Bob

Regarding his awards:

- red star

- medal for defence of leningrad

- ???

The bag full of awards I was shared also contained an unnumbered valor medal but I guess that never made it to the archives.

"Schei? Arschloch" would that be, but I don't know if that's a good idea. In the end you might be the fool. I wouldn't do, but telling what you think about the action's absolutely fine...

Heiko, have you yet blocked the club etc.?

Oops - I had jumped the gun already and shot off a mail with some not so nice German that I had picked up while living in Munich:)

It's a pet thing of mine... whenever I see a thread like this I do click through to eBay and ehmm share my opinion. The seller should consider it "free advice"

That's all! Thanks for help in identifying the most interesting parts while I await for full translation.

When I changed employer 5 years ago I was already very much into travelling in the former Soviet Union but not yet into ODM. This changed after a trip to Ukraine 3 years ago or so (and since then my bank account has had to suffer, but it's been a great learning experience!). Even then, it wasn't until a year ago or so that I asked my former boss and good friend (who is Russian) about her family's wartime experience. Turns out her grandfather fought in the Finnish war and later - as I suspect as she didn't know much about him - in the siege of Leningrad. Later on he went to do top secret research for chemical warfare / missiles and stuff (his daughter and also his granddaughter - my friend - also studied chemistry).

Obviously I had to ask: does he have any awards? And after some logistical troubles (my friends mother had to travel back to St Petersburg to fetch them) they were finally on my desk. A bunch of jubiliee medals, a numbered (thankfully!) order of red star and a 1985 order of patriotic war. That's all that was left... apparently there used to be much more but his childred used to play with them outside and just give them away ( ) to their friends many decades ago.

Nevertheless, this was sufficient to proceed with research and I essentially gave Nota Bene a blank cheque - after all, family of a friend we're talking about here

I have to say, Alexei = god of research! With only a number and a name I have received research back in barely 2 weeks! I will now get it professionally translated so it can be made into a nice package for when Nicholas (great grandson of Ivan) is old enough to take remaining awards and research into possession from his mother. In the meantime, would like to post already the scans here for any first "hot off the press" impressions. Short feedback from Alexei was already that Ivan was on some sort of "special reserve" (whatever that is) which means data is limited through research

12 scans to follow - appreciate any pointers

Yep - makes sense

These Angolan medals certainly are difficult to find.

Another one of these... but with inscription on the reverse:

2 AN

PROCL FAPLA (or FALLA?)

1-8-74/76

Would like to get a ribbin to make the appropriate suspension for this award. The ribbon should be plain green and fit a typical soviet steel suspension. Any idea where these can be obtained?

No pics of reciptients nor award but interesting datapoints

I'll think of more, but at top of my head additions to the key research q's:

6) Where are those 50 USD a piece SB screwbacks?

7) What's the story behind the early Polar Stars (type 1 and uighur's) - were they indeed to be handed in for a newer type (hence botched up numberfing and very few type 1's despite sonnenberg's guide having one in 800+ range)

8) 3 types of soyombo hero of labour?

9) Is the 25 years mongolian revolution for foreigners real?

10) Are there names to match the deputy badges?

11) Idem for medal for unselfishness?

Yeiks

Alexei's supply is clearly also jacking up prices... look at the KGB badge he has on offer... nr 704... 1850 USD... boxed (but not specific to the badge).

Christian - does Ranko have a website? Other contact details you could provide?

Thanks

http://www.visualrian.com/images/item/60434

a cavalier of cavaliers

http://www.visualrian.com/images/item/38626

Yumzhagiyen Tsedenbal decorates the Air Colonel General Alexander Pokryshkin with the order

Chairman of the Mongolian Council of Ministers Yumzhagiyen Tsedenbal (left) decorates the Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Colonel General Alexander Pokryshkin (right) with the Red Banner Order.

Location: Russia, Moscow

Date of event: 01.12.1971

http://www.visualrian.com/images/item/38625

IMPORTANT PIC - because it shows that (at least for a marshal) SB's were awarded... cased

Yumzhagiyen Tsedenbal decorates Marshal Alexander Vasilevsky with the order of Suhe-Bator

Chairman of the Mongolian Council of Ministers Yumzhagiyen Tsedenbal (left) decorates the Soviet Union Marshal Alexander Vasilevsky (right) with the order of Suhe-Bator.

Location: Russia, Moscow

Date of event: 01.12.1971

http://www.visualrian.com/images/item/38687

Marshal Horlogiyn Choybalsan decorates Senior Lieutenant L. Orlov with an order

Marshal of the Mongolian People's Republic Horlogiyn Choybalsan (left) decorates Senior Lieutenant L. Orlov with the Red Banner Order for fighting in the battle of Khalkhin Gol.

Location: Mongolia

Date of event: 01.05.1939