TacHel

Very nice!! I hope you'll keep a good record of the translation! And maybe share one day... :whistle:

It's the first pre 1952 I see (for this grade)... So I'm unsure about the details of the enamel and lion. Here's one just like yours but without the maker data on the reverse. (Makes you go "hmmmmmm...") A switch on center medaillion or original?

You should tell the buyer to be a bit more patient... The volume of mail during the Holiday season slows down deliveries.

Wow! What's the scale? 1/35?

For somebody who's heart didn't seem to be in this project at its onset, you did a marvelous job! It really looks great! Looking forward to the full diorama with the Panther!

Excellent! When my son leaves home, his room will become my office/museum/show room.

"Soviet Second World War Veteran Badges"? Man, you're in for quite a hunt, there's hundreds of em! And if you decide to delve into post 1991 similar badges... It'll take you the rest of your natural life!

XMas shopping is easy between the wife and I... We set a budget then she buys what she wants for herself and I buy what I want for myself, we thank each other and are never dissapointed with our gifts! Works like a charm! This year, (like previous years ), I decided to blow my entire budget on more Russian medals, especially on a few high end bravery and valour awards. My Moscow contact acquired them and I sent him the money via Western Union, am now anxiously awaiting their arrival! Then, 2 evenings ago... Browsing the web, I came accross an incredible deal. A French 5th republic "Commander of the Legion of Honour" at an incredibly reasonable price!! Less than 1/2 of the lowest price I had ever before seen. I could barely believe my eyes so I asked a buddy in France to have a look at it (in person). His reply, filled with curses for not having found it before me confirmed its impeccable state. But... My XMas budget is already gone and this puppy is still $300... My wife saw the preplexed and pained look on my face staring at this beauty on my computer screen... She said, "WTH, go for it"... "But buy me something nice!". So it's also on its way from Europe, but now I have to go XMas shopping... YUCK! Waddya all think? Good trade off? And yes, my wife does have a sister but she's short, fat, married and quite the penny pincher so .

Aaaah... Ben merci! (Thanks)

Found this for sale but honestly have no idea what it's for...

Well, he lost my business... A merchant refusing to find viable alternatives for a paying customer will NOT have me as one...

WOW! :love:

I found this great dealer of Belgian Orders and medals... He has some items I really want but charges a fortune to ship overseas stating the Belgian postal system is untrustworthy for such international parcels... BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wants 125 EURO to send me 80 EURO's worth of medals and refuses to use the normal post even if insured and registered. People like this drive me cuckoo!!

Major-General Alexander Alexandrov's contribution to Soviet military music was remarkable. He composed the music to the Soviet (now Russian) National Anthem and the music to "Sacred War" which is without a doubt the most iconic of Soviet WW2 songs. Link to a video recreating the general's font line work with his musical ensemble. The actor actually looks like him! They are singing Sacred War. N.B. If you see T-62s intermixed with the Tiger tanks... Er... Don't worry, propably an optical illusion... :whistle:

Understood, and agreed... But call it what you will, the info I found on Saint-Denis clearly indicates multiple military and civilian transfers in and out over 4 years.

"Camp de rassemblement" it pretty much self explanatory, it was also called a "camp de transition", grosso modo, temporary. One can find many links on the web of civilians and soldiers spending from a few weeks to a few years there before being sent to another camp, even to death camps. My guess is the bearer of this badge was transferred somewhere else in 41 or early 42.

I agree with Veteran, just decoration. The 2 top ones though should normally be reversed. PATRIE ET HONNEUR is usually HONNEUR ET PATRIE in French...

St Denis was an Ilag (Internierunslager) and wasn't in Canada, it was in France near Paris. It was opened in June 1940 and used to detain enemy civilians captured in German occupied territories. It housed civilians from the USA and all British Commonwealth countries. It was liberated by the Americans in August 1944.

Actually the plating should be minimal since the mint has once again taken over medal production. Hopefully, gone are the days of cheap casted overplated monstruosities such as the SSM. The one thing I hope is that the award criteria won't be as horribly stupid as the previous jubilee medal.

Yup, yet both came out in 2007... Go figure.

I'm smiling, actually beaming from ear to ear! I received these 2 beauties from a friend in Moscow today. Two of the last three Russian Federation Defense Ministry medals I required. I've never seen either on the market, they're pretty difficult to come by! I feel like a kid at Toys-R-Us! Left: Medal for Service in Railway Troops. Right: Medal for Service in Space Forces.