Soviet Awards to non-Soviet personnel.

[new world]

Charlet,

Heros of SU book lists 40 foreign HSU title bearers.

Fair amount of these are heads of communist states/parties.

None are American or British.

Few are from France - 5, mostly Normania-Neman aces who fought on the Soviet side in WWII.

The majority are from East European states, the rest are from Siria, Mongolia, Cuba, Algeria, Egypt, Spain (Republican), Italy, India, Afganistan and Vietnam.

Best,

William

[charlet]

thanks William for yours datas.
Beyond real heroism, politics stays well present in awarding medals. US and British didn't fought on soviet land, but I tought it could have been possible to reward (?) the allies convoys to mourmansk. A pity.
I bet HSU for Syria, India, Cuba, DDR, etc are for the Soyouz join flights with "brother countries" (ex .Sigmund Jahn , DDR colonel received the title of HSU for his flight with Vl. Bykovski)

[Ed_Haynes]

The Indian award is certainly that. Reciprocated by an Ashoka Chakra from India to the Soviet Cosmonauts (and Kirti Chakras to the backup crewmembers). This is discussed somewhere else on the the forum in one of my postings.

Ed Haynes

[Dave]

Just talked to another US Army recipient of a Soviet Award. This fellow was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class on 20 May, 1945. For being over 90 years old, he had an incredible memory! The story goes as follows:

On about 19 May 1945, the Headquarters of the 1st Army was notified that the Soviets wanted to decorate some of the US officers. Since he was a Colonel at the time, he was selected, even though he had never been in combat, and even at that, had never even seen a Russian before that time!

The next day, on 20 May 1945, a group of about 40 officers, headed by LTG Collins, the Corps commander, headed up to Torgau, on the Elbe, the meet the Russians.

They got there, and.... No Russians! They waited around for about an hour, and finally a Mercedes, driven by a female enlisted driver (he called her a "WAC", like our females) carrying a Lieutenant. He remembers that the trunk of the car was overflowing with 'loot'... Chalises, communion pans, and other gold and silver objects d'art which the Russian officer had looted from German churches.

The Lieutenant got out, and informed them that the general would be late. In order to ease their waiting, he pulled out a case of vodka from the back of the car, and pulled out glasses which looked like 'ice tea glasses' for the Americans to drink the vodka. The fellow I was talking to remembered that the vodka was military issue, being marked with CCCP on the label and on the cap, and it was not very strong, he estimated that it was 70 proof at best.

He found it interesting that the Russian Lieutenant and the driver could swallow the vodka straight, without even gulping it, whereas the Americans slowly sipped their vodka. LTG Collins put out the strict word that 'no American officer was to get drunk' and none did.

About an hour later, the Soviet general showed up, having been delayed due to a blown bridge which was not yet rebuilt, having to take a detour around it.

The general, a Lieutenant General (two star) as he remembered, got out of the car and had several aides with him. He didn't remember the general's name, but he did say that the general was fat (and also noted that every other Russian general that he saw from that time was also fat!)

The Americans lined up, and one Soviet aide grabbed an object which 'looked like an icepick' and would grab the left pocket of the American officers, and would ram the pick through it. The next officer had a handful of Patriotic Wars (which he had taken from a large box in the trunk of the General's sedan) and put the order through the hole punched by the first aide. He also screwed it on securely.

Next, the Soviet general came along, and shook the hands of each of the Americans. Unfortunately, the translator was not there, so no one understood what he was saying...

Once the awards were given out, they had a bit more vodka, and the Soviet Lieutenant (who spoke English) informed the Americans of the benefits of their awards, which included (as he remembered) the lifetime of free passage on the subway in Moscow!

No documents were given out, no boxes, no nothing... Just the awards.

The fellow I talked to returned to the US five days later, and wore his award on his Class A uniform the first day back in Washington DC. He said that in the hotel he was staying in, there were a bunch of 'long-haired socialist-types' who congratulated him continually on his Soviet award, even though he had done absolutely nothing to deserve it!

He never wore the Order again, not for any particular reason, he just didn't. He did wear the ribbon for the Patriotic War on his ribbon bar, however, throughout the rest of his time in the Army (another 22 years) before he retired.

And that's the end of the story! I thought I'd share that with you all.

One thing I forgot to mention. He said that the Soviet Lieutenant had told them all that it was the "Order of the Fatherland War", and that was what he had called it for all these years...

