Bob

When the forum 'upgrade' happened a lot of pics were lost unfortunately :(

Latest edition of JOMSA with a BEAUTIFUL Hero Star on the cover. Looking forward to read the article!

Yeah, but every posting costs money (or not if you pull the posting before it ends?)

Yes, yet I was told this one was much more expensive (despite appearing / being smaller).

Perhaps it has to do with metal used more than the size.

Apparently a first attempt at an Order of Victory. Design got rejected (for $$$ reasons) and that eventually led to the design as we now know it.

There is 'copy' - or rather, a first attempt at an Order of Victory. Apparently it was rejected because it was even more expensive than the ones posted above (the final design). I'll post a pic here in a few minutes: 

You're being sarcastic, right? 

Wasn't it well over 20k USD?

Thanks for flagging that auction. Not many Mongolian items but the prices were pretty good.

I was in Georgia two weeks ago for business and vacation and ran into this picture at a local museum in Tbilisi - Friedrich Werner von der Schulenburgh, Consul of Germany in Georgia. Looks like he may be wearing a Tamara?

at an insane price of almost 16k USD - ebay item: 202772118150

"Mongolia. Order of the Polar Star.№540

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TKgvirmnjM

And a youtube video with some references to him riding on a horse with his sword attacking the enemy as well as a few pics showing him with all his awards.

And right here on gmic a pic of Dandar wearing his hero star: 

I hope to source more materials / information on Dandar. He was quite the 'personality' apparently.

As per Urnukh's book, Dandar

- was awarded the Hero title on 7.9.39 (only the 5th person to be awarded the title and only the 2nd person to actually get a gold star issued)

- then it was revoked on 18.1.46

- and he was reinstated on 29.9.64

And here a statue of Dandar with him on his famous horse

https://mongolia-guide.com/place/lodongiin-dandar-equestrian-statue

"

LODONGIIN DANDAR EQUESTRIAN STATUE

More to come later, but first...

http://mongoliafaq.com/?p=2605

"Who is Mongolia’s most famous military commander?

Mongolia has its share of famous military commanders. Let me tell you about the one you probably never heard of. But he is famous in Mongolia. He was legendary for chopping heads while charging on a horse. His horse, a spotted stallion became his trademark.

 

If you say a Hero on a spotted horse, Mongols would immediately recognize this person. Dandar baatar (Dandar the hero) was an ordinary man with extra-ordinary story. He was born in 1914 and conscripted into military service in 1935. He studied in a military school in Tambov, Russia and upon graduation was assigned to the 6th Cavalry division.

As a newly minted lieutenant, he participated in the first skirmishes with the Kwantung Japanese units. Starting from May of 1939 the skirmishes became invasion. Japanese units were able to surround the HQ of the 6th division and the head, Shariibuu was killed. Dandar a mere lieutenant was ordered to be in charge of the division. He was given the rank of a major. Probably, the fastest promotion in Mongolian military history.

Dandar baatar was a courageous man, he would lead his units by holding the machine gun in his hand and charging towards the enemy. One of his military officers chided him for doing that. As a head of a division he was not supposed to lead the attack.

His military exploits became stuff of legends. The frequently mentioned legend was his skill in using a sword to chop the heads of the Samurais while charging on the horse. Of course, the reality was a little bit different. In one of the interviews, when he was asked about the chopping part, he laughed and said that even though he used his sword on occasions, his main weapons were his revolver and a machine gun. He mentioned one time during the charge he used his sword to kill his enemy. But he was not able to remove the sword as it was stuck in the body. because of that he fell off the horse. One of his officers rushed in and helped him mount the horse again before being trampled by the advancing cavalry.

For his courage and bravery he was given many medals and commendations. His biggest commendation was when he was bestowed a title of an “Extraordinary Hero.” From then on he was called Dandar Baatar, Dandar the hero.

After the end of the Khalkhiin gol war, Dandar baaatar was sent to the Soviet Union for additional training. WW2 started and he was ordered back. With the start of the Manchuria Offensive in 1945, Dandar baatar has also participated in that war.While there, however, he was arrested for killing a Soviet soldier, over a disagreement.

In prison, he was harassed by the inmates. One of the “bosses ” ordered him to fire a stove. While firing the stove, he chose one of the long sticks and proceeded attacking 10 inmates in his cell. His skill in wielding the sword was handy. He shouted:“I am a military officer who killed enemies and shed blood, don’t you dare talk to me like that.” From then on nobody bothered him anymore. He was released after four years.

In 1964, he was exonerated and all his military titles and awards were restored. He continued his military service as an officer, and continued his studies in Soviet Union at the prestigious Frunze military Academy. He passed away in 1986."

Santa Clause had a late delivery for me and I was very excited by it!

Here the Hero of Mongolia gold star with serial nr 13 (confirmed to be awarded to Dandar as per Urnukh's book and validated by Dandar's family).

Don't know if the case is original or not. The connecting ring between the star and suspension was cut at some point.

A well worn example with an interesting life!

Long time ago, but any chance on help with the name of the recipient?

Try medalsmarket.com

http://masterpieces.asemus.museum/masterpiece/detail.nhn?objectId=11507

And a later version...

Maybe worth trying one more time... ?

