Archive for Soviet Union

Nuremberg IMT Trials Visitors Ticket

Posted in Paper with tags , , , , , , on June 18, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgFlag_of_the_United_StatesFlag_of_the_United_KingdomFlag_of_FranceFlag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgInteresting bit of shyte here. This is a ticket for the visitors gallery for the 379th session of the Nuremburg Military Tribunal (NMT). This session falls within the 7th trial, the Hostages Trial, which ran from 8th July 1947 until 19th February 1948. The defendants were mostly higher commanders of the Wehrmacht accused of atrocities against civilians in the Balkans and Greece.

The ticket holder was a man named Constantine Brown who served in B-24’s in the USAAF until the end of the war when he was seconded to provide Greek-English language translation. He later served in the CIA and upon his return to the US became a policeman.

From his obituary… “BROWN–Constantine. 1927-2014. Constantine Brown passed away on October 22, 2014. His friends and family will miss his enthusiasm and active life style. In 1923, his parents and sister escaped from the forced exchange of Greek and Turkish populations, and came to New York City. He was born in Manhattan’s “Hell’s Kitchen” where his mother struggled to bring up her fatherless children while working at the Greek Orthodox church nearby. He enlisted in the New York State Guard when a teen-ager. During World War II, he joined the Air Force Cadet Program to become a flight engineer on B-24 bombers. His fluency with the Greek language was used by the C.I.A. When the war ended, he completed high school and earned a B.A. from Columbia University while working full-time with the New York City Housing Authority Police. From 1954, he rose through the ranks of the Housing Authority Police which merged with the New York City Police Department. He married Olga Boondas, a professor of social work at Columbia University. His beloved wife and daughter, Themis, pre-deceased him. Constantine was an active member of several organizations, including the Captains’ Endowment Association–NYPD, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Fraternal Order of Police, and St. Paul’s Society, NYPD. Olga and Constantine inaugurated the Themis Anastasia Brown Endowment Fund at the Morgan Library and Museum 21 years ago. He was in the process of instituting a chair for Classical and Byzantine Studies at Queens College in NYC, and provide support for the Orphanage under the aegis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.”

Japanese Surrender Documents

Posted in Paper with tags , , , , , , , , , , on January 1, 2016 by The Dude

Flag_of_Japan.svgThis booklet, dating from 1946, is a facsimile of the surrender documents signed on the USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay, on the 2nd September 1945. These were produced by the National Archives in the US for distribution to institutions and individuals in education. I have the German ones here.


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German Surrender Documents May 1945

Posted in Paper with tags , , , , , , on August 11, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThis is a fascimile of the surrender documents signed by Germany on the 8th May 1945. These copies were created by the US National Archives. I have a pdf copy available here if you want one, Germany Surrenders Facsimile.

 

Jubilee Medal Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet commemorative medal issued in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of victory over Germany.

The Jubilee Medal “Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945″ was awarded to: all military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces of the USSR who took part in the Great Patriotic War of 1941 – 1945, to partisans of the Great Patriotic War, to the personnel of the Armed Forces of the USSR, as well as any other persons who were awarded the Medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945″, the Medal “For the Victory over Japan” or the Medal “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945″.

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Gold Participation Badge for the Great Patriotic War

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet Gold Participation Badge for the Great Patriotic War. Not a medal.

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Jubilee Medal Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet commemorative medal for the 30th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The Jubilee Medal “Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” was awarded to: all military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces of the USSR who took part in the Great Patriotic War of 1941 – 1945, to partisans of the Great Patriotic War, to the personnel of the Armed Forces of the USSR, as well as any other persons who were awarded the Medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”, the Medal “For the Victory over Japan” or the Medal “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945”.

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Jubilee Medal Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet commemorative medal for the 40th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War.

The Jubilee Medal “Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” was awarded to: all military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces of the USSR who took part in the Great Patriotic War of 1941 – 1945, to partisans of the Great Patriotic War, to the personnel of the Armed Forces of the USSR, as well as any other persons who were awarded the Medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” or the Medal “For the Victory over Japan”; to home front workers, who were awarded for their dedicated work during the Great Patriotic War Orders of the USSR, the Medal “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945”, or other medals of the USSR such as “For the Defence of Leningrad”, “For the Defence of Moscow”, “For Defence of Odessa”, “For the Defence of Sevastopol”, “For the Defence of Stalingrad”, “For the Defence of Kiev”, “For the Defence of the Caucasus”, “For the Defence of the Soviet Arctic.”.

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Participant of Combat Operations Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet era chest medal or badge for participants in combat operations during WW2. This was issued by Soviet Ukraine.

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Badge For Bravery And Determination In The Great Patriotic War

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 5, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet Badge (not medal) for the 25th Anniversary of the Victory Over Germany. It was awarded to all veterans of the GPW. Here are both variants.

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Medal for Service at the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis medal is unique as it is the only medal in the world awarded for participation in a nuclear clean up. The very first people to go to the nuclear hell were firefighters – they did not know about the danger and were told the radiation leak was minimal. They did not have any special protective clothing, only light gas masks. Many of them are already dead, and many are dying a slow and painful death.

