Mongolian Ribbon Bars.

[medals73]

-- Medal "We Won" (missing the second ribbon)

-- Medal "25 Years of the Mongolian People's Republic" (also missing the second ribbon)

[medals73]

While photographic evidence suggests these metal "ribbons" were ususally just pinned on individually for more than one award, "ribbon" groups are sometimes (rarely) seen, tinkered together with whatever engineering skills were available.

For example, this group of the Honorary Medal of Combat, the Medal "We Won", and the Medal "25 Years of the Mongolian People's Republic".

[medals73]

These first-generation metal ribbons are also encountered in the domed plastic painted ribbon bars which became so common in Mongolia (as in the USSR) in the post-War period. For these, artistic (and sometimes dubiously "artistic") inventiveness comes into play and exact identifications are sometimes elusive.

For three examples:

1- Order of the Red Banner of Combat Valor, Order of the Polar Star, Order of the Polar Star

2- Order of Combat Valor, Order of Combat Valor / Honorary Medal of Combat, USSR Victory over Japan, Medal “We Won”

3- Medal “We Won”, Medal "25 Years of the Mongolian People's Republic"

[medals73]

Thanks to a friendly fellow forumite, three new ribbon bars have now come to live with me :D . . .

They are very odd and very interesting and very puzzling -- but, then, they are very Mongolian!

Remember, all of these are hand-painted behind heavily domed and curved plastic (following Soviet style). Not only does this mean that considerable (and often befuddling) "artistry" may be in play but it also means that these don't scan well.

I'm not sure you need to see their backsides . . . err . . . back sides, so I'll just show the obverses. Ask if you want the "other view".

The bars and my BEST GUESSES.

1- A fairly normal 3/3/3 ribbon bar.
-- Red Banner of Combat Valor; Order of Combat Valor; Honorary Medal of Combat
-- 30th Anniversary of Khalkin Gol (?); 50 Years of the Revolution; 50 Years of the Police
-- 30 Years of Khalkin Gol (???); 60 Years of Armed Forces; 50th Anniversary of Victory over Japan (possibly??)

2- A three-place ribbon bar.
-- Honorary Medal of Combat; 50 Years of Army; 60 Years of Army

3- An odd miniature ribbon bar (for a woman?), 3/3.
-- Red Banner of Combat Valor (?, very odd); Medal "We Won" (???, I don't think so?); 50th Anniversary of Victory over Japan
-- 30 Years of Khalkin Gol (???); 80 Years of Revolution; 50 Years of Revolution (this makes no sense?)

Other theories?

[Pobeda45]

Hi guys,
I've been MIA but still reading the forum and continuing to collect. The wife and I moved from NYC to San Franscico in early December, it's been a life altering experience for sure! :thumbsup

I've reached kind of a cool milestone in my Mongolia collection--I've assembled a full set of brass ribbons, minus the Sukhbaatar ribbon. (some day, right? :) )

The backs seem to have some slight differences..in all, great little items and Soviet made?
Thanks for looking!

George

[medals73]

Nice ones, George. I have noted that variability too and am not sure it means anything.

The higher awards are quite scarce and hard too obtain. I too, seek the Sukhbaatar and the Hero ribbons but, these days, have scant hope I'll be successful.

A somewhat tentative identification, as the "artistic license" is rampant as usual.

1) Honorary Medal of Combat; 25 Years of the MPR; Medal “We Won”

2) USSR: Victory over Japan; Medal “50 Years of the MPR”; Medal “50 Years of the Army”

3) Medal “30th Anniversary of Khalkin Gol”; Medal “30th Anniversary of the Defeat of Japan”; Medal for Unselfishness (?)

Not clear in the scans is the great oddity about this group, as it is very curved, much more than usual. At the center of the arc the back of the ribbons is around 1 cm above the "level". It must have been worn by a very small person?

[Bob]

Same here, just missing the SB one. Oh, the Hero one as well of course... but on that one I don't realistically have much hope. I wonder how long the enamel SB ribbon was actually in play (I mean: for how many SB awardees did the ribbon come as enamel). It seems like low numbered SB's are much more common than enamel ribbons for SB.

Not at home so can't get Urnukh's book at which probably gives a date for when the enamel ribbons were cancelled in favor of cloth. That date would indicate roughly which SB numbers came with enamel instead of cloth. If anybody happens to have their book handy, appreciate the insight:)

[claretbaron]

now i have 21 ribbons. very love.

i wish i can buy one ribbon for Order of Sukhbaatar.

[medals73]

Originally Posted by claretbaron

now i have 21 ribbons. very love.

i wish i can buy one ribbon for Order of Sukhbaatar.

You are in the same sad place I am (and many of us are), needing just two of these to complete the set (Sukhbaatar and Hero).

I know there isn't a lot of interest in these, but a couple of new arrivals strike me as of interest to some.

A metal "ribbon" bar:

1- Victory over Japan
2- 25 Years of MPR

[medals73]

And a domed plastic "ribbon" bar representing the metal ribbons.

1- USSR Victory over Japan
2- Victory over Japan

Interestingly the Soviet medal is first, making me wonder if this is a Soviet ribbon bar and not Mongolian. But, then, the order of wearing is a pretty flexible art form.