01-01-2014, 06:39 PM
Here is a typical example of the "documented groups" offered by one particularly paperwork, research and reason unfriendly seller in England.
Here is the advertisement
"A SCARCE ‘AFGHANISTAN 1987-88’ GALLANTRY Group of Four to CORPORAL Andrei Stepanovich LEBEDEV, Soviet Infantry who fought & was decorated in possibly the last action of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979 - 1988).
ORDER OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR - 2nd CLASS ‘Silver’ - Officially Numbered 6562820 for Gallantry in Action, AFGHANISTAN Government Service Medal, The AFGHAN - SOVIET RED STAR & his Identification Disc - Officially stamped ‘BC CCCP N994653’.
These come with his contemporary Combat Uniform PHOTOGRAPH with light Machine Gun (note the trainers, as their poor quality boots fell apart on campaign) PLUS a file full of contemporary Original & copy photographs of groups & single soldiers, vehicles, Helicopter & "action".
In the final battle in the PANSHER VALLEY the Russians were almost overrun, but fought to the death to hold the hilltop positions. Only then did the message arrive, that the war was over.
Medals etc all mounted individually in leatherette & glazed frame.
Awards to NCOs and Private soldiers are very rare. From 1980 to 1991 only 11,331 NCOs & Privates were awarded orders & medals - and 9,572 of them - posthumously. For the same period 66,604 officers were awarded, 672 - posthumously.
A VERY RARE AWARD FOR COURAGE IN THE USSR - AFGHANISTAN WAR."
Hopefully even a beginner will be able the notice that there are some extremely odd things going on here.
Firstly there is no proof at all as to who this photograph is of.
OPW'85s were awarded to veterans of the Great Patriotic War for "surviving" to the 40th anniversary of victory. They are (almost) only researchable if they have the accompanying document even then NEVER awarded for Afghanistan.
The dog tag is simply a number - without the service record book it could have belonged to anyone (or have been "made up").
The Afghan "Soldier-Internationalist" Medal is unnumbered and may have been issued to anyone (or come from a warehouse). Only the original document could tell.
The "Star" is not an award at all but a post-Soviet Membership Badge. Untraceable but more often than not available to purchase in bulk.
So with c$40 worth of items inside the case why is someone currently bidding to pay c$250 for this? Simple explanation! - LACK OF KNOWLEDGE .
Everyone out there please do not fall for a $200+ fairytale.
This is just one of dozens of examples of fairytales from this dealer alone - there are hundreds out there. Without supporting paperwork see all items in the same box or frame as "Some items in a box/frame" and not a "researched" Hollywood-worthy story of a famous war hero.
In reality many items are sterile and often from unused stockpiles. Even with research most service personnel, decorated or not, lead very normal or mundane lives with only a few quirky, mainly forgotten to the ages tales to tell.
Look at the number of people who served in the forces of the Soviet Union during the war - over 10,000,000. How many are household names? The answer is not 9,999,999.
Buy reality and be sure you are getting the real deal!
Here is the advertisement
"A SCARCE ‘AFGHANISTAN 1987-88’ GALLANTRY Group of Four to CORPORAL Andrei Stepanovich LEBEDEV, Soviet Infantry who fought & was decorated in possibly the last action of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979 - 1988).
ORDER OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR - 2nd CLASS ‘Silver’ - Officially Numbered 6562820 for Gallantry in Action, AFGHANISTAN Government Service Medal, The AFGHAN - SOVIET RED STAR & his Identification Disc - Officially stamped ‘BC CCCP N994653’.
These come with his contemporary Combat Uniform PHOTOGRAPH with light Machine Gun (note the trainers, as their poor quality boots fell apart on campaign) PLUS a file full of contemporary Original & copy photographs of groups & single soldiers, vehicles, Helicopter & "action".
In the final battle in the PANSHER VALLEY the Russians were almost overrun, but fought to the death to hold the hilltop positions. Only then did the message arrive, that the war was over.
Medals etc all mounted individually in leatherette & glazed frame.
Awards to NCOs and Private soldiers are very rare. From 1980 to 1991 only 11,331 NCOs & Privates were awarded orders & medals - and 9,572 of them - posthumously. For the same period 66,604 officers were awarded, 672 - posthumously.
A VERY RARE AWARD FOR COURAGE IN THE USSR - AFGHANISTAN WAR."
Hopefully even a beginner will be able the notice that there are some extremely odd things going on here.
Firstly there is no proof at all as to who this photograph is of.
OPW'85s were awarded to veterans of the Great Patriotic War for "surviving" to the 40th anniversary of victory. They are (almost) only researchable if they have the accompanying document even then NEVER awarded for Afghanistan.
The dog tag is simply a number - without the service record book it could have belonged to anyone (or have been "made up").
The Afghan "Soldier-Internationalist" Medal is unnumbered and may have been issued to anyone (or come from a warehouse). Only the original document could tell.
The "Star" is not an award at all but a post-Soviet Membership Badge. Untraceable but more often than not available to purchase in bulk.
So with c$40 worth of items inside the case why is someone currently bidding to pay c$250 for this? Simple explanation! - LACK OF KNOWLEDGE .
Everyone out there please do not fall for a $200+ fairytale.
This is just one of dozens of examples of fairytales from this dealer alone - there are hundreds out there. Without supporting paperwork see all items in the same box or frame as "Some items in a box/frame" and not a "researched" Hollywood-worthy story of a famous war hero.
In reality many items are sterile and often from unused stockpiles. Even with research most service personnel, decorated or not, lead very normal or mundane lives with only a few quirky, mainly forgotten to the ages tales to tell.
Look at the number of people who served in the forces of the Soviet Union during the war - over 10,000,000. How many are household names? The answer is not 9,999,999.
Buy reality and be sure you are getting the real deal!
"Signed with his own rubber stamp"
