War time lenin group

[Bob]

Taken from a Berlin dealers site where it's for sale

Thoughts?

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Nice instant collection if real...certainly can't tell with a single picture at this altitude

[desantnik]

My first instinctive gut reaction is this is an artificially assembled set. Without reading the serial numbers or booklet information though, I agree it is even more difficult to make an accurate assessment.

[Alfred]

here is a better picture of the award book

[desantnik]

Thanks. I would now say it is a rather convincing set.

Assuming the four entries of CSM through OPWI were entered immediately after the war in '45/'46 (I can't make out the last digit on the date at the bottom), the Lenin at the top, and the RB would have been added after that date, thus explaining the different handwriting/stamps.

At the introduction of the long service awardings, our hero would have been awarded RS #881K for his 15 years of service indicating he was an officer who joined about 1928/29. That would then set him up for his RB in '48 (correct according to my s/n's) and the Lenin in '53/'54 (again, correct according to my s/n's).

Of his first four awardings, both the RS 274K and OPWII 74K seem to both be from the 2UF and I don't have enough data points on the OPWI. The CSM should be from the Western Front, but that was an earlier formation so his subsequent transfer to the 2UF is explainable. Additionally, a senior company grade or junior field grade officer would merit such decorations - I'm guessing a combat support officer or staff officer.

Overall, now I like the set. Unless a forger got lucky with the L/S awards, his other awards more or less are both explainable and fall into observed s/n ranges.

[desantnik]

The above being said, it looks like three of the screwback plates are rather late era replacements.

[Bob]

Thanks:thumbsup