Soviet Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2008

[Christophe]

Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2008 - Season 3

Soviet & Eastern Block Trivia

After the success of the Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz "2006-2007" (Seasons 1 & 2), I am relaunching here a new edition for 2008 (Season 3).

This new Quiz is the successor of the first Quiz you can find here :

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3144

This Quiz having become too long (more than 100 pages); we decided to split it in the future, with each year (or Season ) a new Quiz.

The rules remain the same.

This sort of quiz or trivia game has been very successful on other forums, and here also it has been very educative (and fun!)...

The topic is wide enough (Soviet Union & former Eastern Block Countries' history, people, awards...), to allow each of us to find answers and ask for new challenges...

All Forum members are eligible to participate, but there needs to be a few ground (and "classical") rules so there is no confusion among Forum members.

1. Discuss only one trivia item at a time so as not to confuse what is being discussed with other Forum members.

2. Once a Forum member guesses the correct trivia question, that member can then post their trivia question. Or if they wish can pass it on to another Forum member.

3. To ensure we keep this thread friendly, there should be no heckling, bantering, quarrelling or arguing with another person when he or she does not correctly answer the trivia question. Never forget we are amongst Gentlemen (or -women).

4. The trivia question must have a connection to the Soviet Union & former Eastern Block Countries, as it is the purpose of this Forum. The trivia could involve history, people, awards, badges or items. The trivia question needs to relate to a timeframe. For example, when was this award first established? Or When did East Germany come into existence?

5. When the question is answered, the original poster should give background about the fact, the person, the item in question.

6. No posting items to just show you have one unless its adds to the post that is being discussed or shown.

This thread is for all of us to have some fun and at the same time educate ourselves and learn differently about Soviet Union & Eastern Block Countries.

Have fun and enjoy this thread along with making new Forum friends!!!

So, now, let's play !

Ch.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Christophe

[Christophe]

Summary

Here are all the topics dealt through our questions and answers of this Quiz.

To find easily a post, please use the following link, in replacing the last figure 1 by the number of the post you are looking for :

<a href="http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1" target="_blank">http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1</a>

Example : <a href="http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1498" target="_blank">http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1498</a> will drive you to post #1498.

Are shown below :

* Subject / question dealt - Number of the post where has been asked the question.

Awards / Orders & Medals

* Imperial Russia - St George Cross - #290

* USSR - Hero of the Socialist Labour - #267

* USSR - The two latest Soviet awards instituted by the USSR - #149

* USSR - Only man awarded the Title "Mother Heroine" - #628

Personalities (Awards)

* USSR - Oleg Antonov - #382

Personalities (Identification)

* Hungary - Kun Bela - #462

* Italy - Palmiro Togliatti - #546

* USSR - Rostislav Alexeev - #373

* USSR - Mykola Bazhan - #361

* USSR - Timur Frunze - #612

* USSR - Marshal Sergey Khudyakov - #492

* USSR - Ursula Kuczynski aka Ursula Beurton - #260

* USSR - Marshal Alexander Golovanov - #199

* USSR - Yuri Levitan - #462

* USSR - Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhalkov - #573

* USSR - Marshal Aleksandr Pokryshkin - #326

* USSR - Rozalia Zemlyachka - #52

Historical events

* 1907 - Raid against Bank of Tiflis, ordered by Lenin - #278

* 1940 - Attack against Leon Trotsky in Mexico - #274

* 1942-43 - Battle of Nevsky Pyatachok - #100

* 1943 - German defensive Blue Line - #450

* 1960 - Gary power's U2 - #12

* 1961 - Big Ivan / Tsar Bomba nuclear weapon - #399

* 1970 - Soviet return Apollo capsule to the USA - #368

* 1981 - Plane crash of Admiral Psotnikov and entire commanding staff of the Pacific Fleet - #30

Architecture / sites

* Kirkenes (Norway) - Victory monument - #422

* Moscow - Metro - #601

* Moscow - Moskva Hotel - #516

Aircraft, weapons, military equipment...

* Rostislav Alexeev and Ekranoplans - #373

* Foxtrot class submarine - #623

* HMS L55 / Bezbozhnik submarine - #338

* Lavochkin La-7 fighter - #247

* Sukhoi-34 fighter - #447

* 1947 Soviet Aviation Day - #298

Other topics

* Chief Marshal Amazasp Babadzhanyan and Vasily Grossman - #184

* The Berliner train in DDR - #79

* Choibalsan's boots offered to Zhujov - #225

* Soviet Cosmonauts - #538

* Lenin chessboard offered to France - #549

* Soviet Lunar exploration - #407

* 1980 Olympic Games mascot - #502

* Soviet People's Commissariats during GPW - #71

* 1965 "Plan of the 'Easterners' First Massive Nuclear Strike" Wargame - #329

* Poland Battlefield Chaplains - #589

* Vladimir Posner and Peter Jennings "Space Bridges" - #432

* First and last Presidents of the USSR - #203

* Propiska - USSR Internal Passport system - #165

* Traktor / Traktir - #506

* Carl Zeiss Jena's multispectral camera for space-missions MKF 6 - #281

Edited January 1, 2009 by Christophe

[Christophe]

As a reminder, a few stats of the Quiz #1, that will be continued in terms of good answers or "victories" :

This small game has now been launched more than 2 years ago (on 1 Nov. 2005), and since :

* 171 questions asked,

* with 2,145 answers,

* This quiz has been viewed more than 22,200 times.