--Dave

[new world]

George Marshall was decorated with Suvorov Order 1st Class.

The Life of George C. Marshall

Born in 1880 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Virginia Military Institute in 1901.

George Catlett Marshall served the United States as:
- Chief of Staff of the Army (1939-1945),
- Secretary of State (1947-1949),
- Secretary of Defense during the Korean War(1950-1951).

His career as a military officer spanned 44 years, including distinguished service in two world wars, during which he gained a reputation of efficiency, integrity, and results.

Marshall became a five star general in 1944.

In 1947, Marshall outlined a program of economic assistance to war-torn Europe that today is known as the Marshall Plan.

From 1949 to 1950, General Marshall served as President of the American Red Cross. In 1953, he headed the United States delegation to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Later that same year.

George C. Marshall became the first professional soldier to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The award honored Marshall for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to world peace and understanding.

General Marshall formally retired to Dodona Manor, his Leesburg (VA) home in 1953.

Marshall died October 16, 1959 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Source: www.georgecmarshall.org

George Catlett Marshall received the following honors:

DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
UNITED STATES

Distinguished Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf
American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Cluster Service Clasp
Silver Star
American Campaign Medal
Gold Medal expressing "Thanks of Congress"
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Philippine Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
Mexican Border Service Medal
World War I Victory Medal with four battle clasps
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
National Defense Service Medal
FOREIGN

FRANCE: Legion of Honor, degree of Officer
(1919); promoted to degree of Grand Croix
(1945) Croix de Guerre with Palm
CUBA: Order of Military Merit, First Class
LIBERIA: Centennial Medal
GREECE: Grand Cross, with Swords,of the Royal Order of George I
ITALY: Order of the Crown of Italy, Grade of Officer
Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grade of Officer
NETHERLANDS: Knight of the Grand Cross with Swords in the Order of Orange Nassau
MONTENEGRO: Silver Medal for Bravery
PANAMA: Medal of La Solidaridad, Second Class
PERU: Gran Oficial del Sol del Peru
BRAZIL: Order of Military Merit, Grade of Grand Officer
CHILE: Order del Merito
USSR: ORDER OF SUVOROV, First Degree
Order of Military Merit, Degree of Grand Cross
GREAT BRITAIN: Knight Grand Cross, Order of Bath (Military Division)
ECUADOR: Star of Abdon Calderon, First Class
MOROCCO: Grand Cross of Ouissam Alaouite
COLUMBIA: Grand Cross of the Order of Boyaco Cherifien
CIVILIAN AWARDS

Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal of Honor, 1945
Varieties Clubs Humanitarian Award, 1947
Freedom House Award
National Planning Association Gold Medal, 1949
National Civic Service Award, Order of Eagles, 1949
New York Board of Trade Award for distinguished service and contribution to the American Way, 1949
U.S. Conference of Mayors Award for Distinguished Public Service, 1949
Disabled American Veterans, New York Chapter, Citizenship Award, 1950
Virginia Distinguished Service Medal, 1951
Four Freedoms Foundation Award, 1952
Distinguished Service Medal of the American Legion
Nobel Peace Prize for 1953
AMVETS 10th Anniversary Award
Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award for Distinguished Service, 1956
Pennsylvania Meritorious Medal, 1957
International Charlemagne Prize of City of Aachen, Germany, 1958
HONORARY DEGREES

DOCTOR OF SCIENCE:
-Washington and Jefferson College (Pennsylvania),1939
DOCTOR OF MlLITARY SCIENCE:
- The Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1934
- Pennsylvania Military College, 1940, Norwich University (Vermont), 1942
DOCTOR OF LAWS:
- College of William and Mary, 1941
- Trinity College (Connecticut), 1941
- Columbia University, 1947
- Princeton University, 1947
- Harvard University, 1947
- Amherst College, 1947
- Brown University, 1947
- McGill University (Montreal, Canada), 1947
- Lafayette College (Pennsylvania), 1947
- University of California, 1948
- University of London, 1948
DOCTOR OF CIVIL LAW:
- Oxford University, 1947


Source: "George Catlett Marshall, A Chronology"; George C. Marshall Foundation

[Dave]

Just spent most of the day yesterday with another US recipient of a Soviet award, this time, one of only two recipients of the Order of Nevsky!

