Based on the Mondvor site there seem to be four versions of this document.
Type 1: Early.
Cover: thick red.
Serial number: no letter, 8 digit number, asterisk (e.g. № 00072940 *)
Type 2: Later, widespread.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 7 digit number, asterisk (e.g. B 0023481 *)
Coat of arms: 11 ribbons
Date: 194_
Type 2a: Later.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 6 digit number in a smaller font, no asterisk (e.g. O 383895)
Coat of arms: 11 ribbons
Date: 194_
Type 3: Latest version.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 7 digit number in same size font as type 2, asterisk (e.g. Ю 0192957 *)
Coat of arms: 15 ribbons
Date: 19__
What about the attached? Fake or not?
It has an 8 digit serial number with letter and asterisk. The letters on the ribbons are readable under magnification.
Yesterday I saw a harder covered booklet (more similar to a wartime era medal booket) for Victory over Germany. It was still only the cover and inside like what we usually see (no pages), but the outside was red. It was first time I've seen one like this instead of the standard off-white colored, heavy paper booklet. It was with a 2-ORS (.27k and 3.3mil s/n's)/1-CSM group that was priced a bit more than I wanted to pay, so left it for now. Still, it was something new for me to see.
Yes, grab up the red covers whenever you find one. Although it is believed parade participants were awarded this, they've also been found awarded to people that could NOT have been in the parade, i.e. support staff and general staff. More than likely it was the first issue and thus given to the HQ in the Moscow garrison to include the Victory Parade participants.
Incidentally, I several references detailing biographies of Victory Parade participants. My info's not comprehensive, but one day I might hit gold.
It will be a month or two before I have access, but if you have a Red Cover, send me the name and I'll search.
Just had a quick check on the Mondvor site and found that they have added another version which they have called their new type 3:
Type 1: Early.
Cover: thick red.
Serial number: no letter, 8 digit number, asterisk (e.g. № 00072940 *)
Type 2: Later, widespread.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 7 digit number, asterisk (e.g. B 0023481 *)
Coat of arms: 11 ribbons
Date: 194_
Type 2a: Later.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 6 digit number in a smaller font, no asterisk (e.g. O 383895)
Coat of arms: 11 ribbons
Date: 194_
Type 3: Later.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 7 digit number, asterisk (e.g. Я 0518963 *)
Coat of arms: 16 ribbons
Date: 194_
Type 4: Latest version.
Cover: white thin card.
Serial number: letter, 7 digit number in same size font as type 2, asterisk (e.g. Ю 0192957 *)
Coat of arms: 15 ribbons
Date: 19__
In going through my file of documents I have come across the following abbreviations:
1. кан. йодоф.
2. и/с after ranks of Captain or Major.
3. хмор.
4. Зам.
5. On the first attached picture I have "Chief ? 72nd Rifle Corps". What is the second word on the first line.
6. On the second attached picture what does the abbreviation after 358 mean?
7. On the third attached picture I have "Narkom ? of the Azerbaijani SSR." What is the second word?
No. 7 is the "run together" version of "State Security" of the Azeri SSR. It's "Госбезопасность" with "гос" being the short version of "государственная" or "State".
It should be "SD" or Rifle Division, so I'd say it's likely from the 358th Rifle Division, but my Russian is not what I'd like it to be.
No. 5 is the "Штаба" or "Staff", so this dude was the Chief of Staff (I guess literally "head of staff").
