Patriotic Merit Order/Vaterländischer Verdienstorden.

[Ralph Pickard]

Pravda - I do not see any problems with your latest VVO you have added to your collection. :thumbsup

Also, this is the bronze example I bought recently. It looks ok to me, but I would like a second opinion.

desantnik - nice addition to your collection...well done!!!

Here's the silver version awarded to Soviet citizen Gani Valiev in 1985 in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the GDR and GDR-Soviet friendship. According to his two citations, Valiev did his share of killing "fascists."

Inside the document was included an onion-skin Russian translation of the German text (pictured to the left).

This set included a book on the 61 Rifle Division that included Valiev's photo. Although an enlisted man during the war he continued on to retire as a colonel.