The story of his presentation goes that he was serving as a Battalion Commander (Lt Colonel) with the 407th Infantry Regiment during the War in Europe. They chased across Northern Europe, and stopped at the Elbe, where they met the Russians.

Shortly after the end of the War, about 15 May, a group of officers were invited to the Russian side (the Eastern side) of the Elbe for a formal dinner. He was one of the officers invited, and so he and his translator drove over in their jeep.

(An interesting sidenote is that his translator had worked for the Soviets as an 'agent' in New York City in the 1930's! He joined the US Army in WW2, even though he was a Soviet sympathizer.)

During the dinner, he just remembered that it was HOT. He said that the Americans were sweltering in their winter-weight uniforms. Before each of the American officers, the Soviets placed a nice, cold glass of water. So, without thinking, he downed the entire glass in one go... Unfortunately, it wasn't water... ;)

After the dinner was over, they had him stand up, and the Soviet General presented him with his Order of Nevsky, with box of issue (the small 'common' maroon box) and order book.

He remembers carrying it all back with him that night, but unfortunately, due to his vodka experience earlier, he didn't remember too many of the details!

I have a scan of his citation for the Nevsky, and it's fairly generic. It's on my laptop at the moment, and once I download it onto this computer, I'll type it here.

The reason he was awarded the Nevsky though was because (as he believed) the Soviets offered to give an American officer a valor award, a single valor award on a Corps level, and he was nominated as the recipient.

The reason he was nominated was because earlier in the year, he had been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his part in taking a town. Unfortunately, his MOH was disapproved at Corps level (downgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross) but since they felt that he deserved MORE than the DSC, he was additionally nominated for the British Distinguished Service Order for the action. He received this as well.

And because of this same feeling that he deserved more than the DSC, he was additionally nominated to the Soviets for the Nevsky, for this same action.

It was quite an honor to meet this fellow, but it was also very sad... First of all, he had lost his original Nevsky, and wore a copy (it was a really crappy one at that! I'll post scans of that later too.) Interestingly, he wore his decorations on his suit jacket, which he wears quite frequently out in town. He wears a miniature Combat Infantry Badge, a miniature row of four medals, to include the DSC, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the DSO, his General Staff badge, and the Nevsky!

Secondly, about ten years ago, his daughter took his medals (with the exception of his Legion of Merit and Silver Star) to one of our military exchanges to get re-ribboned. They actually simply REPLACED his original medals! She didn't even notice, but when she pulled out his DSC, and I saw that it was of new manufacture, I knew exactly what had happened! I about cried!

Finally, he had last worn his DSO about a month ago to a meeting. His wife criticized him for wearing it because it was so 'large and gaudy', and he took it off... and promptly lost it!

:cry:

So, I'm trying to help the daughter re-assemble his group of awards before he passes on (he's quite old). I've posted up in the 'Wanted' section for a Nevsky that I can use to replace his original. If I can't find what I'm looking for, I'll at least get him a decent looking copy as a replacement!

Anyway- it was an interesting visit- both an honor to meet the fellow, but very saddening as well!

Here's a scan of his document (it was an old photostat) awarding him the Nevsky. He is a very private individual, so it was requested that the name be blanked out, sorry!

And here's a couple scans of his Nevsky that he wears on almost a daily basis... It's too bad he lost his original!

I opted not to put this in the 'Fakes' section since it's clearly a fake, and it is being worn by an actual recipient!

[Dave]

Just found this thread...

The Soviets awarded quite a number of Guards badges to American forces at the end of WW2. It was actually treated as a full-fledged award, and the American was given a certificate with the badge, etc. When the American recipients returned to the US, many of them listed it as a 'foreign award'.

Why did the Soviets give it as an 'award'? I don't know... Maybe a Guards unit ran out of other awards, and in looking around said... "Hey, Sascha... I bet we could tell them our Guards badges are awards... he he he!!!" You never know... :)

Dave

[Nota Bene]

Dave,

Interesting! I wonder if anyone had ever seen one of those certificates.

Alexei

[Dave]

Alexei-

I have seen one before, but I just can't remember who had it! It was a typewritten letter, much like what normally accompanied Soviet awards when they were given to the Americans. I'll try to remember who had that one...

Dave

[Nota Bene]

Dave,

I'd really appreciate it, I am just dying to see one.

Alexei