* 36 Members of the Forum played, and 27 correctly answered at least 1 question :

Nb of good answers :

* 35 : Christian (Zulus)

* 31 : Christophe

* 12 : Frank (Knarf) & Jim (JimZ)

* 11 : Bryan (Soviet)

* 8 : Simon (Red Threat)

* 6 : Auke (Ferdinand), Belaruski, Carol I & Ed (Haynes)

* 5 : Dan (Hauptman)

* 4 : Wild Card.

* 3 : Andreas (Alfred), Ivan (Piramida) & Kim (Kimj).

* 2 : Chuck (in Oregon), Gerd (Becker), Jan (vatjan) & Order of Victory.

* 1 : Charles (Hunyadi), Darrell, Daredevil, Dave (Navy FCO), Dudeman, Filip (Drugo), Rick (Stogieman) & Steen (Ammentorp).

This is a great achievement. Thanks to all for your participation in the first Quiz, and I hope it will be the same in the new one.

Cheers.

Ch.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Christophe

[Christophe]

And now, time for Jim (JimZ) to ask for the 172nd question, the 1st one of this new Quiz...

Jim, your turn, when you want...

Cheers.

Ch.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Christophe

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Christophe,

sorry ..... maybe I am too stupid, but the search-function (brillant idea ) doesn't work .

I always get - whatever number I type in - to your last post at the new quiz 2008 ....

Best regards

Christian

Summary

Here are all the topics dealt through our questions and answers of this Quiz.

To find easily a post, please use the following link, in replacing the last figure 1 by the number of the post you are looking for :

<a href="http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1" target="_blank">http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1</a>

Example : <a href="http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1498" target="_blank">http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24290&st=1498</a> will drive you to post #1498.

Are shown below :

* Subject / question dealt - Number of the post where has been asked the question.

Awards / Orders & Medals

*

[Christophe]

Hi Christian,

It works, but until now you can't type more than the figure "4", as there are very few posts in the 2008 Quiz... It is not tomorrow that we will be able to type "1498"....

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Christophe,

o.k. .... I understand .

At the moment, it would be more useful, to have such a kind of "search-engine" for the old quiz ....

Technically possible ?

Best regards

Christian

Hi Christian,

It works, but until now you can't type more than the figure "4", as there are very few posts in the 2008 Quiz... It is not tomorrow that we will be able to type "1498"....

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

I agree that "at the moment", it would be more useful... But don't forget the Quiz 2008 will grow, and our search engine is already ready !!!

For the "old" quiz ? It already exists since several months in its post #1...

Please, see here : http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3144

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christian Zulus]

For the "old" quiz ? It already exists since several months in its post #1...

Please, see here : http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3144

Dear Christophe,

great, fantastic .... sorry, I didn't register your search-machine at all .

So, we have a excellent "Soviet & Eastern Block"-encyclopedia .

Best regards

Christian

[JimZ]

Hi guys. I am back. I'll post the first question to get us going latest by tomorrow. I have had a gruelling journey since 01:00hrs today and its now 17:10 and I am knackered.

The ball will roll tomorrow.

Best regards

Jim

[Christophe]

Excellent, Jim !!!! Welcome back !!!!

We are waiting for your question with impatience...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

After a few weeks pause, we're all ready to get going.

QUESTION 172 (01/2008 Quiz)

An american plane resides in Russia. A close up of part of this aircraft is attached below:

Specifically:

a) What is the aircraft and under which circumstances did it make Russia its new home?

b) Name any Russian hardware that may have been used to facilitate this operation.

c) What was the pilot's fate?

d) Where in Russia can this aircraft still be found?

Bonus question:

e) Can anyone post any other photos of this aircraft in its home in Russia.

Its not a hard one.... so good luck! I'll confirm the winner when the right answer to questions "a-d" are given. Question "e" is not necessary but is just there as an additional bonus.

Jim

[Lapa]

After a few weeks pause, we're all ready to get going.

QUESTION 172 (01/2008 Quiz)

An american plane resides in Russia. A close up of part of this aircraft is attached below:

Specifically:

a) What is the aircraft and under which circumstances did it make Russia its new home?

b) Name any Russian hardware that may have been used to facilitate this operation.

c) What was the pilot's fate?

d) Where in Russia can this aircraft still be found?

Bonus question:

e) Can anyone post any other photos of this aircraft in its home in Russia.

