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+----- Thread: Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis (/Thread-Commissar-of-the-Red-Army-Lev-Mekhlis)
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Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - DougD - 01-20-2007
This is the overcoat of Lev Mekhlis, head of the Commissars of the Red Army. Note the unique insignia he used from 1937 (M1935) through 1942. He has Army General First rank insignia, but with black collar piping and gold commissar stars without sleeve rank insignia. He was the only one with this rank; really nasty guy.
Its difficult for overcoats to impress me, but this one is terrific.
DougD
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - Jeffrey Meffert - 01-20-2007
Nice piece. I wonder if the senior comissars felt left behind in 1940 when their comrades traded diamonds for stars or if it gave them a sense that they were the last true revolutionaries.
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - Synthesis - 01-21-2007
The coat tabs are pretty unmistakable--makes it look particularly old. I'm surprised its in such nice condition though.
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - DougD - 01-21-2007
Actually it is not a suprise that it's in such good shape; a guy like this would not have been in real combat, but just sitting around yelling at real officers. However, there is one diamond on the right collar tab that has been damaged.
The quality of the coat is very high; the lining is silk, and there is a heavy silk lining for the pockets.
I have only been able to find a pic of him in his M1945 tunic (when he was a Colonel-General). He had been demoted after failing to hold the Crimea, but then sort of worked his way back up.
DougD
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - Nack - 01-22-2007
Pretty slick coat. :thumbsup
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - Esteban_cool - 01-22-2007
Nice coat! the condition is astonishing... Looks brand new
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - ekclete - 01-23-2007
Nice overcoat Doug. Surely a rare bird and with it being attributed that only makes it even more desirable. Now if those pesky overcoats did not take up so much space (compared to a regular tunic) in the display room.....
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - DougD - 01-23-2007
Thanks Clete; its on its way to its new owner today....but you are correct, if it were a tunic it would be worth 50% more at least. Overcoats juts ar not as wanted unless they are really special (I am thinking of a nice GPU one).
As for the guy, Mekhlis was the only guy with the rank, so it makes it easy! By 1945 he was a regular Colonel-General and nailing down his uniform would be very difficult.
dd
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - Jeffrey Meffert - 01-23-2007
It's one of my favorites. (Though still looking for nice hat for it)
Commissar of the Red Army Lev Mekhlis - Nack - 01-23-2007
Jeffrey Meffert Wrote:It's one of my favorites. (Though still looking for nice hat for it)
It seems that your house is a magnet for the rare and interesting :bigthumbsup