Eric Schena

Hi Bob: That's a great example of a Pr?wema "N?n? Heroine" badge. Is that one in your collection now? Cheers, Eric

Hi Ed: While I don't have much to add constructively, I would like to say thank you very much for showing these medals. As a kindred spirit in the realm of "studying the unstudied", I can share in your enthusiasm for these obscure medals. I still have one Afghan decoration from the Barakzai period that I have absolutely no clue what it is. Cheers, Eric

Hi Bob: Great document - I need to get some award documents for my collection. If you ever pass up on any, send them my way The text on the right-hand side is the same for every award document for this decoration and says for what it was awarded. I'll get a rough translation of it as soon as I can. The left-hand section reads: Party of Labor of AlbaniaCentral Committee Awards to [recipient name] The Order "40 Years of the PPSh" Tiran?, the [date] and the rubber stamp seal of the Central Committee is stamped over: Central Committeeof The Party of Labor of Albania The award was apparently given out to long-time party members and from my understanding was supposedly only to those members who were in it for 40 or so years. I've not been able to corroborate that since I have not located the original award statute (which would have been an amendment to Law 6133. An interesting aside: The building represented on the cover is where the PPSH got its start in November 1941. Naturally, it became a party shrine after they took power. I've also seen pictures of Hoxha's tobacco shop, Flora, which may be the same building. Cheers, Eric

Hi all: I hope this is ok, but here's a link to a small Bulgarian group I posted some time back in the Researched Groups forum: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3266 Still one of my favorite groups. Cheers, Eric

Hi all: The Hungarian thread prompted me to look for other threads on the lesser collected Eastern Bloc nations and Czech decorations have always been a favorite of mine despite being so very hard to locate here. The best site I have found on them is: http://www.vyznamenani.net/ Here's an example of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, 1955-1960 type (the lion still has a crown on its head and a cross in the shield - in 1960, these were removed). I have to say that I have always been highly impressed with the quality of Czech decorations - extraordinary high quality, though you would not know if from my scan). Cheers, Eric

Hi all: Great stuff here! I love seeing all of these awards. I have a very small collection of Hungarian awards as part of my never-ending goal of getting a representative collection of Eastern Bloc decorations. I'll post them here when I have a chance. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a reference book on socialist era awards? I've seen some discussion of varieties as well as award numbers and would love to find some good reference books. Thanks! Cheers, Eric

Hi Christophe: Thank you very much for these great photos! I have always had a soft spot for Portuguese orders. The decoration that got me into phaleristics was in fact a collar to the Order of St. James of the Sword that I saw when I was in college. I eventually bought it and even got a grand cross sash, badge, and star to the order. While my interests are still mostly in Eastern Bloc material, there's just something about Portuguese decorations that captivates me. Cheers, Eric

