Bill Dienna

Gentlemen: I recently came into possession of a number of pieces of militaria, only some of which I plan to keep. I'm trying to obtain information about those other items that are outside my areas of knowledge before I do anything with them. So here I am with this piece to ask for your help. First, have I described it correctly as the sash of the degree of Knight Grand Cross? The badge and sash are definitely older, but I'm wondering if there is any way to determine when this piece might date from? The badge is bronze gilt, with the gilt having become either worn or having toned to a dark color. As I measure the badge with a tape measure, it is about 5.1 cm long by 4.6 cm wide. I can find no maker mark on it at all, but it has beautiful detail in all respects. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, Chris, I'm sure that it is a non-Soviet but, presumably, eastern bloc decoration, given it's place as last in line after all of the Soviet awards. I was hoping that someone might recognize it. I'm at a loss. I thought that the red/white aspects of the ribbon might indicate Poland, but I haven't found it on any chart of Polish awards.

Can anyone help me out with an identification of the bottom ribbon in this set? Many thanks!

The full size badge is on the bottom, the smaller version on top. Unfortunately the photo was primarily focused on the larger badge, so the smaller version does not show up as well, but it has splendid detail. The screw plate on the reverse of the smaller badge is, I believe, "Riga" marked.

Yes, I will be happy to post photos of it next to the larger style. It may take me a few days, but I will do it.

Very nice ! Thank you for posting the award document. I recently acquired the smaller example of the Latvian badge to go with my full-size example. Both were produced in Latvia. There was also an example of the larger size badge that was produced in Russia.

I would love to see it, if you wouldn't mind posting it. The Estonian badge was numbered, unlike the Latvian badge. I presume that the Estonian award document has the number of the badge recorded? Thank you, pluribus !

I have seen the Latvian badge and the Estonian badge from time to time. Does anyone know if there were specific award documents for these badges?

Alfred.... Thank you very much ! I appreciate it. I am familiar with that badge. I just had no idea that it was something more than a commemorative piece, and I was unaware that it's receipt was reflected by veterans on their ribbon bars. Thank you again!

Alfred's post above answered a question that I had regarding a ribbon set that I have, specifically, why there appeared to be two "Victory Over Germany" ribbons in the set? Was there actually a medal for the 25th anniversary of the victory over Germany? I don't recall ever seeing such a medal. Can anyone post a pic? Thanks !

Sorry. I did a search on the Forum and found the answer.

Gentlemen... My thanks for your thoughts and opinions. I have been able to determine, through the kind assistance of other collectors, that the badge that I posted was indeed a rather poor copy of a legitimate award. It has since been dispatched to a landfill.

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I just acquired a small grouping of PRC medals and badges, shown in the first photo. I am presuming that the badge with the enameled Chinese flag behind the soldier is a fake. This is because, knowing little about Chinese material except what I have found here and on one or two other sites, I have just developed the belief that the Chinese awards that look like they were created from Hershey chocolate bars, such as this badge, are copies. But I have no real knowledge, as I say. Even assuming it's a fake, can anyone tell me what it is a fake of? In other words, what was an original example of the badge meant to recognize. Since it is dated "1950" on the reverse I'm guessing it had something to do with the Korean War. The other thing, and I don't know if my photos will reflect this, is that the badge seems very nicely struck with crisp details. Thank you, guys, for any help!

Last night I received my copy of the new book on the awards of the DPRK by Sessler and McDaniel. This is a really extraordinary volume! In my opinion it surpasses the volume by McDaniel and Schmitt on soviet awards, if for no other reason than because obtaining information on the DPRK awards was undoubtedly infinitely more difficult. In fact, my only disappointment with the book was the fact that I think the story of its compilation would have been a fascinating addendum. Mr. Sessler was a decorated combat veteran of the Korean War who was evidently welcomed into North Korea in the 1990's to work on the book. The photography is superb, the information is invaluable. What was perhaps most interesting to me was the fact that the authors assigned a "rarity rating" to the orders and medals just as had been done in the Soviet awards book. And while I did not examine every single entry in the book (yet!), it seemed to me that the vast majority of the ratings were either "1" (common) or "5" (very rare); there didn't seem to be too many in that middle area!

That is a beautiful example, Rick, in a superb case ! I have a DPRK medal in a similar box, though mine is red with a metal DPRK crest on the lid. But mine also has a recessed red compartment for the award. In light of the vast difference between the boxes such as the one in your photo, and the standard plastic "soap container" case we normally see, I would think that the nicely boxed examples might represent awards made to foreigners. Photographs of DPRK awards that I have seen that were given to non-Koreans have always been shown in a very nice cases such as yours. And there definitely seems to be something scratched on to the number line, but to me it actually looks like a number (for example, the figure on the viewer's right looks like a "5" to me). Just a super piece, Rick!

Unfortunately, the contrast of the ink entries demonstrates the presumed danger of a former Peoples Army member disposing of his awards. The book has had its Order Book number removed. The name of the recipient has been altered. The year and date of birth have been changed and, in doing so, a birth date of "1952" was created. Considering that the first award of the National Flag was made in 1962, we either have a date alteration or a child prodigy. And the place of birth was also modified. Disappointing, but I suppose understandable in light of the regime under which this individual lived.

I acquired this grouping based upon its description as a "Complete group with documentation", and that may be an accurate description. It is a set of four Orders of the National Flag, one second class and three third class, bestowed upon a man who was a member of the Korean Peoples Army. Like the vast majority of DPRK Orders that I have seen, the Orders themselves are unnumbered, and there is therefore no corresponding number for the Order filled in the Order book.

Reverse...

A couple more: The Order of March 5, and the Order of Capital Construction.

My method of displaying some of my DPRK Orders and Red Flag Company awards: On the Tunic of a DPRK officer. Quite obviously he is young, as a Lieutenant, to have received such an array of awards...except that in north Korea, sons in the military are authorized to wear the awards received by their fathers! (The Hero star is a copy!)

And a few loose MVD items...A large duty badge; proficiency wings; belt buckle used by the militia with the seal of the Soviet Union; and a really nice silken award banner to the best criminal investigator, awarded in Riga, Latvia. The MVD "egg" is directly embroidered onto the pennant.

Recently I've become particularly interested in the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I herewith present a couple of photos of a few items that have been acquired... MVD career Militia NCO uniform (the breeches are in a closet), with long service medals; MVD proficiency "wing", 1st class; the badge for MVD participation in the Chernobyl cleanup operation; and the distinctive dress belt of the militia. The tie is original as well.

The reverse...the badge is much nicer on person. In fact, it was much nicer on the monitor at home. I think I need a new monitor here, 'cause all the scans look too dark!