Soviet Chief of Transcaucasus Railroads

[Chuck In Oregon]

G. S. Kiknadze was head of the Transcaucasus Railway during and after WW II. This group consists of a 1946 presentation watch, Red Banner of Labor #6611, Medal for Valiant Labor #60339 and a Medal for Valiant Labor in WW II.

I'll start with the watch. It's inscribed "Comrade Kiknadze G. S. from the People's Commissar of Railways 12 March 1946".

Enjoy.

Chuck

Edited March 20, 2009 by Chuck In Oregon

[Chuck In Oregon]

And here's his Red Banner of Labor #6611. Converted, but what'cha gonna do?

[Chris Boonzaier]

What better gift for a railwayman than a pocket watch!

I have my greatgrandfathers pocket watch, he was an Engine driver in South Africa. Must have heard many a train whistle blowing.

[Chuck In Oregon]

And his Medal for Valiant Labor #60339, similarly converted.

[Chuck In Oregon]

Closeups of the above two reverses.

[Chuck In Oregon]

And his Medal for Valiant Labor.

Hope you enjoy this little group.

Chuck

[Chuck In Oregon]

What better gift for a railwayman than a pocket watch!

I have my greatgrandfathers pocket watch, he was an Engine driver in South Africa. Must have heard many a train whistle blowing.

* * * * *

Hi Chris

The family says he had two of these but they couldn't find the other one. Maybe someday, they're still looking..

Must have been some kind of annual nod from the commissar to the republic chiefs.

Chuck

[Redcap56]

Hi Chuck!

Checked only now your nice set as I'm quite a new member. The Red Banner of Labor seems to me as a re-issue type 3 var 1 rather than converted type 2. Is that what you meant? Really a nice item anyway. I once came across a railwayman's decorations in Tallinn with two orders of the Red Banner of Labor, two badges of Honoured Railwayman and some Polish oders, but couldn't afford the set!

Redcap56

[1977]

On awarding the employees of the Transcaucasian railway. For outstanding achievements in lifting rail ¬ road transport and displayed samples with ¬ tsialisticheskogo labor to reward employees Zakayev ¬ kazskoy road: 

. 

Order of Labor Red Banner 

......... 6. Kiknadze Grigoriy Semenovich - Chief of the road, previously awarded the Order of Lenin .!!!!!! 

................ 

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Mikhail Kalinin. 

Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR A. Gorkin. 

Kremlin, Moscow. November 23, 1939 

He gagrazhden earlier Order of Lenin. 

Labor Red Banner-perevydacha-replacement-screw type of suspension. 

Very interesting and rare!

[Chuck In Oregon]

Thank you both. I knew about the Lenin but the family sold it previously. Day late, dollar short.

I may be returning to Georgia in the spring. I'll be sure to check up on the other watch and anything else they may have found.

Chuck

[1977]

For public overfulfilment On awarding railway employees. plan for rail in 1935 and 1 quarter of 1936, achieved success in the better use ¬ cation of means of rail transport and its enterprises Central Executive Committee of the USSR decided to award of Management ¬ convinced by State law, political workers, working men and women - Stakhanovites rail-31 railways, the Moscow metro, railway ¬ to building, factories and enterprises People's Commissariat for: 

Order of Lenin. 

..... 

72. Kiknadze Grigory Semenovich-chief of the Tiflis branch of service operation of the Transcaucasian railway. d. 

...... 

Chairman of the CEC of the USSR MA Kalinin 

I.o.Sekretarya CEC of the USSR I. Unshlikht 

Moskva.Kreml.4 April 1936.

[1977]

Kiknadze Grigory Semenovich - Head of the Transcaucasian railway. 

Born February 14, 1897 in the village Chheri Shoropanskogo County Kutaisi Province, now the Republic of Georgia in a peasant family. Grusin. He graduated from rural school in the village Haraguli. When the family moved to the valley, continued his studies in Tiflis shestiklassnom railway school. At 9 years old was left without a father. For him, as a senior, had the plight of orphans to feed the family. With the help of distant cousins managed to finish school and train at once to get a job. 

Since 1912, a teenager, and then the young man worked on the railroad: a clerk, telegraph operator, and later on duty at distant stations, and small patrols in the Caucasus. When the Turks in Armenia fled to Tiflis, where he was drafted into the army. Military service was not long, the young man was rejected on sight. Having been discharged, settled clerk in the Office of the Georgian Railway, and in the evenings studying hard for education courses. Later, it was the Auditor-instructor, head parts, inspector of roads. Graduated from the Tiflis Polytechnic Institute graduate courses of Railway Engineers at the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers. 

In November 1933 Kiknadze was appointed chief of station Batum. The new chief competently organized accounting and control the movement of tanks with fuel, developed and implemented a system of clear accounting performance indicators for each shift, organized a competition between them. Constant attention to selection and placement of workers in shifts. In winter 1934, the introduction of the method Kiknadze significantly increased productivity and station Batum was recognized as one of the best on the road network. These delegations have come to the Transcaucasian, Turksib and other railroads to adopt the experience of its work. The experience of his work was promoted in the newspapers. 

