Soviet 1920's order of the red banner

[Bob]

Lots of very, very interesting research to do on Sodnomdarjaa although it'll probably be difficult. To add to a previous post on raids into no-mans land... here's what Sodnomdarjaa was possibly involved with:

"In the fall of 1922, Sukebator, the MNP war minister, succeeded in having Dambijantsan killed in his own castle. The officer who got in and shot him had to bring the severed head to Uliasutai to prove that such a man had really died"

http://books.google.be/books?id=-XUx_vS52j...snum=7#PPR25,M1

Whether it was Sodnomdarjaa who did the above is not known for sure. I'm hoping/waiting for a better scan of the Voroshilov document. In any case, Sodnomdarjaa appears to played a role in ehmm some 'purges' (all in the interest of the Mongolian independence of course).

At risk of getting here's a pic of Dambijantsan

Edited May 10, 2009 by Bob

[Bob]

thanks to Ed i don't have to wait for the recently ordered book to arrive

From Owen Lattimore's Nomads and Commissars (pp. 18-19), at the 1961 Naadam in Ulanbaatar -

Hmmm - must have had a VERY interesting life this Sodnomdarjaa!

[Bob]

Just received confirmation that Sodnomdarjaa was indeed in the party of six who assassinated Dambijantsan in 1922. Sodnomdarjaa mentions this in a book he wrote entitled "Partisans". That book is in Mongolian (of course) but I'll try to find it anyway (who knows, may contain pictures...).

A detailed account of the assassination is given in the Diluv Khutagt?s Book, Chapter 4. I'm in contact with a US based historian who's in Mongolia right now doing research specifically on Dambijantsan's assassination (what a coincidence!).

[Bob]

The red banner has arrived safely in Belgium and will post scans of it + document later today.

Can already post some other things though as well.

Here's his first mongolian orders booklet

[Bob]

And his second booklet

[Bob]

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[Bob]

Could it be they changed the screw because the owner lost the screw plate?

Edited May 22, 2009 by Bob

[Bob]

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[Vatjan]

Wow, that's a lovely piece.

And some low numbers in those award booklets as well.

Sukhbataar n? 86, ...

Jan

[Bob]

Just received the Ukaz which appears to document all (?) soviet awards given to Mongolians. Came as research for a Monoglian General (see Mongolia forum) who had received a SOviet Red Star. Guess who was on top of the list of this Ukaz? Sodnomdarja... for a Soviet Order of Lenin!

Will post scans tomorrow evening. Having the document researched. Potentially VERY interesting!

Docs will be posted below:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=39929&st=20&gopid=377530&

Edited November 14, 2009 by Bob

[Bob]

Sent it off to Alexei for an attempt at research. Hope something (anything!) comes out...

Any other different channels to try?

[Bob]

Achieved a BREAKTHROUGH thanks to the efforts of a fellow enthousiast of Mongolian history. And now the reason for the Red Banner being awarded is confirmed! More to ccome...

"Sodnomdarjaa Damdiny was born 1895 in Dornod province (Easternmost province) of Mongolia. Bereaved of his parents at the age of 9, Sodnomdarjaa had to work for wealthier families to survive. At the age of 17, he was drafted to a military service as a conscript of the recently formed Bogdkhaan’s national army. In 1913, Sodnomdarjaa was selected to a junior officer’s course in Urga (the capital, now known as Ulaanbaatar) where he got acquainted with D. Sukhbaatar. He finished the course in 1914 and until 1920, Sodnomdarjaa stayed in eastern Mongolia fighting the Bavuujav Count’s forces that robbed the households in eastern Mongolia.

In 1921, Sodnomdarjaa, on Sukhbaatar’s recommendation, joined the People’s Army and was commissioned as the assistant to Minister of Western Mongolia Count Gombo-Idshin. He served in Khovd city in Western Mongolia for several years fighting the remains of the Russian White Guard units. Sodnomdarjaa personally apprehended two White Guard officers in August of 1922. One of the apprehended officers was the Commander of the White Guard regiment. For his personal courage and valor in fighting the Russian White Guard, Sodnomdarjaa was awarded the Order of Red Banner of RSFSR on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Mongolian People’s Revolution in 1931.

