Lapa

Is it a fake, or renumbered?

Definitely a fake, without a hint of a shadow of a doubt

Marc

Ready for negotiations for this badge.

goldensq@gmail.com

Eagle,

Could you please post hi-resolution pictures of the front and back, and especially of any markings.

Marc

Lieutenant-General Stoyan Konstantinov Trendafilov

1944 - 1945 Commanding Officer 1st Armored Brigade

1945 Chief of Armored Forces

Does anyone have more info on this man? A photo would be nice to.

CCI,

Could you at least provide some basic clues, such as country for instance

Marc

As we have always feared, it appears that the archives will be "moved" and then....

So: what is researched, is researched. But this would appear to be the end of that, forever.

Given the state of things over there(or a similar move here, for that matter), I cannot imagine centuries (they've still got TSARIST records) of records being moved efficiently and intact to....

where? NOWHERE--

Lost, tossed, discarded, stolen...

gone will be gone.

Just another Library of Alexandria loss.

Guys,

I would not necessarily be that negative. A couple of years ago, the State Archives were moved from its old place to a brand new, high-tech building in St Petersburg.

The Russian are very proud of and highly value their heritage, and especially so their military history. I'd wait to pass judgement until we effectively know the details of the plan at hand.

Marc

Snoopy,

It is written:

Svyatlauskas A. Y. (Balt name)

30914 (military ID number)

II 89 (Feb 1989)

Marc

The rarest of the Lenins. I am scared to think what they go for these days.

Paul,

There is a really nice one on the market at this time, for the meagre price of....... $185,000

Here is a better view of the tractor itself.

Marc

We are alive, but 10 years is a long time span in which the Soviet Union commissioned many ships, and 'peculiarity' is quite vague.

I cannot be much more precise than that, as I would simply be given the answer away. OK, let's start dispensing a few clues nevertheless.

First hint, let's concentrate on the first half of the 1930's.

Second, the name "Truro" has some connection to our mystery.

Marc

Right guys, let's try that once more. As usual, the winner is the one who answers all sub-questions

In the 1930's, the Soviet Union launched a vessel with a major "peculiarity".

1. What was the name of that vessel?

2. What type of vessel was it?

3. What was its peculiarity?

4. Who was its first captain?

5. What happened to it afterwards?

Happy hunting

Marc

Anyone still alive?

I saw this ribbon bar for sale, please comment on authenticity.

William

William,

I can't comment about the German ribbons, but as to the Soviet ones, that's a rather strange combination and they would be out precedence order.

Marc

By George, I think I've got it . . . maybe . . . .

Think: Korovin TK (introduced 1926).

Quoting (http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg189-e.htm ): "Most TK pistols were either issued as self-defence weapons for high ranking officers of Red Army or above-average officials of Communists party and Soviet government, or were used as presentational pieces for various achievements."

Look at the one on the bottom (upside down sorry, imagie editing is dead).

Opinions?

That looks very damn close, indeed! I'd lean toward this version.

Marc

For some months i use the wreck of a unknown order as keyring pendant. I always thought it was of belgian origin. Yesterday i examined the piece and came to the conclusion it must be a legion d' honneur. I guess it is the Restauration Typ from 1815 to 1830 because it shows the bourbons lily in the crown and on top of the crown. The thing that confuses me: I always thought that all grades appear in Gold or at least in silver gilt. My keyring pendant shows abolutely no remains of a possible gilding.

i would be thankfull for your comments

josef

Joseph,

Badges for the 5th class were silver.

Marc

hello, see this booklet for sale on "E"... the stamps do lack... should we consider this as a fake or is the 1970 date an explanation about the absence of any stamp?

Seb,

No stamps, no signature. Do I need to keep going on?

Marc

Darrell,

Left one is definitely Kruschev, right one, not sure.

Marc

Yep, definitely them, Rick

Marc

Here's a pretty simple question for those that know there Soviet History and Leaders.

Can you name the two shown in the picture below? I've whited out there names but left in their ranks.

I found this picture in a book I'm reading. Can't recall see ing it published before ...

Darrell,

Left one is definitely Kruschev, right one, not sure.

Marc

Right guys, let's try that once more. As usual, the winner is the one who answers all sub-questions

In the 1930's, the Soviet Union launched a vessel with a major "peculiarity".