I have found some information on current Albanian orders and decorations but have not seen any good pics of the current decorations. I have, however, seen a picture of Gen. Clark wearing his Skanderbeg in a photo history of the Albanian military printed a year or two ago and it is most assuredly not the communist one pictured on that website. It actually looks like the Italian/Zogist era officer pinback decoration. What few pics I have seen of some of the Albanian medals show that they have abandoned the Yugoslav style kolodka in favor of the British style straight ribbon. The website of the President's office does have some info in Albanian about the new orders system, but for some reason the site appears to be down. In any event, if you can read Shqip, here's the text of the law that did away with the old communist decorations: L I G J Nr.8113, dat? 28.3.1996 P?R DEKORATAT N? REPUBLIK?N E SHQIP?RIS? N? mb?shtetje t? neneve 16 e 28 t? ligjit nr.7491, dat? 29.4.1991 ?P?r dispozitat kryesore kushtetuese?, me propozimin e Presidentit t? Republik?s KUVENDI POPULLOR I REPUBLIK?S S? SHQIP?RIS? V E N D O S I: KREU I DISPOZITA T? P?RGJITHSHME Neni 1 Dekoratat e nderit u jepen shtetasve shqiptar? ose t? huaj, q? shquhen p?r merita t? ve?anta ndaj Republik?s s? Shqip?ris? dhe interesave komb?tare. Neni 2 Dekoratat jepen nga Presidenti i Republik?s. Neni 3 Presidenti i Republik?s jep k?to dekorata: 1. Urdhri i Flamurit Komb?tar 2. Urdhri "Gjergj Kastrioti Sk?nderbeu" 3. Urdhri "Nderi i Kombit" 4. Urdhri "Mjesht?r i Madh i Pun?s" 5. Urdhri "N?n? Tereza" 6. Urdhri "Naim Frash?ri" 7. Medalja e Art? e Shqiponj?s 8. Medalja "Martir i Demokracis?" 9. Medalja "Pishtar i Demokracis?" 10. Medalja "P?r Sh?rbime Ushtarake" Neni 4 P?rshkrimi i dekoratave, rregullat dhe procedurat p?r propozimet dhe shqyrtimin e tyre caktohen nga Presidenti i Republik?s. KREU II MOTIVACIONET DHE KUSHTET E DH?NIES S? DEKORATAVE Neni 5 Urdhri i Flamurit Komb?tar U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj p?r merita t? jasht?zakonshme p?r lartimin e kombit shqiptar dhe t? Shqip?ris?. Ky urdh?r do t? jet? i art?. Neni 6 Urdhri "Gjergj Kastrioti Sk?nderbeu" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj p?r ndihmes? t? qen?sishme ose akte t? ve?anta heroike n? mbrojtjen, forcimin e p?rparimin e Republik?s s? Shqip?ris?. Ky urdh?r do t? jet? i art?. Neni 7 Urdhri "Nderi i Kombit" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? q? me veprat dhe emrin e tyre nderojn? kombin shqiptar brenda dhe jasht? vendit. Ky urdh?r do t? jet? i art?. Neni 8 Urdhri "Mjesht?r i Madh i Pun?s" U jepet punonj?sve t? fushave t? ndryshme t? shkenc?s, artit, sportit, drejtimit, prodhimit dhe biznesit p?r pun? t? shquara. Ky urdh?r do t? jet? i art?. Neni 9 Urdhri "N?n? Tereza" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj p?r akte t? shquara humanizmi ndaj kombit shqiptar dhe njer?zimit. Ky urdh?r do t? jet? i art?. Neni 10 Urdhri "Naim Frash?ri" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj, punonj?sve t? shkenc?s, artit, kultur?s dhe arsimit p?r vepra dhe veprimtari t? ?muara. Ky urdh?r do t? jet? i art? dhe i argjendt?. Neni 11 Medalja e Art? e Shqiponj?s U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj p?r trim?ri n? luft?n e armatosur dhe p?r veprimtari ose akte t? guximit qytetar n? koh? paqeje. Kjo medalje do t? jet? e art?. Neni 12 Medalja "Martir i Demokracis?" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj, q? jan? martirizuar p?r veprimtarin? e tyre t? shquar p?r lirin?, demokracin? dhe p?rparimin shoq?ror t? Shqip?ris? dhe t? kombit shqiptar. Kjo medalje do t? jet? e art?. Neni 13 Medalja "Pishtar i Demokracis?" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj p?r sh?rbime t? shquara e sakrifica t? kryera p?r kombin shqiptar dhe demokracin?. Kjo medalje do t? jet? e art?. Neni 14 Medalja "P?r Sh?rbime Ushtarake" U jepet qytetar?ve shqiptar? dhe t? huaj p?r merita t? ve?anta n? sh?rbimin ushtarak n? Shqip?ri. Kjo medalje do t? jet? e art?. KREU III DISPOZITA T? FUNDIT Neni 15 Dh?nia e dekoratave mund t? shoq?rohet me nj? shp?rblim n? t? holla, sipas kritereve q? do t? caktoj? K?shilli i Ministrave. Neni 16 Dekoratat e dh?na deri n? hyrjen n? fuqi t? k?tij ligji do t? njihen. Neni 17 Ligji nr.6133, dat? 12.2.1980, si dhe ?do dispozit? tjet?r q? ka t? b?j? me k?t? ligj shfuqizohet. Neni 18 Ky ligj hyn n? fuqi menj?her?. Shpallur me dekretin nr.1439, dat? 2.4.1996 t? Presidentit t? Republik?s s? Shqip?ris?, Sali Berisha

