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    Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2008


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    Marc,

    Any news from you ? :rolleyes:

    Cheers.

    Ch.

    Congratulations Christophe!

    You got that one right. I did not think that it would be so difficult though.

    The place is indeed Nevsky Pyatachok.

    The battle began in the night of 20 to 21 September 1941, on Zhukov's order to force the Neva river and attempt to free Mga. Soviet forces, more specifically the 576th infantry batallion, having had a grand total of 2 days to get ready, crossed the river during the night and got pinned there. The battle raged on the Southern bank of the Neva until Fall 1943, while combats ceased there only at the end of January 1944.

    During the first 16~18 months, an average of 2,000 explosive devices (bombs, mortars, etc) PER HOUR!!! fell on the battlefield. So much steel fell there that even today trees did not grow back.

    Except for about a couple of weeks when Soviet forces succeded in widening it up to a maximum area 3km wide by 800 meters deep, the battlefield was a mere 1km wide and less than 500 meter deep!!! Official postwar figures put Soviet casualties at over 250,000 killed, whereas figures recently published estimate them to be possibly well over 300,000. Life expectancy of Soviet soldiers sent to this battlefield was no more than a couple of days.

    The village of Moskovskaya Dubrovka was entirely destroyed in the first few days of the battle, and was never rebuilt. Soviet forces used debris to build their underground shelters on the banks of the Neva.

    Nevsky Pyatachok is today a baren place; a few dachas were built on the banks of the river, but the site remains mostly as it was. Even today, almost 65 years after combats ceased, a walk on the shore will yield countless artifacts reminding how fierce combats were on this tiny crumb of land.

    Next week, I'll post pictures of the last time I went there. A very sobering experience that truly showcases the savagery of the Eastern Front, still very much under-reported in the West.

    Your turn Christophe!

    Marc

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    Question #178

    What are the two latest Soviet awards (orders or medals) instituted by the USSR ?

    1. Names of these awards ?

    2. Date of creation for each ?

    Christophe,

    I believe that it should be the following:

    - Order of Personal Courage, 28.12.1988

    - Order of Honor, 28.12.1988

    Marc

    Edited by Lapa
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    Congratulations Christophe!

    You got that one right. I did not think that it would be so difficult though.

    The place is indeed Nevsky Pyatachok.

    The battle began in the night of 20 to 21 September 1941, on Zhukov's order to force the Neva river and attempt to free Mga. Soviet forces, more specifically the 576th infantry batallion, having had a grand total of 2 days to get ready, crossed the river during the night and got pinned there. The battle raged on the Southern bank of the Neva until Fall 1943, while combats ceased there only at the end of January 1944.

    During the first 16~18 months, an average of 2,000 explosive devices (bombs, mortars, etc) PER HOUR!!! fell on the battlefield. So much steel fell there that even today trees did not grow back.

    Except for about a couple of weeks when Soviet forces succeded in widening it up to a maximum area 3km wide by 800 meters deep, the battlefield was a mere 1km wide and less than 500 meter deep!!! Official postwar figures put Soviet casualties at over 250,000 killed, whereas figures recently published estimate them to be possibly well over 300,000. Life expectancy of Soviet soldiers sent to this battlefield was no more than a couple of days.

    The village of Moskovskaya Dubrovka was entirely destroyed in the first few days of the battle, and was never rebuilt. Soviet forces used debris to build their underground shelters on the banks of the Neva.

    Nevsky Pyatachok is today a baren place; a few dachas were built on the banks of the river, but the site remains mostly as it was. Even today, almost 65 years after combats ceased, a walk on the shore will yield countless artifacts reminding how fierce combats were on this tiny crumb of land.

    Next week, I'll post pictures of the last time I went there. A very sobering experience that truly showcases the savagery of the Eastern Front, still very much under-reported in the West.

    Your turn Christophe!

    Marc

    Thanks, Marc, for the historical explanations !!!

    Cheers.

    Ch.

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    I believe that it should be the following:

    - Order of Personal Courage, 28.12.1988

    - Order of Honor, 28.12.1988

    Dear Marc,

    in my phaleristic view the Order of Honour is not a new issued award - it's just a version of the 1935 Order of the Badge of Honour.

