Christophe

Let's try... 1. He is Robert Philip Hanssen, a top-level FBI agent responsible for counterintelligence in the US, who spied for the Russians from 1979 until his arrest in February 2001. He told the Soviets about four of their own intelligence staff who were spying for the US, interfered with the investigation of a Soviet spy in the US State Department, and gave the Communists ?the plan of a program for the continuity of government in case of a Soviet nuclear attack and planned defense and retaliation.? A biographer calls him ?the most damaging spy in history.? For his efforts, the KGB (and its successor agency, the FSB) gave Hanssen $1.4 million in cash and diamonds. 2. Hanssen was a devoted member of Opus Dei. When his wife confronted him in 1982 after she caught him in the basement counting out $20,000 in $100 bills, she made him confess to an Opus Dei priest ? Fr. Robert Bucciarelli, the former head of Opus Dei in the US. The priest told Hanssen to give the $20,000 that he had thus far received to Mother Teresa?s charities. Robert Bucciarelli made the connection. Ch.

When I said I am "temporarily" leading the Quiz alongside Christian; I was not wrong.... Congratulations for your new victory, Christian!!!!! Cheers. Ch.

Hi Doc, Happy you like it. But, in any case, please, feel free to participate; all questions are not so "cryptic", even if some are , and soe are really easy to answer. As said the barron Pierre de Coubertin : "the most important is to participate, not to win". And I would add, LEARN... in a pleasant manner, thanks to all of us. Cheers. Ch.

Hi Auke, This is perfectly answered!!! You got all three answers!! Congratulations again!!! Your turn, now... Cheers. Ch.

Hi again Auke, You perfectly answered question 1, but unperfectly to question 2. They have not all been awarded the Order of Victory at least once... You're very close, just a small correction to make and you will be there... Cheers. Ch.

Question #223 The pic below, taken beginning of 1945, shows 10 of the most important commanders of the Soviet armies. 1. Can you identify all of them (10) ? 8 of them have a common point in terms of orders and medals. 2. What is this common point ? 3. Who are the 2 commanders not concerned by this common point ? The winner will be the first Member correctly answering the 3 questions. Good hunt and good luck. Cheers. Ch.

Yaoooooouh !!! My 41st victory!!!! Thanks Auke!! Now that I am on an (temporary) equal foot with Christian, our Super Super Champion, Meanwhile, here are a few stats : Quiz 2009 : * 2 questions asked, * with 25 answers, * and viewed more than 115 times good beginning for a 3 days old Quiz !!!). Nb of good answers for the Quiz 2009 : * 1 : Auke (Ferdinand) & Christophe Complete statistics since this Quiz has been launched (on 1 Nov. 2005) : * 222 questions asked, * with 2,801 answers, * This quiz has been viewed more than 31,200 times. * 44 Members of the Forum played, and 32 correctly answered at least 1 question : Nb of good answers : * 41 : Christian (Zulus) & Christophe * 17 : Frank (Knarf) * 13 : Jim (JimZ) * 11 : Bryan (Soviet) & Marc (Lapa) * 10 : Auke (Ferdinand) & Dan (Hauptman) * 8 : Simon (Red Threat) * 6 : Belaruski, Carol I & Ed (Haynes) * 5 : Wild Card. * 3 : Alex (RedMaestro), Andreas (Alfred), Ivan (Piramida), Kim (Kimj) & Marco (marcotk). * 2 : Chuck (in Oregon), Gerd (Becker), Jan (vatjan) & Order of Victory. * 1 : Brendan (ANZAC), Charles (Hunyadi), Darrell, Daredevil, Dave (Navy FCO), Dudeman, Eddie (Taz), Filip (Drugo), Rick (Stogieman) & Steen (Ammentorp). This is a great achievement. Thanks to all for your participation in this Quiz. Now, let's play for the 223rd question, mine !! Cheers. Ch.

Welcome back, Chrsitian. Let's see what Auke will say... If I win this one, we will be at the same level : 41 victories each !!! Cheers. Ch.

I think we are talking about Marshal Sergei Sergeyevich Varentsov (August 10th, 1901 (Dmitrov/Moscow Oblast, Russia) - March 1st, 1971 (Moscow, Soviet Union) He got his HSU (SN 6578) on May 29th, 1945, and has been revoked on 12 March 1963 for helping Colonel O.A. Penkovsky with espionage actions. Ch.

