Translation Please - Russian to English

[Gordon Craig]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have an GSH 6a with an inscription on it in Russian. I have a problem with the English translation of the inscription that came with the helmet. I would appreciate a native Russian speaker having a go at the translation for me. Here is what the English translation was that came with the helmet.

"To Comrade Verna Felpe
Member of the Central Committee
of the SEPG
From the airmen of the Guards Red Banner Minsk Division
March 1972."

I suspect that "Verna Felpe" is incorrect and the individual this helmet was presented to may have been Werner Felfe an SED Functinair. Looking forward to your translations.

Regards,

Gordon

[Albert]

Hi Gordon,

Your suspicion is correct! The transliteration of the name is incorrect, on more than one level... It should have been Werner Felfe, considering the German name, and the clear reference to the SED.

Also, it should be "from the pilots", and not "from the airmen".

Best,
Al

[Gordon Craig]

Al,

Thanks for your quick response.

Regards,

Gordon

[Valter Gorenc]

That's a really cool present to get! And to have in collection ... Congratulations! If I see correctly, the dedication is engraved, not just written.

[Gordon Craig]

Valter,

You are correct. The dedication is engraved. And yes it is a great piece to have in my collection. I've enjoyed owning it for a few years now.

Regards,

Gordon

[Sergey65]

...

Hi Gordon,

Your suspicion is correct! The transliteration of the name is incorrect, on more than one level... It should have been Werner Felfe, considering the German name, and the clear reference to the SED.

Also, it should be "from the pilots", and not "from the airmen".

Best,
Al

Hi Albert and Gordon,

in engraving on the helmet there are no grammatical errors.

Werner Felfe (Вернер Фелфе) - since 1972 First Secretary of the Halle District Committee (SED).
This is a very high position in the DDR Communist Party.



https://ru.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Фельфе,_Вернер

Albert,

in the Soviet Union and in Russia the general name of the Pilots is Airmans (Летчики).

Very interesting item, Gordon. Congratulations

Best regards,
Sergey

[Albert]

Sergey,

Correct, no grammar mistakes in the Russian text. No one was claiming there were. Also, Werner Felfe's name was transliterated into Russian correctly, with a soft sign after the letter "l", which you forgot in your version.

The transliteration of Werner Felfe's name from Cyrillic back into Latin and the proper translation of letchiki was the issue.

While in Russian letchik (usually mil.) and pilot (usually civ.) are indeed synonymous, in U.S. English a pilot is an airman, but an airman is not necessarily a pilot.

Best,
Al

[Sergey65]

...

Sergey,

Correct, no grammar mistakes in the Russian text. No one was claiming there were. Also, Werner Felfe's name was transliterated into Russian correctly, with a soft sign after the letter "l", which you forgot in your version.

The transliteration of Werner Felfe's name from Cyrillic back into Latin and the proper translation of letchiki was the issue.

While in Russian letchik (usually mil.) and pilot (usually civ.) are indeed synonymous, in U.S. English a pilot is an airman, but an airman is not necessarily a pilot.

Best,
Al

Hi Albert,

I initially did not understand the question. And of course I made an unpardonable mistake on inattention in writing the name (ь) Apparently at that moment all my attention was directed to the helmet of the Soviet Letchika

Best regards,
Sergey