Description
Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 3rd class #28494
Awarded to Colonel Vladimir Kondratievich Donets (Владимир Кондратьевич Донец)
Colonel Donets was deployed in the 12th Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Defense (GU MO) which was the most secretive organization of the Soviet/Russian Armed Forces and responsible for the safe-keeping, technical maintenance, transportation, delivery, issuance, disposal, etc. of the nuclear arsenal of the state, as well as the testing of nuclear charges
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 57.35 mm in width, 57.25 mm in height and weighs 64.3 grams without its screwplate. The mint mark “Monjetnij dvor” is located above the screw post in one curved line and the serial number “28494” is positioned at the bottom of its reverse.
In great condition with all details crisp and light overall wear. The blue and white enamels are flawless without repairs or scratches. Its screw has not been shortened and both sides show a nice toning to the silver which give this already stunning piece even more eye appeal.
The translation of the research can be read here
Some background information on the 12th GU MO:
The 12th GU MO was responsible for the safe-keeping, technical maintenance, transportation, delivery, issuance, disposal, etc. of the nuclear arsenal of the state, as well as the testing of nuclear charges, which includes ensuring ecological safety of such tests and the maintenance of Soviet/Russian testing grounds, known in Russian as “polygons” – in Semipalatinsk (Semipalatinsk Test Site, now Kazakhstan) and on Novaya Zemlya Archipelago.
Unlike the GRU (Chief Directorate of Intelligence), the 12th GU MO is not a chief directorate of the General Staff, but a chief directorate of the Ministry of Defense. As such it is not subordinated to the Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet/Russian Armed Forces, but directly to the Minister of Defense, which makes it higher in status compared to the GRU.
Even though today Russia has become more open and even some articles appear in its mass-media openly describing the “Nuclear Technical Service” Directorate, this organization remains off-limits. However, during Soviet times the most of commissioned officers, even though highly educated ones, had little or no knowledge that the 12th Chief Directorate even existed.
More information on wikipedia
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