Soviet Uniforms and Militaria 1917-1991

CZ · 06-29-2002, 04:40 PM

László Békési (autor) & György Török (photographs):

"KGB & Soviet Security Uniforms & Militaria 1917 - 1991" (ISBN 1 86126 511 5)

2nd volume of the above mentioned book, all non-Red-Army-uniforms you can imagine up to Aeroflot and railway personel. A lot of these special decorations and badges in excellent photographs - a must.

English language.

The Crowood Press Ltd. - 2002
Ramsbury, Marlborough
SN8 2HR WILTSHIRE
United Kingdom

Recommended price: USD 44.95 or Br.pound 29.95

Best regards

Christian Zulus

Bryan · 07-29-2002, 01:12 PM

This is a great book. I have had a copy for about two years and still enjoy looking at it all the time,

Bryan

otlichnik · 08-28-2002, 01:51 AM

These are interesting books. I recently met with the author, Laszlo, in Budapest. He is a very, very nice guy.

However, the caveats. Both books are full of many, many errors. These are mostly errors of identification - the photos themselves and uniforms shown are mostly fine. As an example, in volume one there is a photo showing many supposed 1920s cavalry hats. In reality these are hats from a variety of odd branches and services from the WWII era and even the post-WWII era.

These books are not alone in that way. The Webster & Nelson book has over three dozen errors in it and a few fake uniforms.

The book is not good if you want to quote with absolute authority on something. However, it is still a good overall book.

I especially like three things about it, first it covers the entire 1917-1991 period, second it has good photos, and third it has a lot of "common" stuff. Too many books out there have nothing that the begining collector can identify with. Books on WWII general's uniforms are of little interest to someone who is very proud of their first 1980s officer hat. This book shows a lot of stuff which a begining collector can acquire easily and relatively cheaply.

Shawn

k3rvmfusa · 09-09-2002, 11:01 PM

I just acquired Bekesi's latest book on Soviet militaria -- KGB & Security Services. It's a nice book, now available at the usual online book distributors. It includes more than just KGB and Border Guards -- misc. civilian organizations -- Aeroflot, Mines, civil guards, etc. A nice reference work.

DougD · 03-05-2003, 09:47 AM

..do more damge then good. They are both loaded with errors!! I was sympathetic withthe "red" volume, but when they did such a poor guy in V2, the state security "blue" volume, I became a bit upset. They propogate falsehoods that don't help new collectors. They contribute to the descriptions you see on E-bay for 1960's items as "NKVD" or WWII, etc.

If you are going to do a book, do a better job. The Webster/Nelson book, having errors, is still a much better researched book and has more commonplace errors and fakes.

DON'T use the Hungarian books as a source.

DD

charlet · 03-05-2003, 01:43 PM

well, I like the Bekesi's book both for its mistakes and good things...writting a book is not an easy thing. But according to Doug's opinion, a little complementary guide would be necessary! starting with those 2 vol is very risky!!in fact they're a guide both for fakes and good stuff...The photos are great but uniforms are too small, creased (?). On medals, huge problem, and I wouldn't like to be at Bekesi's place: ugly fake souvorov on susp, fake belgrade and 20 RKKA; in vol 2 ugly fake HSU medal... idem about MSU shoulder boards...
The book is interesting for me coz I've a bit of experinece (partly thanks to this forum!!! :)
and coz I'm still looking for common stuff.
My opinion: the guy reached to write a book, he did his best I think; now it's up to us to make the list of errors and help reading better this work.

sebastien
(not bought the vol2, expensive importation in Paris, but just the time to see ugly errors. But always correct for common stuff...)

DougD · 03-05-2003, 08:01 PM

yes, writing a book is difficult. i have done articles, but never a book because it does require so much work and effort to do it correctyl. These guys did the book, but not correctly. Saying good try is nice if they did a term paper, but doing a book that is supposed to be a reference? Not good enough once, let alone twice.

DD

charlet · 03-07-2003, 12:30 PM

saddly, it is clear those 2 books must be taken carefully, and it will drive many starting collectors in a hole...but how to say this to the author?? his ugly HSU? the legend doesn't say it is a reproduction or not. If he bought it at the killing price, sad... arrgh!

