Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Pukovnik (Colonel) Group

[Rogi]

So I picked up this magnificent group on ebay really cool and a wonderful addition to my collection, I hope you guys enjoy it spans his entire career

Huge Thanks to Radmilo who ended up helping me a huge amount and was the person that recommended I pick this one up Thank you my good friend

This is the first post of medals and orders I've made since Rick's passing and I hope he would of liked it I enjoyed talking about Soviet, Yugoslavian and Imperial German medal bars with him, Thank you Rick for the good times and teaching us so much.

I present Pukovnik (Colonel) and Engineer of the JRM (Yugoslavian Navy) Peronja, Jurga, Grgo (Grgi?) some of the documents list his name with minor changes (maybe dialect specific?) so if anyone could let me know his first, middle and last name that would be great I think first name is Grgo then middle Jurga and last Peronja. His nationality is Croatian? He served in the Yugoslavian Partisans and later in Yugoslavia.

Pukovnik Peronja's Photo:

First Silver Plaque (for 20 years service?)

and document:

Then a commemoration plaque from Partisan Veteran's association:

document:

Now Commemorative medals, for the Yugoslavian Army, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years front and rear:

I've left them in the protective package they were shipped in:

Now for his higher orders and medals, I'll start from when they were awarded:

Medal for Bravery,

I overdid the image in one post so I'll have to continue this after lunch More to come Please don't post until I update won't be long

Edited September 29, 2013 by Rogi

[Rogi]

The Order of National Merit:

The Order of Bravery:

The Order of Military Merit with Golden Swords (2nd Class):

Order of the People's Army with Golden Star (2nd class):

[Rogi]

The Order of Brotherhood and Unity with Silver Wreath (2nd Class):This one has a very cool treat

Along with the Awarding document:

Is the Archival document (I've blotted out the special issueing numbers):

Order of Work with Golden Wreath (2nd class):

and Last but not least Pukovnik Peronja's Ribbon Bar:

Thank you all for looking through, any comments are appreciated

Best Regards,

Igor

[Chris Boonzaier]

It begs asking... I wonder if he was involved in the early 90s in the Balkans?

[Rogi]

It begs asking... I wonder if he was involved in the early 90s in the Balkans?

May very well be, but on what side? He is Croatian by name, but was very pro Yugoslavia during his career (if we just look at this section of the group)

How old would he be by then if we assume he was 20 or 30 during WW2 ?

It brings up some very interesting questions

Really satisfied with the entire group, so cool

Edited September 29, 2013 by Rogi

[Chris Boonzaier]

I saw some oooooooold grey haired Chetniks in Bosnia.... could still hold a rifle....

[Rogi]

I saw some oooooooold grey haired Chetniks in Bosnia.... could still hold a rifle....

Its in our culture I guess after WW2 training was stepped up. I mean scouts in Yugoslavia was where you learned to shoot and hunt/survive. Not like in US and Canada's version where they teach you how to light a fire, etc

I'd be curious on which side he took. We can only stipulate and estimate at this time I guess without further documents

[Valter]

Rogi, you have some outstanding set here! :jumping:

The deocrations are a common combination for officer of that rank (even a bit low, but that's probably because he was in technical branch), but in combination with documnets its rare and great!

Grgo = first name, Croat abbreviated for Grgur = Gregory

Juraj was his father (George)

Peronja is family name.

It's weird he didn't have the order of partisan star, although he was sub-lieutenant in 1945; maybe he was enlisted or NCO in war, but promoted in 1945? But probably all partisan officers didn't get the partisan star, for who knows what reason.

About Balkan war I'd say he didn't fight actively, too old. If he'd be active, he'd have some crat decorations too, at least Memorial medal of fatherland war. Many native Croat officers sided with Croatia, but many simply retired and didn't take any active role. The native Croats and Slovenians who took the "other" side were mostly high-ends (generals, admirals) and those who lived in Serbia, or were married to Serbian women. This one lived and served on Croatian coast, I think.

[Rogi]

Thank you guys for the input and advice it is greatly appreciated can't wait for further discussion on this group very interesting indeed

It is sad a lot of archival research is not possible for these kinds of groups.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Rogi

[paja]

Excellent group, it is great that all of the documents, even the ones for plaques are saved and very well preserved! I have not seen many Bravery medal documents from 1945

And the boxes look probably the same as on the day these decorations were awarded. I especially like the one for Order of military merits, that type is my favorite one

All in all great and complete set, thanks for sharing it with us!

[Valter]

Yes, unfortunately Yugoslav archives are beyond any reasonable research. Maybe some years/decades later...

The marine plaque has label of navy school center, Split; MT puk. is (most likely) machine technical pokovnik (colonel). He was probably a professor in that school center in 1978. Navy school center consisted naval academy, navy technical academy, navy high school and navy technical high school (both for NCOs) and some other schools/research institutes.

And partisan's veteran organisation plaque is awarded on 4th july 1991, that's AFTER Croatia declared independence.

The letter considering award of brotherhood and unity order from 1975 is adressed to Mornarički elektronski zavod (navy electrocnics institution), which was both school for navy electric/electronic specialists and repair/installation center for navy electronic equipment.

