paja

You are most welcome, and thank you for sharing this great find with us! Considering that the year is 1944 he must have got the 1st type of the decoration, the rarer one made by the Soviets. Now that you've mentioned that the order was received by a true partisan, I've heard that later in order to receive this decoration you only needed two witnesses to confirm that you were in the partisan movement from the beginning. Kind regards, Radmilo

Greetings, I believe that this is a very rare document. Interesting thing is that It was issued on 20th of October 1944, the day when the capital of Yugoslavia, Belgrade was liberated thanks to Soviet Red Army! Translation: HEADQUARTERS 5th STRIKING DIVISION 1st proletarian corps N(ational) L(iberation) A(rmy) of Yugoslavia Number: 272-1944 Station (Position?), 20th October 1944 LEGITIMATION For comrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . who joined partisans in the 1941 and earned a right to wear "SPOMENICA 1941" DEATH TO FASCISM, FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE! Commissioner of the personnel department lieutenant colonel, End of translation. Kind regards, Radmilo

You are most welcome Daniele. I started one more topic with pictures of weapons from the collection of the Historical Museum in Belgrade. Just in case someone missed it here's the link: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/54158-weapons-exibition-at-historical-museum-of-serbia/ Kind regards, Radmilo

Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind replies. I agree with you Paul, and I believe that after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand it was just a matter of day when will the war begin. As you noticed accepting of Austrian ultimatum would probably just prolong it for a while. From those ten points of ultimatum I find one more very interesting, Serbia was to remove from the Army and administration all of the officers and other personel from the list that was to be delivered by Austrians. And the government accepted even that. As for the military budgets from that period, I agree that that would be very strong indicator about the intentions of great powers at that time, unfortunatelly I can't find some serious material that deals with this matter specifically. Regards, Radmilo

Greetings Gentlemen, I have just recently saw this topic. Very interesting material, I have read some of the details here for the first time and for that I am thankful. I do not have such a great knowledge like other participants in this discussion when it comes to a broader picture but couple of things that Paul wrote attracted my attention. I believe Serbia tried to do everything possible to avoid conflict with Austria. Ultimatum had ten points, lot of them were very hard and humiliating for an independent state, not only the fifth one. Their demands were deliberately formulated that way because they knew there was no chance that one state could accept them. I believe that the British Foreign Secretary said that it was the hardest ultimatum ever to be given to one state by another. But in spite of that Serbian government agreed to accept nine points, only one was rejected, with hopes that that would be enough to satisfy Austrians and thus avoid war. One more fact is very important here, Serbia just ended two wars, one more so quickly after that was surely not desirable. On the other hand with Austrians so eager to punish and destroy Serbia I believe that even if the complete ultimatum was accepted they would have found another excuse to start the war. When it comes to a Greater Serbia in December of 1914, Assembly adopted Nish Declaration, where Serbian war goals where proclaimed. Primal goal was to liberate and unify in one state all of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, so not creation of a Greater Serbia but of Yugoslavia. Personally I believe that that was one of the biggest mistakes, I always thought that a smaller Serbia was a better solution than a bigger Yugoslavia. But who knows what would then have happen with Croats and Slovenians, territory they inhabited would have probably been divided between Italy, Austria and Hungary. But enough with that I'm going off topic. Some time ago I have read an article saying that in the period between 1910-1914 military budgets were increased in some cases drastically. British and French around 10 percent but Russian around 40, and German above 70! Kind regards, Radmilo

You are welcome Artan, I'm glad you find it interesting. There weren't that many items displayed, but some of them were very impressive. I especially liked dagger that belonged to Vojvoda Tankosić and Nagant revolvers. @IrishGunner Thanks for invitation, I will certainly take a look. Best regards, Radmilo

II Balkan War commemorative medal http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-07493600-1359823387.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-81531800-1359823409.jpg

For the end Balkan Wars commemorative medals. I Balkan War Commemorative medal http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-55983900-1359823198.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-64260400-1359823253.jpg Huguenin inscription.

Serbian revolver M1891 Nagant system, 7,5mm http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-19017800-1359822074.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-75019300-1359822086.jpg

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-42960100-1359821110.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-49360200-1359821122.jpg Flintlock pistol that belonged to Djavid Pasha, one of the Turkish commanders in the Battle of Monastir (Bitola). He surrendered himself to Serbian General Ilija Gojković.