07-29-2002, 01:12 PM	#2
Bryan Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fort Riley, Kansas Age: 53 Posts: 28	Soviet Uniforms & Militaria 1917-1991 This is a great book. I have had a copy for about two years and still enjoy looking at it all the time, Bryan

09-09-2002, 11:01 PM	#4
k3rvmfusa Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 80	KGB & Security Service Book I just acquired Bekesi's latest book on Soviet militaria -- KGB & Security Services. It's a nice book, now available at the usual online book distributors. It includes more than just KGB and Border Guards -- misc. civilian organizations -- Aeroflot, Mines, civil guards, etc. A nice reference work.

03-05-2003, 09:47 AM	#5
DougD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NJ Age: 51 Posts: 2,060	These 2 books.... ..do more damge then good. They are both loaded with errors!! I was sympathetic withthe "red" volume, but when they did such a poor guy in V2, the state security "blue" volume, I became a bit upset. They propogate falsehoods that don't help new collectors. They contribute to the descriptions you see on E-bay for 1960's items as "NKVD" or WWII, etc. If you are going to do a book, do a better job. The Webster/Nelson book, having errors, is still a much better researched book and has more commonplace errors and fakes. DON'T use the Hungarian books as a source. DD

03-05-2003, 01:43 PM	#6
charlet Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Age: 50 Posts: 793	well, I like the Bekesi's book both for its mistakes and good things...writting a book is not an easy thing. But according to Doug's opinion, a little complementary guide would be necessary! starting with those 2 vol is very risky!!in fact they're a guide both for fakes and good stuff...The photos are great but uniforms are too small, creased (?). On medals, huge problem, and I wouldn't like to be at Bekesi's place: ugly fake souvorov on susp, fake belgrade and 20 RKKA; in vol 2 ugly fake HSU medal... idem about MSU shoulder boards... The book is interesting for me coz I've a bit of experinece (partly thanks to this forum!!! :) and coz I'm still looking for common stuff. My opinion: the guy reached to write a book, he did his best I think; now it's up to us to make the list of errors and help reading better this work. sebastien (not bought the vol2, expensive importation in Paris, but just the time to see ugly errors. But always correct for common stuff...) __________________ Sebastien "a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism" (a well-known german bearbed)

03-05-2003, 08:01 PM	#7
DougD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NJ Age: 51 Posts: 2,060	term paper level books! yes, writing a book is difficult. i have done articles, but never a book because it does require so much work and effort to do it correctyl. These guys did the book, but not correctly. Saying good try is nice if they did a term paper, but doing a book that is supposed to be a reference? Not good enough once, let alone twice. DD

08-28-2002, 01:51 AM	#3
otlichnik Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Age: 57 Posts: 547	These are interesting books. I recently met with the author, Laszlo, in Budapest. He is a very, very nice guy. However, the caveats. Both books are full of many, many errors. These are mostly errors of identification - the photos themselves and uniforms shown are mostly fine. As an example, in volume one there is a photo showing many supposed 1920s cavalry hats. In reality these are hats from a variety of odd branches and services from the WWII era and even the post-WWII era. These books are not alone in that way. The Webster & Nelson book has over three dozen errors in it and a few fake uniforms. The book is not good if you want to quote with absolute authority on something. However, it is still a good overall book. I especially like three things about it, first it covers the entire 1917-1991 period, second it has good photos, and third it has a lot of "common" stuff. Too many books out there have nothing that the begining collector can identify with. Books on WWII general's uniforms are of little interest to someone who is very proud of their first 1980s officer hat. This book shows a lot of stuff which a begining collector can acquire easily and relatively cheaply. Shawn

03-07-2003, 12:30 PM	#8
charlet Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Age: 50 Posts: 793	saddly, it is clear those 2 books must be taken carefully, and it will drive many starting collectors in a hole...but how to say this to the author?? his ugly HSU? the legend doesn't say it is a reproduction or not. If he bought it at the killing price, sad... arrgh! __________________ Sebastien "a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism" (a well-known german bearbed)

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