Riley1965

Ed and All, I am trying to confirm Honecker's HSU. There are those that say he earned it and some that cast doubt on his award. A puzzle I've been working on. I'll share my findings. As for Mongolia, Ed I agree that both Choibalsan & Tsedenbalat should have received the Title HSU. To me it shows the manner in which the Soviet hierarchy felt about Mongolian leaders. Doc

Order of Victory, Fritz Schmenkel was awarded the Title HSU for his service as a Partisan in WWII. Unfortunately he was killed in WWII and was awarded his HSU Title on 6 October 1964. Erich Mielke earned his in secret. His award of the Title HSU was revealed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Walter Ulbricht, Sigmund J?hn & Erich Honecker were all DDR recipients. Doc

Dave, At some point I would like to see a version with pictures. $85 is right in line if not below the price of any good referrence book. Just some food for thought. I await the opportunity to purchase your current work. Doc

Let's not forget the German recipients of the Title "Hero of the Soviet Union" Walter Ulbricht Fritz Schmenkel Sigmund J?hn Erich Honecker Erich Mielke Doc

Ed, I think that I've said all that I have to say on this subject. I provided the list of Hero Cities for those that may not know about them not so that Zulus could start his usual sarcastic responce and his habit of trying to tear appart every post. I post to share information not to be his fodder. All is well!! Doc

C. Zulus, Here's a list even you can't dispute: Hero Cities: 1Brest Hero-Fortress 2 Minsk 3Smolensk 4 Kiev 5Odessa 6 Murmansk 7 Leningrad 8 Tula 9 Moscow 10 Sevastopol 11 Kerch 12 Novorossiysk 13 Stalingrad Doc

C.Zulus, Your sarcasm is well known at this forum. It is not appreciated by me or the vast majority of the members of the forum. I guess that I didn't state my list in a way that such a pompous, self-righteous person such as you could understand. The names Volgograd and St. Petersberg were placed there as a matter of current names. I offered up the list to provide information for someone that may not know all of the Hero cities. If this down to earth basic list bothers you, so be it. I am sick and tired of your arrogance!!! Doc

Jim, Different strokes for different folks. As for me, I love the hand painted ribbon bars I have three groups with the 25th Anniversray badge and award document. It surely has some personal value for the recipients and for the government to take the time to make an award book for it...well, that says a lot. Doc

I listed both names as they were on my list of Hero cities. I know that they were called Stalingrad and Leningrad during the GPW. If you noticed the GPW name was on the list. As for my knowledge of the GPW, let's just say that I'm not ignorant of the events and crucial battles of the GPW. Doc

M?nster, Sorry about that!! I don't know what I was thinking. MichaW GREAT looking banner Doc

Grtd, VERY nice ribbon bars. # 10 on the hand-painted bar is for the badge of 25th Anniversary of Victory Over Germany. I have a similar bar, here's mine. Best, Doc

Sal, where do you find these gems? That is a GREAT display Doc

Soviet, I initially left Moscow off the list choosing to stick with the four awarded at the end of the GPW. However, after re-reading the history of the Battle of Moscow the city certainly derserves the title. They stopped the German Army Group Centre and kept the Germans from getting more than 30 miles of the city. With the arrival of fresh troops from Siberia ready for winter combat, the germans were pushed back 120km from Moscow and this began the process when the Germans were methodically kicked out of the USSR. So, yes I do believe that Moscow and Smolensk should have recieved their Title "Hero City" when the original four did. Doc

Here is the list of "Hero Cities". There are 9 instead of 11 post GPW. 1Brest Hero-Fortress 2 Minsk 3Smolensk 4 Kiev 5 Odessa 6 Murmansk 7 Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) 8 Tula 9 Moscow 10 Sevastopol 11 Kerch 12 Novorossiysk 13 Volgograd (Stalingrad) Doc

I find these "generous" HSU awards to be no different than the 11 "Titles" Hero Cities awarded to Moscow and other cities post GPW. IMHO ONLY Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol & Odessa truly earned the Title. The rest were purely political awards. Doc

Order of Victory...WOW!!! That's one that I'd like in my collection. GREAT piece!! Doc

For my 2-cents worth... I don't like the uniform(what I can see of it) or it's made-up ribbon bars. The badges look like they were just thrown on as an after thought. As for the uniform, would you ask the seller for a picture of the full jacket? I'll know more about the uniform , while mentally blocking out the ribbons and badges, I I could see the whole jacket. As for your question whether this combination of ribbons would be possible I'd have to say no due to the fact that there is a 70th anniversary of the Armed Forces and no 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th anniversary medals. Throw in the backwards made Veterans of Military Service ribbon. It all just doesn't add up. I am sorry to to have had to join Ed and Gerd against the uniform. However, we don't want you to make a purchase that you would regret later. Doc

Dave...WOW!!! I love it!! I can't wait to see what lies inside that excellent cover Doc

OOOPS!!!!!!!!! Ed, once again great minds think alike. Doc

Don, Ed Haynes identified the Star of David shaped medal. It is from Morocco. It's: Wissam al-Mehdawi / Order of Mehdi -- Although created by the Moroccan rulers of Tetuan, this became an essentially Spanish colonial award, bestowed to reward actions that improved Moroccan-Spanish inter-cultural understanding. There are three separate varieties of the award, as detailed below. Established: By Sultan Mulay al-Mehdi bin Ismail, Khalifa of Teutan, 18 August 1926. Revised bu Vizirial Dahirs of 10 May 1937 and 6 August 1945. Obverse: A six-pointed gold dark- and light-blue enameled star. In the center, a golden sun rising from a green sea. Ribbon: Green with a white center stripe. This seems to be the kinght's badge (lowest class) of the 1937-45 award I hope you find this order. Doc

order of Victory & hunyadi, Thanks for the information. Those are some real gems!!! Doc

Order of Victory, What are they? Doc

Dave, I look forward to purchasing a copy(maybe signed, Please!!). It will definately be coveted among my other Soviet referrence books!!! Doc

I was going to mention the removed swords. Look at the filled in spots on the swastikas. Doc

usairforce, Nice ORB, 3rd award & ORB screwback!!! Add in the Glory I there's plenty of research potential there. Doc