Soviet Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2008

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Jim,

congratulations to your victory ?

I would have never tought about the passports ...

Gentlemen,

to answer Jim's question, you have to choose among these (early) Soviet Marshals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Tukhachevsky

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Yegorov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Blyukher

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigory_Kulik

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Shaposhnikov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Tolbukhin

All six of them died before Stalin passed away. So Stalin was able, to give a comment.

Best regards

Christian

BTW: Christophe, when should I post my question, due to the correct answering of the current question about Gorbachev ?

Edited March 7, 2008 by Christian Zulus

[JimZ]

What a reflection of the USSR!

.... the spirit of socialism shining strong in Comrade Christian as he works towards the common good....

.... and the spirit of communism where Comrade Moi seems to be asking a question instead of Comrade Christian....

Funny how things also did sort of happen this way in the USSR!

Back to my question - I am not dropping hints yet as I think there are a couple of very evident clues in my question. If I see we're stumped then I'll help.

Jim

I'm feeling expressive today!

[JimZ]

OOPS ..... and speaking of which the above was my 2000th post!!!

Not that it matters much but it still feels like a milestone!

Drinks all round!

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Jim,

due to the "far-east-style" (Mongolian ?) of these nice boots, I will opt for Vasily Blyukher, the "king" (or Napoleon ) of the the Far East Region of the Soviet Union .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: I am neither involved in any communist or socialist movement or party . I am member (as an expert for history) of the Austrian Armed Forces, besides my main function in military, I am supporting our chaplains - as a Catholic and great fan of Joseph Ratzinger. "Solidarity" is essential in our Christian believ ... O.K., I might see the history of the 20th century beyond the views of the mainstream of western historians, but my approach is at least scientifically based .

[Christian Zulus]

OOPS ..... and speaking of which the above was my 2000th post!!!

Not that it matters much but it still feels like a milestone!

Drinks all round!

Dear Jim,

congratulations to your jump over the 2000-benchmark .

I am drinking a glass of Chianti for your health .

Best regards

Christian

[Christophe]

BTW: Christophe, when should I post my question, due to the correct answering of the current question about Gorbachev ?

Hi Christian,

You're right. The next one will be yours!!!

The simplest way is to answer correctly Jim's one....

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

Dear Jim,

due to the "far-east-style" (Mongolian ?) of these nice boots, I will opt for Vasily Blyukher, the "king" (or Napoleon ) of the the Far East Region of the Soviet Union .

Best regards

Christian

Thanks for the toast. Keep thinking in that direction.......

Jim

[Christophe]

QUESTION

In one of the Moscow museums is this pair of boots, given as a gift to one of Russia's highest ranking Marshals.

1) Name the person who received these boots?

2) Who was the full name of the person giving these boots?

3) What military rank is sometimes associated with this person?

4) What post did he occupy preceeding and until his death?

5) When did he die - and what was Stalin's comment upon his death?

A question about a very specific item that is probably a giveaway to some.....

....Enjoy!

Jim

OK, let's try this :

1) Name the person who received these boots?

Joseph Stalin

2) Who was the full name of the person giving these boots?

Khorloogiin Choibalsan (Mongolian: Хорлоогийн Чойбалсан; February 8, 1895?January 26, 1952)

3) What military rank is sometimes associated with this person?

Marshal

4) What post did he occupy preceeding and until his death?

Prime Minister of Mongolia

5) When did he die - and what was Stalin's comment upon his death?

He died in Moscow on January 26, 1952. His death concerned the aging Stalin who commented, "They die one after another. Shcherbakov, Zhdanov, Dimitrov, Choibalsan ... die so quickly! We must change the old doctors for new ones."

Voila...

Of course, if I'm the winner, I'll give the floor to Christian for the next question.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Christophe,

I guess, that you have got the correct answer .

Due to a "semantic misinterpretation" I got on the wrong track . Mongolian boots had been correct, but the main person in question had been the Mongolian donator of these boots ...

Of course, if I'm the winner, I'll give the floor to Christian for the next question.

Many thanks, but this procedure wouldn't be fair, because answering Jim's question was several times more difficult, than to answer your presidential question. You should go on with the new question .

Best regards

Christian

[Christophe]

No, no Christian. I f I win (which is not sure...), it will be your turn!!! My pleasure...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

1) Name the person who received these boots?

Joseph Stalin - WRONG

2) Who was the full name of the person giving these boots?

Khorloogiin Choibalsan (Mongolian: Хорлоогийн Чойбалсан; February 8, 1895?January 26, 1952) CORRECT

3) What military rank is sometimes associated with this person?

Marshal CORRECT

4) What post did he occupy preceeding and until his death?

Prime Minister of Mongolia CORRECT

5) When did he die - and what was Stalin's comment upon his death?

He died in Moscow on January 26, 1952. His death concerned the aging Stalin who commented, "They die one after another. Shcherbakov, Zhdanov, Dimitrov, Choibalsan ... die so quickly! We must change the old doctors for new ones." CORRECT

Answer question 1 and you're the winner. Of course, you already are the winner having answered questions 2-5! But for completeness sake..... ..... we're waiting Christophe!

