SWE Erik

Hello Eric! I seem to have found the information regarding production years and they match the reference litterateur you provided, thank you! The bold numbers to the right I guess is an estimate value? What book is it from? 1544.c Voroshilov and 1551.a PVHO must be what I have. Very nice to see the PVHO “no2” badge! Never seen before. Funny that at the fleamarket, I thought the Young Voroshilov badges were going to be badges for firemen. 🔥

Hello! Long time since activity here. I do occasionally browse this forum for knowledge and time to give something back, a short vacation story.. So this is a fun find at a flea market in Provence, France. Interesting items pop up in unexpected places. Saw these four badges in a small box, decided not to buy at first but then came back after some thinking. I know not much about badges but the one with the gas mask looked familiar.. At least it has an appealing design in my eyes so why not. Very nice gentleman with an offer I cannot refuse, 30Euro for all four. Great! Now I have a fun researching project and a small instant collection. I believe I got four OSOAVIAKHIM organization badges, where two are called "Voroshilov young shooter badge" and the other two "Ready for PVHO". If you read and have further information or can correct my description, please do. The young shooter badges for children, the pioneers. It was awarded between 1934 and 1941. 550 thousand children were awarded this badge, I read somewhere. Measures 30mm high. Reaching the marksman quality of the Voroshilov shooter badge for adults? The PVHO badges are of the type 2 without suspension, produced between 1939 and 1941 before discontinued due to the war. Measures 24mm high. Numbers produced, anyone know? All in excellent condition, no enamel damage, just dirt. Silver plating still there, but oxidized. All seem to be manufactured by the same mint, do you know which?

Very interesting to see and read your post Kay! I think the crown in your 2A is rather similar, interesting to see the variation of these. Somewhere on a dealers site I read that these were made from “modified 1870 cores” and I think early in the war. I suppose it is the cores used to imprint in the sand that were modified, for the mould making process. There were likely many cores with slight variations used. Thoughts on this are welcome Best regards Erik

Thank you Graf and Peter. I think you give sound advice. Not easy to say if the engraving is true to the item or added for other reasons. I Might put a bid though if the price is fair, now that I feel more confident in the cross itself. The lack of detail was worrying but I believe I learnt it does not have to mean it is a fake. Just rarely seen. Unless I misunderstood. Why would a fake have such well made frame and pin but fail with the core... Many copies show better details. That I have been loosing some sleep over as well as why I can't find any others that look like it on the world wide web. I did finally find one on this forum though that have some similarities. Having a less detailed crown (but not exactly alike) and having a similar 1914 style with big 1 in the number (still a bit sharper in the details). posting link if interested:

Thank you Peter for your reply! I would not be so tempted to buy if it wasn’t for the engraving on the reverse. The back seems ok for me, but the pictures is not so good unfortunately and no more provided. Hinge and pin looks ok I think. Adding a few screenshots. Would appreciate comments on the reverse as well, does it provide more confidence in the cross? sorry, should have provided both front and rear in first post. Erik

Hello! Hoping for some assistance since I can’t find another Wagner “WS” cross with this less detailed core. At least not a good match. Any thoughts on the core? Good or bad? Thanks /Erik

Thank You! Quite addictive hobby, especially now with the extra research possibilitys through online archives. Some day I will look through my old stuff with award booklets. One project a time, first in line a mysterial ORB ? /Erik

Finally had some time and did a rough translation. Hope all makes sense, please let me know otherwise. so to sum it all up SPROGIS KARL PETROVICH Military rank: Red Army man. Position, part: Ride of the sanitary company of the 92nd rifle regiment of the 201st Latvian rifle division Submitted to: Order of the "Red Banner" 1. Year of birth: 1899 2. Nationality: Latvian 3. Since when in the red army: from August 1941. 4. Party membership: non-party 5. Participation in battles (where and when): From December 20, 1941 on the Naro-Fominsk direction 6. Has injuries and contusions: no 7. The earlier awarded (for any differences): no Citation: During the fights he proved himself to be one of the best loyal comrades. Regardless of the enemy's fire, he literally under the bullets took the wounded himself and bandaged them up, drove them to the medical center. During the 20 and 21, he bandaged 43 wounded. For his bravery and courage and skillful actions Comrade SPROGIS well deserved awarding the Order of the "Red Banner" ------------------------------------------ Comment to Naro-Fominsk where he participated in battle and received his award recommendation for actions. The town was severely damaged during the war and german forces destroyed 687 buildings, including a textile factory, during the Battle of Moscow in 1941. Western part of Naro-Fominsk was occupied from October 21 to December 26, 1941. See map for front line in December, the month when Sprogis conducted his feat. He fought on one of the important defence positions for the battle of Moscow. To repeat what were posted earlier in this thread. Recommended for Order of the Red Banner but downgraded to Bravery Medal for unknown reason. Red banner approved up to the commander as well as by the commissar. No notice of a downgrade except for the blue ink “bravery medal” above the citation. Why and who decided to change the awarding is unclear and why he received it only after the war.

Thank you for the additional information! I do like citations for saving others. When I have time I will try to translate the description in full. May take some time for me but will post when I have it So no downgrade by the commissar, I just assumed since there is a "bravery medal" written over the citation. Any idea why they would hand out a medal instead when an order were approved? best regards

Almost precisely 10 years has passed since I stopped collecting. I quit completely, no collecting at all and not much time given to anything militaria related. But this spring I found myself at a militaria fair, got an impulse, bought a Soviet award. Guess I am hoked again. I realise some of the people I spoke to ten years ago are or may be gone. I really apreciated all the help back then. Now that I am back I understand the possibilitys researching awards changed thanks to podvig site. Did a search on this old bravery medal and found him. I will Post what I got to try to put a good end to this old thread. Karl Petrovich Sprogis - Born 1899 Rank: Private In the Red Army since 08.1941 Place of recruitment: Сабинский РВК, Татарская АССР, Сабинский р-н Place of service: 92 сп 201 сд ЗапФ Feat date: 20.12.1941,21.12.1941 Award citation in attachment. Recommended for Order of the Red Banner!! but downgraded to Bravery Medal. Guess the Commisar did not agree to the recommendation. Any help translating the feat would be much appreciated, my russian are no good Karl later received the defence of moscow medal, granted 31st august 1945 in Riga. No other awards given. Still unsure why he received the bravery medal in 1945 for a feat done in 1941 and signed for in Jan 42. Could have been a POW but I do not know how to proceed to find this information. /Erik Close up on citation

You can send me a pm or just ask here on the forum. I'm sure You will get input from more than just me. Erik

Luckily, Japanese medals and orders are not faked a lot. It is actually harder to find fakes than originals (don't know about the ww1 wictory medal though). Well made fakes are rare. Then there are repros of the super high classes that are quite well done but that is only because of the rarity and value. If in doubt about a medal or order, post it here on the forum. Someone will most likely know. /Erik

Red Cross medal WW1 period

Rising Sun 6th cl before 1940 Sacred Treasure 8th cl WW1 period

Yes, it is 148. /Erik