Patriotic War.

[Eugene]

Alexei,
I think until proved otherwise those two theories can right to live. We just can analize fact and lean to one site or another.
But doesn't it look strange there in no facts at all regarding producing steel H&S? Neither at the mint nor at award department of Defence Ministry?
I mentioned only Durov's name but there are many other researches who has the same opinion including Muzalevsky, Volodin, Merlay, and Varlamov who are part of magazine "Kavaler" team.
Even during the war the technology of manufacturing Soviet awards was followed without any exceptions. They didn't try to save on 25 gram of silver but tried on 0.3 gram of gold? Why didn't they save on 8 gram of gold for OPW 1? But there OPW 1 with replaced H&S as well. Doesn't make sense to save on 0.3 gram but waste over 8 grams.
It's known fact when Stalin was presented some patterns of awards made from brass he demanded to make them in gold. It happened during most difficult time.
You right that wires of H&S don't feet. I saw quite a few of them and on most of them I saw small damage on enamel where H&S were attached. The job is widely varies in quality which is impossible if it was done on the mint. Off cause, the soldier didn't replace them sitting in the trench. You would be suppressed what some soldiers hands could do in mechanic and repair shops on battalion level not talking about regiment level and higher.
Regards
Eugene

I forgot to add that all this alterations were made mostly during the war and not by jewellers after. That’s why they were not made from scratch. Especially if there is easy way just to take H&S from uniform star.