Paul R

How did J?hn win his HSU? I did not know that an East German was honored with this title.

Rick, Thank you for filling in the blanks. This is the first medical officer documentation I have seen! That really stinks that he was forced to be discharged... right before becoming eligible to receive his pension benefits!

What does the abbreviation for "A.D.D." (in cyrillic) mean in the Soviet military aviation engineering field, during WW2? If someone out there has a clue, your assistance will be greatly appreciated. Regards Paul

Great stuff, everyone!!

Dave, Thank you for posting the documents!

PERSONAL PART (top of 1st scan)== Yefim Pavlovich NIZOV, Captain and Assistant Commander of Staff for reconnaissance/intelligence (same g thing-- there is NONE BETTER in a line unit... the words "po razvedke" make da dawgies sit up and HOWL) of the 911th Rifles Regiment of 244th Rifles Division. Born in 1904, Russian, Member of the CPSU since 1928. On the Southwest Front from 27.6.41-31.7.42 Stalingrad Front from 7.8.-22.10.42 Southwest Front since 24 January 1943 (to whenever this was made out-- am translating as I go) WOUNDED 1 August 1941 near (?Smopantsa ?) WOUNDED 2 October 1941 near Kharkov (one of the major defeats of 1941 and his division was considered destroyed here near Vyazma, the survivors--including him--being rolled into a "new" 244th Rifles Division with the same regimental numbers by absorbing the remaining survivors of the 469th Rifles Division) WOUNDED 5 April 1942 (can't read... should come up in other versions of the records) In the Red Army 1926-38 and since 1941 (which means he was PURGED and very likely DEMOTED!!!! Joined at Oktyabrsky RVK of the city of Kiev in 1926. Previously received the Military Merit Medal and Defense of Stalingrad Medal. Next of kin and address: wife Vera Fedorovna Nizova in the village of Barkino, Sudogotsky Raion (roughly a county), Ivanovsky Oblast (province). CITATION = When you read this, you will be audible several miles to sea. OK, now you need to shut the door to your little secret room and stuff sound proofing all around it, OK? I have been collecting Soviet for 15 years. I have N E V E R seen a citation to match this one, bar NONE, ever. Reconnaissance here can also be translated as "scouting." "Took part in the defense from 5 September to 6 September 1943 at the head of and in charge of the reconnaissance around Hill 199.5 in the staff of a group of scouts--in all 40 riflemen-- breaking through the front line of mistaken (((?))) defenses, in which were destroyed 6 light machine guns and up to 50 enemy soldiers and officers. The enemy in a panic left their defensive positions and fled in the area of the village of Khrestintsa. With this entire distance the opportunity arose to advance forward up to 12 kilometers for the regiment, the division, and the entire 12th Army. Deserves to be awarded the Order 'of the Red Banner' 26 September 1943 Commander of the 911th RR, Major Veznichenko" AN ENTIRE ARMY CORPS ADVANCED ALONG ITS ENTIRE FRONT FOR TEN MILES BECAUSE OF THIS GUY AND HIS 40 MEN RAIDING THROUGH THE ENEMY LINES. You can bet the Generals waaaaaay in the rear got Hero Stars, Suvorovs 1st Class, and all that exotic glittery "espensive" stuff-- THIS GUY MUST HAVE BEEN ON THE ULTIMATE SUPREME SH!T LIST. Even if we "downplay" the degree of responsibility he had in the enemy's panic and so condescendingly decline to award HIM a Hero's Gold Star... by every single rule and regulation, for a feat like this at his rank he should have received whatever was considered the Supreme Award Possible: a Suvorov 3rd Class. That he got NEITHER a Hero Star nor a Suvorov, combined with his age and the date he "left" the Red Army (1938) makes me CERTAIN this guy was purged, in the Gulag, brought back in a degraded rank under "suspended" sentence... and they DELIBERATELY under-decorated him because he was on the Enemies Of The State list. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHAAAAWWWWW

And here is Rick Research's translation!!!!!

Here is the document for the award. I ordered the "works" for the research. This will include is records card, personel file, and who knows what else.

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I have received some prelimary results from some research I ordered from a fellow forum member. There may be more that I will share when it comes in... very soon! Anyway, this research is for my screwback Order of the Red Banner. I bought this at a highly discounted price from Igor M back in 1992. It was discounted because some of the enamel had been damaged/replaced. Here is the medal

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There is an Order of the Red Star that is currently up to 86 dollars on Ebay. I have no reason why it should be this high... is there something that makes this one special? http://cgi.ebay.com/RUSSIAN-ORDER-OF-THE-R...1QQcmdZViewItem There is no mention of research on this peice...

I thought that these were made of silver?

Thank you for posting the grouping, Gerd! I did not know that service and campaign medals were recorded in the record card as well!!

What are these medals made of? Zinc?

Awesome stuff!!! Are there any records available to reflect the numbers issued?

It is a great photo! Thanks for posting it! What is the black stuff on their faces?

I have just read a couple of articles on the medal. Very interesting. I am still not clear why it was awarded... for officers who were commissioned due to bravery? Very interesting that it was only awarded 20 times between 1861 and 1915. Here is an article on the medal. http://www.foxfall.com/fmd-navy-bvt.htm amd some photos of the medal... http://www.medals.org.uk/usa/usa017.htm I have never heard of this medal/distinction before. Being a former Marine, I am kinda shocked!

OMG!! I thought that his MOH was the last ribbon of the second row(with the stars). What is that ribbon then. It would have been too early for the Philippean ribbons.

I dont understand the order his ribbons are in... The MOH should be the upper right(viewer's left) most position, closest to the heart. Also... what is the long white bar above the row with the MOH?

I think that this is a sports shirt insignia. Regards Paul

Very interesting piece. I did not know that something so elaborate was made!

Well, The flag was a steal for 5.01!

Hi Chuck, I am with everyone else when I tell you that it is an awesome flag! Great stuff guys! The 1996 Operation flag is one that I have never seen before, either.