06-19-2003, 11:42 PM
...I was with contacts in Moscow. Not bad guys, but one of the methods thay had in finding these old uniforms was locating relatives in the Moscow area of old Generals and Marshals. As they tend not to move, or throw stuff away, it could be a gold mine.
Well, we were "hunting" a family member of Air Marshal Voroshekin, one of the first Red Air Marshals ( 1944). We found her house right outside Moscow, and after a bit of talking (I could not follow it), she came out with this ratty, beat up uniform that I later found out was sitting on the closet floor of this dacha. It was moldy, had water damage, etc. Well, it was his M1945 Victory Parade uniform, the one he wore the parade itself. As WWII uniform collectors would know, Air Marshals had light blue collar and cuffs and their partade uniforms are super rare (from WWII). I spent 2 years resoting this uniform, cleaning it, removing the mold from the real gold embroidery, etc. It came out quite well and was one of my favorite uniforms. Its now in one of the largest collections of WWII Generals uniforms with a colelctor who is very happy to have it and takes very good care of it.
Should I feel guilty about this? Did I "rob" from Russia? No Way ! The uniform might not be alive, but I think I rescued a bit of red history, no matter where it resides now.
DD
Well, we were "hunting" a family member of Air Marshal Voroshekin, one of the first Red Air Marshals ( 1944). We found her house right outside Moscow, and after a bit of talking (I could not follow it), she came out with this ratty, beat up uniform that I later found out was sitting on the closet floor of this dacha. It was moldy, had water damage, etc. Well, it was his M1945 Victory Parade uniform, the one he wore the parade itself. As WWII uniform collectors would know, Air Marshals had light blue collar and cuffs and their partade uniforms are super rare (from WWII). I spent 2 years resoting this uniform, cleaning it, removing the mold from the real gold embroidery, etc. It came out quite well and was one of my favorite uniforms. Its now in one of the largest collections of WWII Generals uniforms with a colelctor who is very happy to have it and takes very good care of it.
Should I feel guilty about this? Did I "rob" from Russia? No Way ! The uniform might not be alive, but I think I rescued a bit of red history, no matter where it resides now.
DD
