British Awards Bestowed On Red Army Personnel During World War II

[Tretov]

How long after the war did they actually (get to) wear these "west"-awards?

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Although not exactly in keeping with this thread's title, I've elected to post these great images here.

Guards Petty Officer First Class Shukin was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet's Submarine Forces - note his cap tally. Also note his award of the British Distinguished Service Medal, first pattern naval Guards insignia and Submariner Otlichnik badge.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

After lying dormant for over eight years, it's time to add some substance to this thread.

A very nice M1945 VP uniform shot of HSU Col Gen Mikhail Stepanovich Shumilov, Commander, 7th Guards Army. Note the neck decoration for the KBE pinned to his tunic's front breast (second row, first from the left).

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Maj Gen Vasili Vasilyevich Rassokhin seen wearing the CBE (a neck decoration) as a modified pinback. Image courtesy of Wild Card.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Soviet naval aviator M.A. Kurochkin seen wearing either an OBE or MBE.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[CtahhR]

Those Orders Of The British Empire look rather ugly on the chest like that. I suppose the aspirational commanders were saving their neck for the Marshal's Star.

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

A superb image of naval HSU K. S. Alekseyev seen wearing either an OBE or MBE. Image courtesy of Richie C.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

A very nice image of future HSU A. N. Kukharenko proudly wearing his British-awarded Distinguished Flying Cross.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

To all:

On 12 July 1945, Field Marshal Montgomery, acting on behalf of the King of England, presented honorary British knighthoods to the following Red Army officers:

Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov; Commander, 1st Belorussian Front - Knight Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (G.C.B.)

Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovskiy; Commander, 2nd Belorussian Front - Knight Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.)

General of the Army Sokolovskiy; Deputy Commander, 1st Belorussian Front - Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.)

Colonel General Malinin; Chief of Staff, 1st Belorussian Front - Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.)

The ceremony took place in the heart of shattered Berlin directly underneath the Brandenburg Gate. The Kings Company of the Grenadier Guards formed the Guard of Honor with tanks of the Kings 8th Royal Irish Hussars drawn up on either side.

Regards,

slava1stclass

Gents,

Here is a very nice color image of the day in question shortly after the honorary knighthoods were bestowed. From left to right in the picture: Zhukov, Montgomery, Rokossovskiy, Sokolovskiy and Malinin. Notice that Zhukov wears the broad scarlet sash for the GCB (from his right shoulder to his left hip) and that all the Soviet recipients carry their award cases - Zhukov in his right hand and the others in their left. Note, too, Rokossovskiy's KCB neck decoration and Sokolovskiy's KBE neck decoration.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

A couple of additional color images from that day. The first was taken prior to the investiture. In the second image, note the tanks from Kings 8th Royal Irish Hussars in the background.

Regards,

slava1stclass