PDR Afghanistan ribbon bars

[Ed_Haynes]

First to surface from a bunch just in, some lovely (bizarre) PDR Afghan ribbon bars. Order of mounting is, well, flexible. Just a few of these plastic wonders.

1: Medal for Excellent Service, Medal for Excellent Service, Order of the Sun (?); Long Service Medal, Long Service Medal, Long Service Medal

2: Order of the Red Banner; Medal for Excellent Service, Medal for Distinguished Military Service; Medal for Gallantry, 10th Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, 70 Years of Independence (?)

3: ???; ???, Medal for Friendship between Peoples (?), ???; ???, Order of the Star, Long Service Medal; Medal for Excellent Service, Medal for Gallantry, 70 Years of Independence (?); 70 Years of Independence (?), 10th Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, Long Service Medal

4: 10th Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, 70 Years of Independence (?)

Much to learn. And more to come.

[Paul R]

Those are the first awards from Soviet Afghanistan I have ever seen. Are there any medals in your collection?

[Ed_Haynes]

Those are the first awards from Soviet Afghanistan I have ever seen. Are there any medals in your collection?

Yes, Paul. And lots more now. See:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12313

[Paul R]

Oh my God Ed. I would love to take a walk through your collection room. I am sure that I could look for days and not see it all. I am floored!!

[Guest Rick Research]

Aside from the next to bottom one, those ribbon bars compare favorably with the D-profile plastiglass painted ones in fashion in the Soviet Union late 1940s-1970s.

What do the backs look like?

[Ed_Haynes]

Oh, yes, the reverses. Here they are:

[Ed_Haynes]

And a few singles.

--- ???, Order of the Red Banner

--- Medal for Distinguished Military Service, the same but narrow

--- ???, ???

--- 10th Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, State Medal of Malali the Heroine of Maiwand

All with the same tin and safety-pin reverses.

[Ed_Haynes]

And, actually, a few in cloth.

1- Order of the Saur Revolution (first type), Faid Djamanudin Afghania

2- National Medal of Ghazi Muhammad Akbar Khan, Literacy Medal

3- Medal of Ghazi Muhammad Ayub Khan, State Medal of Malali the Heroine of Maiwand

4- State Medal of Mullah Meshach the Learned, Long Service Medal

[Ed_Haynes]

And, maybe not ribbon bars, but close enough. Badges for military police and court police. (64 mm long.)

[Ulsterman]

Ed- I am speechless! To think of the history those things saw.

[Guest Rick Research]

Thanks, Ed! Thos compare very favorably with Soviet ones-- as nice on front and not as nasty on reverse.

Anything that can be deduced about ranks and careers from the groups?

[Ed_Haynes]

Anything that can be deduced about ranks and careers from the groups?

The apparent absolute chaos in mounting order defies logical understanding. Questions have gone off to friends in Kabul.

[922F]

Quite interesting, Ed. Thank you! Have you seen any fabric or plastic-coated paper ones? Do you know whether the Sun Order has been reinstated?

[Ed_Haynes]

Quite interesting, Ed. Thank you! Have you seen any fabric or plastic-coated paper ones?

Other than the cloth singles I show above, I haven't seen any cloth "combo" bars. I have't seen the paper ones (what I think of as "DDR-style") in Afghanistan, but who knows.

Do you know whether the Sun Order has been reinstated?

I have heard rumors to that effect, but have no solid news. Many things have used that name and it is hard to sort them out. I know the late king used to award the old royal order (against payment), but have no idea whether Ahmad Zahir still awards it after his father's death.

Edited November 1, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[922F]

Thanks, Ed. Wondered about cloth type ribbon sets. n.b. Klenau and others sold excess royal Sun insignia in the 70s/80s at less than production cost!