Medal "For Combat Merits".

[bayoswede]

Since the database is still down I thought I could make someone happy with a few serial numbers on Medals "For Combat Merits"..

All where members of 19th Army (I have their names too, but my bad translation could mean wrong names ?)

Here we go !

Serial Number Date Awarded
1602503 18-11-1944
1602506 18-11-1945
1602512 31-12-1944
1602515 18-01-1945
1602531 31-12-1944
1602532 20-12-1944
1602537 18-01-1945
1602546 20-10-1944
1602547 29-10-1944
1602550 23-12-1944
1602554 06-11-1944
1602557 23-12-1944
1602559 29-10-1944
1602567 29-10-1944
1602571 25-11-1944
1602576 27-12-1944

Good Luck !
Christer

[cursore]

Hi there,
This is my first medal,

I have seen other pictures on this site and on E bay and there is one small thing different from the others... is that small pin on the rifle, it is not a scratch.

what do you think?

[Tal Inbar]

Hi

It looks like a scratch, or a strike of some kind. It is NOT a variation of the medal.

As a new collector, try to get a GOOD referense book, like Paul McDaniel's book. See the reference materials section.

[Art]

Doesn't look like anything so I doubt it was applied intentionally. Sometimes we see rare specimens where engraving is present. But I've only seen an officers name or an unusual serial numbering of some sort. Never on the front though. The closest thing this little mark resembles is a makers mark, but we've only seen those on the reverse. My opinion, a clean scratch.

Art

[Dave]

Here's an interesting document awarded for a Military Merit medal. I saw that Tal posted up a similar document for a "For Valor" medal. I don't know why this fellow rated a document like this, but I do know (since this was a family-purchased group) that the guy was NKVD (a Captain) and spent his War in Moscow guarding communications lines in and out of the city. I believe this was his 10-year long service award, and possibly they awarded these spiffy little books during 'staged' presentations within the Kremlin (you know, bring in the soldiers from out in the field, present them with medals in front of the Stavka to make them 'feel good'. Or something like that...) Also interesting to note is that this is a mid-range six-digit award, yet it was awarded in February 1945!

Anyone know of a reason these were awarded vice the temporary certificates in the field, and the later red medal award books?

--Dave

[WAR II]

Here is the Medal for Combat Service in gold:
(can't get the scanner to do it justice)

[Robert Pierce]

Hello, Gentlemen.
Another newly purchased medal. A type 1, var. 1 with both the 'No' and the serial number hand-engraved. Also the downward curve on the sabre hilt. Does everything look alright? It has the 1943 5-sided suspension device.

:) Robert

[Nota Bene]

Robert,

I think the number is OK, and it is done in the style, that I have seen before (same engraver).

Alexei

[Robert Pierce]

Thank you. I spent a great deal of time studying the back of the badge in question to try and find any traces of it being tampered with. I know the people who do this work can do a fantastic job, and I am aware of this after spending years collecting 3rd Reich collectibles. Every dent, scratch, scrape looks different, and of a different depth and different direction. Even by perhaps a different 'tool'. The patina is not the same in every scratch as most of the fakes will reveal under magnification.
I have enjoyed this research. I feel even better in knowing that it turned out to be a good piece.

Respects.
Robert

[Dolf]

Gentlemen,

Can you please help to identify this Medal for Combat Service?
Is it a Type2, Var. 3 ?

Should it have a SN on the back?

And does it looks real?

BTW, how much would it be a fair price for this Medal?

Thanks a lot.

Dolf