Medal "For Combat Merits".

[kiwiussr]

thanks Auke, hope this scan is better, also any thoughts on why the CSM booklet is so different?

cheers

kiwi

[Alfred]

This is an older style of an award booklet. Normaly used with the CSM with hand engraved serial number.

Have a look at the last page of the booklet, in which year it was printed.

best regards
Andreas

[kiwiussr]

it was printed in Moscow 1942, just never seen any before and I have CSM awarded in 1942 with the usual award book, are they very common?

I have also noticed that I have not seen an order booklet with the actual order name printed on the front cover like this

just has me very curious

kiwi

[Auke]

Moscow doc signed by commander of the 196th Regiment of NKVD Troops for the Protection of Exceptionally Important Industrial Enterprises, Lt.Col. Fokin.

VoG doc signed on 20 Sep 1945 by the commander of the 196th Regiment of NKVD Troops, Lt.Col. Ukraintsev.

[UQWozza]

Yep this is definately an early version UKM for the CSM. A similar one was also produced for BMs. Mondvor site says they were used from 1939 until 1945-47. After then the new model unnamed versions were used.

Haven't seen a lot of these before but the serial numbers carried were usually fairly low (e.g. the one on the Mondvor site is 14537), certainly I don't remember one over 50-100K ish range. Yours is 2.56M (possibly long service) which seems very high for this type of book

Simon

[kiwiussr]

yes I thought that as well, maybe it was old stock that was used, there has been no sign of any touching or playing with on the book, so I think eveything is good with the booklet and the award

cheers

kiwi

[Lapa]

Simon,

Yep this is definately an early version UKM for the CSM. A similar one was also produced for BMs...

They were also produced for the two labor medals (Valiant and Distinguished).

Marc

[Pravda]

I was doing some medal shopping in Bishkek a few weeks ago and got stumped on the following question. Why is the Medal for Combat Service with U-shaped ring listed considered Common, while the Medal for Bravery U-shaped ring is listed as R3. I know that we have had outstanding discussion on the forum regarding the Medal for Bravery, but is the MCS also just as rare?

Cheers,
Pravda

[deValcourt]

There's only a difference of about 1 mil fewer produced of the BMs by the mints. Numbered, of course, are older and supposedly less common, but I still don't think that qualifies a rarity. Production numbers are what change the "R" number, and odd runs with imperfections are the most scarce.

But I have the feeling you know this already. What is it in particular you are asking about?

Phillip

[desantnik]

Yes, overall fewer BMs than CSMs were produced with the "tongue" or "shovel" ring as the Russians call it.

I don't know whether this contributes too, but many Russian collectors believe this particular suspension was awarded solely for the Pacific theater. This is only partially true. Research has shown that the majority of these were actually commissariat awardings in the late 40's through 50's either as catch-up awards for the European theater or wound awards.