Photographs Of Recipients Of Soviet Awards/Service Personnel.

[Tal Inbar]

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[Tal Inbar]

One of the most Kitsch memorabilia devoted to Lenin:

[Nota Bene]

Tal,

That's a great photo of a real war hero! I think the badge right under his Red Star is a Veteran-Submariner.

Alexei

[Tal Inbar]

Photo collection of heads of the KPSS

[otlichnik]

For those interested here is the official word from the 1989 MoD Uniform Regulations:

"Article 197. Breast badges of Soviet people's deputies are worn on the left side of the breast and placed:
-- on double-breasted jackets -- in the middle of the collar on the level of the collar tabs;
-- on open neck single-breasted jackets -- in the middle of the collar on the level of its corner;
-- on closed neck jackets and sailor's blouses -- 10 mm above the orders and medals or slats with order and medal ribbons."

Interstingly, this includes not only Supreme Soviet but also badge for the Republican or even Raion Soviets although only the highest one can be worn at any given time.

Shawn

[Kjetil Kvist]

During the war the russian published a newspaper in Great Britain. It was called Soviet War News Weekly. I have all the issues from 1944 + the Victory issue from 1945. Among the obvious propaganda they published a few nice articles about the real heroes of the war. I would like to share one of the more unique stories from the paper (no. 120, may 4 - 1944) published under the title "How Grigory won his medal". There are seven pictures with text.

"THROUGH AN ENEMY MINEFIELD
Grigory Pompik, a 73-year-old collective farmer, was the sole occupant of an Ukranian village recently taken from the Nazis by the Red Army. All the women and children had been deported to Germany. Grigory had studied the enemy's movements carefully and when the Red Army came, he was able to direct them through the deep minefield left by the retracting enemy. He was decorated for his bravery and his story is told in these pictures which photographer G. Zelma has sent to "Soviet War News Weekly."

(1) The general in command of the local forces is impressed by Grigory's knowledge of the enemy's movements. "Follow the peasant" he says.

(2) Grigory points out a path through the minefields.

(3) The party sets off. Sometimes the going is hard, but the Red Army men trust Grigory and follow him without question.

(4) Soon the infantry is able to move in force along the safe route which the peasant has found.

(5) Finally Grigory leads the Soviet troops to an unmined part of the river. They force their way across and before long, are in full pursuit of the Germans.

(6) After the successful operation the general sends for Grigory, thanks him for his good work and decorates him.

Finally here is the portrait. The big question now is which medal he was awarded. I think it is Medal for Valor, but it is hard to tell from the pictures. (It can also be the Partisan-medal or Medal for Military Merit).

The paper was published "by the Co-operative Printing Society LTC (T.U.)". I will try to share other stories of pictures from this newspaper in the next months. There are a lot of nice pictures of soldiers with medals and orders, and most of the worn in the pre-1943 fashion.

I will try to share the Victory issue later. The paper is far larger than my scanner. But I can reveal that the front page news is this statement: "HE LED THE SOVIET PEOPLE TO VICTORY" illustrated with a full page photo of Marshal Stalin. Inside the paper they write a lot about Berlin: "Tremendous banners with portraits of Suvorov, and his words "Russians always beat Prussians" hang in the central streets." is one of the more colorful stories...

[Art]

Kjetil,

Excellent post, thanks! looks like it might be Medal for Combat Service? notice the light stripes on each side of medal.

[medaldude]

Yes a great story. How lucky for Grigory and the General there happened to be a photographer right there.

Tom

[Tal Inbar]

I tried to find clear picture of G.K. Zhukov with all his awards. This is very good one, but sadly not in color:

[yolkin]

Tal,

aside from the two Orders of Victory, what other orders is he wearing on his left side below the Lenins, Banners, etc.? I am assuming that they are foreign countries' highest awards?

Thanks,

Eric