IrishGunner

Well, as soon as I identified the ribbons on the suspension (one of the left is red/white; one on the right is green/yellow) as the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of Suvorov - 2nd Class, the wording became crystal clear as the names of the two orders. And the top word seems to be "Prague" So - Prague, Order of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov 2nd Class; 30 Years; Artillerist. Dates of 1-5-43 1-5-73 Any idea what connection there is to all of this?

A 30 Years Artillerist badge; still trying to translate the rest of the wording on the front. And the meaning of the ribbon colors on the suspension. But I couldn't resist an artillery-related item. On the reverse: 1-5-43 1-5-73

48th Army Veterans' Badge; 48th Army was at Leningrad according to my info.

Ok, picked up the next three badges at the Yerevan flea market; two related to Leningrad, one artillery related. Can anyone tell me if these are in Schmitt's book and any additional info?

I also obtained this Armenian award document; however, it is for a different Bagramyan medal. This one I believe to be the medal listed on the Armenian MOD website as some type of merit award. You can clearly see that the medal is different in the detail picture of the document. I will need to ask around and determine if this is a different medal or reflects a different version of the same medal. Interestingly, the document is only in Russian and not in both Armenian and Russian (which frequently appear together here on official buildings).

Not much online about this medal; however, the dealer from whom I purchased the item agreed that this medal is for the 100th Anniversary of Marshal Bagramyan's birth. The medal was established by the Government of Armenia on May 11, 1997. Bagramyan is considered one Armenia's greatest military heroes. Of course, this has a USSR connection: Highest rank - Marshal of the Soviet Union Commands - 11th Guards Army; 1st Baltic Front; Baltic Military District; Reserve forces of the Red Army; Military Academy of the Soviet Union, and Deputy Defense Minister USSR Awards - Hero of the Soviet Union (2), Order of Lenin (7), Order of the October Revolution, Order of the Red Banner (3), Order of Suvorov 1. Class (2), and Order of Kutuzov 1. Class; several campaign and commemorative medals of the Soviet Union.

Well, a perfect thread for my discovery today at the flea market. One of the dealers that I am getting to know said he had something "new" to show me today. He handed me two cardboard boards with about 25 of these veteran badges attached. As I know nothing about them, I didn't buy any; although I found a few very interesting. I came home and Googled and found out about this... Soviet Second World War Veteran Badges by Paul Schmitt. Then I searched GMIC and found this thread. So... Seems these are very desirable badges. He's only asking about $10 per badge. I found some online for about twice that much. So, anyone have an idea about which units might be most desired. I recall mostly a few numbered Armies, other unusual units, a submarine related one.

A very nice start... :cheers:

Yea, we are sailing past each other here. I'm agreeing with you... But also reading between the lines. No worries... :whistle:

As deaths were involved they are War Graves in my opinion. Kev, yes deaths involved, but does that mean there are still bodies aboard? The information posted here is not clear on that fact. Are bodies still aboard? If there are bodies aboard, there should be no question they are War Graves and the British have an exceptional system for dealing with such cases. They should decide disposition and not the Estonians. However, I was merely suggesting that the wording in your OP that the Estonians have said the ships are "legally" British implies that the Estonians are laying no claim - and therefore no financial responsibility. I certainly meant no disrespect to any perished souls.

Estonian officials did not elaborate on the condition of the wrecks but said they legally belonged to Britain. Sounds like maybe there are some financial issues (read expenses) with recovery / environmental damage... :whistle:

Very nice - lots of hidden stories there I bet.

Well, that's one vote AGAINST and one vote FOR. The last two rows - last eight ribbons just don't make sense to me - even though I'm clueless about Soviet ribbon bars. Different sizes, backwards ribbons, odd order. Just seems as is = made up. I really like the first two rows - first eight ribbons though. :whistle:

Good initiative - poor judgment. Ancient traditions don't play well in the information age.

Now here's where my hope comes into play and a question: Is it possible that the first 8 ribbons - OGPW 1. Cl, ORS, Bravery, MMM, Lenin 100th, Caucasus, Victory/Germany, 20th Jub of GPW - is it possible that this is a real bar that was attached to the other Frankenstein parts? I know felt is a warning sign for fakes - but aren't there real bars with felt? Or is this just wishful thinking?

Now the back side; as we can see there is a cloth patch connecting three separate felt pieces. Felt #1 has the first 8 awards - OPGW to 20th Jubilee (all the combat and campaign medals are in this group also). Felt #2 has six ribbons - the 2nd VoG, 60th Jub AF, 40th Jub GPW, 50th Jub AF, Vet of the AF, and Valiant Labor (a quite odd grouping and seemingly out of order). Felt #3 has two ribbons - Vet of Labor and 70th Jub AF (these are on top of each other to fill in the corner when the 8x and 6x pieces were attached). So, with this construction, it is almost certain a Frankenstein.

A couple things I've noted right off: 1) The second VoG, 60th AF Jub, and 40th Jub GPW are smaller than all the others. 2) 40th Jub GPW and Vet of the AF are backwards. 3) The order of everything after the second VoG just seems to be out of chronological order. 4) If that really is a Valiant Labor in next to last position; shouldn't this be higher (and why would a Labor award be with the combat awards?)

I am assuming that this is a Frankenstein ribbon bar, but I'm hoping to use it to learn a few things. It only cost $4.00, so not a lot invested. Here's the ribbons as I've identified them: Order Great Patriotic War 1. Cl Order of Red Star Bravery Medal Combat Service Medal 100th Anniv. Lenin Defense of Caucasus Victory over Germany 20 Years Great Patriotic War Victory over Germany 60 Years of Armed Forces 40 Years of Great Patriotic War Veteran of Labor 50 Years Armed Forces Veteran of Armed Forces Valiant Labor 70 Years of Armed Forces

Nice - lots of great color in those ribbons. :cheers:

I saw one of these at the Yerevan flea market today - thought it was interesting, but something else caught my eye so I never asked about it to the dealer. Any idea on how much one of these might be worth?

Well, the most likely candidate for a case like this would be the Polonia Restituta - a common award and a cross.

Nice citation; busy sailor. Too bad for the chipped enamels.

Hmm. Didn't really help too much. Could be anything.

Can we see the inside?

I wouldn't want to meet that sergeant in the first photo in a trench. Nice photos.