Ed's Afghan Abyss

[Ed_Haynes]

With certificate to Vladimir Yurevich Loginov, 20 April 1987.

April 1987: From 15 January 1987, there was a six-month ceasefire declared against the Mujahadeen, but this was rejected. Significant action during this period in Kunar, Laghman, Nangahar, Logar, and Pakhtia Provinces, along the northern route toward the Salang Tunnel (especially on 21 Feb near Puli Khumari, Baghlan Province), in/on the Shomali Valley and Plateau, and (though mostly after this date?) along the Circular Road near Maimana (Heart/Mazar-i-Sharif). Known to have been major actions in Nangahar in April which resulted in the killing of 50 Soviet troops and the capture of 28 (this seems quite likely?). In May 1987, Babrak Karmal was arrested, and replaced in Sept. by Mohamed Najibullah.

Outside:

Edited November 3, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Inside spread:

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal for Distinguished Military Service

Similar to the Soviet award of the same name.

[Ed_Haynes]

With Afghan document to Ravil Andulbiarovich Abdulin, dated 2 July 1987.

July 1987: From 15 January 1987, there was a six-month ceasefire declared against the Mujahadeen, but this was rejected. Significant action during this period in Kunar, Laghman, Nangahar, Logar, and Pakhtia Provinces, along the northern route toward the Salang Tunnel (especially on 21 Feb near Puli Khumari, Baghlan Province), in/on the Shomali Valley and Plateau, and along the Circular Road near Maimana (Heart/Mazar-i-Sharif). May-June, fighting at Kandahar, and June 1987, battle of Ali Khal. In May 1987, Babrak Karmal was arrested, and replaced in Sept by Mohamed Najibullah.

Outside:

Edited November 3, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Interior spread:

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal for Gallantry

Similar to the Soviet Medal for Bravery.

The medal was founded December, 24, 1980. The medal was awarded to military men, volunteers, and foreign citizens for courage, stability(resistance), and gallantry in fights with enemies of Democratic Republic Afghanistan. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal For Excellent Service

Similar to the Soviet Medal for Combat Service (sic).

The medal was founded 24 December 1980 and was awarded to military men who in the struggle against enemies of the Afghan state exhibited skilful actions and initiative involving risk for life and who promoted the success of combat operations. This medal was also awarded to foreign citizens.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Order of the Saur Revolution, first variety

Roughly parallel to the Soviet Order of the October Revolution.

Established 24 December 1980. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

This is the first variety, 1980-??. This one is numbered (low!) 0543.

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Order of People's Friendship

Simular to the Soviet Order of Friendship of Nations.

The award " Friendship of Peoples " was founded 24 December 1980.

The award was given to citizens of the PDRA, the foreign citizen, to enterprises and organizations, and to provinces and cities.

The award was made for:

- oustanding work in the propagation and strengthening of brotherly friendship of all tribes and nationalities of Afghanistan;

- for achievements in the work directed at the growth and strengthening of the national economy;

- for excellent service in state and national reconstruction;

- for merit in political development, enrichment and mutual cultural exchange between tribes and nationalities of Afghanistan, for active participation in education of citizens in spirit of friendship and proletarian internationalism, and fidelity to the native land;

- for merit in the strengthening of defensive power of the PDRA;

- for merit in the strengthening of the the world and the friendship of peoples.

The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

This specimen is unnumbered and may be an unissued piece, though the evidence on the patterns here is unclear.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

At the risk of administering an Afghan overdose, I shall pause here. More to come if anyone can take it.

[Ed_Haynes]

Risking overstaying my welcome, one more, others can come if desired or needed.

People's Democratic Republic

Order of the Star

Directly parallel to the Soviet Order of Glory. One would be awarded the third class, and then successively promoted to second or first classes. The award was founded 24 December 1980 in these three classes.

This order was awarded to military men, includinng volunteers, exclusively for personal bravery, courage and fearlessness in combat conditions, for excellent organization and realization of combat operations, for enticing the opponent into a defeat, for outstanding activity in increasing the fighting capacity of the armed forces. The medal could also be awarded to foreign citizens.

The first class is all gold, the second class gold and silver, and the third class all silver. All are numbered on the reverse with the number of the class. I have never seen a numbered award, including some that friends showed me mounted in their own groups.

Two varieties exist:

-- 1980-87 -- with book below the national arms on the obverse

-- 1987-92 -- with no book below the national arms on the obverse.

Here's what lives with me with, obviously, a "hole" .

[Christophe]

At the risk of administering an Afghan overdose, I shall pause here. More to come if anyone can take it.

Ed,

Please continue !!!! Where else do you want us to see such gems ?

Congrats again for your collection.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ed_Haynes]

OK, since you asked . . . . . . as I have time will add on here.

People's Democratic Republic

Self-Sacrifice Medal

Sometimnes called "Self-Sufficiency Medal". Believed to be roughly equivalent to the Soviet Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

Established 17 May 1982. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

Edited November 7, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Madal Dawalati Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan / National Medal of Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan

There is a whole range of medals named after important figures in Afghan History. It isn't clear what any of them were awarded for, though. It is known that Mir Bacha Khan was one of those who opposed British imperialism in the nineteenth century.

Established 17 May 1982. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal for Seventy Years of Independence

Awarded in 1990 to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of Afghan Independence in 1920.

A very common e$cam medal, though identified as everything you can imagine.

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal for the Tenth Anniversary of the Saur Revolution

Established 27 April 1988. Awarded to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the April 1978 revolution.

Another very common item on eBay.

[Stogieman]

Amazing display of a little-known field of expertise Ed. Most impressive!

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Daulat Malamshaikh Alam Medal / State Medal of Mullah Meshach the Learned

Whoever he may be? Another one of those "named-after-someone-important" medals. The design would suggest some cultural/educational link?

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal Dawlati Malali Qaharaman M'akrah Miwanad / State Medal of Malali the Heroine of Maiwand [?]

Named after one of the most famous heroines of Afghan history, this may well be some sort of women's award? Malali is said to have rallied Afghan forces on the battlefield at Maiwand on 27 July 1880 (during the Second Afghan War) and contributed thereby to the smashing British defeat that ensued.

The obverse has a "moving" scene of a kneeling male kissing the hand of a standing female (Malali), perhaps a clue to the significance of the medal?

Edited November 7, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Faid Djamanudin Afghania

Your guess is as good as mine. The symbolism seems religious/cultural, though anything Islamic would be odd for the secular PDRA.

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Medal of Ghazi Muhammad Ayub Khan

Whoever he may be.

[Ed_Haynes]

People's Democratic Republic

Self-Sacrifice Medal of the Central Committee of the S.D.J.A.

This is a real puzzle. The "S.D.J.A." is probably the Sazman-e Difa'-e Janbazi-ye Afghanistan (Organization for Self-sacrificial Defense of Afghanistan).

[Ed_Haynes]

Notvas if there is a great deal of interest in this stuff, I guess, but just a few more items, since most of the Afghan material is on "home leave" just now.

PDRA: Medal of Literacy, 1st and 2nd class

[Ed_Haynes]

PDRA: Order of the Saur Revolution, second variety

While it may not look like it, it is deep red enamel on the points of the star.

[Ed_Haynes]

PDRA: Order of the Saur Revolution, both varieties

The two varieties together.