In January 1923, Sodnomdarjaa also took part in the special operation to liquidate the leader of the nationalistic group and counter-revolutionary Da Lam Dambii Jantsan. This operation was one of the first special operations of the Mongolian State Security. The decision to involve Sodnomdarjaa in this special operation indicates the trust of the Mongolian revolutionary high-command in his abilities and bravery. In 1970s, a special movie “In the Lair” was filmed by the Communist Government depicting the operation. Although Sodnomdarjaa did not personally shoot the Da Lam Dambii Jantsan, he personally took part in the operation planning and subsequent execution.

From 1935-1940, Sodmodarjaa headed the trade organization in Ereentsav, Dornod province. While working in Dornod province, he was actively involved in the work to defend the border of the Mongolian People’s Republic. In one of the cases, Sodnomdarjaa helped the border guards to apprehend a group of Japanese and Chinese-Mongolian infiltrators in 1938.

On May 27, 1945, Sodnomdarjaa was commissioned to set up and head the wood craft workshop in Bayan-Uul county of Dornod aimag. He started the workshop with 13 conscripts and two tents. Just in eight years, in 1953, the workshop expanded into a factory with a small town named Ereen. The factory was renowned for its high-quality products, especially the wooden carts.

The factory was named after Sodnomdarjaa by the decree #50 of the Presidium of the State Small Khural in 1958. Later, after his death, a statue of Sodnomdarjaa was erected in Ereen village.

D. Sodnomdarjaa was elected as the member of the Presidium of the State Small Khural and later as the member of the People’s Great Khural (Parliament of the MPR) for four terms. A close friend of Sukhbaatar, he also worked as the Chief of the village, accountant, librarian and the director of the factory at different periods of his life.

Sodnomdarjaa married in 1933 and had nine children. He died in 1961.

It is known that a prototype of Sodnomdarjaa is the main subject in the novel “Red Sun” written by S. Dashdendev. The novel was one of the works to be studied by the high school students on mandatory basis from 1965-1980.""

[Bob]

Sodnomdarjaa (photo taken in 1935) with the first deputy Commander of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Army 1st Commissar O. Dashchirav

[Bob]

Sodnomdarjaa (photo taken in 1959) with all his awards. The resolution of the photo is very good. When zoomed (at least, in the version I have which is too much MB to post here), you can see the letters “R.S.F.S.R” on his Red Banner. Visible is also the enamel damage to the Red Banner which is in line with the Red Banner in my hands.

By the way, the group photo shown earlier is from circa 1933, with Demberel, Demid, Choibalsan and Sodnomdarjaa.

More to come in due course (fingers crossed)...

[Vatjan]

Great story, great research, congratulations, Bob.

Jan

[Bob]

Sodnomdarjaa (second from left, at the bottom) among the deputies of the People's Great Khural

More to come in due course...

First row (from left to right):

- Herder Z. Ochir (one of the first Heroes of Labor of the MPR)

- D. Sodnomdarjaa

- Veteran of the 1921 People's revolution Togtokh

- member of the People's Great Khural Natsag

Last row (standing from viewers left to right):

- the officer is unknown

- member of the People's Great Khural Banzragch

- member of the People's Great khural D.Arya (later Hero of Labor of the MPR)

Edited October 4, 2010 by Bob

[Bob]

Voroshilov during his visit to Mongolia in 1957. He is with Tsedenbal and they are meeting with Sodomdarjaa and Togtokh.

[Bob]

Sodnomdarjaa with his wife (notice she has a motherhood award)

[Bob]

And here with Marshal of the Soviet Union Budyonii. One of the first 5 Marshals and, aside from Voroshilov who signed the red banner doc, the only one of the 5 not purged in the 1930's. Sodnomdarjaa picked his "friends" well!

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

[Bob]

And here another pic with Voroshilov... AND with broad smiling Colonel General Lhagvasuren in his parade uniform in top right hand corner!