USSR medal group

[JensF.]

Medal group of a russian soldier of WWII.

-Two Orders of the Red Star (numbered "390867" and "1379987")
-Medal for Combat Service, first type ("252449")
-Booklet

I am not sure if the entries in the booklet are original. Any opinions?

[JensF.]

I'll add detailed pics of the medals in the next days.

Best regards

[Gene]

They look good to me; I'd like to see the reverse of those Red Stars.

[JensF.]

I'll try to get a scanner in the next days. The "older" Red Star is very interesting, it is an very small and thin version.

[Rick Research]

Why does the Orders Booklet cover look brown instead of red?

Otherwise, all seems kosher-- this is a Type 3 (1944-46) booklet, which matches the dates. Red Star #390,867 fits in known May 1943 awards, as does Military Merit Medal #252,449 (for some reason, the MEDALS seem always to be in virtual consecutive chronological order during the war, whereas ORDERS were NOT). Second ORS #1,379,987 falls in about April 1945.

The initial "A" on the Orders Booklet serial number indicates Pavel Ivanovich Kapinichenko was an officer. Original style MMM suspension and no later awards indicates he probably only served during the war, not a career officer.

I like the thin type Red Stars over the fat "cookie" ones too, and will post one to a "good" Commissar (Colonel Chertov) sometime this week.

[JensF.]

Rick, it is dark red, just a bad bad scan.

Again I thank you for these great informations!!!

But something is strange: The red ribbon of the MMM was replaced long times ago with some piece of red clothing. Maybe the original ribbon was damaged. Would be no wonder, the Soviets wore these awards very often, sometimes in action like the Wehrmacht. The frame for the ribbon looks like silver but the screw is made of brass.

The thin Red Star has got a small makers mark too. A very nice type.


Aahhhhrgggg I need a good scanner, the one I got is about 5 years old and sh***!!!

[JensF.]

Any chance to trace Pavel? I think as non-career officer he was a Lt. or OLt.

[Rick Research]

Tracing isn't possible any more since Putin slammed the locks back on the archives over there.

IF they ever open again, ask for research from the serial number of the first Red Star: Citation, Awards Record Card, and Personnel File. (I've actually got an original personnel file and award citations, which is what used to get xeroxed).

Could have been ANY rank, but you're right, probably a Lieutenant of some grade.

I will post an early MMM-- nice big clear scans as another thread so you can keep THIS one clear for your group! Rick

[JensF.]

Sorry, wrong serial number but the suspension is ok. My medal don't has the plate and screw on the back of the suspension and this strange red cloth. Wait for the scans, just wait... wait... I can make good scans too with the scanner of a friend... But he is in France at the moment.

[JensF.]

I'll meet him in Verdun in two weeks, so wait for a new Verdun-History Report at our website with good pictures!!!

[JensF.]

Have you got any idea when he got the MMM? And the date of the booklet, 20. ??? 1946?

Best regards

PS: Your ribbon-bar article is G R E A T !!! Just saved the complete pages with pics to my harddrive...

[Rick Research]

This MMM was around April-May 1943-- just like the first Red Star. The upper date indicates that privileges (extra pay etc) started for month of May 1943. The date the book was made out was 20 February 1946.

That sort of delay was quite common-- until the war ended, few Orders Booklets were made out (some were), the recipients instead having "Temporary Certificates" which are actually MUCH better-- these stupid Booklets reveal absolutely NOTHING unless there is a photo-- the Temporary Certificates gave name, RANK, UNIT, and the authorizing order decree and issuing authority, as well as stamp and seal of the unit CO.

I've got a pair of Temporary Certificates for OPWs 1st and 2nd Class, with the Orders, to an engineer Major... for another thread. (Part of a group with medals and their award cards.)

[JensF.]

So Rick, maybe you heard in the TV-news that I've got a NEW SCANNER har har

Here are the GOOD scans of the soviet medals!

The two redstars and the screw of the MMM.






Replaced ribbon!

[paddywhack]

rick i have a mmm which has a serail number around 16000 il get the full serail when i get home but can you tell me what year it could be from?