A year later, the innovator was appointed head of the Tiflis branch of service operation. Three months later, the office from last place on the road came out on top. In April 1936, GS Kiknadze was awarded the Order of Lenin. Soon he was appointed chief of cargo service line, then the auditor of the road traffic safety, and in August 1937, Deputy Chief of the road. 

In April 1939, after the appointment of BN Arutyunova Deputy Commissar, Kiknadze led the Transcaucasian highway and successfully managed it for 15 years. 

Since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War Kiknadze - Authorized People's Commissariat of the Transcaucasian Front and a member of the Military Council of the Front. Years of severe trials were very bright beacon of the highway. 19 times awarded the road passing the red banners GKO and People's Commissariat. 

Particularly difficult was in 1942 when the Nazis invaded the North Caucasus to the Terek River and cut the road from the center. Established a delivery of oil via the Caspian Sea to Krasnovodsk and through the Kizlyar-Astrakhan from crossing to the left bank of the Volga and further to Saratov. We had to urgently send the Ural plants Chiatura manganese to increase the strength of tank armor. 

Concern for the Chief of the Transcaucasian road was the southern direction. In 1941 to prevent capture by the Nazis of Iranian oil in Iran in the south were put British troops from the north - part of the Red Army. Through the Transcaucasian Railway for Soviet troops marched military-supply goods: food, animal feed, clothing, etc. Kiknadze directed the military-operational offices in Tehran and Tabriz, as well as through Iran began to come in the USSR by lend-lease goods. 

GS Kiknadze paid great attention to the work of the railways of the North Caucasus. In 1942, he fulfilled the task of evacuating the rolling stock from the Crimea, as well as the road named after KE Voroshilov after the occupation of Rostov's enemy. And when the liberation from the enemy of the North Caucasus and the Kuban, the Transcaucasian Railway to help neighbors in facilitating the movement of trains. 

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from November 5, 1943 "for outstanding merits in providing transport for the front and the national economy and outstanding achievements in the reconstruction of railway economy under difficult wartime conditions," Kiknadze Grigory Semenovich awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labor with delivery of the Order of Lenin and the Gold medal "Hammer and Sickle. 

The merits of the Director-General of the movement of rank 1 (consistent with military rank of Colonel-General), GS Kiknadze during the war years were also marked by two orders of the Red Star Order of Kutuzov, and 1-st degree. 

After the war, remained at his post, continuing to lead the Transcaucasian magitralyu. On his initiative in the postwar years was the technical roads. At all key areas of clear-electrification, introduce automatic block. In the canyon itself is constructed hydroelectric power station, which gave the state greater savings liquid and solid fuels. Since 1946, GS Kiknadze - two-term member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1947 was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR. In 1951, GS Kiknadze was awarded the third Order of Lenin. 

The black band in the life of GS Kiknadze began after the death of IV Stalin and in connection with the arrest of Beria. In August 1954 Kiknadze was released from the leadership artery. Charges almost ludicrous: over the years become accustomed to the shortcomings and "adored grovel. He was transferred to Mintransstroy Deputy Chief of Transportation Office is actively involved in the construction of new railways in the areas of virgin and fallow lands, the second track line Akmolinsk-Kartaly. He has made a great contribution to the introduction of new buildings diesel traction, participated in the opening lines of Taishet-Lena and preparation of construction lines Abakan-Taishet. 

Only in 1970, at age 73, on his own initiative went to the well-deserved rest. Died March 24, 1978 after a severe and prolonged illness. He was buried in Tbilisi in Saburtalo pantheon of statesmen and public figures of the Georgian SSR. 

He was awarded three Orders of Lenin (1936, 1943, 08.07.1951), two Orders of Red Star, Order of Kutuzov 1-st degree, the Labor Red Banner and medals.

[Chuck In Oregon]

Wow, 1977. I'm really impressed. If you don't mind, I'm going to copy your text into a document and use it in a small display.

Thank you for all of this.

Chuck

[1977]

I do not mind ... use as you wish.  

DECREE OF THE SUPREME SOVIET 

Awarding of the title Hero of Socialist Labor supervisors and rank and file railroad workers, generals, officers and other ranks of railway troops 

For special merits in providing transport for the front and the national economy and outstanding achievements in the reconstruction of railway economy under difficult wartime conditions, given the title Hero of Socialist Labor with the award of the Order of Lenin and the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle: 

..... 

56. Kiknadze Grigoriy Semenovich - Chief of the Transcaucasian railway. 

 ...... 

Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Kalinin. 

Secretan Prezidimua USSR Supreme A. Gorkin. 

Moskva.Kreml. November 5, 1943.

[Bob]

1977 - can you enlighten me (us)? You have the Lenin in your possession and have had research done on it?

[1977]

1977 - can you enlighten me (us)? You have the Lenin in your possession and have had research done on it?

No.

That Lenin I have not.

This text Decrees PVS \ Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR \ awarding.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Kiknadze .... I tried googling it and came up with a youtube video of someone being kicked in the crotch and the offered google correction "do you mean "Kicked in the Nads"?"