Serbia Why do I collect YU-Awards

[Christian Zulus]

Gentlemen,

it would be interesting to know, why you collect / are interested in YU-Communist-Awards ?

In my case, the story is rather simple: I have familary roots to Yugoslavia, I am a lobbyist for Serbian interests in the world of diplomacy & economy and I collect Soviet Awars since 1994 - AND YU-Awards are very nice in design and well manufactured (still very moderate in price ).

Best regards

Christian

Edited April 1, 2007 by Christian Zulus

[leigh kitchen]

I lived & worked in Srpska for a short period 6 - 7 years ago & aquired some badges, medals, caps, helmets, uniforms & equipment.

I don't really add to the collection although I would if something really took my fancy.

[Explorer]

I started with this hooby about two years ago when I got few partisan medals and orders from my grandmother and grandfather. I'm only 18 now and was really into this stuff since I was just a little boy. I first thought I will collect german stuff from 3rd reich but then I realized there is too much of everything and a collection would probably never be complete so I finally decided to study about Slovenian partisans, their equipment, weapons and decorations. I first bought a nice metal detector (I live a mile awayfrom the place where second world war ended), managed to get some really nice orders and few quite rare badges. I love this hobby and I'll put my best into it to know and collect as much as possible.

[order_of_victory]

I have an intrest in Soviet Union, and as prices are geting a bit out of my range at mo due to other commitments.

I have started collecting cheaper ends of the Communist Scale which means I am now collecting Yugo awards as well as others

Order of Victory

[Christian Zulus]

I started with this hooby about two years ago when I got few partisan medals and orders from my grandmother and grandfather. I'm only 18 now and was really into this stuff since I was just a little boy. I first thought I will collect german stuff from 3rd reich but then I realized there is too much of everything and a collection would probably never be complete so I finally decided to study about Slovenian partisans, their equipment, weapons and decorations. I first bought a nice metal detector (I live a mile awayfrom the place where second world war ended), managed to get some really nice orders and few quite rare badges. I love this hobby and I'll put my best into it to know and collect as much as possible.

Dear "Explorer",

that's a great personal story .

Here is some Solvenian stuff for you from Velimir Vuksic's OSPREY-book http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16620 "Tito's Partisans 1941 - 45". The author is not only one of the top military experts in former Yugoslavia, but also a great artist, who has frequent exhibitions of his works. So, all the plates in his book, he painted by himself .

Best regards

Christian

[Christian Zulus]

I lived & worked in Srpska for a short period 6 - 7 years ago & aquired some badges, medals, caps, helmets, uniforms & equipment.

I don't really add to the collection although I would if something really took my fancy.

Dear Leigh,

I hope, something - one of the great orders maybe - would really take you fancy in the future .

At least your cap-collection is outstanding .

Have you tried to get some information about the both topics you are interested in YU-Partisan-History ?

Best regards

Christian

[Christian Zulus]

I have an intrest in Soviet Union, and as prices are geting a bit out of my range at mo due to other commitments.

I have started collecting cheaper ends of the Communist Scale which means I am now collecting Yugo awards as well as others

Order of Victory

Dear Vic,

you are speaking about the fate of most Soviet collectors . The price range of all high-end items & groups got financially out of reach, if you don't sell your house .

So, a large number of collectors focus now to the other communist countries, like Yugoslavia, Mongolia, Bulgaria, etc., where the prices - even for real high-end awards - are still rather affordable: It makes a difference, if you have to pay USD 80.000,- or USD 3.000,- for a communist 1st rate top order .

Best regards

Christian

[Explorer]

Hello Christian. Thanks for your reply.

It seems like a nice book but the problem is most of these Slovene partisan patches, decorations is really hard to get, almost impossible.

If you want to learn more about Slovenian partisans there is also another book "Slovenski partizan", written by Janez ?vajncer, probably the best expert for Slovene partisans and their equipment. He also has his own museum and he had also written a few other books. Two pics from his museum.

[Christian Zulus]

Hello Christian. Thanks for your reply.

It seems like a nice book but the problem is most of these Slovene partisan patches, decorations is really hard to get, almost impossible.