1. What was the name of that vessel?

2. What type of vessel was it?

3. What was its peculiarity?

4. Who was its first captain?

5. What happened to it afterwards?

Happy hunting

Marc

...He still only looks like he was 30 during the war. He must have had a baby face!

Rick,

The Soviets were definitely the precursors of PhotoShop

Marc

I'm hoping this is in the right thread.not sure exactly where to put it

Eric

Eric,

It says "Bulgarian Soldier". Close, but not Russia

Marc

...His face is much too young and his rank rather low to have been the holder of a 1938 "Jubilee" Medal.

Rick,

What do you mean by that? He wears Lieutenant-Colonel boards. Is that too low in your opinion to have served long enough to receive the 20 Years of RKKA medal?

Marc

Hello,

i saw a picture on flickr with a very nice (unknown, to me) naval badge on it. It features an anchor surounded by a chain.

Has someone informations on it? What is it? Better pictures?

I've used the search but didn't get anything useful.

Thank you. taun

Taun,

That is the badge for Excellent Navigator of the Soviet Navy. There are other similar ones, the central device changing to show each specialty.

Marc

Hello ,

This is a wargame by the Easterners. In the text a place is marked with XXXXX. What is the name of that place and when was the game played.What country developed that game?

Time of Quantity and yield Target (object) Losses:

strike of nuclear

delivering

weapons

07.02 2 x 500 kt XXXXX City completely destroyed

07.02 500 kt ERDING airfield All surface buildings and

07.02 500kt MUNICH City destroyed

07.02 500kt "PERSHING" division One launch battery

destroyed

07.02 500kt OBER-AMMERGAU 70% of surface buildings

nuclear weapon depot destroyed.

07.02 500kt AVIANO airfield All surface buildings

destroyed

07.02 500kt VERONA City completely destroyed

07.03 500kt GHEDI airfield All surface buildings and

8 airplanes destroyed

07.03 500kt PIACENZA airfield All surface buildings, 8

airplanes destroyed

07.02 500kt VICENZA City destroyed

Long- distance Aircraft

2 x 200kt "CENTAURO" armored Strength: 650 men

division Tank personnel: 54 men

Tanks: 26

Motor vehicles: 94

07.20 3 x200kt "ARIETE" armored Strength: 2800 men

division Tank personnel: 36 men

Tank: 18

Guns: 21

Motor vehicles: 519

APCs: 48

Good Luck

Regards

Frank

Frank,

I believe that Vienna was obliterated from this earth in this June 1965 "Plan of the 'Easterners' First Massive Nuclear Strike". According to the plan, the "Easterners" use 30 nuclear weapons in the first strike, with a total payload of 7,450 kilotons. Five cities (Vienna, Munich, Oberammergau, Verona, and Vicenza) and five airfields and nuclear ammunition depots are assumed to be completely destroyed.

Marc

Immensely satisfying stuff. I can't think of any comparable previously unresolved mystery to compare this to.

Rick,

Sea tragedies have hit most seafaring nations, and mysteries abound. I think that families from sailors serving on the Bismark for instance were once in this very same position.

Marc

Aluminum is very strange. I've never seen that used on anything that could be firmly DATED before backings on the 1957 Leningrad Jubilee Medal.

So would you date the boards from the Khruschev era?

Rick,

The boards are M45 without question, now, they could have been (and most likely were) produced in the 1950's.

The question remains about the stars, which are of a type and style that I have never encountered before on Soviet uniforms.

Marc

Are you questioning the style of how the stars are attached? Those stars look like standard "nipple-starfish" ones to me.

Here are a pair of Soviet pre-1943 infantry insignia with the same holed domed screw disks (steel with a gilt finish):

so this was a style of attachment that was used in the Soviet Union.

Rick,

I held these stars in my hand. They are not as you perceive them to be.

First, the screwdisks are aluminum.

Second, these stars are extremely thick, much thicker than regular Soviet stars of that period.

Third, they are made of very thin white metal plate.

All in all, the boards are most likely regular Soviet issue, but the stars are something I (or Sebastien) have never encountered before.

Marc

...Now, let's have fun with the 192nd question, Wild Card's one !!!!

Christophe,

Hum, you meant Christian's, obviously

Marc