Christophe

Ed, That's possible, but as a project, the Order of Stalin (1951 version) had - as far as we can understand and imagine, from the project and therefore the absence of regulations and policy of awarding - much more ambition than the Order for Service to the Motherland (even 1st Class)... Cheers. Ch.

Bravo Bryan !!! We have a winner!!! It is the Order of Stalin. But it did not exactly become the Umalatova one. It simply did not come to existence, except a few prototypes, as Stalin death (1953) and the denounciation of the cult of personality by Krutschev (1956) put an end to this project. Umalatova, then and more recently, claimed a paternity, but... that's another story... Here is what is said on this project in the book "Ordena CCCP" (Soviet Orders) by Anatoly Kutsenko. Aspekt - 1994. Pages 243-248 : "THE ORDER OF STALIN (PROJECT) A special page in the history of the USSR orders is the unsuccessful attempt to institute the Order of Stalin. Institution of this reward was regarded by the closest encirclement of the father and the teacher as a natural thing and the aim to glorify his name even more. The spade work of creating the new order began on April, 1951. The Government Commission created especially for this purpose was headed by N. SHVERNIC who was the Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet at that time. The Commission worked out the technical quota which was handed over for the execution to the leaders of the Leningrad Mint. The creative group, charged with creation of the project of the Order of Stalin, consisted of the most experienced people of the Mint. The artists N. Sokolov and A. Plastinin, the engraver A.Kozlov were not only to prepare different variants of the Order insignia but also to embody the image of the generalissimo of the Soviet Union in metal. The order of Stalin was supposed to take the place of the highest military award in the USSR rewarding system, substituting the Order of Victory during peace time. With that the project of the Statute of the Order of Stalin did not exempt the possibility of awarding this Order to the big leaders of the national economy. The creative group worked for about 4 months. At last ready samples of the Order were transported to Moscow. The director of the Mint P. Pirogov presented the new reward to J. Stalin himself. He liked the Order. As Pirogov recollected later, Stalin said: "Don't produce it now, and when I die - its up to you". According to A. Kozlov, there were made several samples of the Order of Stalin all in all. They differed from each other only by there base relief of the leader. The samples of the award were made of gilded bronze. After Stalins death on March 5 1953, the nortex of inner-Kremlin life events overwhelmed the Generalissimos associates. Fight for power, intrigues-they didn't care for the Order, it was simply forgotten. The report by N. Khrushchev on the closest meeting of the XX-th CPSU Congress "On the cult of personality and its consequences" finally put the end to the project of this reward." Bryan, Your turn, now!! Cheers. Ch.

Thanks Stephen!!! Will do it!! Cheers. Ch.

Hi Jan, That's correct. These are for example, the Croix made in London, or the Croix de Giraud (North Africa). That's exactly what I meant in saying : "And for the French ones, in which countries (outside the former French Colonial Empire, and the UK during WW2) ?" We agree. Cheers. Ch.

Libya would be surprising... Lebanon maybe? (when it was part of the French Colonial Empire)... Let's wait for what Jan will have to say... Ch.

Hi again Dolf, Very interesting points. I did not know that... For the Portuguese awards, which ones have been produced in France? And for the French ones, in which countries (outside the former French Colonial Empire, and the UK during WW2) ? Cheers. Ch.

I have found this about this laundry... "In Dublin, Ireland, a laundry company known as the Swastika Laundry existed for many years in Ballsbridge on the south side of the city. The company's fleet of electric delivery vans were red, and featured a black swastika on a white background. The business started in the early 20th century and continued up until recent times. The name and logo eventually disappeared when the laundry was absorbed into the Spring Grove company." Ch.

OK, my turn. Let's try an easy one : On April, 1951, a special Soviet governmental Commission has been instituted for the purpose of creating an Order. This Order was supposed to take the place of the highest military award in the USSR rewarding system, substituting the Order of Victory during peace time. Which Order is it? What did this project become? Good hunt!!! Cheers. Ch.

Hi Dolf, These orders are really very nice. I understand why, sometimes, you may be tempted by acquiring one of those; they are pure work of craftmanship!! Congrats!! BTW, it is interesting to notice how close are the Portuguese and French Crosses of WW1. The shape is obviously different, but the ribbon and the style are very similar!! Cheers. Ch.

Close-up pic of the ribbon bar. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

October 1947. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up pic of the ribbon bar. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

October 1947. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up pic of the ribbon bar. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

May 1950. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up pic. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Monty receiving the US Legion of Merit. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Ribbon bar - January 1944. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Ed, Ha, ha!! I certainly agree with you!! If you find it, please let me know!! As you know, this Order of Victory is really fascinating to me!!! Cheers. Ch. PS : Ed, Last week, I have visited quite extensively (several nights) the 1911 bar... I have pics to post, and will make a thread dedicated to it...

Close-up pic of the ribbon bar. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

February 1944. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up pic of the ribbon bar. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Poster. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Poster (1943). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Pic of 1967 (El Alamein). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection