Vasilj Stalin.

[Pobeda45]

No wonder, check out the recipient.. (sorry if this is a repost)

For our non-Russian speaking friends, this is an award to "Colonel Stalin, Vasily Iosifovich," commander of the 32nd Guards Fighter (Aircraft) Aviation Regiment. The carefully worded citation is certainly full of praise--mostly describing the excellent preparation given to the regiment under the command of Stalin's son, and that the awardee participating in air battles himself, shooting down a FW-190.

The original suggested award was another Red Banner (which Vasilly already had), but the corps commander has scratched out "Red Banner" and penciled in "Alexander Nevsky." :)

George

[Pobeda45]

The prikaz is cool too--featuring the signature of Aviation head and twice HSU Novikov. :thumbsup:thumbsup

[desantnik]

A Red Banner to a Nevsky is actually a downgrade.

[Pobeda45]

You're right Paul, I always forget that. Just interesting that they chose to give him a "polkovodchisky" award instead. :)

[deValcourt]

It took me a minute, but I get what you mean. The ORS may be higher up on the chain, but even a drafted private could win one in theory. In all the pictures I've seen of a Nevsky being worn, it has been a general wearing it.:)

George, I forgot - it is a great document. I don't suppose you actually own them?

Phillip

[Pobeda45]

Thanks gents--yeah the most interesting item here is that the award was to Vasily Stalin. Phillip, no I don't own it--just some interesting finds I've downloaded from the podvignaroda site. Other interesting citations I've saved from there (because the Russian government may eventually censor them) include those for Brezhnev, dissidents Lev Kopelev (prikaz signed by Timoshenko!), Solzhenistyn, Vasily Grossman.. :thumbsup

George

[Simon]

Though off-topic, I can't resist sharing that I recently learned about 1977 Presidium of Supreme Soviet decree awarding Yakov Dzhugashvili OGW I posthumously. His daughter was able to receive the order only in 1985.

[Simon]

podvignaroda site was discussed on this thread. Today I discovered no less impressive site
ОБД Мемориал that contains scans of documents on KIA and MIA during and after GPW. I was able to find a scan of search request for my grandma's brother that my great grandma filed in 1952, a letter from a local voenkom to and a response from Podolsk archive!
Also, I found info about and a photo of a cemetery monument of my school graduate who was killed in Afghanistan. If you are looking for info on Soviet Army soldier KIA or MIA during or after GPW, this site is priceless.