TacHel

At the risk of repeating myself... "ABSOLUMENT SUPERBE"! But I have a question... In post #90 = Feldwebelleutnant Hans Melzer Feldwebelleutnant??? Sgt-Lt???

You actually scratch built these? WOW!

Any idea as to the unit(s) there?

The small crown on his lower sleeve... Staff sergeant?

Christophe... ABSOLUMENT Superbe! :D

Great obituary, a courageous, patriotic, intelligent and humble man devoted to his community. My compliments!

Roman mentioned in another thread that the Russian government is "finally" starting to come down on these various organizations and setting down some basic rules. It was honestly getting stupid... They were producing medals bearing the names and logos of ministerial departments and sometimes even borrowing their ribbons. I have near 2 dozen medals that I have been trying to sort out as "official" or "non governmental" for well over a year now and still cannot authenticate 100% due to this FREE FOR ALL. The sad part is quite senior military officers are some of the worst culprits when it comes to wearing these "commercial Xmas tree ornaments". Some formation commanders have even issued their own medals! They have to start imposing rules at the top and work their way down. Matter of fact, just setting the generals straight will suffice, once they're forced to remove these trinkets from their ribbon bars, trust me, crap flows down hill in the military and usually picks up speed on the way down.

This one is from the "Russian Awards Committee" (Российский наградной комитет). Below is the actual award document. The key difference is in the stamp on the document.

Roman!! Incredible picture of a modern recipient of the St George Cross!!! And of the Medal of Suvorov!! :jumping:

So the "Military Order of St Nicholas" and the "Order of Ste Anne" are considered "religious awards"?

Oh I know bud, I only pointed it out to you because I was really surprised that he too had it. I've spent the last 2 days researching this Grand Duchess... Quite the incredible story! Probably worth a dedicated thread!

Christophe, look carefully at the pics you posted... Sergei Chemezov is wearing the Order of St Nicholas on his right chest! And in Roman's pics, Lieutenant General Alexander Viktorovich Galkin isn't the only one wearing the order, so is Colonel general Sergey Afanasevich Makarov (right chest). It might not be recognized by the government "yet", but it's recognized by the highest patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church... I think it only a matter of time until the government caves in to the church on this one... What is your opinion Roman?

I found this... An article covering the 19 December 2006 investiture in the Order. MILITARY ORDER OF ST NICHOLAS The Order was established in exile in 1929 in response to the intentions of the Emperor Nicholas II for the participants of the First World War. Revived by the Head of the Russian Imperial House in 1991, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna. Following the 5th anniversary of this event, his Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II blessed the ceremony which is now held in his cathedral. And on this day, the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna awarded to the most outstanding officers - Defenders of the Fatherland - the Imperial Military Order of St Nicholas. After a celebratory service, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna presented the awards. Text on the award diplomas: "By God's grace, we, the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House, the Supreme Head of Russian imperial orders, by our decree, for achievements in ensuring the military security of Russia and the useful work to strengthen its power, invested (rank, name and patronymic) in the most noble Military Order of St. Nicholas (rank in the Order), to celebrate what we have personally signed and presented to this gentleman, this letter attesting to the insignia of the Order and hereditary (rank) of Nobility". Invested were 20 prominent military commanders, combatants in the "hot spots". Among them, army general-NP Abroskin, Colonel-General AL Manilov, Lieutenant-General N. Antonenko, Cossack General VA Poluyanov, other generals and officers. Knight of the Imperial Orders of St. Nicholas and St. Anne, a full member of Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Petrovich Chelysheva Gosudarynya handed the letters of hereditary nobility. After the ceremony a short conversation with Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna amply summed it up: "Support of the Russian power has always been the army, science and education. When these three components are in harmonious development, the country reaches the highest rise in all spheres of life. I see my mission as ensuring that as far as possible, I contribute to the revival of our Motherland as a Great Power based on strength, intelligence, talent of its most illustrious sons and daughters." Below is a picture of the Grand Duchess and some recipients.

Colonel General Sergey Afanasevich Makarovis also wearing the Order of St Nicholas! The higher grade, on his right chest! Roman, can you fill us in? When did the Order reappear? Was control of the Order passed back to the state? The church? Sorry Christophe for side tracking your post, but this is incredible news!