As promised, here's the award document and medal. The document is in the normal Polish hard red booklet and is dated 27 July 1983 (if I got my Polish months correct) - the medal was established in 1981. Cheers, Eric

Hi Soviet: That's the 64,000 Lek question. The market for communist Albanian medals is, to be charitable, very young and very limited in scope. The prices I have seen have ranged from the dirt cheap to out of control crazy (I've seen Skanderbegs range from 2 Euros to $300). I've tended to stay away from trying to "price guide" Albanian medals because of this flux, plus it seems lately the availability has increased somewhat the past two years or so. I think prices may start to settle down a little once all the "big" collectors of Albanian material get what they need for their collections. I know, not the answer you were hoping for, but had to be honest Cheers, Eric

Hi Bob: I saw that and in looking at it a little closer, I just think it's an unfinished example (probably a manufacturer's reject based on that huge crack visible from the reverse). It's neat to see because it demonstrates a little of the manufacturing process, but it's definitely not a pattern or unlisted variety. I have seen at least one other unfinished Albanian medal - a Title "Artist of the People", so I guess these do turn up every once in a while. Cheers, Eric

Hi Dan: Thanks for the comments. I'll post the rest of this group hopefully tonight. Interestingly, the medal is on the wrong ribbon (it's on the one for the 40th anniversary of the PRL), but still a very neat group and I am really happy I got it, esp. with that passbook, which puts some context to this gentleman's service in the War (as soon as I can get it translated ). Cheers, Eric

Last but not least, here's page 8 with the rest of section IV. If anyone is interested in seeing the award document, let me know and I'll post it. Cheers, Eric

Here's pages 6 and 7. Here's where I would love some assistance with translation since I believe this his encapsulated service career...

Here's his photograph and page 5 (3/4 are missing which I am sure contained some of his basic biographical details)...

Here's the inside cover. This is a very fragile book...

Hi all: Today I got a great little Polish group in the mail. I got a 1939 War Medal with the award document from 1983 to Stefan Jasin'ski. With it also came a military service passbook from 1953 that I would like to share. Unfortunately, it appears to be missing pages 3 and 4, but at least the gentleman's photgraph is there, as well as what I take to be his service record in section IV (see below). While I can muddle my way through Russian, Bulgarian and Albanian, Polish is not in my repertoire sadly. I can probably figure out much of the printed Polish, however, I would love to know what some of the handwritten portions say (especially that in section IV, pages 7 and 8). If anyone who knows Polish is feeling kind to help me, I would be most appreciative. I would like to make sure this gentleman's record is preserved in some fashion. Here's the cover...

Hi Bob: I could not independently verify any of those supposed award numbers nor can I find any solid governmental source with any good numbers. In addition, many of the awards we are seeing coming out of the Balkans appear to have come from unawarded stocks left over in the Office of the President after the awards were completely swept away in 1996, so that also adds another vairable into the equation. Since I could not trust those numbers, I decided to remove them from the (infinitely better but still not quite "there") second edition. My advice at this point is to completely disregard those numbers in the 1st edition. Cheers, Eric

Hi all: Czechoslovakia had the Order of Klement Gottwald - for Construction of the Socialist Homeland (Ř?d Klementa Gottwalda ? Za Budov?n? Socialistick? Vlasti), which could possibly be included as an equivalent to the Order of Lenin. Good luck finding one - they are rarer than hen's teeth. Heck, most Czech orders are tough to locate. Cheers, Eric