If you want to learn more about Slovenian partisans there is also another book "Slovenski partizan", written by Janez ?vajncer, probably the best expert for Slovene partisans and their equipment. He also has his own museum and he had also written a few other books. Two pics from his museum.

Dear "Explorer",

sorry, but your images don't open - at least at my screen -

BTW: Do you have any other name, than "Explorer", which doesn't sound, as given by the priest ... .

Best regards

Christian

[Explorer]

Dear "Explorer",

sorry, but your images don't open - at least at my screen -

BTW: Do you have any other name, than "Explorer", which doesn't sound, as given by the priest ... .

Best regards

Christian

Strange, I see the photos normally.

Here are the direct links to pics. Try it.

And yes, I do have a name. It's Nejc, would probably be Nathan or Nathaniel if I was American. :=)

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Nejc,

now I can see the attached photographs .

Seems to be a nice, small, but comprehensive collection.

To you have some close up pictures to the medals & badges ?

Best regards

Christian

[new world]

Main reason I collect Yugoslavian awards - they arevery nicely made and are of top quality.

Their design is on par with Soviet and Mongolian stuff.

And they were priced reasonably until recently.

William

[Bryan]

I started collecting Yugoslavian awards 3 years ago once a Partisan Star 3rd Class from the MONETNYI DVOR had caught my eye. When I saw how nice those orders where made I got more and more interesting in the Yugoslavian communist era medals and orders. Beside that, because I?m interested mostly in Soviet medals, I found that those huge boxed orders were quite easy to find at some reasonable price until now.

I?m also interested in the history of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia even if I still know little on the subject, so this is why I?m also interested in Yugoslavian orders and medals.

I collect Yugoslavian stuff among Soviet and DDR stuff mainly.

[walter483]

Allow me to join your little conversation on how we started with yugoslav orders&medals. I started collecting about 5 yrs ago with my first medal - anniversary medal for 40 yrs of Jugoslav national army. At that time I didn't know much about yugoslav orders, so naturaly I payed pretty big for that medal - 40 euros. But never mind. I started to track internet auctions (mostly e-bay) and in these few years I managed to gather up quite nice collection of yugoslav orders, medals and other militaria&memorabilia. my most joyfull experience was when I finally bought Order of Yugoslav flag with sash. but my joy didn' last too long. money problems forced me to give up on this order and I sold it last week. never mind - feel free to post images of your collections and also offer me some of your pieces.

[Ed_Haynes]

For me, my interest in Yugoslavian awards such as it is, grows from two directions:

-- As a logical outgrowth of my comparative interest of labor awards of the broadly-defined "Socialist" States. This has a personal political-ideological dimension.

-- When I was first in India, a long time ago in a universe far far away, I was having some of the nice replicas made from the collection of the National Musuem (and had paid extra to get HIGHEST quality items done up). My items, however, got "stolen" for the honored guest for that January's Republic Day parade. In addition to making the folks at the Museum feel really guilty and getting a few extra items added into my set when it was finally ready, I (a humble graduate student) got invited to the reception where the guest of honor was presented with the replicas. The guest, of course, was Tito, and I got to meet him, drink with him, etc. Ever since, I have had a fond spot in my heart for Yugoslavia.

Edited April 15, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Christian Zulus]

Prof. Haynes & Marshal Tito meeting in India

The guest, of course, was Tito, and I got to meet him, drink with him, etc. Ever since, I have had a fond spot in my heart for Yugoslavia.

Dear Ed,

great account .

You really met Tito personally and had a drink with him .

Tell us please more about that event .

What was your impression about Tito?

Best regards

Christian

[orden_master]

Good morning Ed

that sounds very very interesting, PLEASE PLEASE tell us more about the person he was !

Regards

Milan

For me, my interest in Yugoslavian awards such as it is, grows from two directions:

-- As a logical outgrowth of my comparative interest of labor awards of the broadly-defined "Socialist" States. This has a personal political-ideological dimension.

