Hauptmann

Hi all, Just received two terrific gifts from a couple of friends. Will post the other, an ORS next but wanted to start with this one. So without further ado... first the medal and then the research:

Took the liberty of resizing and reposting for you. Hope it helps! Dan

Come on folks... let's not let this thread go idle again. I just know there are more rare goodies out there just waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Hoping to see more soon! Dan

Great pieces Tom... showing honest age and wear... which means if they could only talk the tales they could tell. Much better than pieces that stayed on shelves in a store or in a drawer after award as those may only have seen an occassional parade or special occassion. Thanks for sharing! Dan

Hi Brian, Happy to help out. Great piece you found... thanks for sharing. It's one I'd like to get some day along with the 1st class. I found what I think is a better pic of the ribbon and just popped that one in place of the other. Dan

Non-commbatant ribbon: Dan

I believe it's a JU87 Stuka Dive Bomber. Dan

Many apologies to all on the above, especially the repro ones... only ones I could find in a hurry on the web to show examples of the "scrambled egg" types. I'm not heavy into the headgear/uniforms... only have a few pieces and none of the higher ups. There's a ton of info available and I'm sure alot of that is here on GMIC if you do a search. I know there's also (or at least used to be) a site on Soviet parade uniforms of Marshals, Generals, Admirals and such but don't know what it is off hand. Again just search and you'll come up with it. I believe it's (it was?) connected to the book on the same subject which is well worth getting IMHOP by the way. And I totally agree... you MUST be careful with these things as there are now a ton of reproductions and fakes out there. I've seen folks convert original pieces say by sticking the metal scrambled eggs on the brim or even on the cap itself! Same goes for uniforms. They change insignia, pop ODM's, etc., on them to make them look more impressive and try to sell them for a small fortune. Even if they're cheap if they're messed with the best that can be hoped for is to restore them to their original condition with the proper insignia, etc. So unless one is looking for such a project be careful, do your research, get references, look at original examples in person if at all possible and by all means double check with your fellow GMIC members for advice and a (hopefully) thumbs up before you spend your hard earned money. Dan

Chief Petty Officers (CPO's) would have had a different cap badge and a black plastic chin strap instead of the gold chin cords. Enlisted men and other Petty Officers would have worn these: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2010/post-873-12708194705.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2010/post-873-127081949375.jpg Here's a site showing the various types of Soviet naval headgear: http://www.undertheredstar.com/navy.htm Hope this helps. Dan

Admiral (flag officer) caps: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2010/post-873-127081910635.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2010/post-873-127081915732.jpg

I believe this one would have been from Jr. Lt. up through Captain Lt. Here's a rank chart: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_ranks_of_the_Soviet_Union Captain 3rd Rank up to Captain 1st Rank would have scrambled eggs on the brim of the cap, and flag officers would have more such embroidery on the brim. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2010/post-873-127081869171.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2010/post-873-127081881635.jpg Black caps for fall/winter and white for spring/summer.

Soviet naval officers cap... 1960's to the end of the SU I believe. Junior officer ranks. Hope this helps. Dan

I don't know the first patch... something to do with nuclear submarines. I believe the one in post 2 would be worn on the shoulder boards and would signify what fleet the individual was assigned to. The one in post 3 is an officers command badge for submarines. If it were in gold instead of silver it would be for Admirals. The ones in post 4 are Naval trade badges... something to do with torpodoes and mines I believe. I believe those wHopinould have been worn on the sleeve of the blue jumper on your last post. But only one of them at a time to signify the specialty/trade the individual was working in. I'm not sure what the difference in the color signifies. Hoping other more knowledgeable members will pop in here and confirm if I'm correct and give more details. Hope this helps. Dan

I took the liberty. I also rotated the first pic to the correct position. Hope it helps. The other separate thread can now be deleted. Dan

These are oustanding gents! I just knew we all still had a bunch of such goodies hidden away in dusty corners. Keep em' coming! Dan

An awesome piece! Many thanks for sharing it! This is what we need to so... so come on folks... dig deep in those drawers and cubbyholes and lets start a fire under this thread. I just know there have to be tons of rare goodies out there in our collections that deserve to be posted here. Dan

So come on guys and gals... surely you must have some more rare and hard to find goodies hidden away somewhere that you'd like to post. Looking forward to seeing more great pieces! Dan

Time to give a boost to another old dorment thread... but one I feel is well worth kicking into gear again. Out of desperation to get this going again I started by posting a TR screwback wound badge... but then realized I did have another rather rare Imperial piece I'd not posted here so decided to switch them out in order to say within the theme. Order of the Griffen. From my understanding this grade was only awarded to Majors and there were only 55 delivered, 40 of those (like this one) by Godet. So hoping this qualifies.

Hi all, Realized this one has been pretty quiet for a good long while. Has anyone added anything new to their Soviet railroad collections? If so please post. I'm hoping to add more but at the moment I'm just hoping to see more examples and perhaps more information on this area of collecting. I've always loved and been fascinated by trains. Didn't take my first trip until just a few years ago and absolutely loved it! Have now taken several train trips, a couple of them in the sleeper which in the U.S. is considered 1st Class but I'm sure it rates far below the standard of English and European 1st Class train travel. Kim and I would love to take a long train trip some day as well as be able to travel in Europe. But for now this part of my collection along with some U.S. material, some Lionel O, HO and N scale trains will have to do. Dan

I found some video compilations on a ghost town on the island of Spitzbergen which was a Soviet mining town. This one has some really cool signs, a monument and a set of three miner's Orders on a building... would love to have those in my collection! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h_c66Ok_bw&feature=related This one starts out with a really cool metal (?) sign... again another I'd love to have! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yilBOFM5rqk&feature=related Dan

Found this on the web... will have to go through my stamp collection and see if I have one or possibly more examples of this. If not I'll have to hunt one down to add to my Soviet miner goodies. Dan

Anyone else add anything to this part of their collection of late? Would love to see more examples. Does anyone have the type I recently posted? How about other types... badges, medals... I know there have got to be more? Dan

Hi Rick, That's the basic medal of the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (Battlegroups of the Working Class). These were civilians who received military training so in the event WWIII broke out they would then act as reserves for the regular Army. If you go to my thread: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8727&st=0 Posts #2 thru #9 (no idea why the picture coding came out and the pics moved from where they should have been... happened during the site improvements) you'll see these from the basic award you have (I need a better example at some point) up through the higher grades, some with their award documents and folders. Hope this helps. Dan

I've managed to fill in all but the Russian (Cyrillic) as another member will have to do that, the long word after "To Captain of" and the name of the Superintendent. Hope this helps out. Dan 24 Dec (23 Dec) 1904 Discharge1904/2 6 Jan (7 Jan) 1905 5 To Captain of ______________________ Dear Sir, I am honoured to inform you, that you can go to home, (to Hamburg if you please,) This day. - Superintendent Captain __________