Researchers Corner

[Nota Bene]

Guys,

Do you think we could ask users to post photos of the actual awards and award documents in addition to the research material?

Alexei

[CtahhR]

We do. Unfortunately it is usually ignored. Browsing through you can see how many images I've added to improve the quality of the posts. It is also very frustrating that folks continue to ignore the format guidelines. It's certainly not difficult to comply - costs nothing too. Scans of record cards are essential additions to threads of awards not researched by name.

[Nota Bene]

I see, thanks. So let's keep reminding them. For me photos of the awards and documents would make a picture complete.

Alexei

[CtahhR]

I have been posting dozens of citations that can be attributed through name alone or through a record card. Sometimes only a name can be put to an action but sometimes a serial number to a citation without the award presenting itself. It's a start at least.

[Nota Bene]

:thumbsup The research corner is certainly one of my favorite places on the Forum now. I was able to add a lot to my data base.

I was going to ask if you were OK with my addition to the guidelines, but apparently you are :thumbsup

Alexei

[CtahhR]

I can't always be the bad rule enforcing Nazi so it's good that you have voiced that effort is needed. When I do so (and I never ask any to do what I don't) there is always whinging. Research is a lot easier and available than ever before. Putting a tiny bit of effort in today adds so much to tomorrow.

[Nota Bene]

I am still checking out that section. For some reason people don't like to research the Order for Service to the Motherland. It's a shame really, I have had some amazing results with it, especially with the ones, awarded for Afghanistan.

Alexei

[CtahhR]

What I don't get is the sheer cost. Researching Soviet items is vastly more expensive than researching Bulgarian. - $2.10 cents each. That is why I've still got a pile of awards to research by serial. Someone somewhere is seriously jacking up the prices and its not podvignaroda.com. For an example of a researched Bulgarian award just take a look at - http://soviet-awards.com/forum/soviet-bl...post193038 I was given this research for free.

[Nota Bene]

Only a small bunch of people have access to the archives, and they are keeping the prices up. All the dealers offering research services have to deal with them.

Alexei

[CtahhR]

I'm sure the state will jump in at some point when they realise profit can be made and their services will stop the monopoly - mind you I am an optimist.

The amount of information out there has exploded in the last few years and it is only ever expanding. Podvig has been a real game changer and I hope it continues to do so. As right now prices are far from competitive. Bulgarian research is $2.10 a go and a Pre-WW2 British record card is £1 a go from "dealers". With the full service record being an additional £10 if it didn't get destroyed in the blitz (1.25 million of 6.5 remain).

Now this is all without mentioning the availability of labour ukazes! All those "WW2 Heroes" that turn out in reality to be agricultural workers of Brezhnev's plans.....

It was this - http://soviet-awards.com/forum/soviet-mi...post195603 that really ignited both researching labour awards and learning how to transcribe Georgian. The first step to some really great things.

As for research I've been asked to find out the names and service of a trio of US GIs that came to Goole from PA, one got married and went back. Fortunately for me when Indiana library had a clearout of reference books etc I was there to snatch them all up. Unfortunately it'll probably take me a few days to dig the books I need out.

If you have any Bulgarian Heroes Of Socialist Labour I can research them instantly. Just like this chap - http://soviet-awards.com/forum/soviet-bl...glory.html