Hi all: Just thought I'd add some clarification on the flags for Dolf: Post 29: those three flags are actually the ensigns for the three branches of the Soviet military (from l. to r.: Air Force, Army, Navy) Post 32: That's the flag for North Korea Post 34: That's the Czech flag Post 35: That's the Romanian flag Hope that helps! Cheers, Eric

Hi Bob: Nice set! I have noticed that reverse die "flaw" on other Pr?wema made examples of this order, and you are definitely correct to say it's a good diagnostic. I have seen some of these with IKOM screwplates and sold as IKOM versions, but the quality and that mark on the back is a telltale sign that the screwplate is not original. Hi Soviet: I've always been interested in the less well traveled collecting paths (I have a rather large collection of medieval Russian "wire" coins that for most are usually seen as mere novelties, plus other obscure stuff). Going down well-trod paths does not lend itself to adventure or the possibility of the thrill of discovery. I have also had a very long interest in communist decorations and history, so I have been trying to put together a decent representative collection of Eastern Bloc decorations. When Soviet medals got too expensive for me - I have not bought a Soviet decoration in over 10 years save for a Victory over Germany medal to a Bulgarian - I went to other less expensive but no less historically interesting Eastern Bloc nations, but ran into the brick wall that is Albania. Finally, a couple of years ago, someone was offering a couple of Albanian medals (an Order "Red Star" and a Bravery Medal) and immediately got them. Then I started to try to research these things to find out any kind of info on them. That's when I found out there was next to nothing on them in the usual literature and what was there was wildly contradictory (look at the thread on the Order "Red Star" below for an example of that), plus they were only collected as curiosities of a bizarre Stalinist holdout and not treated in any scholarly manner. It also didn't help that until the collapse of communism in 1992, Albania refused to release any info on their honors at all. So, I started collecting info even more voraciously than the medals themselves to get to the bottom of it. That info collection formed the basis for my modest monograph on them. In addition, I strongly recommend reading up on Albanian history, in particular 20th century history and you'll rapidly find out how tortured that poor nation has been through its history, the wild characters (Zog and Hoxha in particular), the weird events, all sorts of stuff that is sadly neglected in the West. Many might find the challenge daunting but I have found it immensely rewarding and a whole lot of fun! My only hope is that somehow my little book helps to right some misconceptions about their decorations and in some cases (particularly the WW II medals) shed some light on the sacrifices that nation has had to make through its history. Sorry for the long winded explanation Cheers, Eric

Hi Bob: The spots stickpin was actually made in Czechoslovakia, probably in the 1960's. I have wanted to get one of those, but since sports badges aren't really my thing, I have not exactly been gung-ho about it. That said, real nice to see the back of one. The other badge is actually not the 15th anniversary of the army but rather the 15th anniversary of Albania's liberation/overthrow of the nationalist Balli Komb?tar government on 29 November (29 N?ndor) 1944. The creation of the army is based against the creation of the General Staff of the National Liberation Army in June 1943. Below is a rather grainy shot of the Army badge. All in all, great finds, Bob! Cheers, Eric

I just got in a Soviet made Yugoslav Order of Bravery with a suspension type that exactly matches one of the two Albanian Medals of Bravery I have in my collection. I strongly suspect Gerd's comparison above with the Medal of Bravery does indeed point to two makers: the USSR and IKOM in Zagreb. There is a NarKomFin receipt for metals used dated July 1945 that says it made several thousand bronze decorations for Albania, so I suspect that many of these Medals of Bravery as well as the Medal of Liberation may be Soviet in origin. I am going to do a little more digging and comparisons. If anyone has some other Medals of Bravery, please show them here

What a great chonology - thanks for putting this together. In post 5 (Choibalsan speaks his mind from the podium), it looks like he is wearing the ORBMV at the top left and the USSR ORB at the top right, but I could be wrong. Can't reall decypher the other three though. Off topic but somewhat related side note: I always thought Mako would have made a great Choibalsan if a movie were ever made of something like Khalkhin Gol. Unfortunately Mako died recently, which is quite a shame, I really enjoyed his work.

Here's the inside of the document: