Soviet Major Crime Befalls Sole Surviving HSU/Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory

[slava1stclass]

To all:

Very disturbing news out of Russia. According to the below article dated October 4th, 2007, the sole surviving HSU and Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory, Nikolay Kuznetsov, was the victim of a devastating robbery. Stolen were his original HSU, Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner, Order of the Patriotic War First Class and Second and Third Class Orders of Glory.

Regards,

slava1stclass

У советского разведчика украли Звезду Героя

В Новгородской области неизвестные ограбили легендарного советского разведчика Николая Кузнецова, сообщает РИА Новости со ссылкой на представителя Новгородской прокуратуры. Злоумышленники унесли с собой его правительственные награды.

По информации агентства, у 85-летнего Кузнецова украли Звезду Героя Советского Союза, а также ордена Ленина, Красного Знамени, Отечественной войны первой степени, Славы второй и третьей степеней. В настоящее время преступников найти не удалось. По факту ограбления оперативники возбудили уголовное дело.

Николай Кузнецов в 1940 году закончил разведшколу и был внедрен в подразделения абвера в Кенигсберге в качестве офицера связи. В 1944 году Кузнецов получил Звание Героя Советского Союза. С 1959 года проживает в городе Пестово.

В настоящее время Николай Кузнецов является единственным в России полным кавалеров орденов Славы.

[Ed_Haynes]

This is absolutely shameful. Most likely a targeted robbery-for-hire to service a collector's greed? At least there was no accompanying homicide, as is becoming all too common?

[order_of_victory]

Very sad news

I wonder if they surface on the collectors market or dissaper for good

Order of Victory

[Ed_Haynes]

I suspect, somehow, that they already are in the possession of the "collector" who commissioned the theft.

They were probably there within a matter of hours.

It might be useful, though, if possible, to get and publicise the numbers of the awards? Though the distinctiveness of this group (or even of the broken single items) might render this unnecessary.

Edited November 2, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Ulsterman]

Terrible. Terrible. Perhaps Putin will order the KGb or whatever they are called these days will do something.

[Ed_Haynes]

Terrible. Terrible. Perhaps Putin will order the KGb or whatever they are called these days will do something.

Heck, the FSB probably did it, on hire, to make money . . . .

[Bryan]

Sad story to target old heroes of the GPW.

I guess it was this guy.

[Ferdinand]

This is terrible news.

Here's the link to the topic I recently posted about Kuznetsov with the above picture:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=21848

[order_of_victory]

Its intresting he the Russian version of the Frienship of Nations not the Soviet Version

Order of Victory

[new world]

... Stolen were his original ... Second and Third Class Orders of Glory.

I read somewhere that brave veteran was figting with the robber by holding on to his uniform & awards and managed to save Glory 1st class!!!! The thief eventually escaped with veteran's jacket, but 1st Glory was left in Kuznetsov's hand.

That's what we call brave soul!!!!

William

[Guest Rick Research]

He should be listed in the books listing serial numbers of the Gold Star and full cavaliers of Glory. Somebody with those books please post his serial numbers.

Those must never--not now, not 40 years from now--ever come into COMMERCE FOR MONEY.

The fecal smear who did this ... should be (use your own imaginations )

What demented form of greed thinks STEALING from a Hero makes fondling HIS pieces of metal enlarge THEIR male physical inadequacies?

POST THE SERIAL NUMBERS, PLEASE.

Let whoever TRIES to sneak them into commerce drown in an ocean of spit. Let whoever is caught with them ...

[Bryan]

I bet that if the vet was still young, he would have kicked their *%$"% !!!

[Christian Zulus]

Gentlemen,

that's really a very bad story .

Such incidents happened several times in CCCP and later in Russia, where even the hero-veteran got murdered .

William, that's a very interesting theory:

I read somewhere that brave veteran was figting with the robber by holding on to his uniform & awards and managed to save Glory 1st class!!!! The thief eventually escaped with veteran's jacket, but 1st Glory was left in Kuznetsov's hand.

That's what we call brave soul!!!!

William

And your theory might indicate, that the Glory 1st class had been the veterans most important - in his personal view - award .

We should put the s/n. of the stolen orders to the GMIC-stolen-section here .

(The s/n. of his two Glories and his HSU are known.)

Best regards

Christian

[slava1stclass]

To all:

A very happy ending! Per a Russian press report dated December 23rd, 2007 (follows below), his orders were recovered and returned to him!

Regards,

slava1stclass

Награды вернулись к герою

Награды, украденные у Героя Советского Союза, нашли и вернули. Николай Кузнецов - единственный оставшийся в живых полный кавалер орденов Воинской Славы, именно он водружал знамя победы при освобождении Севастополя, был ограблен несколько месяцев назад. Заслуженному ветерану помогли журналисты.

Когда на пороге появился незнакомый человек в костюме, Николай Иванович не сразу понял, что произошло, а через несколько секунд на его глазах появились слезы ? от радости. Он уже не верил, что когда-нибудь вновь увидит свои награды. Николай Кузнецов - единственный оставшийся в живых полный кавалер орденов Воинской Славы, Герой Советского союза, ветеранов с таким набором наград за всю историю было лишь четверо, и он один из них. В свои 86 лет Николай Иванович плохо видит, ордена узнает почти на ощупь. "Я очень рад, ведь это ? кровь моя", - говорит ветеран.

Он вспоминает, как тяжело приходилось в войну, но о своих подвигах говорит скромно. Орден Славы III степени - за освобождение Крыма. Когда почти в одиночку остановил танковый прорыв немцев в Прибалтике, был награжден орденом Славы II степени, за еще 16 подбитых вражеских танков под Кенигсбергом получил орден Славы I степени. А в 45-м старшина Кузнецов был награжден звездой Героя Советского союза.

"Это мне за 2 города ? Севастополь и Кенигсберг. Когда в Севастополь вошли, я первый водрузил знамя, так там было ? кто первый водрузит знамя. Ну, и за штурм Кенигсберга", - рассказывает Николай Кузнецов.

Он так и остался старшиной. Говорит, что воевал не за звания и ордена. Но о его подвигах рассказывают на школьных уроках истории. К Кузнецову в его уже родной городок Пестово часто приезжали домой историки, студенты. Он никому не отказывал. Три месяца назад в дверь постучал молодой человек, представился студентом из Москвы и, как многие, попросил показать китель с наградами.

"Я-то пиджак разложила, и смотрю, что он шарится, что-то щупает. Я схватила пиджак ? он стал тянуть, Коля его палкой железной огрел, он и рванул, надо было по башке его шарахнуть", - вспоминает Нина Кузнецова.

"Я в жизни никогда никому плохого не сделал, думал, что и ко мне так, но нет", - добавляет Николай Кузнецов.

Во дворе вора уже ждала машина, на которой мошенники бесследно скрылись. Это чудовищное ограбление потрясло всех. Когда стало ясно, что милиция бессильна в поисках, за расследование взялись акулы пера из бюро журналистских расследований.

Сергей рассказывает, как на сайте издания разместили статью и обращение ко всем, кто может и хочет помочь вернуть награды. И желающие нашлись. Он как в детективной истории месяц с ними по телефону общался, без обратной связи. Узнал, что награды уже находятся в Харькове. Сергея долго проверяли, выслеживали. Когда люди на обратном конце провода убедились ? журналист не приведет милицию и гарантированно передаст награды владельцу ? позвонили и сообщили, что ордена можно забрать в почтовом ящике его офиса. Но о том, по чьей доброй воле награды вернули, и кто хотел на них нажиться, узнать удалось не много.

"Заказчик ? мрачный коллекционер, скорее всего из Прибалтики, он нанял группу людей из Украины и Белоруссии", - говорит Сергей Соколов, главный редактор бюро журналистских расследований.

Если версия о прибалтийском захватчике подтвердится, то география судьбы Николая Кузнецова замкнется. Он говорит, что это злая ирония судьбы - ведь именно сражаясь на Западном фронте, освобождая Прибалтику, он и получил эти награды.

[new world]

Nice to see happy ending to the story.

BTW, a book registry of stolen awards was just published in Russia. Kuznetsov's awards with serial numbers were mentioned in the book as well.

Could this be one of the factors contributing to their recovery?

William

[order_of_victory]

Nice to see happy ending to the story.

BTW, a book registry of stolen awards was just published in Russia. Kuznetsov's awards with serial numbers were mentioned in the book as well.

Could this be one of the factors contributing to their recovery?

William

That raises the awkward question of what do you do if find an item in your collection that is stolen

Order of Victory

[Ed_Haynes]

That raises the awkward question of what do you do if find an item in your collection that is stolen

Order of Victory

Await the KGB? Oh, FSB, same-same. (Actually, worse.)

Edited December 31, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Guest Rick Research]

That's an excellent story-- thanks! Details his war service, how he earned his awards... and the movie thriller way his decorations were returned to him.

It is nice to know that SOMEBODY has a conscience. I should think the FSB should be a LITTLE more interested in the theft and smuggling abroad of REAL national patrimony like this-- and less obsessed with 3 million long service Red Stars.

Given that apparently NO official action has been taken or is contemplated...

one can only hope that the thieves have been dealt with outside the legal system in a matter befitting their crime. These days, it is a sad state of affairs when honour among thieves is more effective than the legal system.

[new world]

It's common practice in Russia for some vet's families to sell the awards and then claim they were stolen.

I've heard stories when same awards were sold several times by the family

William

[matteti]

I suspect, somehow, that they already are in the possession of the "collector" who commissioned the theft.

They were probably there within a matter of hours.

It might be useful, though, if possible, to get and publicise the numbers of the awards? Though the distinctiveness of this group (or even of the broken single items) might render this unnecessary.

Ed and others,

Nikolai Ivanovich Kuznetsov's HSU was serial numbered 6264 (April 19, 1945) and OGI was 2656 (March 13, 1980)

He received OGIII on April 23, 1944 and OGII on January 12, 1944, but I don't have serial numbers.

[Christian Zulus]

Ed and others,

Nikolai Ivanovich Kuznetsov's HSU was serial numbered 6264 (April 19, 1945) and OGI was 2656 (March 13, 1980)

He received OGIII on April 23, 1944 and OGII on January 12, 1944, but I don't have serial numbers.

MIR NAGRAD also doesn't list the s/n. of his Glory 2cl & cl :

http://www.mirnagrad.ru/cgi-bin/exinform.c...;ич

Best regards

Christian

[Paul R]

I hope that the people involved get what they have coming. I am shocked at the speed in which criminals were caught. Maybe the vet knew who they were(which would make the case even sadder).

[Ed_Haynes]

Maybe the police knew who they were.

[slava1stclass]

I hope that the people involved get what they have coming. I am shocked at the speed in which criminals were caught. Maybe the vet knew who they were(which would make the case even sadder).

Maybe the police knew who they were.

Gents,

No one was arrested. The newspaper journalist did some of his own detective work (with the help of tips from concerned citizens). He then brokered a deal with the unknown thiefs wherein they would pass the orders to the journalist who, in turn, would return them to Kuznetsov. As part of the deal, the Russian militia was not brought in/tipped off.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[Ed_Haynes]

Gents,

No one was arrested. The newspaper journalist did some of his own detective work (with the help of tips from concerned citizens). He then brokered a deal with the unknown thiefs wherein they would pass the orders to the journalist who, in turn, would return them to Kuznetsov. As part of the deal, the Russian militia was not brought in/tipped off.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Aha. Thanks, 'slava'.

What really matters is that the elderly hero got his medals back.