-- When I was first in India, a long time ago in a universe far far away, I was having some of the nice replicas made from the collection of the National Musuem (and had paid extra to get HIGHEST quality items done up). My items, however, got "stolen" for the honored guest for that January's Republic Day parade. In addition to making the folks at the Museum feel really guilty and getting a few extra items added into my set when it was finally ready, I (a humble graduate student) got invited to the reception where the guest of honor was presented with the replicas. The guest, of course, was Tito, and I got to meet him, drink with him, etc. Ever since, I have had a fond spot in my heart for Yugoslavia.

[Ed_Haynes]

Good morning Ed

that sounds very very interesting, PLEASE PLEASE tell us more about the person he was !

Regards

Milan

Sorry, in the midst of end-of-the-semester insanity, I forgot.

Speaking of forgetting, it was over 30 years ago (January 1974) . . . let me try . . . .

It was one of those very formal governmental things, where the Guest was welcomed, speeches were made, and only limited post-presentation opportunity for schmoozing. I had only a few minutes to chat with the great man and found him bored, a bit miffed at the lack of alcohol at an early evening function (7 or 8 pm as I recall), and curiously interested in the presence of a history graduate student youngster (I carefully described myself as a Canadian, nicer than the inconvenient truth). Not much more than small-talk, mostly about the Republic Day parade two days later where he was to be the chief guest and about the beating retreat ceremony the next day, in which he took more interest than in the archaeology stuff at the National Museum (or in MY museum replicas that were now HIS). As he was in his eighties, I guess, and we had to work through a translation loop, there wasn't much intense interaction. He was in civilian clothes (a very nicely tailored suit), so no chance for medal-spotting. He was in uniform at the parade though always far away from the cheap seats. Someplace, I may have photos of him at the parade, no photos at the reception except by government photo-drones, and I didn't rate inclusion. This was more an opportunity for me to meet one of the two important people I've ever met (Tito and the Dalai Lama, how's that for a pair?!).

The Dalai Lama was a better conversationalist!

This did, however, spark what has been until recently a vicarious interest in Yugoslavian awards! (While there were Tibetan awards, they are arre beyond describing!)

Edited April 28, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Ed,

many thanks for your great story .

Well, our Dalai Lama is not so far away from Marxism in the orthodox-stalinist meaning .

Just remember his close cooperation with Mao in China in the years after WW II - almost 10 years .

Remember the early writings of the Dalai Lama, that communism is the art of government, which fits the best way to Buddism, etc., etc.

O.K., Marxism perverted in China in an extremly inhuman & strange way, which resulted in the destruction of Buddism in Tibet .

Despite the fact, that the Dalai Lama is quite often in Austria, I had neve the chance to meet him personally .

Well, I assume, that the early Dalai Lama is closer to Marxism, then Tito after 1948 .

Best regards

Christian

[Ed_Haynes]

Actually, these are among the sorts of things I have discussed with the Dalai Lama in our talks over the years.

But this drags us

[Christian Zulus]

Actually, these are among the sorts of things I have discussed with the Dalai Lama in our talks over the years.

But this drags us

Dear Ed,

no, please, tell us, what the Dalai Lama said .

Many thanks .

Best regards .

Christian

[Valuk]

I started my collection at the end of july... I'm primary collecting militaria of the Slovenian army (Slovenska vojska) from 1991 to present. When I have some extra money to spend for "other" militaria I'm buying all sort of things. I have periods when I buy only helmet, then only gas masks and this summer I started with medals. Yugoslavian medals are attractive and well made, so I decided to start a little collection and I hope I'll have a lot of new order, medals, badges and other stuff to show to the community.

[Bob]

Dear Ed,

no, please, tell us, what the Dalai Lama said .

Many thanks .

Best regards .

Christian

The Dalai Lama said: "collect mongolian awards"

[Ed_Haynes]

The Dalai Lama said: "collect mongolian awards"

Absolutely. He remembered how much he enjoyed being there in a previous incarnation. He also said "No Chinese".

[Christian Zulus]

The Dalai Lama said: "collect mongolian awards"

Seriously: There IS a rather strong (religious & historic) connection among the Tibetian and Mongolian people .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: Does the Dalai Lama confer orders and medals to his people and supporters ?