Hauptmann

I believe this makes my 16th OGPW of all types and levels. As Gerd said they do tend to breed.

Dan

And here's another 85 issue OGPW 2nd... this one having matching award book and box:

Paul also kindly gave me an additional Orders book. Here's a shot of the inside pages (courtesy of Paul and used with permission, with many thanks!). If anyone would need/like to see the front cover, etc., just ask and I'll be happy to scan them:

Any info (translation on this or other docs is much appreciated! ).

Here's the award booklet that came with it although it's not a match to the OGPW just shown:

Okay, here's an 85 issue of the OGPW 2nd, also from Paul. The serial number was scratched out, probably by the original owner. But they didn't do a good job and the number is still very visible:

Serial number: 1823103:

And a closeup of the makers mark:

Also, anything that looks like tarnish or marks on the star are actually from the scan. Probably time to clean the glass again. But all the metal on this is in great shape and nice and shiny. It also has a good weight to it but as I don't currently have access to a good scale I can't tell you what it is. I'll see if I can get it weighed over at the post office and if so will let you know.

But it's a nicely made piece and a great fitted case to boot. And no idea as to the police insignia on the lid of the case. Paul didn't know either.

And now for a few of my own scans:

Hi all,

Okay, a few more new goodies... well in the last month or two that is. Just now getting a chance to post as I've been up to my ears with work, work and work and trying to squeeze in a bit of sleep whenever I can.

First off, and I can hear the moans before I even post it. A wearing copy of the Hero of the Soviet Union. It's from Paul Schmitt and he'd had it for fourteen years. Also right before he shipped it to me he noticed for the first time that it has a mint or makers mark on it. Anyone have any idea what it represents?

Here's the pics. First two are courtesy of Paul and used with his permission... many thanks Paul!!!!

Hi all,

Well, not so much a collection... yet! But hoping I'll be able to start adding pieces over time. So in that spirit... here's my one and only Mongolian piece in the hope that it'll get things moving:

I've loved Mongolian awards for quite some time. Beautiful enamels and terrific designs. Sadly prices went up before I could dig in... but I'm still looking for deals and as I say hoping to continue to add to this thread over time.

And yes, I plan to buy Dr. Battushig's book as soon as I can.

Hi Dan,

I did find several articles but none of them set out the date or reason for this present.

Well after some thinking I said... why would some Polish workers give Stalin a present? He was either visiting them (in which case I could not suggest a date), or they were visiting him (somehow unlikely but still no clue of a date) OR, it was his birthday! The 70th Birthday seemed the only one I could suggest..... but its really and truly guess work.

I'll come up with a question shortly. Question is.... on a scale of one to ten.... and I think my last one was a twelve , how tough do we want the questions to be?

Jim

Hi Jim,

As in tests in school, often guesswork pays off!

As to the questions... and speaking only for me of course, I love seeing difficult ones as they help to keep us learning new things... but the occassional set of easier ones are nice as well. I for one have never traveled in Europe, am not fluent in any other languages, although I have taken German and French and can manage by hook or by crook. So I'm not able to read many of the references and books that some others can, nor have I visited many of the places others have been. So it's either the web or things that have been available in English, either books, documentaries, movies, etc., that help me out in these. Well, that and my education here at the University of GMIC.

And I must admit that I've learned quite a bit on the last few questions... although that last one was soooooo frustrating. I had the person and his dates... just not the eye for sure... but knew it was him. Of course without all the info I couldn't answer the question. But I got to ask the next one anyway (many thanks to Christian! ) so all worked out. But still hoping to get more over time.

Again just my two cents worth.

Dan

This was a telephone fashioned in the shape of a hammer and sickle telephone resting over a globe and given to Stalin as a gift from Polish workers. I have not found the year itself or the occassion for which it was given but until then I am going with 1949 as the year being the occasion of Stalin's 70th birthday!

Regards

Jim

Hi Jim,

WOW... you are good! I'd hoped this would be a bit easier than the last few as I felt we needed a bit of a break... but didn't think it would go quite that quick. Congratulations on all points!

Here's a link to an article with more information:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...l%3Den%26sa%3DN

Go down just a bit to the article "On The Phone" and then click on "writes" in the body of the text and it will take you to the full article with more pics, etc.

Hoping it works okay for everyone.

So back to you! Great job!

Dan

NEXT QUESTION

Gentlemen,

if Jim says, that I answered his question to 100 %, then I will hand over the right to put the coming question to GMIC-member Dan "Hauptmann", due to the fact, that I wouldn't be back to my library not before wednesday.

Best regards

Christian

Hi Christian,

Many thanks my friend and congratulations! Now that Jim has confirmed your hard earned victory I'll run with it per your request.

I was a gift.

What am I?

Who was I given to, by whom, in what year and on what occassion?

Good luck!

Dan

I love the Order of the Red Banner on this one... just had to have it.

Would be most grateful for a translation and any further info on this one.

Dan

Hi all,

My latest... a small banner from Paul Schmitt. Pics are his and used with his permission. Many thanks Paul!

Hi all,

First off... don't be hesitant about posting that last one WC... I think it's neat! Interesting history and one of those "if only it could talk" pieces. Nothing in the world wrong with that. I enjoyed seeing it. Thanks for sharing!

Secondly... they're breeding again. Here's my latest additions.

First one off Ebay... complete 85 2nd class set of original box, OGPW 2nd and award booklet all matching:

Sellers pic... will do better scans and pop on when I get a chance.

And this one, although not a matched set... another 85 2nd class where the number was scratched out... but they didn't do a good job and it's still completely visible. Got this from Paul Schmitt and the pic is his used with his permission. Thanks Paul!

