Medal "For The Liberation Of Korea".

[Tretov]

Originally Posted by desantnik

Does anyone have an idea what the Liberation of Korea document is worth? I've been offered one awarded to a Soviet soldier.

I had one that was part of a larger group (medals missing of course) but the rest was there including award box and photo. The entire group fetched about 100 USD so my guess would be about 20 USD for the Korea document. It is a matter of selling to the right person, ie. someone who collects foreign, or even better NK, awards and documents issued to Soviet servicemen.

[desantnik]

As requested

[CtahhR]

Here are a pair of photographs of the same recipient wearing his Medal "For The Liberation Of Korea". Both pictures date from around 1949-1954 (As the Medals date from at earliest late 1948 and does not show him wearing his mid 1955 awarded Medal). The recipient is Nikolaju Semenovich Kalinichenko who later reached the rank of Colonel-Engineer in the Soviet Air Force who served at the Scientific Research Institute "Quantum". In addition to the two photographs (one hand coloured) of him wearing the Medal I have also included a Congratulatory certificate he recieved for his services in "The Far East". All three of these items were purchased in a job lot from the forum marketplace so I can only offer a deep "Thank You" for being able to purchase such fine pieces of history relating to the liberation of Korea. In the lot were a large number of items relating to Kalinchenko but not to Korea, all later photographs that show Kalinchenko in uniform does not include this Korean Medal as part of his bar or ribbon bar.

[medals73]

Originally Posted by ericlida

I just purchased an interesting document (I think :D, I did not see it before).
Is this correct medal for the document?
Eric

Obviously, it isn't the "correct" (= PDRK) document. Perhaps there was an ersatz Soviet document?

But interesting.

And another one in wear by a Soviet friend.

[CtahhR]

That fabulous photograph also does not look post 1960. Are there any contemporary photographs of the award in wear be it in a former soviet nation or the DPRK?

Here is the Medal "For The Liberation Of Korea" in its full glory. Created on 16th October 1948, the very first DPRK Medal. A rather crudely produced and probably rushed item which contrary to the popular legend is NOT silver. Like nearly all DPRK Medals (that aren't made of aluminium) it is made from a copper alloy. The design features the original Liberation Tower (which was rebuilt in 1985) with the text "Liberation" underneath.

[CtahhR]

Here is another variation (look at the base of the tower) that comes with a document to a Soviet. I will post the document and a little bit more information when I've set up a scanner.

[CtahhR]

Here is the document to a Arkadij Fedorovich Nedodaev. This document has the relatively low serial number of 00308.

The full document reads;

"To celebrate the eternal gratitude of the Korean people of the Great Soviet army which liberated Korea from Japanese Imperialists, to establish a Medal "For The Liberation Of Korea"".

"Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of Korea of 15th October 1948 award Medal "For The Liberation Of Korea". On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of Korea Medal awarded 6th November 1948 by Commander Military Unit 13140 Rear-Admiral Fedorov."

Fedorov was head of the Riga Military Diving School in 1951 so he may well have had his unit positioned in Riga in 1948 when awarding these Medals. This Medal and Document are fresh arrivals from Riga so it does seem to connect.

Here is a picture of the Rear-Admiral when head of the diving school. What is that last Medal?

[medals73]

Interesting Russian-language document for a Korean medal. Is there no Korean document?

[CtahhR]

I have yet to see one. As it states it is for the "Great Soviet Army" it was probably never intended to be for the "Korean People's Army" or whatever they were known at the time.
It is highly likely that the documents were all printed in the USSR and then distributed by Soviet commanders as though it was just another Soviet campaign Medal.

The Medals themselves are very much "Korean" production and I would not be surprised if due to the production techniques there will be a few more variations in the 10,000+ Medals out there.

The two variations I have posted are completely different designs rather than different dies.

This Medal does seem to be a bit of a poor relative but it is just as valid as the Dukla commemorative or I may be as bold to suggest that it may have originally (before the Soviet/Korean split) been an "eastern" equivalent to Soviet "Liberation" western campaign Medals.

I am quite happy to continue seeking them out for the collection, with or without documentation, whilst it still fits in to many "stamp collectors'" eyes as "Not Soviet".

[CtahhR]

The recipient of the last Medal has been researched (even though naysayers will say Navy and Long Service awards are NOT on podvignaroda.ru).

"For Service In The Navy And Peasants And Workers' Red Army 13 Years 1 Month"

Head of financial part of the school of communications of the Training Detachment Pacific Fleet.
Major of the intendant service Nedodaev, Arkadij Fedorovich
Medal "For Combat Merits"

1 Year Of Birth; 20th January 1896
2 Nationality; Russian
3 Position; Clerical
4 Party Membership; BKP(B) since 5th January 1938
5 Time in RKKA; Since 14th June 1920
6 Participation in war; Not participated
7 Wounds and contusion; None
8 Proposed for previous awards; Not presented
9 Which promotions and awards; None
10 Service in white or other bourgeois armies; None

Political training is quite satisfactory. Morally stable. Disciplined, Energetic, Initiative, Decisive Officer. Working As head of financial detail, and copes with the work. Loves his job and gives it lots of attention. Has connections with the staff. With party work he takes active participation. Enjoys prestige amongst the staff. Awarded the Medal "XX Years Of The RKKA". From 1933 a leading financial worker, a positive evaluation. For impeccable service in the navy of 13 years he is presented for the governmental award Medal "for Combat Merits".
Head Of the School Of Communications Of the Training Detachment Pacific Fleet Major Krasnov 3rd September 1944.
Worthy of the award Medal "For Combat Merits"
Commander Training Detachment Pacific Fleet Captain 1st Rank Ogureshnikov 4th September 1944.
Worthy of the award Medal "For Combat Merits"
Deputy Commander Pacific Fleet Counter-Admiral Frolov
Member Of the Military Soviet Pacific Fleet Lieutenant General Zaharov 11th September 1944.


14th June 1920 - September 1920 Assistant Quartermaster, Regional Military Commissariat Krasnodar.
September 1920 - November 1920 Account Clerk, Command Courses Reserve Arm North Caucasus Military District
November 1920 - February 1922 Assistant Commandant And Commandant Of Regional Military Buildings, Kuban-Black Sea Military-Engineering Range
February 1922 - 1st August 1922 Account Clerk, Veterinary Department 22nd Rifle Division North Caucasus Military District
1st August 1922 - 30th October 1933 Placed In Reserve
30th October 1933 - September 1936 Head Of Financial Section, 2nd Separate Road Construction Battalion North Caucasus Military District
September 1936 - January 1939 Head Of Financial Section, "Soviet Harbour" Naval Hospital
January 1939 - 29th October 1939 Head Of Financial Section, Department of the chief military port of the Pacific Fleet Russia.
29th October 1939 - Head Of Financial Section, School Of Communications Training Department Pacific Fleet.

Quite a nice bit of background on a commemorative.

It would seem very credible that sometime after 1945 and before the awarding of the Medal Nedodaev transferred from the School Of Communications Of The Pacific Fleet to a Financial Section of the Riga Diving School.