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05-27-2012, 10:10 AM | #1 |
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For Labour Valour,U/N 1955,Senior Engineer,Rescue Of The Norwegian Tanker "Folga"
Vikentii Ksaverevich Blumenfeld was the senior engineer and oldest crew member of the Soviet merchant ship Tartu. On the night of October 11, 1954, the Tartu came to the rescue of the Norwegian tanker Folga, which had struck a mine in the North Sea. For almost four hours, the Soviet sailors battled the blaze that had engulfed the Folga. Blumenfeld led one of the two firefighting teams. His group fought the fire from the deck of the Tartu while the other group, under the leadership of the first mate, boarded the Folga. When the fire was extinguished, the Soviets escorted the Norwegian ship safety to Rotterdam.
The rescue was dangerous, daring, and dramatic, to say the least. (The Folga was essentially an enormous bomb waiting to explode.) The only fatality was a Norwegian killed in the initial mine blast. The sailors of the Tartu were duly rewarded by Soviet authorities and thanked by the Norwegians (the Norwegian ambassador met with Molotov personally to deliver his thanks). The rescue was written about in detail in international and Soviet newspapers and magazines. Here is what I have been able to find: Pravda 15.10.1954, page 4 Pravda 16.10.1954, front page (Blumenfeld mentioned by name) Pravda 18.11.1954, front page Izvestia 15.10.1954, front page (Blumenfeld mentioned by name) Izvestia 21.10.1954, front page Izvestia 15.01.1955, page 4 Pioneer magazine, March 1955, pages 38-43 (Blumenfeld mentioned by name) Utrechts Nieuwsblad 12.10.1954, front page Utrechts Nieuwsblad 13.10.1954, page 7 De Waarheid 12.10.1954, front page Glasgow herald 12.10.1954, page 7 The Sydney Morning Herald 13.10.1954, page 2 There is probably more, especially in Norwegian and Estonia papers, but I haven't been able to find those. I believe Blumenfeld's Valiant Labor Medal was awarded for the rescue of the Folga. I do not yet have specific confirmation, but it seems certain to me. Enjoy! |
05-27-2012, 10:14 AM | #2 |
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Re: Valiant Labor Medal,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
The document. The crew of the Tartu was awarded honorary certificates by the Komsomol Central Committee and various other prizes by the Soviet Merchant Marine almost immediately after the rescue. The Norwegian ambassador delivered his thanks on January 10, 1955. A May 18, 1955 awarding of a Valiant Labor Medal seems to fit the timeline, then.
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05-27-2012, 10:24 AM | #3 |
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Re: Valiant Labor Medal,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
A photo of the damaged Folga from the Utrechts Nieuwsbald.
Utrechts Nieuwsblad 19541013 Two images from the well-illustrated Pioneer article. Full article here: ������ 1955-03, �������� 42 A man on board the ship "Ebro", which stood nearby but did not aid in the firefighting, apparently took a video of the whole event. This noted near the end of the Pioneer article. I'd love to find that video! Thanks, Ed :thumbsup |
05-27-2012, 10:38 AM | #4 |
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Re: Valiant Labor Medal,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
Neat composition!
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05-28-2012, 02:45 AM | #5 |
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Re: Valiant Labor Medal,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
Great story! One may treat labor awards as less "heroic" than combat ones, but this one proves that sometimes they mark a greater courage than some of the combat awards.
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05-28-2012, 06:07 AM | #6 |
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Re: Valiant Labor Medal,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
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05-27-2012, 10:14 AM | #7 |
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Re: Valiant Labor Medal,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
Very interesting and a very good example of the sort of indirect research than can be done with labor awards. It remains unfortunate that no one has looked into the relevant archives to expand our research horizons.
Thanks for posting this! |
10-09-2012, 01:35 AM | #8 |
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Location: Norway
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Re: For Labour Valour,U/N 1955,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
Of course! Would be interesting if you actually had the hard copy of the newspaper. I'm too old fashioned in the way I think, lol.
Well well. Some sunny day we'll probably get some more info about this, from the Soviet side. |
10-09-2012, 01:41 AM | #9 |
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Re: For Labour Valour,U/N 1955,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
Ah, gotcha, good idea! Any recommendations for a source?
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10-09-2012, 08:11 AM | #10 |
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Location: Norway
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Re: For Labour Valour,U/N 1955,Rescue of a Norwegian tanker 1954
Hm...
I think it'll be very difficult to get any online-sources... I believe the best way to find info, is to get someone in Russia to dig for us, like Marc for example, because of the lack of online digital archives. |
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