NavyFCO

I don't think they were intentional propaganda because most low soldier awards (Glory 3rd, Red Star, etc.) never even left the unit. Undoubtedly the majority of unit commanders knew what they're units were involved in with regard to combat (look at the number of commanders KIA during the war in front line combat) so there wasn't a need to inflate numbers to impress the chain of command. I personally think that there was a considerable amount of "inflation" of killed numbers simply because they were estimates and it was safer to estimate on the high side than on the low side (why lose credit for what casualties you MIGHT have inflicted?) I have always thought it interesting how, for example, an artillery unit could claim "up to one battalion of enemy soldiers were wiped out" when they obviously weren't out there counting the dead bodies, or for that matter, with artillery, many of their victims were either buried under rubble or unidentifiable parts and pieces so there was no way that they could know that they wiped out a battalion, or even a company for that matter. Even beyond that, even if they COULD count the number of Germans killed, was it a full strength company or battalion? Or was it half strength? They couldn't know the actual strength of the German unit, so they technically couldn't accept credit for wiping out an entire unit. All that said though, it was probably more accepted to put in a citation that they killed "up to a company of facists" than what they could possibly confirm by actual body count. Was it done for propaganda? No. Was it the most practical way of writing citations in a combat environment? Probably. Dave

It really depends on the collector. There are far fewer "deep pocket" collectors for KGB than there are for SS and/or Gestapo, and from those I've met, they are mostly "into" KGB cloth, rather than medal collecting. I do have a KGB order/medal group up on ePay at the moment... It's a sweet group, we'll see if it sells! Dave

Just added the rest of the citation to the translation above! WOW! Comments are (of course) welcome.

Yes, the capture/liberation awards were awarded under mass ukaz dated 9 June 1945. That's not when everyone physically received them, of course, but that's when they were authorized, thus the preprinted Ukaz date in the document for each. Hope that helps! Dave

Whenever I had a translator with me, I'd always try to stop the older looking gents on the metro in Moscow to ask them about their wartime experiences. I once met a fellow who had been a radio operator during the Finnish War. During an artillery barrage, he sustained a concussion and was knocked out. The next thing he knew, he had been buried alive, and he had to dig his way out past his deceased comrades. Apparently, this was damaging enough to where he told me he was immediately discharged and worked as a laborer in Moscow during the Patriotic War. Quite an interesting fellow! Not too often you get to meet people that had been buried alive and lived to tell about it. Dave

Yep. Table J4 (at least that's what they tell me at the moment!) I've got about 5 left that I plan on taking, but I just ordered another batch (nice thing about private publishing - I can order in small amounts!) so hopefully those will get here before the show and I can take a stack with me. I will definately bring my autograph pen (though my kids LOVE them, so they keep disappearing!) Dave

Thanks for the compliments! (and boy was that fast mail delivery!) Dave

Well, from previous experience, I'd say that you'd have better luck finding a Berlin Red Banner in the 220,000 to 240,000 range. The 260,000-290,000 tends to be a really mixed bag of awards - everything from long service to VE awards to Japan awards and more. Strangely enough, they also seem a bit more difficult to find than their lower numbered counterparts. When I first saw the group, I thought the award MIGHT be a Berlin one, but I figured the chances of that were pretty slim. I guess research pays off! Dave

And they were all mine at one time (I think two owners ago...)

Lukasz: What is this medal? I have a uniform with the exact ribbon on it that I haven't been able to figure out what it is. Thanks! Dave

The Red Banner is number 272555. It's a pretty late one, but given that the guy had an unnumbered MM and a late RS for long service, I knew it couldn't be a long service one when I saw the group. His only other award is MM 111366. I'll post the translation of the citation as soon as I get it back. Dave

