U.S. Army Decorations Awarded to Red Army Personnel in World War II

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

A Legion of Merit in the degree of Legionnaire to a Red Army lieutenant. All things considered, a somewhat inflated award considering his junior rank.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[medals73]

Here's an interesting and eclectic set of exotic foreign awards.

[medals73]

Has Chuikov put in his appearance?

[RedBanner1920]

Is it possible after the war any recipients of US medals were accused of being spies? I once heard recipients for the partisan 1st glass medals were sometimes hung accused of being collaborators.

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Gents,

A Legion of Merit in the degree of Legionnaire to a Red Army lieutenant. All things considered, a somewhat inflated award considering his junior rank.

Regards,

slava1stclass

I don't know about that. In addition to his other awards, he has 2 nevsky's. We can't be sure what he did to deserve those and the LOM but it was probably pretty special.

[slava1stclass]

I don't know about that. In addition to his other awards, he has 2 nevsky's. We can't be sure what he did to deserve those and the LOM but it was probably pretty special.

Jeff,

As it was newly instituted, part of the explanation lies in the fact the Legion of Merit was the decoration of choice for foreign recipients - the reason behind its four distinct degrees. In the U.S. Army, however, it is only awarded for achievement not involving combat valor/heroism (unlike the case with some of the Army's sister services which do award it for combat valor).

As it was such a new decoration back then, there was much confusion over the award criteria - to include for U.S. personnel. It is not uncommon to see instances of the Legion of Merit awarded to U.S. Army master sergeants and lieutenants at that time - Audie Murphy among them. Today, however, such instances of combat-related Legion of Merit awards to these ranks are nonexistent.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[medals73]

Is it possible after the war any recipients of US medals were accused of being spies? I once heard recipients for the partisan 1st glass medals were sometimes hung accused of being collaborators.

It certainly seems to have worked that way in reverse. This is one reason why you almost never see Soviet awards being worn by US military types.

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Great image of Double HSU Guards Colonel S.F. Shutov shown wearing the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Cross.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[slava1stclass]

Gents,

Great image of an unidentified colonel (purported to have later risen to general officer rank) with the given name of Mikhail. Photo was taken in April 1946.

Note his Bronze Star Medal.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[Jeffrey Meffert]

Young looking colonel...but then I guess that happened alot back then. If you didn't get killed, you got promoted.