I'll have to do up scans of this one, front and back and pop on along with the one above. The award booklet sadly does not match... it's for a different number but was included with this OGPW.

Dan

Got it a short while back from Paul Schmitt. The pics are his and used with his permission. Many thanks Paul! Note it has a crack which Paul believes happened due to the size and weight of the medal when it was struck. Still a nice piece though and goes well with the rest of my DDR collection. Wish I had the case for it... if it was originally issued in one.

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my one addition to this thread... so far:

Hi Gordon,

Many thanks for the additional info on these and the pics as well. I love the color representation of the badge... very nice!

Just out of curiosity... was there any documentation given with the presentation sets when they were given to whatever higher up received them? I don't know a ton on the history behind them... just what has been posted on them in the Hungarian section so far.

Dan

Vic, Bryan... great passports!!!! Keep up the great work!

Dan

Great one Vic! Keep up the good work!!!! You're going to be document king before long!

Dan

Hi Dan

Its was a tough one but I think I got there in the end.

Who was I?

Mammad Amin Rasulzade

What was my involvement with youth?

He received his primary education at the Russian-Moslem Secondary School and continued his studies at the Technical College (now Petroleum College) in Baku. From 1903, beginning as a student and continuing onward, Rasulzade began writing articles in various opposition magazines. In his years of study he created "Muslim Youth Organisation Musavat",[1] first secret organisation in Azerbaijan's contemporary history.

Who did I help and how?

Rasulzade and Stalin had met for the first time in Baku when they were both in their twenties, around 1907. At the time, Rasulzade was working as a journalist, writing articles for various opposition magazines and working with the Musavat Azerbaijani National Party. Stalin, a Georgian, was in Baku organizing the oil workers against the authorities and the Czar. When officials tried to arrest Stalin, it was Rasulzade who had saved him by hiding him in his apartment.

How did my helping him help save me later... and from what?

Rasulzade was eager to be rid of the Czar too, but he differed from Stalin in that he wanted the government to be based on democratic principles, not socialistic. Rasulzade wanted his country to be independent from the Russian Empire. This time, it was Stalin's turn to save Rasulzade. In the end, he accepted Stalin's offer and went to Moscow

I could be called a founder... name some things I founded or helped to found.

While in Iran, Rasulzade became one of the founders of "Iran-e No" (New Iran) Democratic Party.

When did I die?

March 6th 1955

Where am I buried?

Ankara, Turkey

What expression of mine became the motto of a movement?

"Bir kere yukselen bayraq, bir daha enmez!" or "The banner of liberty once hoisted will never be lowered again." This famous phrase by Rasulzade would later become one of the most popular Azerbaijani slogans during the demonstrations of the 1990s, said on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union. This become the motto of the independence movement in Azerbaijan in the 20th century.

Name one of my plays

His first dramatic play was entitled "The Light in the Darkness," and was staged in Baku in 1908.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammed_Amin_Rasulzade" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammed_Amin_Rasulzade</a>

Hi Jim,

I believe we have a winner. A couple of points though from my reading of the article:

How did my helping him help save me later... and from what?

After the collapse of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in April 1920, Rasulzade left Baku and went into hiding in the mountainous village of Lahij to direct the resistance to Sovietization, but in August 1920, after Soviet Russian army crashed the rebellions of Ganja, Karabakh, Zagatala and Lankaran, lead by ex-officers of the Azerbaijani National Army, Rasulzade was arrested and brought to Baku. It was only due to his earlier rescue of Joseph Stalin in 1905, that Rasulzade was released and transferred from Azerbaijan to Russia. For the next two years, Rasulzade worked as the press representative at the Commissariat on Nations in Moscow. He was seconded to Saint Petersburg in 1922 from where he escaped to Finland.

and:

I could be called a founder... name some things I founded or helped to found.

In 1904 he founded the first muslim social-democrat organisation "Hummet" and became editor-in-chief of its newspapers, "Tekam?l"(1906-1907) and "Yoldaş"(1907).

Rasulzade also initiated the establishment of Baku State University together with Rashid khan Kaplanov, minister of education with the funding of oil baron Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev in 1919. Rasulzade taught Ottoman literature at the University.

He was an Azerbaijani statesman, scholar, public figure and one of the founding political leaders of Azerbaijan Republic (1918-1920).

Again just my slant on having read the article... which I would highly recommend doing. It's very interesting and again this was an individual who was involved with history we were all familiar with (As far as Stalin and the Bolsheviks) but I'd never heard of him before. Had it not been for my research into the past question I would most likely never have discovered or learned anything about him.

Yet again one of the great things about this quiz and about GMIC!

So Jim... you are the official winner. Congratulations on a job well done!!!!

I pass the baton to you.

Dan

Dear Dan,

some more hints would be very wellcome .

I know the face of the comrade in question, but I still couldn't find him in Stalin's biography - and I know the life of comrade Stalin rather well .....

I found no matching in history among:

- early Bolshevik

- helped Stalin before he got "Stalin the Voshd"

- playwriter

- statesman

Dan, what's your definition of a "statesman" ?

Prime Minister, President or also Deputy-Ministers, secretaries of important ministers, etc. ?

Best regards

Christian

Hi Christian,

Actually it's not necessarily my definition... but the site I found the info on.

Some more clues.

The "Stalin" incident happened in 1905.

He lived most of his final years in exile as his presence in those places where he'd been involved politically would have been too sensitive.

He died in 1955.

Hope this helps... but not "too" much.

Dan

Hi all,

Let me know if ya'll need more hints. I'm all for making ya'll work for it but not for driving anyone insane!

Dan