Citation for the Order of the Red Star

Order of the Red Star [stamped]

Red Banner of Labor [stamped, crossed out]

OdVO [Odessa Military District]

Citation

1. Last Name, Name, Patronymic: SHEVTSOV Viktor Afanasevich

2. Rank: Major-General of Artillery since 1 November 1980

3. Position, Unit: Commander of Air Defense for the Odessa Military District, since May 1980

Recommended for: the Order of the Red Banner of Labor

4. Year of Brith: 1937

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Party Membership: Member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union since 1961

7. Participation in Armed Conflicts in Defense of the USSR or in the Great Patriotic War:

has not participated

8. Wounds and concussions suffered during the Patriotic War: none

9. In the Armed Forces of the USSR since: since 1 October 1955

10. Conscripted by which District Military Commissariat: Stanichno-Lugansk District Military Commissariat, Lugansk Oblast

11. Previously awarded: the Order “For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd Class in 1975, and 7 anniversary and long-service medals

12. Home address of the prospective awardee: Odessa, Segedskaya ulitsa 1, apt. 93

Concise, concrete, description of feat of arms or merit

Major-General of Artillery Shevtsov V. A. has occupied his present position since May 1980. Before this, for the period of a year of a year, he was Chief of Air Defense Forces of the Ural Military District, where

the units and formations under his command scored well in military and political training.

During his period of service in the [Odessa] district, he has proven himself a knowledgable, industrious and efficient general. He is well-versed in the aerial assault methods of probable enemies and in the combat deployment of Air Defense Forces for various types of battles. In resolving practical tasks, he is principled, full of initiative, and indefatigable.

The condition of military and political training of the units and formations of the Air Defense Forces under his command are [sic] rated “good” for 1980-1981 instructional years. Four brigades carried out combat gunnery drills on the State testing range with excellent scores, and a fifth brigade with good scores.

The state of personnel discipline within the Air Defense Forces is adequate. Internal order is per regulations. Weapons and equipment are serviceable and ready for combat use. There have not been any breaches of operational readiness.

He is devoted to the CPSU and the Socialist Motherland.

CONCLUSION: For high marks in military and political training, he deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Reviewed and approved at the Military Council of the District, 22 October 1981, protocol 15.

Commander of the Odessa Military District

Colonel-General I. Voloshin [signed & stamped]

22 October 1981

Conclusion of Superiors

He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

Supreme Commander of Air Defense Forces

Marshal of Aviation A. Koldunov [signed]

[stamped: Personnel Department of the Air Defense Forces]

4 November 1981

Awarding material reviewed at the meeting of the Military Council of National Air Defense Forces.

And for his Order of Service to the Motherland

Citation

1. Last Name, Name, Patronymic: SHEVTSOV Viktor Afanasevich

2. Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel

3. Position, Unit: Commander of the 140th Surface-Air Missile Brigade, Northern Group of Forces, since 11 October 1974

Recommended for: the Order “For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd Class

4. Year of Brith: 1937

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Party Membership: Member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

7. Participation in Armed Conflicts in Defense of the USSR or in the Great Patriotic War:

has not participated

8. Wounds and concussions suffered during the Patriotic War: none

9. In the Armed Forces of the USSR since: since 1 October 1955

10. Conscripted by which District Military Commissariat: Stanichno-Lugansk District Military Commissariat, Lugansk Oblast

11. Previously awarded: not awarded

12. Home address of the prospective awardee: military unit field-post 93293

Concise, concrete, description of feat of arms or merit

He is a knowledgable, disciplined, demanding officer.

He is scrupulous in the performance of his official duties.

He is well-versed in the brigade’s equipment and weaponry and their combat use. During tactical exercises with the brigade, he proved himself a seasoned commander.

He leads the brigade’s staff with skill and expertise. He devotes great attention to matters of combat readiness, daily personnel training, and the strengthening of military discipline.

Per the results of military and political training for the 1974 instructional year, the brigade received a good evaluation.

He is responsive and attentive to request and needs of subordinates. He enjoys their professional confidence.

He is ideologically firm. In everyday life, he is modest.

CONCLUSION: For scrupulous performance of his official duties, he deserves to be awarded the Order “For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd Class.

Commander of the Air Defense for the Northern Group of Forces

Major-General Rodsky [signed]

[stamped: Personnel Department of the Northern Group of Forces]

29 March 1975

[page 2]

Conclusion of Superiors

For scrupulous performance of his official duties, he deserves to be awarded the Order “For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd Class.

Reviewed and approved by the Military Council of the Northern Group of Forces, protocol №[illegible] of 30 March 1975.

Commander of the Northern Group of Forces

Colonel-General I. Gerasimov [signed & stamped]

30 March 1975

Sharing some info that an enthusiastic reader of the board (with Russian language skills!) shared with me:

The stamp on the anniversary medal doc is from military unit 68202, which appears to be some portion of the Soviet garrison in Ulaanbaatar. There are two hits for it on google.

One is a Russian forum thread (http://mongol.su/forum/index.php?topic=630.100) where someone who worked there (as a civilian, apparently) wrote something ambiguous (includes some neat pics!). In the same sentence, he mentions housing services (КЭЧ), a staff, a signals regiment, infantry, and electricity generation. The other result is an Odnoklassniki page (https://ok.ru/group/51808659177570) for the unit. The page is labeled КЭЧ, and the photos look pretty domestic.

Researcher indicates he doesn't know what to conclude, since one unit number could encompass a lot, but that it is odd for a document to a foreigner (an active duty Colonel no less) to be signed by someone of comparatively low rank (Lt. Colonel Zykov, commander of unit 68202) from a backwater unit.

Oops... unfortunate typo, my laptop is old and clearly needs a new keyboard!

Yes, eagerly awaiting that. 

Ms Slutz is a former US ambassador to Mongolia and apparently caught a bit of the Mongolia collecting bug as well. She was also awarded a Polar Star order,

Any updates on DPRK collecting? I've been considering acquiring one of the beautiful Soviet made awards (such as the Order of Labor) and was surprised to see the previously large amount of high end awards for sale on a New Jersey dealer site virtually all having disappeared.