02-05-2006, 03:08 AM
Simon Wrote:Between 1956 and 1979, only a few Soviet soldiers were involved in combat at hot spots. These operations were either classified or at least not suitable for the media. Therefore, it was undesirable to award pure combat awards for political reasons discussed in the previous paragraph. Imagine a soldier coming home in let's say 1970 with Glory for his actions in a classified mission. What would he say to curious neighbours? Even if Glory was awarded between 1956 and 1979, it was done in small quantity and the collector community doesn't know about it. As for Afghanistan, I can speculate that Defense Ministry issued an instruction specifying which orders and medals were to be given for this conflict. Such instruction, if it existed, didn't include Glory.
Simon
Yes, I've tried to reason in a similar vein, but I run into inconsistencies.
As in my initial posting, I can rationalize that the OPW, due to its name was no longer handed out. Thanks for pointing out that harvesting incident - I haven't looked at MONDVOR in a long time. Interesting stuff there.
As to Glory, I thought in a similar vein to you, however during limited conflicts and even secret operations, Red Banners, Red Stars, BM and CSM medals were issued AFTER the appearance of long service medals. So just how did a draftee soldier or junior officer far removed by age from the GPW explain his new, shiny award? For training accomplishments? If so, why a BRAVERY medal? If enlisted soldiers coming back from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan wore home their RB, RS, BM, and CSM - why wasn't the Order of Glory included among them?
Maybe as you indicated there were limited awardings of the Glory that we don't know about, but then that would invalidate your explanation about embarrassing "political" considerations.
Regarding Afghanistan, I guess it would be helpful if someone could produce the "instruction" you mentioned. Even if someone could produce it, would it explain my original question - WHY wasn't the Order of Glory included post-war among other combat awards?