    The even used the same dies ;) .

    Best regards :beer:

    Christian

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    Dear Marc,

    in my phaleristic view the Order of Honour is not a new issued award - it's just a version of the 1935 Order of the Badge of Honour.

    The even used the same dies ;) .

    Best regards :beer:

    Christian

    Hi Christian,

    the Order of Honor has got new statutes...

    Ch.

    PS : BTW, the latest medal instituted in the USSR was the Medal for 70 Years of the Armed Forces (28 January 1988)...

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    the Order of Honor has got new statutes...

    Ch.

    PS : BTW, the latest medal instituted in the USSR was the Medal for 70 Years of the Armed Forces (28 January 1988)...

    Dear Christophe,

    you are correct in both points :cheers: .

    .... and the statutes are different.

    Best regards & congratulations to Marc :beer:

    Christian

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    Hi again, Marc,

    Perfectly correct !!! :beer:

    Your turn, now!!!

    Cheers.

    Ch.

    OK, let's go with it again. That one should not be too difficult at all (then again, I did not think that my previous question was...) :rolleyes:

    A couple of months ago, I turned 75. Originally a czarist invention, I was abolished after the 1917 revolution, before being reinstated less than 15 years later.

    1. What am I?

    2. What is the exact date I was reinstated?

    3. What was the actual reason for my return?

    Good luck!

    Marc

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    OK, let's go with it again. That one should not be too difficult at all (then again, I did not think that my previous question was...) :rolleyes:

    A couple of months ago, I turned 75. Originally a czarist invention, I was abolished after the 1917 revolution, before being reinstated less than 15 years later.

    1. What am I?

    2. What is the exact date I was reinstated?

    3. What was the actual reason for my return?

    Good luck!

    Marc

    Hello Everyone,

    As a newbie this is a hell of a guess on my behalf so don't laugh to loud

    Marc,

    1. LITERARY ARTISTIC ORGANISATION,

    2. 23rd APRIL 1932

    3. SOCIALIST REALISM

    All the best

    Nick,

    BTW special thanks to Christophe for giving me the nerve to attempt such a tricky question :beer:

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    Marc,

    Please, could you tell us if Nick is right, or wrong, about your question ? :rolleyes:

    We really need to speed the pace of the Quiz, otherwise it will lose its interest for many of us...

    Thanks.

    Cheers.

    Ch.

    PS : BTW, I have found similar answers to the one proposed by Nick, but nothing else, really... Others, any idea ?

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    Hallo Christophe,

    It is a bit boring now. Perhaps you should change the rules. 3 Days to answer a ouestion, if not answered correct by that time the final hint.

    If somebody answered a question 24 hrs time to confirm the answer or the first who answered the question can ask the next, even if he was not completely correct. You started the game so it is you to decide.

    Regards Frank

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    Hallo Christophe,

    It is a bit boring now. Perhaps you should change the rules. 3 Days to answer a ouestion, if not answered correct by that time the final hint.

    If somebody answered a question 24 hrs time to confirm the answer or the first who answered the question can ask the next, even if he was not completely correct. You started the game so it is you to decide.

    Regards Frank

    Hi Frank,

    You're right... Boring here..

    Here is what I can propose :

    * When someone asks a question :

    * Maximum of 2 days to give 1 hint. So 1 new hint every 2 days. After 1 week, the answer has to be given, and if not, the closest member (should be quite clear, even if not scientific..) has the right to ask for a new challenge.

    * When someone has answered a question (has won):

    * Now, it is after 2 (and not 3) days that the last winner who has not asked yet for a question, and has not transferred his"right" to another Member; will allow everyone else to do ask for the next question.

    What do you think ?

    Cheers.

    Ch.

    PS : You have 2 days to answer.... :D

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    Ch-

    I don't like this solution. I wish there were more interest and more involvement. I also wish the questions were better focused and more relevant (not: "I am guessing a number between 1 and one million...").

    But (BUT) I think your solution is wise and necessary. 'Tis what needs to be done. And a resonable solution to our GROWING problem here.

    Ed

    Edited by Ed_Haynes
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