Soviet Akaki Tutberidze

[Chuck In Oregon]

This is Akaki Ekvtimovich Tutberidze. That's him in the first picture, sitting alone in 1924. Dressed in the field uniform choka of a young, handsome warrior from Kutaisi, Georgia. Kutaisi, Georgia's second city, the ancient capital of Colchis (thank you, Apollonius of Rhodes). You know, where the entire city government was arrested in 2005. Except for the mayor. How did that happen? But I digress.

And that's him with his three comrades in their formal dress chokas, also in 1924. A formal picture because they were getting their awards that day.

[Chuck In Oregon]

And what awards might that be? I knew you'd ask.

Their special badges for killing all those pesky gang-member Mensheviks, of course. Here's a picture of his: For the liquidation of political gangs in Shorapani and Chiatura Districts 1924.

Although you probably know it already, it bears mentioning anyway. Shorapani and Chiatura are two districts in western Georgia.

[Chuck In Oregon]

Here's Mandate #12, hand-written in Kutaisi, awarding him his badge:

[Chuck In Oregon]

Here's the back of the small photo. Looks to me like the same guy wrote this as wrote the mandate.

[Chuck In Oregon]

And here's the back of the larger group photo: Komsomolists who took part in the liquidation of the Shorapani Gang.

[Chuck In Oregon]

Apparently the badge wasn't enough. 42 years later he asked his local military district why he didn't receive a cool valor medal like all those other guys from the war. Actually, the story I heard was that he bugged the district for years before they finally gave in. Anyway, they did finally agree that Akaki deserved one of those cool medals and ... they awarded him one. Here's what they wrote, in the vein of "You're right, Akaki, you really did kill a bunch of Mensheviks in 1924. (sidebar: 42 freakin' years ago!) Way to go guy. Here's your medal."

Edited May 20, 2008 by Chuck In Oregon

[Chuck In Oregon]

Of course, you'd need the medal and medal book to wind up this story. Here it is:

[Chuck In Oregon]

And the medal reverse:

[Chuck In Oregon]

And the name page from the book:

[Chuck In Oregon]

And finally, the award page from the book.

Enjoy.

[Guest Rick Research]

Chuck! this is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !

There would never have been ANY way to have ever dug out the "why" on this INDIVIDUAL award...

and you've got ALL of it.

42 years and he was still sulking because nobody thanked him enough for murdering fellow countrymen years AFTER the Civil War there was OVER. "Mopping up" unarmed neighbors... such a thankless and (sniff) underappreciated "sacrifice!"

History owes you one on this story!

[Ed_Haynes]

Speechless. Lovely.

[Chuck In Oregon]

Aw, shucks. Thank you gentlemen.

Almost entirely unknown outside of Georgia -- and inside as well, the history having been completely suppressed until after independence -- there was a major White Army revolt in Georgia in 1924. It was viciously put down and no quarter was given. It was a war with no survivors on the White Army side. Akaki's Great Adventure was likely part of that.

Didn't I once share a badge for the valiant aerial bombing of a village during this conflict? I could swear I did but I can't find either the thread or the badge itself right now. I hate it when that happens.

Chuck

[Chuck In Oregon]

Didn't I once share a badge for the valiant aerial bombing of a village during this conflict? I could swear I did but I can't find either the thread or the badge itself right now. I hate it when that happens.

Chuck

* * * * *

Found it. It is Pilot Bedia's badge at post #4, here. Found the badge, too. I knew it was around here somewhere.

Does anyone happen to know of a history of this revolt? I wonder if one has never been written. Nice doctoral thesis for some aspiring youngster, if s/he could get access to some archives.

Chuck

Edited May 20, 2008 by Chuck In Oregon

[Chris Boonzaier]

Just happened in to see what all the fuss was about.... All I can say is.... WOW!

Nice find. Not my field, but a group i to would love to have.

[Eric B]

Stunning, as is a lot of your stuff.