the same year. The following year, he was posthumously stripped of all honors that had been awarded to him by the Soviet Union.

Hauptmann is correct - it is in fact "Mother Georgia" in downtown Tbilisi, which means "hot springs" in Georgian.

Ok, here's a few more hints: I am located in a capital city, but not in Russia. I am home to the oldest cultivated grape vines in the world.

Ah, but does Kiev have hot springs?

Sorry Jim - it's not the statue in Kiev. Another hint: I was built in 1958.

Ok, here's the next one: I stand guard over the hot springs. I was built over a half-century ago to celebrate 1500 years of my people. I stand ready to greet friends, or to repel enemies. Who am I? Where am I?

This is a reference to the Stalin Monument in Budapest which was completed in December 1951. It was intended as a gift from the Hungarian people on the occasion of his 70th birthday (21 Dec 49). In reference to the smile, at the completion of the statue, a journalist in Budapest said, "Stalin was with us earlier; now he will be with us even more. He will watch over our work, and his smile will show us the way." The statue was destroyed on October 23, 1956, when around 200,000 Hungarians gathered in Budapest to demonstrate in sympathy for the Poles who had just gained political reform during the Polish October. The Hungarians broadcast 16 demands over the radio, one of them being the dismantling of Stalin's statue. A hundred thousand Hungarian revolutionaries demolished the Stalin statue, leaving only his boots, in which they planted a Hungarian flag. The bronze inscribed name of the Hungarians' leader, teacher and "best friend" was ripped off from the pedestal. Before the toppling of the statue, someone had placed a sign over Stalin's mouth that read "RUSSIANS, WHEN YOU RUN AWAY DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND!" The revolutionaries chanted "Russia go home!" while pulling down the statue. The site of the former Stalin Monument is now occupied by the Monument of the 1956 Revolution, completed in 2006 for the 50th anniversary of the historic event. A life-sized copy of the tribune was built in the Statue Park with the broken bronze shoes on top of the pedestal in 2006.

Gentlemen, I regret that I am unable to come up with the next question - I'm currently undergoing my 2 week annual training with the Guard, and have limited (and slow) internet access. I would be most grateful if someone could pose the next question for the quiz. -Dave

And here's another one of the Order of Victory on the ceiling of the museum:

Here's a picture of the outside of the museum, with the monument on top:

It's in the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, underneath the statue of Mother Motherland, in Kiev, Ukraine.

Well, it's been more than 24 hours - I'm guessing we need a bit more info, Dan. :whistle:

*sigh* I give up... You are of course correct, Dan... Did posting the larger picture give it away too much?

Since the original photo may be a bit small, here's another one: