Soviet Back from Georgia... stuff to share

[Bob]

Will be posting some scans of awards I purchased there later today. Nothing major / shocking (although very nice deputat badge with low number is an interesting) but am considering researching a couple:

- high numbered red star with booklet

- WW2 issue order of great patriotic war

Of course... assuming what I purchased is real. Will also post some pics of interesting museums: Museum of Stalin and, close by, a nice local WW2 museum with some awards and stuff.

That's for later today. First though... an item which I didn't buy but still have an option on and would appreciate your feedback.

- Order of Red Banner 3rd awarding

- with booklet

Does this set make sense?

Pics coming in a minute.

[Bob]

3rd awarding, serial number 6014 + booklet

extremely difficult from these unfocussed pics of course... but still, appreciate your feedback

the price was attractive enough to want to buy it but substantial enough to not take a blind risk

The 3rd award - as per Echoes of War - would have been given between 5-11-50 and 15-11-50.... probably long service?

The 2nd... war time?

The 1st... idem?

[Bob]

[Bryan]

I am no specialist in order books, but to me the last 3 entries of the 3 Orders of the Red Banners look ver suspicious. They all have the same writings even if you said the 3rd RB should have been awarded in the 50's. I do think that this order book was doctored. Shouldn't they have roman letters for "II" and "III" red Banner?

[Christian Zulus]

I am no specialist in order books, but to me the last 3 entries of the 3 Orders of the Red Banners look ver suspicious. They all have the same writings even if you said the 3rd RB should have been awarded in the 50's. I do think that this order book was doctored. Shouldn't they have roman letters for "II" and "III" red Banner?

Right, the 3 RB-entries look a bit strange, but the OK was issued in 1947 and ALL 3 RBs should be post-war according to their s/n. So, the writing is different.

Maybe the comrade was a great test-pilot, who got his 2 RBs + 1 long-service-RB in the 1950s?

Maybe he got his 3 RBs within one year: Tested two new aircrafts + 20 years in service?

Best regards

Christian

[Bob]

Right, the 3 RB-entries look a bit strange, but the OK was issued in 1947 and ALL 3 RBs should be post-war according to their s/n. So, the writing is different.

Maybe the comrade was a great test-pilot, who got his 2 RBs + 1 long-service-RB in the 1950s?

Maybe he got his 3 RBs within one year: Tested two new aircrafts + 20 years in service?

Best regards

Christian

Well, that's not a bet I'm going to take with my money:)

Feedback is consistent also with "the other forum" and, when it comes to spotting fakes, shows that you trust gut instinct if you feel it's not right.

Glad I kept my money in my pocket... when I post my other stuff (which I did buy, for only a small amount of Georgian Lari's) I'll see whether I did OK there though:)

[JimZ]

I think you did well to stay away from it especially given the booklet (cannot comment on the scans as they are too unfocussed).

I am not one that is obsessed with price .... if you want something bad enough for whatever reason you will pay up! But if I may ask... what is an attractive price for this "ORB 3" in Georgia? More curious really

Jim

[Bob]

Was offered it for 800 USD (which I presumed was cheap - for a 3rd RB that is).

Will post some other items now which were cheap also in USD terms. Let's see if I got badly burned buying "junk" (soviet is not my main area of collecting) or not.

First, worthwhile researching a late Red Star or not? Number 3545081 placing it around 57 / 58 after long service awards... or?

[NavyFCO]

First, worthwhile researching a late Red Star or not? Number 3545081 placing it around 57 / 58 after long service awards... or?

Looks like a good piece. As far as research, I checked the database on here, and mine and I think it might well be. Why not?

Dave

Edited January 3, 2007 by NavyFCO

[Bob]

Deputat

[Bob]

Looks like a good piece. As far as research, I checked the database on here, and mine and I think it might well be. Why not?

Dave

The calvinist in me just feels a bit weird about paying much more for research than the actual award.

Here is the doc that came with it... doesn't seem right though in terms of the order / timing. Perhaps the book itself is just "made up".

I'll research the red star - first time so should be fun whatever comes out:)

[Bob]

second pic - more meaningful

[Bob]

another item bought in Georgia... OGPW... bit of a wild swing of the sickle... but took the risk of payin 10 USD anyway... for the high number... unless it's a fake, I'd consider researching this "common" award as well out of curiosity for when / where it was awarded (no doc for this one)

number: 951880

[Bob]

And here's an interesting variation that you don't see very often...

2132344 is my guess of the number

[Bob]

and apparently a Georgian who boarded the wrong flight and found himself in Afghanistan...

although, if blankn booklets are on the market, I guess you can also get Alexander Lebed's for sale somewhere...

[Bob]

and something to remember 3 Georgian with who played a role in defeating facism

[Bob]

Yep - Stalin still standing tall...

of course, with his own "Stalin Avenue" who can blame him!

