IrishGunner

Very cool document! :catjava:

Very interesting piece; I suppose for the August 1991 coup attempt which finally brought the collapse of the USSR. Even if it isn't genuine and if it wasn't too much $, I'd snag it simply as a curiosity piece. And if you find reference to it as an official medal, all the better then... I will keep my eyes open for such a piece, but haven't see anything like it; the St. George reverse is certainly eye-catching.

I did a search of GMIC on "Belarus" and found several topics on badges from post-Soviet Union period, but not this Medal for the 60th Anniv of the Liberation from Fascism. I've seen this medal on the ribbon bars of active-duty Belarus officers.

This is another Soviet ribbon bar that makes me wonder if it's "made up". One ribbon is reversed (30th GPW); and there is a ribbon for later award (60th Armed Forces) that if are accurate would make one wonder where are the previous jubilee medals. Caucasus and Konigsburg are unusual combo; along with both Victory over Germany and Japan. Bravery Medal Military Merit Medal Medal for Defense of Caucasus Medal for Victory over Germany Medal 30 Years Victory GPW (reversed) Medal for Victory over Japan Medal Capture of Konigsburg Medal Veteran of Labor Medal 60 Years Armed Forces But then again, why would anyone make up such a bar? The back looks good. Then again, the dealer just gave it to me as a "gift" because I've made several purchases (albeit small ones) from him. Oh, well, it was free and it's interesting. Good combo.

This veteran's badge was interesting to me because of it's construction from all brass instead of the usual "cheap" aluminum. Also, the Stalingrad connection and the unusual range of dates "1925-1946-1975" On the reverse shows that it's a veteran's badge of the 31st Stalingrad Rifle Division, which made the XXX - 30 - number odd to me on the suspension. I then figured out that this was produced at the 30th anniversary of the GPW Victory - thus the colors of the suspension - rather than the number of the Division. But the significance of 1925 and 1946 still eluded me until I found info in the book "Armies of the Bear" The Division was formed in its II. Formation in Oct-Nov 1925 from 93rd Rifle Regiment, then assigned to the 32nd Division near Stalingrad in the North Caucasus Military District. In 1926, the Division received the honorific title “Stalingrad.” In 1939, the Division formed two new divisions, the 118th and 160th; the remaining units became the III. Formation of the 31st Division. In January 1940, the 31st Division to the Transcaucasus Military District in Azerbaijan. In October 1941, the Division was assigned to the 56th Army, participating in the battles around Rostov-na-Don. It then was transferred to the 46th Army within the Transcaucasian Front and participated in the Defense of the Causcasus campaigns. In 1943, the Division went to the Southwestern Front, fighting in the drive to the Dnepr. In 1944, the Division was with the 2nd Ukrainian Front in the Romania campaign. It then moved to the 1st Ukrainian Front taking part in the Vistula-Oder campaign through Poland and then the Berlin offensive operation. The Division ended the war in Czechoslovakia and aided in the liberation of Prague. Immediately after the war, the Division was assigned to the Northern Group of Forces in Poland; being disbanded in 1946. (“Armies of the Bear”) Great campaign credits and history. I found another reference that said the 31st Div was formed in 1925 in Yerevan; so, another unique connection from my view point.

Picked these up this weekend at the Yerevan flea market. 10 Year Impeccable Service fills that hole. The Belarus 60Yr Anniv. was a nice addition for a country that wasn't yet represented in my vault. The veteran's badge will have further comments in the Soviet forum - unique in that it is all brass and not the aluminum norm. The ribbon bar was a "gift" from a guy I've been buying from regularly - more on that in the Soviet forum too.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/10/AR2010091002712.html

I'd gladly take a humble collection like this one... Very nice.

Sergio - I was thinking the same thing

Very nice. And the MiD and CdG - even more impressive. I'm surprised, however, that for such an action Pvt Morris wouldn't have been decorated with more than a MiD; is this normal for the period? Why not Military Medal worthy?

Good questions Tim. And thanks for bringing the thread back to life. I have a question to add - are all Signum Laudis engraved on the edge with the recipient (ala British medals of the period)? I suspect this was by exception. But curious to read what others have to write. (But if so, I can't wait to get home and dig these out of the safe deposit box and see who I have!)

Noor you always get the pretty bars! This Irishman only finds the other bars. :cheers:

Kirk - having a look at the photos would be great! Also of the Soldbuch. The piece I own for this Regiment is a veteran's medal - in a few months when I get home I could share a photo it as well

More great info! Thank you. :beer:

Ferdinand - thanks for the assist with the name; curious about the nickname. Mervyn - A NY Times article from May 1988 reported that the Soviet Government announced that 13,310 soldiers had been killed, 35,478 wounded in Afghanistan between Dec 1979 and May 1988 - 8 1/2 years. I have read that at the peak there were between 100,000 and 115,000 Soviet troops in Afghanistan. From NATO's website: Since NATO took command of ISAF in 2003, the Alliance has gradually expanded the reach of its mission, originally limited to Kabul, to cover all of Afghanistan’s territory. Accordingly, the number of ISAF troops has grown from the initial 5000 to around 120 000 troops from 47 countries, including all 28 NATO member nations. However, recent news reports at the end of August say that the addition of 30,000 U.S. troops has brought the total number of international forces in Afghanistan to 140,000 — 100,000 of them American. The US Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan began in October 2001; going on 9 years now - longer than the Soviets. According to iCasualties.org there have been 2065 coalition casualties since 2001; 1275 being American. Here's the link to the web page if anyone is curious how many casualties there have been by country: http://icasualties.org/oef/

Sergio - thanks again! Wonderful information. Do you happen to know what Division or Front this artillery brigade supported during WWII?

The inside of the Afghan Grateful People document

The Grateful Afghan People document - in two languages.

Warrior Internationalist document cover; this is a large size document.

I already had the Soviet Warrior Internationalist Medal, but with the wrong ribbon; so, I was looking to upgrade to the correct ribbon. Today I came across the medal and luckily it also had the document. Along with it was the Medal from a Grateful Afghan People and its document. A perfect upgrade. PS: If anyone is looking for these medals, I now have two extra - but as I said, the Warrior Internationalist has the wrong ribbon. PM if curious.

Sergio - thank you very much for this information! Very interesting that even a far away logistical base unit had high awards and a veteran badge.

I knew Chip could solve the mystery. I see the 111 too... But still think it could be a cypher that hasn't revealed itself yet. And Chip - I haven't seen an "M" shoulder strap in my meager resources. Can you answer the question: Is an "M" even realistically possible?

Chris, that's exactly my problem; at first I saw "28". Then I can see the "x" in the middle of the M. Then it's back to something else. That's why I think it's a cypher. Are there even such a thing as a "M" shoulder straps?

I am only beginning my study of German Imperial uniforms, but I haven't come across a "M" shoulder strap in my neophyte experience. Hopefully, Chip or Chris Boonzaier will come by and comment - they are the experts. Any chance you can scan the entire photo? It's pretty hard to read the shoulder strap; other clues in the photo might help. From my knowledge the Musketen-Bataillon were part of infantry regiments; therefore, I would think they would have shoulder straps matching their regiment. Perhaps this is really an infantry regiment cypher and not a solitary "M".

Mervyn, interestingly US military units still have this tradition somewhat; at least, my wife has a small collection of regimental pins she's gotten over the years. She also has a couple gold charms to wear as a necklace with division insignia. And the US Marine Corps has the tradition of giving a gold rose brooch with the EGA attached to their ladies. I've been meaning to pick up a couple of the WWI sweeheart pins as a neat side bar to the collection.