Serbian machine gun M1909 Maxim system, 7mm with an inscription: "People of the Niš district to their heroic II Infantry Regiment - Princ Mihailo" http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-58204700-1359820802.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-32727900-1359820815.jpg http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-79070500-1359820831.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-01293100-1359820843.jpg

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-68868400-1359819413.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-90501800-1359819427.jpg

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-66254000-1359819042.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-20339500-1359819081.jpg http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-87111700-1359819204.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-13696900-1359819238.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-99487500-1359819258.jpg

Serbian infantry saber M1861/70 that belonged to the first Serbian Field Marshal (Vojvoda) Radomir Putnik. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-53126500-1359818487.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-01825800-1359818877.jpg

Copy of Turkish infantry rifle Martini-Henry M1871 made in Prizren and used by Turkish irregular troops Dagger (Kama) that belonged to Major Vojislav Tankosić, Chetnik leader, a member of the Black Hand organisation and a participant in May Overthrow. Also a member of the Young Bosnia which organized assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-52838200-1359814324.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-07917300-1359814345.jpg His initials along with the symbol of the Chetnik organisation - Human skull with two crossed bones, and a picture of him. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-68758300-1359814739.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-30086400-1359814477.jpg

Turkish officer's saber http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-34175500-1359812909.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-85355100-1359812932.jpg Turkish intelligence service report on preparations of the Serbian army along the boarder

Serbian infantry rifle M1880/07 Đurić - Mauser - Milovanović system, 7mm http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-58002400-1359812234.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-04190300-1359812319.jpg

Turkish infantry rifle Martini-Henry system M1871/1911, 7,65mm Turkish infantry rifle M1893 Mauser system, 7,65mm (below) http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-00203100-1359812054.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-28024800-1359812096.jpg

Serbian infantry rifle M1899/07 Mauser system, 7mm (on the left) Russian infantry rifle M1891 Mosin system, 7,62mm used by the Montenegrin Army http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-73767200-1359761498.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-21728800-1359761515.jpg Knife, a gift given to Montenegrin Brigadier Janko Vukotić by Essad Pasha Toptani, commander of the defense of Scutari. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-22843100-1359762230.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-84582600-1359762349.jpg

Reconstructions, from left to right: 1. Cavalry private, I call in new uniform 2. Artillery private, II call in old uniform 3. Infantry private, III call in his own clothes Infantry private http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-46990100-1359760824.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-69023400-1359760872.jpg

White flag used as a sign of a Turkish surrender after the Siege of Adrianople (Edirne). There is an inscription on it saying that it was used by the Turks during the surrender and that it was taken down by order of the second lieutenant Dragiša M. Stojadinović, XIII regiment. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-02497400-1359759766.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-11809900-1359759823.jpg Shashka that belonged to the commander of the fortress Mehmed Shukri Pasha Lantern that belonged to the same person

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-90401700-1359758119.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-15222900-1359758136.jpg

Serbian infantry rifle M1880/07 Đurić - Mauser - Milovanović system, 7mm Turkish infantry rifle M1903 Mauser system, 7,65mm (on the bottom) Serbian cavalry officer's saber M1895 Pocket watch of a fallen Serbian soldier found on the grounds where the Battle of Kumanovo took place Serbian revolver M1891, Nagant system, 7,5mm http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-21382200-1359757803.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2013/post-7937-0-84416900-1359757824.jpg

On the 25th of October last year an exhibition "100 years since the Battle of Kumanovo" was opened at the Military Museum in Belgrade. Article about the exhibition from the Museum's website: http://www.muzej.mod.gov.rs/en/news/24-10-2012/kumanovo-battle-exhibition-opened#.UQwzjWeQOFl Article on Wikipedia about this decisive battle in the First Balkan War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kumanovo Here are couple of pictures from the exhibition. Serbian infantry officer's saber M1861/70 Bulgarian infantry officer's saber M1889 Serbian II Balkan War commemorative medal

Now with decorations, it was recently on sale. On 6th place wrong medal. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2013/post-7937-0-76421500-1358118337.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2013/post-7937-0-18397500-1358118372.jpg