Hi Auke, Could he be the former KGB- and GRU-chief Ivan Alesandrovich Serov ? This happened and was linked to the case of the GRU-Colonel Oleg Vladimirovich Penkovski, a friend of Serov.Penkovski had been a spy for the NATO inside the GRU and delivered fruitful informations for the West during Berlin-crisis (1961) and Cuba-crisis (1962). He was shot after the trail 1963 in Moscow. A I wrong ? Ch.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have our first winner of rthe Quiz 2009!!!!!! Congrats to Auke (Ferdinand)!!! Well done!!! Your turn, now. Cheers. Ch.

Hi Rick, I believe it is the Order of the 17th May (not July... ). Cheers. Ch.

Hi Alex and Auke, You are very very close, but he is not Nikitchenko, and Auke remarks about his rank are valid... You are so close that I'm not sure I can help you more. Let's jus throw a final hint : "Katyn"... Good hunt and good luck. This challenge should not last vry long now. And, below is a pic of Nikitchenko. Cheers. Ch.

Thanks Ed, This is an interesting and useful photo, as it allows to see that the Foreigners version has the text centered, with, as a consequence, the star far above the stars of the two other types. This should help to detect fakes of 3rd type (Foreigners) made from the 2 first types, with their text above the hammer & sickle simply erased... Thanks again. Cheers. Ch.

Hi Darrell, Tough decision. A difficult one to take, and only you can take it. I agree with Rick that, except if the corresponding money is absolutely needed, I would not sell it. About timing : who knows what tomorrow will be ? Will Soviet orders prices increase or not ? They seem to slightly decrease nowadays; but... Cheers. Ch.

Here is our man, in action. This should help... Cheers. Ch.

Hi Auke, All this is very good reasoning and thinking, but he is not Vavilov... Your way of adressing the question is the right one, but you did not find the right guy. Just keep in minf (and that's a hint) that the task I am thinking about is very close to the end of the war, in terms of date. Keep searching, you will find!!!! Cheers. Ch.

You're right in your first guess : he is Lieutenant-General of Legal Service (Justice), but he is not Zeidin. Good try!! You're on the right track!! Cheers. Ch.

Hi Doc, welcome to the Quiz!!!! If you succeed in identifying the shoulderboards, that should be easy... ID them, and think about a specific task post war... Cheers. Ch.

Hi to all Members and Happy New Year !!!! There is a new question in the Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2009, our new Quiz... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33082&hl= Please, don't be too shy, don't hesitate to try answering and participate !!!! See you soon on the Quiz 2009!!! Cheers. Ch.

No try ? I thought these shoulder-boards of inspiration... Cheers. Ch.

Only 52 surviving Companions of the Liberation. On 31 March 2009 died Jacques Maillet, Companion of the Lib?ration. Jacques Maillet, born in 1913, was a Member of Staff of the Air Ministry in 1940. As soon as 1941, he joined the secrets services of the Free Frenchs, and led several intelligence missions. Obliged to evaded from France, through Spain, he will come back in France in 1943, where he had the mission to prepare the economic situation of the post-war period. He will conduct several missions linked to the future organisation of France after the war. From 1944 to 1948, he will have important functions in the Ministry of Labour. After the war, he will be have several industrial management and direction responsibilities in the French aerospace environment. Here is his bio (in French) : http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/627.html After his death, there are now only 52 surviving Companions of the Liberation. Ch. Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Lib?ration.

Only 53 surviving Companions of the Liberation. On 19 December 2008 died Robert Saunal, Companion of the Lib?ration. Robert Saunal, born in 1920, was a student in mathematics when he joined London in June 1940. And on 1st Jly 1940, he joins in the FFL (Forces Fran?aises Libres). In 1941, he will be in Levant, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. In 1942, he wil fight in Libya (Tobrouk, Bir Hakeim...), where he is wounded and captured in June 1942. He will be in a prisoner camp in Italy in 1943, from where he will escape and fight again in Italy. He will the land in France and will fight until the end of the war. After the war, he will be have several industrial management and direction responsibilities. Here is his bio (in French) : http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/897.html After his death, there are now only 53 surviving Companions of the Liberation. Ch. Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Lib?ration.

Ok, let's start... Question #221 Who am I ? I'm famous for a specific task I filled after the Great Patriotic War. During this task, I demonstrated a real hypocrisy. 3 questions : 1. Who am I ? 2. What was this task / mission ? 3. What was the hypocrisy about ? The first Member having answered correctly these 3 questions will be the winner. Good hunt and good luck. Ch.

Dear Members, It is now time to "close" this 2008 Edition of the Quiz, and to open a new one for 2009, the Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2009 !!!! You can find it here : http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33082&hl= Have fun !!!! Cheers. Ch. PS : Rick, please, could you "lock" this Quiz 2008 ? Many thanks in advance.