TacHel

Thanks for that info! Beautiful Order... Nicer than other Belgian Orders IMHO.

OK, I'll bite. Why on Earth is there a second palm on a tiny piece of ribbon hanging from the suspension loop?

The Order of the Lion?? Please enlighten me... Never heard of it.

P.S. I think that your friend looks a bit like Generaloberst

Freiherr Ludwig von Falkenhausen

Man, does he ever! But where's his PLM?

Rick, the "Hero Star" is not an Order nor a Decoration, it is a "Title" and as such, not associated with any particular other award. It can be bestowed both in peace or war time.

Recent recipients of the title of "Hero of the Russian Federation" have had quite the variety of awards connected to their deed(s). Order of Valor, Medal for Courage, Medal of Suvorov etc. The title of "Hero" is more complicated than the award of western decorations such as the V.C. or M.O.H., it has to do with an impact on the entire Federation. I hope to be able to go in real detail on this subject soon.

As for reborn Tsarist Orders, their prerequisites make it clear they're for generals, or at a minimum, for well connected officers... The non military ones are most definitely destined for friends of the party in power. Quite aristocratic in nature unfortunately! Enough said.

I believe the retention of so many ex-Soviet awards was two-fold. Firstly to lessen the impact of changing to a new system and retaining the favor of military leaders who's own awards would now be defunct... Secondly, to fill a huge void for other ranks since the Tsarist Orders are like previously mentioned, incredibly aristocratic in nature.

From the maker's own web site.

In my efforts to find the write ups and prerequistites I am missing for so many medals on my Wiki site, I spend hours and hours randomly entering award names in Russian on Google hoping against all hope to find them and sometimes get lucky and hit treasures like this.

With sash and star.

Here's a pic of the whole shebang. What an incredible award!!

And below and actual recipient!

Valery Shumakov

Thanks for this, Frank, it's a terrific response, and very helpful. I'm guessing those "tolerated" medals wouldn't last long on a soldier on active service, right?

Hugh

Actually. tolerated means exactly that. On the uniform of a serving soldier. You can't really enforce rules on civilians or vets.

Notice the last 2 ribbons? Volontaires and Blessés.

Specifically, I have questions about the placement of the following:

1) Médaille des Evadés (First row) - Why is this so high in the precedence?

This medal is actually a war medal, that's why it is so high in the order of precedence. It wasn't only bestowed for escaping a POW camp and regaining a friendly unit. People from Alsace Lorraine forced to join the Wehrmacht who escaped service and joined a resistance movement got this instead of the resistance medal if their acts happened in other occupied territories.

2) Croix du Merite Militaire, w/rosette (First row, next to Evades) - Is this the correct name? Where can I find more about it? Is this the right placement?

It was replaced by the Médaille de la Défense Nationale, I would think right after it.

3) Médaille d'Outre-Mer (ex-Medaille Coloniale) (Second row) - Why does this precede Médaille de la Défense Nationale (Or)? Is this really correct?

The Médaille d'Outre-Mer is a campaign medal. The Médaille de la Défense Nationale is little more than a long service award. Most militaries put campaign medals before service medals, this is the case here.

4) Where should the Wound Medal fit?

The wound medal is not officially recognized, it is only tolerated for wear. The original 1916 law on this subject only authorized a red enamel star to be worn on the ribbon of the campaign medal issued for the action where the wound was received (IE Colonial Medal,Indochina Medal, etc). This law/regulation as yet to be changed. It goes way at the back with the Médaille des Engagés Volontaires.

5) Ordre du Mérite Combatant (Veteran's Service),Chevalier, 1870-71(Second row) - Is this an official medal? Was it authorized for wear on the military uniform? Where does it fit in?

Yes it was but it doesn't exist anymore. It was bestowed between 1953 and 1963 when it was replaced by the Ordre National du Mérite. I figure placing it right after the latter would be close enough.

6) Médaille Commemorative de Verdun (Third row) - Is this an official medal? Was it authorised for wear on the military uniform? Where does it fit in? (My great-uncle got oneback then. He was a machine gunner with the American Army.)

Unofficial,but tolerated for wear. WW1 vets used to place it anywhere with official medals. After WW2, I saw some way at the back with the other unofficial "tolerated" medals.

7) Médaille des Engagés Volontaires, w/bar Engagé Volontaire (Third row) - Is this an official medal? Was it authorised for wear on the military uniform? Where does it fit in?

Unofficial but tolerated for wear from 1871 on until the apparition of the Croix desEngagés Volontaires in 1935.

8) Médaille des Internés de la Resistance, Médaille des InternésPolitiques (Third row) - Where should these fit in?

Sorry, no idea. Most if not all would've been bestowed upon civilians and would probably be their one and only award to wear.

Is there an accepted length for the ribbons on French medals? As youcan see, I've acquired all different lengths over the years.

Nope... Anything goes. I usually keep mine at 3 inches of ribbon max unless various ribbon devices such a rosette or multiple palms or stars demand longer ribbons.

