Ed_Haynes

And, if you have the right fonts and the right language skills (I don't), see: http://www.afghanwar.spb.ru/

On our interesting Colonel Shubin, see: http://www.specialoperations.com/mout/soviet5.html

A teeny image (expanded a bit) of Varennikov.

See also: http://informacia.ru/facts/varennikov-facts.htm

I will agree that researching military awards is much easier than civil awards, and if that were (as I think it is in Dave's case) the sole reason for a pro-military awards bias, I could (and do) understand it completely. Some limited, sporadic, research is possible on (some) labor awards, but it is largely newspaper-based at present, and follows much more a "who is/was this person" approach. This is much more difficult research task than pulling service records and decoration recommendations (not to belittle that as a research task, though!). Maybe, someday, records will be available for labor research with the same ease and the same depth that military awards now enjoy. Maybe, maybe not.

I still throw out the question: Which was or greater relevance to the success of the Soviet Union, being the random first man to cross some river in central Poland or working for decades to increase food production to feed the people? Maybe one makes a sexier, more cinematic story, one that resonates for those who are themselves military veterans and never worked on a farm, but which was more important? And, moreover, which tells us more about the values and nature of Soviet State and society?

Found a color version of Christian's photo.

And an interesting (though tiny ) picture:

I have edited the awards roll at the beginning to reflect our revisions.

But, unusually, a poster of Lebed does a good job in capturing his medals (and, maybe, his personality and agenda ):

I would agree. Obviously, the Americans who translated and made available these materials were more interested in tactics and equipment than in medals. Silly people.

Lebed is a good poster child for this, especially in his deviant approach to wearing his Afghan "International Warrior" medal on a Soviet five-sided suspension. Though quite clear in you photo, Christian, it is not too visible in this photo, but:

A footnote.

Her name is Dary.

Doing well and, in the words of her proud father: "She is getting cuter and cuter."

Now, these are actually pretty nice I must admit

Yes, though they scanned quite oddly. That deep green didn't work well with the scanner. They're so nice I'll try again . . . .

OK, Eric, let me know if you need more data points.

The only officer grade eligible for a Glory 3 is a Jr. Lt. certainly not a Lt Colonel.

Doc

Yes, and I doubt he made it that high.

There is the Afghan Order of Glory, similar to (maybe?) Lenin. (Hard parallel to make here.)

(Need to get that one up in my "my collection" thread on Afghan awards.)

The original source (a US Army translation of a Soviet original) said this, but . . . .

Order of Glory confered to a Lt.-Col. in Afghanistan?

Ed,

how should it be possible, that a Lt.-Col. Shubin gets a Glory 3cl? That's a pure NCO award .

Might be an error in the transcription or in the records.

Best regards

Christian

Yes, I had noted that. Who knows. Maybe something Afghan where neither the Soviets nor the Americans could figure it out?

Also, glance at: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9427

A medal being awarded (though we can't see what it is ):

The thing that suprises me is that you would be willing to pay a lot of money for Afgan Award, but not for a Rare Labour award

Or I am just biased towards labour awards

Order of Victory

I'd pay lots for both OoV, but you know how I feel about labor awards -- they are NASSSSSTY -- no one wants anything to do with them (lemme have 'em all! ).

Maybe, Dave, maybe.

But, back on topic, have you glanced at the thread I put up on Soviet awards in Afghanistan? What do you know about the recipient who is listed in published contemporary sources as having received an Order of Glory in Afghanistan. Yes, they might have been wrong. Anyone can be wrong.

Acutally, if it was issued for actions in Afghanistan, I would be willing to pay up to 10x his asking price for it.

Dave

As would I.

Right. The basic rule of economics: Something is worth only what some damn fool will pay for it on any given day. Period.

Igor (to his credit) seems to be able to hold high-end stock over a long period, awaiting a deep-pocketed buyer (from the Old Country?).

Fascinating stuff!

What is the size of that first lovely Turkish document you posted?

I must admit that I am immensely confused by the border guard badges (E01-E06). I shall devote much of this afternoon squinting at mine to try to make coherent sense of them, to try to find the characteristics that separate one type from another, and shall, finally, make an effort at a newly revised post-Battushig typology. Frankly, this is pretty arcane stuff for my puny brain. I need all the help I can get. HELP?????

A recently arrived Distinguished Border Guard type 1 (E 01), number 8.

I wonder whose it was?

Nasty scan, sorry.

Ed,

No problem. We're here to help one another.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Yes, and thanks. Still interested as to what your source is for this number?

To all:

Ed is a somewhat off. The actual number of Orders of Glory 1st Class awarded is in the 2,500-2,600 range. Whereas Order of Glory 1st Class with serial number 3743 may have been the highest recorded serial number for an awarded Order of Glory 1st Class, the actual number of Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory is in the 2,500 to 2,600 range.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Thanks, S1C, I can work only from available sources. In any case, my point stands.