[paja]

He really was MT colonel, MT officers (официри морнаричко техничке службе) had the same ranks as those used by ground forces and air force, on the other hand navy officers (официри рода поморство) used different ranks, if he was navy officer his rank would be captain (капетан бојног брода). Also when you take a look at his picture he is not wearing uniform with stars above his "sleeve ranks" like navy officers do so he must be MT. I believe that there weren't that many MT colonels and that that rank was practically the highest for them because until the end of Yugoslavia the were only couple of MT generals.

I think that he retired before 1981 because commemorative medal for the 40 years of JNA is not part of the set nor is he wearing that medal on the picture. Of course this doesn't have to be the case here, but if all of his other orders, medals and plaques are together I think that that would also be the case with 40 years of JNA if he had got one.

About the SUBNOR plaque, it is awarded to him by SUBNOR Croatia, not SUBNOR Yugoslavia, as far as I know SUBNOR Croatia left it in 1991 (Don't know the exact date but probably pretty soon after 25. of June). It is interesting and perhaps even a little bit ironical that this plaque was awarded on 4th of July, Fighter's day (Дан борца), national holiday of socialist Yugoslavia. I am not sure but I believe that that day was not celebrated in Croatia after 1991, on the other hand it remained national holiday in Serbia up until 2001.

Edited September 30, 2013 by paja

[Valter]

Paja is probably right - retired before 1981. Most of JNA officers retired when they reached the requirements, in their 50's or 60's, I don't recall any general/admiral really old like Radetzky or Mackensen (except Tito, of course). Yes, he wears a cogwheel and propeller badge of technical branch on his sleeves.

Another matter of interest, as clearly seen on picture, he wears orders and medals quite liberally and not in order with regulations. Yugoslavia in 45+ years of existance didn't have a full-size medal bars, only ribbon bars and semi-official miniature bars. Chances an officer will actually wear the entire array of his full-size decorations in uniform were very rare, except those involved in diplomatic events on highest level. So I believe this officer put on his uniform and decorations only to take picture, not for duty. He didn't even bother to set the memorial medals in order as recieved. But that was not incommon, I've seen several pics of officers with that kind of decoration wear. These statements are valid for period after 1950 or so. In early years after WW2, soldiers and officers wore their full size medals/orders, properly ordered in most cases, but in later years wear of full size decorations was almost forgotten. Even on such occasions as swearing an oath, graduating on military academy and the like, they wore ribbon bars only.

[paja]

Now that you have mentioned that matter there were couple of videos of 1975 and 1985 Victory day parades online, I think that they can still be found on youtube. It is interesting to see all of the participants and a lot observers wearing all of their decorations.

[paja]

I apologize for going a little bit off topic, but this could be interesting to some members.

1950:

Edited October 1, 2013 by paja

[Rogi]

Please post anything related those are fantastic videos Radmilo Thank you, we can see the progression for wear on the uniforms in them and what a fantastic event those were.

Here is what I think is Pukovnik Peronja's Obituary, found it online, I've edited it to remove any mention of family names etc, minus the ones we already have above in his documents.

Here is the obituary, I think this is him:

Translation for the text:

With sad news we are informing friends and beloved ones that on the following day : 27.IX.2007 , our loved one left us.

He is buried in the Jelsa cemetery.

He leaves behind (not a literal translation but the best I can do compared to the English phrase): is his wife -----(blocked off name) and other loved family members

Rest in God's Peace.

----------------------------------------------------

That is all I have found for him currently, I'll try tracking down a couple other things, if anyone can help me find anything would you please be willing to pm me? I would like to find out more history about him.

Rest in Peace Pukovnik Peronja

Edited October 18, 2013 by Rogi

[JapanX]

Excellent group Igor!

Congrats

[new world]

Amazing group, congratulations!

[Paul R]

Most excellent grouping. Not my field, but still- they don't get much better than this.

[paja]

Official gazette (Службени лист) 1946.11.01 #88 in Macedonian

Order of Merits for the People 3rd class - Peronja J. Grga (Орден заслуга за народ III ред - Пероња Ј. Грга)

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-7937-0-82969100-1385147998.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-7937-0-72523600-1385148011.jpg

[paja]

Official gazette (Службени лист) 1973.01.11 #02

Order of the People's Army with Golden Star - Technical colonel: Peronja Jurja Grgo (Oрден на народната армија со златна звезда - техничкиот полковник: Пероња Јурја Грго)

Edited November 22, 2013 by paja

[paja]

Official gazette (Службени лист) 1975.11.07 #53

Order of Brotherhood and Unity with Silver Wreath - Technical colonel Peronja Jurja Grgo (Орден братство и единство со сребрен венец - технички полковник Пероња Јурја Грго)

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-7937-0-72672100-1385149287.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-7937-0-35430200-1385149424.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2013/post-7937-0-91028900-1385149457.jpg

[paja]

Official gazette (Службени лист) 1977.09.09 #45

Order of Labor with Golden Wreath - Technical colonel Peronja Jurja Grgo (Орден на трудот со златен венец - технички полковник Пероња Јурја Грго)

[Rogi]

:o *jumps thank you so much Paja for finding these :D

Edited November 22, 2013 by Rogi

[paja]

You are most welcome Igor! Unfortunately I couldn't find the rest of them...

If something new pops up you will be the first one to know