Swapping medals

[jefflgarrison]

Anyone ever heard of Soviet soldiers swapping the medals they were given with soldiers from another country during the war?

I know it is a stupid question but it will lay to rest one of my wonders about a medal I have.

Thanks.

[Tretov]

I've understood that the awards were actually property of the Soviet state, and in those times - I am not sure I would dare to swap them for some foreign nicknack?

[willie777]

Your superiors are still gonna notice a missing "Combat Service" medal if you ever march on parade.

[kingsnorth]

I'm not sure about swapping medals when Stalin was alive but they certainly swapped/sold them during the latter years of the USSR.A friend of mine built up a good collection of Soviet awards when he was in the army and posted
to Germany.He made regular journeys into East Germany as I did.
Unfortunately I wasn't a collector then damn it.

Cheers
Keith

[January]

I know that firefighters have something of a tradition of swapping cap badges. (I got a wonderful pre-1975 Nigerian National Fire Brigade cap badge from a retired firefighter in the UK last year.) It would make more sense with any given piece of uniform accoutrement other than a medal, though, since things like cap badges and collar tabs could easily be purchased.

Perhaps the veteran whose awards you got was a collector himself?

[jefflgarrison]

According to the nephew the swap, if it was a swap, was done in spring 1945 on the Drava in Hungary.

Makes me think he was awarded the star and didn't swap it.

[desantnik]

Jeff, Russians are extremely generous and crazy things do happen, especially after copious vodka toasts to victory, but I really doubt a swap of a combat decoration would have occurred. A Guards badge or cap star - maybe, but an order or medal - unlikely.