Not completely dropped... Simply "postponed". :rolleyes:

Roman, great pics! Question #1, Lieutenant General Alexander Viktorovich Galki, the first medal (top row), the white and gold cross on a black/yellow/white ribbon... What is that??? ADDENDA: found it! It's the "Military Order of St Nicholas". Good Lord! If I'm reading this right (article I found), descendants of the Romanovs have returned to Russia and have started issuing imperial Orders again!?!?! "the August Founder of the Order of St. Nicholas has always valued the highest of military ministry, regardless of whether the political order there at some point in history in Russia. This is the position taken by my father rest in Bose State Vladimir Kirillovich, and that I follow and my son and heir - State Cesarevitch and the Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich. Therefore I wish with all my heart, on behalf of the Russian Imperial family pay tribute to the contribution of the current generation of defenders of the Fatherland in strengthening Russia's defense. Once again, having now the opportunity to be home and to the extent of our participation in the process of revival of its historic values and traditions, we felt for the benefit to the Order of St. Nicholas in the family of our Orders, while the introduction of the new statute, the rights of receipt of this Order to members of the Armed Forces of Russia for the highest individual performance in performance, bravery and courage shown in the performance of military duty, for the high combat readiness of troops and defense obezpechenie Russia, for his exemplary performance of military duty military personnel of subordinate units, parts, connections, flawless execution of their official responsibilities and to achieve high combat skills. In general order of precedence, the Russian Emperor and Holy Orders Order of St. Nicholas will be for the Order of St. Anne." Can you believe this???? (Ed's gonna have a heart attack now...) Question #2, the gold cross on his right chest... Isn't that a religious award??

Alex, I am singularly impressed with your talents! Would you consider writing a thread with detailed instructions on just how this is done?

Nice shots of a colonel of airborne troops with medals and without showing his ribbon bars.

Young captain wearing the Gold Star of a Hero of the Russian Federation, the Medal of Suvorov and the Medal for 200 Years of the Interior Ministry.

At right: soldier of Internal Troops (national guard) wearing two Orders of Valour and on his right chest, the Badge for Distinguished Service of Interior Troops 1st class. At left: airborne trooper wearing the Order of Valour and the Medal For Service To The Fatherland 2nd Class With Swords.

This young junior sergeant has been awarded the Cross of St George 4th class by the President of the Russian Federation. The very first award of this decoration since 1917. He also wears the new model Guards Badge (like my avatar).

This member of "OMOH" (Russian SWAT) is wearing an odd mixture of Soviet, Russian Federation and "Umalatova" awards. The "Umalatova" awards (2 R/H medals on bottom row) are from the Ex Presidium of the Soviet Union, they're still dishing out medals!

I can see an Austrian NAZI getting this medal...

What does this mean to a collector seeking Russian Federation ODMs? It means be VERY CAREFUL where and who you buy them from! Russian dealers will gladly sell them to you in person or via the internet, but you will probably see them confiscated (and possibly face criminal charges) when leaving the country, or if via the internet, they will probably never arrive. Seek out dealers from Eastern Europe, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine etc. The choice will be somewhat limited, but it will be much safer. You will eventually find what you're looking for, your patience will be rewarded.

The text below is courtesy of Christophe: According to the Article 7 and 9 of the Law of Russian Federation "On export and import of cultural goods", 15 April 1993, N 4804-1, Following cultural commodities are not subject to export from Russian Federation, and the Law applies to following categories of items : * Historical values, among them those connected with historical events in the life of the nation, the development of society and State, the history of science and technology, as well as those related to life and activity of outstanding personalities (state persons, political and public figures, scientists and artists) * Items and their fragments, obtained as a result of archaeological excavations * Artistic values, among them : * Paintings and drawings that are fully handmade, on any kind of warp, made of any kind of material; * Original sculptures made of any kind of material, including relieves; * Original artistic compositions and montages made of any kind of material; * Artistically mounted items of religious purpose, including icons; * Engravings, prints, lithographs and their original printing forms; * Works of arts and crafts, including works in glass, ceramics, wood, metal, ivory, fabric and other materials; * Works of traditional folk handicraft; * Components and fragments of monuments of architecture and historical monuments * Ancient books, editions of special interest (historical, artistic, scientific and literary), separately or in collections * Rare manuscripts and documentary relics * Archives, including photography, sound and film archives * Unique and rare musical instruments * Postal stamps, other philatelic materials, separately or in collections * Ancient coins, orders, medals, seals and other collected items * Rare collections and samples of flora and fauna, items of interest to the scientific fields of mineralogy, anatomy and palaeontology * Copies of historical, artistic, scientific or different value, as well as those under protection as historical and cultural relics. "