Bryan

I have found some Albanian orders for sale here : http://www.singidunum-online.com/shope/ind...tegory_secID=37 If you have other dealer to recommand, maybe you can post them here.

The outside star of the order. It's obviously different to me.

Could you please stop saying it on open forums?

I presume it's a tombac one because it's a 6 torches variation. Is that right? Very nice trio by the way!

You should look on eBay. Maybe the dealers in Vienna bought them on eBay as well.

Order of Labor The Order of Labor was issued in 3 classes. 1st Class ? was awarded 7,096 times 2nd Class ? was awarded 36,338 times 3rd Class ? was awarded 182,910 times Please show us yours! Order of Labor - 2nd Class (pinback) Order of Labor - 3rd Class (screwback) Order of Labor - 3rd Class (pinback) Order of Labor - 3rd Class (2 forks style)

Order of Military Merit 2nd Class The Order of Military Merit 2nd Class was issued in 3 classes. 1st Class ? was awarded 2,609 times Silver, 5 torches Silver, 6 torches Tombac, 6 torches 2nd Class ? was awarded 24,141 times Silver, 5 torches Silver, 6 torches Tombac, 6 torches 3rd Class ? was awarded 94,685 times Silver, 5 torches Silver, 6 torches Tombac, 6 torches Please show yours! Order of Military Merit 2nd Class, 5 torches (silver) Order of Military Merit 3rd Class , 5 torches (silver)

Yes sir! A Yugoslavian section! Thanks for the pressure guys! I'm happy to have started the second thread on the subject with the Yugoslavian Partisan Stars *** Thanks to everybody! Let's learn more and more on that subject.

I propose a Partisan star to be our next forum icon if it work.

To me, Yugoslavian awards are the most beautiful communist awards with the ones from the Soviet Union and Mongolia.

Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section, Yugoslavian section ... Propaganda!

We are not only sitting on a gold mine of info and expertise, but we are also sitting on our very own "gold mine" (collection). Therefore it is very important to not mess with them in order to pass our collections over the next generations. We are only temporary guardians of those historical memorabilia, that?s why we have to do all our best to preserve them. I learn with my error with the cardboard. I wanted to prevent the screw-nut to the order so the order will not suffer any damage. By trying to protect my order, I did harmed it with the chemicals from the cardboard.

Yeah! so after the Hungarian section, why not a Yugoslavian section. Who will be our host?

Congratulations Charles !!!

I have no problem with that. The thoughest thing will be to find collectors from this period on the forum. This might be harder.

It seems that guy didn't care at all to keep those medals when we are talking about 3-4 years from now on.

Gerd, I didn't take that information somewhere and it is just my reflection on the subject. I haven't handled so many medals in my life, but I particularly enjoy anything related to the capture of Berlin. Therefore I have acquired some documented Berlin medals during my 3 years of collecting and for me it turned out that the U-shape Berlin medals were issued later than my "round-shape ring" medals. I know it doesn't mean anything, but in my case it was so. My biggest problem is the difference between the Berlin and Prague medals. If these were awarded at the same time, why would one have a shiny look and the other one an old used look. i know it didn't mean anything in the Soviet Union, but my understanding would be that the U-shaped medals were awarded later or the metal composition from both medals are completely different as they do not "aged" the same way. These are just speculations. My feeling is that this is a put together medal bar, but I do hope for the new owner that it wasn't messed up by a previous dealer or collector.

I understand your legal point of view about Yugoslavia, but I think the "transitional Yugoslavia" (Serbia) had nothing to do with the multiethnic federation that we were used to know. With the break-up of the 6 nations that were recognized under the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, I see more the "transitional Yugoslavia" as Serbia, even if I'm not right. Talking about transition, see why I disagree that post 1991 awards do not belong to the awards of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Don't you see a small difference. P.S.: I'm sure the Orders of Freedom awarded in 1999 were different from the previous ones. I guess the quality is also not the same, unless they came from unused stocks ...

Thanks for your answer Christian. Even if you are far more aware about Yugoslavian history than me, I still like to draw a line between the Yugoslavia known under Tito and the end of the union (break-up) in 1991. From my point of view, Yugoslavia ceased to exist with the different independances from 1991-1992. Do you have a theory that pinback awards were mostly given to women ???

You have some nice things I do not have yet. I shall recall that the tiny fragment is not from the Communist period. So no link with the Communist orders you have shown.

If it's a group, I wonder why the Prague medal is an older version and that the Victory over Germany and Berlin Capture medal are later variation. So if it's legit, it should have an interesting story from being partisan and the under Koniev orders in fighting in Berlin and in Prague. I myself believe it's a "put together", but I'm no specialist. So let's wait for the results.

Christian, this topic in the Preservation & Restoration section might interest you. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12023

Oh yes, I want this book! Thanks a lot for the scans my friend. I really appreciate.

Great catch!

Thanks Christian! I will look forward for them and maybe ship them to one of my friend in Germany, so I can pick them up next time I'll be over. I'm not sure if I'm going to buy both of them, but I will for sure look for one. If I could only see them on-line. I am a fan of Berlin and Moscow architecture. I think Christophe on the forum has a pretty impressive collection of books on these related subjects.