I am told this is the only badge ever upgraded to the status of an Order. I'm interested to see if anyone has one of these and has the document that was issued with it. I've been offered one, which includes the award document, so I'd be interested to see some examples of the badge/order and the documents it was awarded with.
This badge was indeed upgraded to Order status. Two versions can be found, the 1940 version has a "reverse image" back and the 1945 version has a smooth back. Neither is numbered. I have a 1940 version, but don't have the capability of posting a photograph.
Another recent posting shows the cover of the 31 July 1944 issue of "Life" Magazine which features an article on "Russia's Generals." On page 32 there is a photo of Marshal Voronov, Chief of Artillery. He is wearing the Order. The caption reads:"...took the surrender of Field Marshal von Paulus at Stalingrad. A huge, calm, cold man, he is an artillery fanatic, used it to break Mannerheim Line in 1939 and was made Vice Commissar of Defense in 1943."
Thanks guys. I spent ages looking at two photos in one of my books, trying to figure out what the difference was on the front of the badge. The back makes if far more obvious, but often not shown in the books.
Does anyone have any of the documents they were issued with though?
Another way to tell them apart is the blue sky above the borse's back. On the 1940 version it looks like a pennant with pointed tips; on the 1945, they are blunt.
It's been a while since I have seen an original document, but I see a lot of fakes "straight from the Soviet military archives", as they are sometimes described on eBay. Those fakes are very good, but the paper is a bit too glossy. I am told that they are made in Odessa.
The one on eBay is 100% fake. Interestingly, I have already seen a fake HG document awarded to the same person.
I think the lettering is Mongolian before they had switched to the cyrillic alphabet. I remember reading somewhere that 1945 badges were made for those, who did not receive their award in time.
For those interested the other awards are as follows
Lenin 320703 awarded 30/12/56
Red banner 340533 awarded 15/11/50
Red banner 3596 awarded 17/11/39
combat medal 1458609 awarded 3/11/44
PW 2nd class 748580 awarded 11/10/45
Red star 252263 awarded 6/11/45
PW 2nd class (85 issue) 5378187
Mongolian merit order 2448 awarded 1970
Nice group to a long serving officer who joined in 1930.