Jim

[JimZ]

And oh ... I took this pic last January with my phone SPECIFICALLY for this quiz

So completeness is a must

Jim

[Christophe]

I was hesitating between Stalin and Marshal Semyon Budyonny...

Ch.

[JimZ]

OOOHHH! But its neither

[Christophe]

Hi Jim,

I frankly have no idea, as I don't remember having seen these boots in Moscow. Which Museum ?

Just for the fun, I would suggest a last name : Zhukov. As I think it is more a protocolar gift than a "combat friendship" one... But...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

And there you go! Zhukov it was. Central Armed Forces museum in Moscow - I was thinking of adding that as a question but I though it may be too hard!! Christophe, if you managed to remember every single item you saw in museums ...... I'd take you to the Hermitage to test you!!!

Well done! Ball is in your court!

What are the statistics? I have not followed up on the quiz in quite a while do to other commitments!

Jim

[Christophe]

Thanks Jim. Happy to get this one...

In fact I had a look at the pics I have taken in the Central Armed Forces Museum, and did not see these boots, even in the display case where Zhukov awards are shown. But... They are, and be sure I will have a closer look next time I'm here.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

And you asked for a few stats...

Quiz 2008 :

* 12 questions asked,

* with 241 answers,

* and viewed more than 1,820 times.

Nb of good answers for the Quiz 2008 :

* 4 : Marc (Lapa)

* 2 : Auke (Ferdinand) & Christophe

* 1 : Christian (Zulus), Frank (Knarf) & Jim (JimZ)

Complete statistics give since this Quiz has been launched (on 1 Nov. 2005) :

* 183 questions asked,

* with 2,386 answers,

* This quiz has been viewed more than 24,330 times.

* 38 Members of the Forum played, and 28 correctly answered at least 1 question :

Nb of good answers :

* 36 : Christian (Zulus)

* 34 : Christophe

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

* 11 : Bryan (Soviet)

* 8 : Auke (Ferdinand) & Simon (Red Threat)

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

* 5 : Dan (Hauptman)

* 4 : Marc (Lapa) & 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 this Quiz.

Now, let's have fun with the 184th question, Christian's !!!!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Christian,

Your turn, now

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christian Zulus]

Your turn, now

Dear Christophe,

congratulations to your victory and many thanks for transfering the question to me .

I already found a nice, easy & educative question for our community .

Best regards

Christian

[Christophe]

(...)

I already found a nice, easy & educative question for our community .

(...)

Great!! Let's go!!!

Ch.

[Christian Zulus]

New question #184

Gentlemen,

again an easy one about aviation .

Have a look at this painting, done by the great aviation artist Mark Postlethwaite http://www.posart.com/ :

Questions:

1) What do we see at this painting?

- aircrafts involved

- pilots involved (name all 3)

- when exactly happened that incident

- where exactly happend that incident

2) What was the final improvement (armament) of the Soviet aircraft on the painting at the end of the GPW, which made it to the most superior piston-engined fighter in WW II? (That improvement is not shown at the painting!)

3) What was the nationality of the Soviet designer of that aircraft, which military rank did he achieve and which where his most superior titles & prizes (quantity & years of awarding) he got?

The winner is, who answers ALL 3 subquestions .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: I don't have Mark's great original painting on my wall , but a small model of the "White 27" at my desk .

Edited March 14, 2008 by Christian Zulus

[Christian Zulus]

Gentlemen,

my question shouldn't be too difficult, I guess ...

The incident is well known in literature, because it happened not too often, that a Soviet plane shot down a German jet-fighter ...

Everybody should know the Soviet pilot, his aircraft, the designer and the last modifications at the plane during the GPW .

Please keep on with Christophe's quiz .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: Some more hints:

- that incident happened at a major river east of Berlin (the former border between the FDR & GDR).

- the pilot of the German jet-plane hadn't been an officer, but an NCO.

New question #184

Gentlemen,

again an easy one about aviation .

Have a look at this painting, done by the great aviation artist Mark Postlethwaite http://www.posart.com/ :

Questions:

1) What do we see at this painting?

- aircrafts involved

- pilots involved (name all 3)

- when exactly happened that incident

- where exactly happend that incident

2) What was the final improvement (armament) of the Soviet aircraft on the painting at the end of the GPW, which made it to the most superior piston-engined fighter in WW II? (That improvement is not shown at the painting!)

3) What was the nationality of the Soviet designer of that aircraft, which military rank did he achieve and which where his most superior titles & prizes (quantity & years of awarding) he got?

The winner is, who answers ALL 3 subquestions .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: I don't have Mark's great original painting on my wall , but a small model of the "White 27" at my desk .

Edited March 14, 2008 by Christian Zulus

[Christian Zulus]

Another hint

Gentlemen,

have a look at a certain publication of OSPREY http://www.ospreypublishing.com/ .

Best regards

Christian

[Christophe]

No one to try this one ?

I'll try tomorrow night, if noone succeeds since...

Cheers.

Ch.