Its not a hard one.... so good luck! I'll confirm the winner when the right answer to questions "a-d" are given. Question "e" is not necessary but is just there as an additional bonus.

Jim

Jim,

Wouldn't this be Gary Powers' U2 that was shot down on 01 May 1960 while on a spying flight from Pakistan to Norway?

As far as I remember, Powers parachuted out when his plane was shot down over Sverdlovsk by a SAM-2 ground-air missile while being trailed by a Mig-21 and was captured upon landing. He was captured, and then tried publicly before being exchanged for Colonel Rudolf Abel.

Marc

[Ed_Haynes]

Well done Marc.

I would guess that this piece is in the FSB Border Troops Museum in Moscow (which is a wonderful museum, by the way), but they wouldn't let me take photos there. They do VERY PROUDLY have pieces of Powers' plane.

[Lapa]

Jim,

Wouldn't this be Gary Powers' U2 that was shot down on 01 May 1960 while on a spying flight from Pakistan to Norway?

As far as I remember, Powers parachuted out when his plane was shot down over Sverdlovsk by a SAM-2 ground-air missile while being trailed by a Mig-21 and was captured upon landing. He was captured, and then tried publicly before being exchanged for Colonel Rudolf Abel.

Marc

Forgot to add that the remnants are on display at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow.

Marc

[Ed_Haynes]

Thanks for this, Marc. This was not on display when I visited the museum. That part of the exhibit was closed for rearrangment (probably political rearrangment too?).

I wonder how many other museums have (had) bits and pieces of Powers' plane?

[JimZ]

Well done Marc.

More precisely the missle used was known in Russia as the S-75 Dvina. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-75_Dvina I believe SAM 2 to have been the NATO nomenclature for this missile.

For More info:

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Powers" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Powers</a>

Interestingly, your pics seems to be some other part of the wreck. Perhaps as Ed suggests, the wreck was torn up and displayed in several locations for propoganda purposes.

My pics of the wreck as currently displayed in the CAF Museum in Moscow:

PS: please note the XMAS fairy lights!!!

Edited January 11, 2008 by JimZ

[JimZ]

And those lights again! Merry Christmas Gary!

Edited January 11, 2008 by JimZ

[JimZ]

And now Marc, the ball is in your court! Well done again.

Jim

[Christophe]

Nice one, Jim!!! Well done !!!

And bravo (and welcome ) to Marc for his first good answer!!!

I'm happy to see this new Quiz taking off nicely.

About Gary Powers' U2, I'm just wondering if there is not some parts of it in the former Museum of the Revolution, the present Contemporary History Museum ? I can't be sure, as photographs there are forbidden. I have succeeded to take some, but not any showing it...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

Nice one, Jim!!! Well done !!!

And bravo (and welcome ) to Marc for his first good answer!!!

I'm happy to see this new Quiz taking off nicely.

About Gary Powers' U2, I'm just wondering if there is not some parts of it in the former Museum of the Revolution, the present Contemporary History Museum ? I can't be sure, as photographs there are forbidden. I have succeeded to take some, but not any showing it...

Cheers.

Ch.

Well, last years questions were much harder that I thought I'd start with something a wee bit easier!

I am still not sure if photographs were permitted or not. I took them nevertheless. Of course a small fone with a good resolution camera facilitates matters. And museum guards too busy speaking to eachother about their last trip to the grocer also helps!! Of course if my fone did not make the clicking camera sound every time I captured an image I would have been a little bit more comfy with it all!

A point to be raised is that the wreck consists of nothing more than aluminium panels. All instruments and engine parts have been removed (at least from what I have seen in various images) and are probably still kept in some classified (?) location.

Jim

[Christophe]

Well, last years questions were much harder that I thought I'd start with something a wee bit easier!(...)

Jim

Hi Jim,

Don't forget that not everyone, here, uses to go frequently to museums in Russia (and specifically in Moscow...)...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

True! But since the incident on May 1st 1960 sparked off a whole new conflict between the US and the USSR in already cold war, our friend Gary Powers is a relatively well known person far beyond the walls of any museum (museums) in Russia.

As for hard questions .... There are a few in store too But we are just out of the festive season, and I am feeling genorous....

.... and Ed has not unleashed any of his bone crunching questions....yet!! (yet being the operative word). I am sure he has a few already lined up

Jim

[Christophe]

I share all your points!!!!!

Meanwhile, let's see what Marc will propose us...

Marc, your turn, now!!!

Ch.

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Marc,

congratulations to your victory .

Best regards

Christian

Jim,

Wouldn't this be Gary Powers' U2 that was shot down on 01 May 1960 while on a spying flight from Pakistan to Norway?

As far as I remember, Powers parachuted out when his plane was shot down over Sverdlovsk by a SAM-2 ground-air missile while being trailed by a Mig-21 and was captured upon landing. He was captured, and then tried publicly before being exchanged for Colonel Rudolf Abel.

Marc