I also have doubts about a number of the pieces which I bought many years ago from a guy in Mt. Vernon, NY. I'll post them later for authentication (or not!)

The medals in your frame look fine to me. And you've got a few rare ones too.

Hugh

Answers inserted into the quote above...

Interesting article on this subject

CLICK HERE

It's a "Médaille Militaire" (Military Medal). Second only to the "Légion d'Honneur" (Legion of Honnor) in the French order of precedence when it was created. (It was later bumped down a notch by the Ordre de la Libération).

Instituted in1852 by Napoleon III. The Military Medal is issued to any non-commissioned officer or enlisted personnel who distinguishes himself by acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. Commissioned officers are not eligible. An interesting feature of this medal is that it is also the supreme award for leadership, being awarded to generals and admirals who had been commanders-in-chief.

This particular example dates from the 4th Republic, 1946-1958. You can tell from the single star at the bottom of the obverse. (5th rep has 3 stars, 3rd rep has "1870")

It's in good shape and with the case. As for value... You might be a bit disappointed. The only ones I've seen with any real value were from the 2nd Empire with the Imperial Eagle on top (in lieu of the breast plate and weapons on the suspension) with Napoleon III's face.

Below are the 3 other models described above. Left to right, 2nd Empire, 3rd Republic, 5th Republic.

Roman or Dragomir, please, I need help translating the words below:

наиболееотличившихся = ?

nivetserkovnogo = ?

времениучреждения = ?

вознаменование = ?

Первоначально = ?

равноапостольного = ?

инославных = ?

длянаграждения = ?

предстоятели = ?

заплодотворные = ?

WOW! Talk about beautiful and incredibly historical items! Awesome eye candy! Thanks for sharing them with us!

I'm not 100% sure... But that looks like the ribbon for a Belgian Red Cross medal. Possibly a long service award in the Belgian Red Cross?

Would Metropolitan translate into bishop then?

митрополита = епископ?

Tsarevich = Grand Prince or Crown Prince.

Metropolitan is a head of Church in separate church region.

For example I live in Voronezh. Voronezh is included into the Voronezhsko-Borisoglebsky diocese.

The head of the Voronezhsko-Borisoglebsky diocese - Metropolit Sergiy.

Ahhhhh... Thank you. Спасибо! Extremely informative thread!!

I finally found the order of precedence for Russian Federation State Orders and Decorations, how exactly do religious orders fit in all of this? After State awards?

What does "Metropolitan" stand for in this case?

Guardian? Patron Saint?

Hello Roman! Great pictures! Спасибо!

Here is my "attempt" at a translation:

* The Order of Saint Andrew the First

* The Order of Saint Vladimir

* The Order of Saint Olga

* The Order of Saint Innocent

* The Order of Saint Sergius of Radonezh

* The Order of Saint Daniel

* Order of the Holy Martyr Trifon

* The Order of Prince Demetrius

* The Medal of Saint Innocent

* The Medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh

* The Medal of Saint Daniel

Hello Roman!

You are correct. I uploaded the wrong picture. The proper one is now up. Below is the picture I accidentally had uploaded. You're right, in the 2 at right they are religious Orders, my bad, I originally mistook them for St Nicholas Orders.

The one at left though is clearly a St Nicholas Order. (See pic below) Has this Order been recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church?

Our Sergeant Major

Addenda: Sergeant-Major Harper

And just in case you missed the other post on the subject...

The medal below is a never adopted prototype. You WILL see them for sale, be aware of its true nature. A pure fantasy piece.

Back to #2... Looking alike doesn't mean being the same!

Below are the medals for Distinguished Service used in the Soviet awards system from 1974 to 1990 and in the Russian Federation from 1990 to 1995.

Below is a medal you will find almost everywhere, eBay and many dealers. It is a never adopted prototype. Although of extremely good quality (better than the 2 above except for the attachment), it is a fantasy piece.

Most collectors will recognize the Soviet medals below established in 1974 in 2 classes. A quick peak at eBay or dealer's catalogs will show you their market value has sky rocketed as of late. God only knows why...

What most people do not know, and which I just very recently learned myself from new Russian sources, is that these 2 medals were retained in the awards system of the Russian Federation by a 1992 decree. The were retained "as is", no change whatsoever, same ribbon, same colours etc.

They were gradually phased out starting in 1994 when the new state awards were established. The last ones awarded were mostly to MVD troops for services in the Chechen Republic in 1995. Do not be surprised to find some with an award document dated after 1990. But none were awarded after 1995. They have now been removed from the RF awards system.

Medal "70 Years of the Economic Security Units of the MVD of Russia". Instituted on 7 February 2007 by decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Awarded to personnel of the economic security staff of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation for achievements in operational performance and management; to civil servants and employees for faultless service and/or the promotion of the units of economic security; citizens and foreign nationals who provide substantial assistance to units of the economic security of the MVD in the implementation of their tasks.