[Bob]

But before heading to the Stalin museum... a pleasant surprise, a nice little military museum tucked away in a corner (so happy to get a visitor that no entrance was asked and photography was free everywhere).

To give an impression.

[Bob]

Yes, there were medals... small impression

And all this, before heading to the Stalin museum...

More on Stalin museum in Gori (home of Stalin) next time - too late here now

[JimZ]

Not bad - you got yourself a late OGPW 2 #951880. Even more interesting is the innovative attachment on the #2132344 where Mr Georgia (possibly Mr Russia) decided he had poked enough holes in his good clothes! Other than that its a standard 1985 award. The 3 OGPW's with docs are also standard 1985 awards and the Red Star is potentially a long service award (?). The afghanistan medal I somehow never cared much about and have also totally ignored. Beats me why!

$800 for a #3 RB mmmm...... Let me just say that if its not original (which is my guess!! ) you'd be 800 bucks poorer with nothing to show for it. Wise to have kept away.

Now forget the medals... did you vacation in Georgia? What took you there and how was it? Surely not high up on my holiday list although the food and to a lesser extent, the wines could be rather enticing.

Jim

Edited January 4, 2007 by jimzammit

[NavyFCO]

Yes, there were medals... small impression

Wow! I would have LOVED to have gotten the serial numbers and ukaz dates out of those Red Star documents!!!

[Christian Zulus]

RB #3

Great photographs from Georgia - many thanks .

For my taste - in comparison to the literature and to my own RB #3 - the number "3" of the RB seems a little bit to big and too large.

Just my impression .

Best regards

Christian

[Bob]

Not bad - you got yourself a late OGPW 2 #951880. Even more interesting is the innovative attachment on the #2132344 where Mr Georgia (possibly Mr Russia) decided he had poked enough holes in his good clothes! Other than that its a standard 1985 award. The 3 OGPW's with docs are also standard 1985 awards and the Red Star is potentially a long service award (?). The afghanistan medal I somehow never cared much about and have also totally ignored. Beats me why!

$800 for a #3 RB mmmm...... Let me just say that if its not original (which is my guess!! ) you'd be 800 bucks poorer with nothing to show for it. Wise to have kept away.

Now forget the medals... did you vacation in Georgia? What took you there and how was it? Surely not high up on my holiday list although the food and to a lesser extent, the wines could be rather enticing.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Georgia is a very friendly country I have to say... people are very hospitable, food I though was very good, certainly the drinks were... and interesting sites (although winter may not be the ideal time to travel). Of course, I have a bit of a preference for spending my vacations in (formerly) communist countries or current dictatorships or other such countries (was in Turkmenistan for 3 weeks last year... just in time to still be there while it's covered with posters, statues with Turkmenbashi). In Georgia I rented a jeep (not very expensive) and travelled all over (except for some of the potentially dangerous area) - Tbilisi, Gori (where Stalin museum is), Batumi on the coast, the wine district Khakhetie in the East, Borjomi (great mineral water, great baths / massages!), etc.

For other people who like such countries (as well as Soviet awards), I can actually highly recommend travelling to Belarus:

- Brest Fortress is an AMAZING place to visit... the fortress itself, the surrounding park with great socialist realisti statues... and the museum was jampacked with Soviet awards:)

- In Minsk there is a wonderful Museum of the Great Patriotic War (again, filled with medals)

- and of course bliny and other good stuff:)

I'll have a check if I have some old digital pics of Belarus to post. Wasn't into medals then yet, so not much pics, but Belarus is definately a place I'd recommend to all on this forum.

[Bryan]

Hi Bob, I plan to go this summer to Caucasus (visit the 3 countries) or Central Asia (Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) for holidays. I haven't made my choice yet and I'll see what I do depending of when I will finish my studies. I'm going to graduate this year and I want to make a trip before I start looking for a job. I'm very interested in visiting some of the former Soviet Union republics.

[Bob]

Hi Bob, I plan to go this summer to Caucasus (visit the 3 countries) or Central Asia (Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) for holidays. I haven't made my choice yet and I'll see what I do depending of when I will finish my studies. I'm going to graduate this year and I want to make a trip before I start looking for a job. I'm very interested in visiting some of the former Soviet Union republics.

Good for you - travelling is great. If you are interested in getting the "Soviet" experience I'd have to be honest to mention though that:

- Turkmenistan has wiped virtually every reference to USSR out of society... museums show history up to early 20th century... then 80-90 years nothing and suddenly history continues with independent Turkmenistan... also in daily life no hammer/sickles anywhere anymore... although it is a unique country in the sense that it is one of the few (with North Korea) where they still have the model of idolization of the great leader... visit sooner rather than later I suggest

- Caucasus... fascinating as well, certainly more "travel friendly" in the sense of good hotels, food, transportation, etc. but will give you much less of an "exotic" feel than Central Asia

Depends on what you are looking for really. I'd go for the -stan countries if your into the Soviet thing.