Well put! Dave

Here's my translation of the top part AND now with my translator's translation of the text! 1. Family name, first and patronymic: BLIKANOV, Viktor Danilovich 2. Rank: Guards Junior Lieutenant 3. Position: Commander of IS tank, 106th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, 7th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Novogrodski, Red Banner, Order of Suvorov and Order of the Red Star Brigade. RECOMMENDED FOR THE TITLE "HERO OF THE SOVIET UNION" 4. Date of Birth: 1921 5. Nationality: Ukrainian 6. Party: Candidate VKP(b) since 1942 7. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR (when and where): In the Patriotic War since July 1941 8. Wounds or contusions received in the Patriotic War: Wounded 29 April 194_ 9. Has been in the Red Army: Since October 1940 10. Which call up station: Barvenkovski RVK, Kharkovski Oblast 11. Received Which Awards (from which order): Medal For Military Merit on 25 October 1942 12. Home address: Kharkovskaya Oblast, Barvenskim Raion, Danilovski s/s, Village of Arkhangelovka. Father: Blikanov, Danil Romanovich Brief and detailed description of a personal deed or achievements During the battles against German invaders the 632nd IS (Josef Stalin) heavy tank commander Guards Junior Lieutenant Blikanov displayed military professionalism, courage, and valor. On 16 April 1945 while breaching the enemy defenses at Zeelovsk heights the tank under Comrade Blikanov`s command broke through the second line of trenches and destroyed up to an infantry platoon, two antitank artillery pieces and a mortar battery by delivering fire and using the tracks of their tank. During the battles to capture the city of Berlin Comrade Blikanov displayed exemplary heroism and fearlessness. For example, on 25 April 1945 our tanks were fighting to capture the crossing at Landver canal, near the Zelner machine-building factory. The enemy was delivering a heavy fire on the approaches to the crossing, and at the same time batteries of antitank artillery pieces were firing point-blank at the bridge. Firing a machine gun, Comrade Blikanov made a rapid maneuver, advanced past the bridge and destroyed two antitank artillery pieces at close range. Being the first to break into the city of Berlin, Comrade Blikanov lead the tanks and advancing infantry units by personal example. During the battle to capture Tempelhof airport on 26 April 1945 he was the first to break into the airport and fired his tank cannon, destroying three enemy aircraft and an air defense artillery piece together with its crew. He deserves to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for displaying heroism and inflicting casualties on the enemy. Guards Lieutenant Colonel ERMOLINKO Commander, 106th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment 2 May 1945

A nice photo of the young brave lad...

The reverse of the award document...

All: Here's a citation I just got for a group that's enroute to me (one of the rare occasions where I have the research BEFORE the group!) It is quite interesting in that he was nominated for the HSU, but it was downgraded to a Red Banner, even though it was approved even up through the front commander (Chuikov!) I find it a bit unusual for an award this late in the War, as it seems (and this is just a "seems") that HSUs were a little more liberally given out during this time in the War rather than earlier when you might see more downgrades like this. I also find it interesting that he was nominated and approved for the HSU, and only received a Red Banner - not just one, but several "steps" down from the initial award. In talking to MONDVOR, it looks like a case where either the "quota" of HSUs was exceeded or he wasn't awarded the decoration because the only previous award he had was the MM. Quite interesting. Now to wait for my translator for the translation... Dave

I would say that it's a fake. And I don't even declare myself an expert on these. However, I have collected enough photos/scans of these (both real and fake) over the years to where this one fits the fake ones. The aging on it is very, very, very good though! One thing that is rather interesting... who are the jewelers that turn out these exceptional fakes? I looked for years for a company or person that could turn out a "perfect" fake Nevsky (T3) to replace one lost by an actual recipient (who was still alive at the time). I could never find anyone to do it. Dave

I remember a few collectors who I sold awards to back in the late 90s and early 2000s who shortly thereafter stopped collecting Soviet awards and kept what they had... it does make you wonder what "good" stuff is still around out there that folks don't know that they have... Dave

Here's another file card that the researcher found. This one appears to be written at perhaps a different time than the other.

Here's his award card. You're welcome.

And his award card....

As of today, my first pile of these is enroute to the post office! Sorry for the delay! Dave

More is coming, to include his award card, but for now a large picture of him....

Here's as close a shot as I could get of his photo

Here's his service history...