Initially, the decision was to withhold information from the people. First responders were awarded regular Firefighter’s Bravery medals. The disaster happened just before the regular 1st of May parade and thousands of people went out parading and breathing radioactive dust, instead of staying home. Many Russians view this as yet another crime by the Party elite against the Soviet people.

Only after the wind blew the nuclear dust across the border were serious measures taken and special army units sent in.

When the medal was instituted, it was awarded to everyone who paid with their lives and health for criminal stupidity and mistakes.

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Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the 2nd Class of the Order of the Patriotic War.

The Order was established on 20 May 1942 and came in first class and second class depending upon the merit of the deed. It was the first Soviet medal established during the war, and the first Soviet order divided by classes. Its statute precisely defined, which deeds are awarded with the order, e.g. shooting down three aircraft as a fighter pilot, or destroying two heavy or three medium or four light tanks, or capturing a warship, or repairing an aircraft under fire after landing on a hostile territory, and so on, were awarded with the first class. It was also given to some allied troops and commanders, including western allies. Altogether, over 324,903 of the 1st class and 951,652 of the 2nd class were issued during the war. Until 1985, the total number reached about 1,370,000.

In 1985, during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, it was decided that all surviving veterans of the war would be awarded either 2nd or 1st class of the Order, and about 2,054,000 first class and 5,408,000 second class were issued then.

As of January 1992, the total number of all awarded Orders was 2,487,098 first class and 6,688,497 second class variants. My 2nd class is numbered 5503731.

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Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the 1st Class of the Order of the Patriotic War.

The Order was established on 20 May 1942 and came in first class and second class depending upon the merit of the deed. It was the first Soviet medal established during the war, and the first Soviet order divided by classes. Its statute precisely defined, which deeds are awarded with the order, e.g. shooting down three aircraft as a fighter pilot, or destroying two heavy or three medium or four light tanks, or capturing a warship, or repairing an aircraft under fire after landing on a hostile territory, and so on, were awarded with the first class. It was also given to some allied troops and commanders, including western allies. Altogether, over 324,903 of the 1st class and 951,652 of the 2nd class were issued during the war. Until 1985, the total number reached about 1,370,000.

In 1985, during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, it was decided that all surviving veterans of the war would be awarded either 2nd or 1st class of the Order, and about 2,054,000 first class and 5,408,000 second class were issued then. As of January 1992, the total number of all awarded Orders was 2,487,098 first class and 6,688,497 second class variants. My 1st class is numbered 945423.

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Order of the Badge of Honour

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThe Order of the Badge of Honour (Russian: Орден “Знак Почёта”) was a civilian award of the Soviet Union. It was instituted on 25 November 1935 and conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in production, scientific research and social, cultural and other forms of social activity, for promotion of economic, scientific, technological, cultural and other ties between the USSR and other countries and also for significant contribution to basic and applied research.  This one is numbered 1248238.

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Medal for the Victory Over Germany

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the service medal issued by the Soviets to the soldiers, sailors and airmen who served the Soviet state during the war against Germany.

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Medal for Meritorious Labor During the Great Patriotic War

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the service medal issued by the Soviets to the factory workers, farm workers etc. who served the Soviet state during the war against Germany.

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Medal for the Defense of Moscow

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the campaign medal issued by the Soviets to the defenders of Moscow in 1941.

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Medal for the Capture of Koenigsberg

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the campaign medal issued by the Soviets to the armies involved in the capture of Koenigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, in 1945.

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Order of Maternal Glory 3rd Class

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags , , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg(Russian: Орден “Материнская слава”) was a Soviet civilian award created on 8 July 1944 by Joseph Stalin. The 3rd class as here was awarded to women who successfully raised 7 children. Get that for me Deirdre.This one is numbered 2716656. Since only 2,786,000 of these were awarded, this is obviously a late award.

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Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the campaign medal issued by the Soviets to the forces involved in the capture of Warsaw in 1945.

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Medal for the Defence of Leningrad

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the campaign medal issued by the Soviets to the defenders of Leningrad.

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Мedal for the Liberation of Belgrade

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet campaign medal issued to those who participated in the liberation of Belgrade in 1944.

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Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet campaign medal awarded to veterans of the campaign to defend the Caucasus against the German operations of 1942.

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Medal for 40th Anniversary of Victory over Germany

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is a Soviet medal issued to all surviving veterans of the Great Patriotic War on the 40th anniversary of the German surrender.

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Medal for the Capture of Berlin

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on May 4, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThis is the Soviet campaign medal for the drive to capture Berlin in April-May 1945. Brutal.

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Medal for the Victory Over Japan

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on May 2, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svgThe Soviet Union came in late in the war on Japan. Having frightened them off in 1939 in their drubbing of the Japanese 6th Army in Mongolia, the Soviets waited until August 9th 1945 before rolling into Northern Mongolia, Korea and the Kurile Islands. This medal was awarded to troops involved in that campaign.

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