Hey I found this 25 years service medal but I can’t Even know if it is a real or a fake one..

Not the most intelligent in Swiss army helmets, can you guys tell me the model and any other things attributed to this? And also if the liner and markings seem legit and authentic, thanks 😁

From my Personal collection

This order was awarded to Viktor Afanasievich Kozychev. He was born in 1924 in the village of Shershino, Kaluga Oblast. He was conscripted into the Red Army in March 1942 in the wake of the Moscow counteroffensive, seeing combat action from May 1942 onwards with the 616th Rifle Regiment, 194th Rifle Division. At the time this unit was fighting defensive battles around the city of Yukhnov, to the south-west of Moscow not far from Kozychev’s hometown. It would hold this line until October 15th, when it was withdrawn into the reserves for rest and replenishment.

In the summer of 1943, the division took up defensive positions in the north-west of the Kursk salient, where it was situated outside of the area of the main German offensive. It subsequently took part in the Orel offensive (Operation Kutuzov) from July 20th, advancing towards the Desna river and the city of Gomel. During this offensive, Kozychev (by this time already a Senior Sergeant, serving as machine gun crew commander) was nominated for his first combat award:

“In the offensive battle on August 26–28, 1943, for the village of Berezovets, Komarichsky District, Orel Oblast, he was the first to burst into the German defense, destroyed eight Germans, and captured an enemy 75 mm gun. By his actions, he inspired fighters to smash the enemy. His machine-gun crew acted flawlessly in repulsing enemy counterattacks, as a result of which the enemy was thrown back and shattered, suffering heavy losses in manpower.
Comrade Kozychev, for brave, courageous actions in battle, deserves the state award — Order of the Red Star”

By October, the division reached the Sozh river where it took up defensive positions  before taking part in the Gomel-Rechitsa offensive. Having especially distinguished itself in the liberation of Rechitsa, the division was awarded the honorary name “Rechitskaya”. 

The division continued its advance, crossing the Berezina and passing Svetlogorsk and Zhlobin before crossing the Dnieper on June 24th at the start of the Bobruisk offensive. Kozychev, who had been promoted to Lieutenant less than two weeks earlier and now commanded an MG platoon, would distinguish himself again during the subsequent advance along the Minsk-Bobruisk highway:

“Comrade Kozychev V. A. on July 1st, 1944, during a meeting engagement on the Minsk–Bobruisk highway in the area of Goroshki village, Mogilev Oblast, quickly deployed his platoon into battle, repulsed an attack by up to a company of infantry, killed 11 Fascists with personal weapons, captured 18 German soldiers and officers, and captured trophies: 6 draft horses, 2 wagons with ammunition, and 2 machine guns.
Comrade Kozychev V. A., for displayed courage, valor, and skillful leadership in battle, deserves the state award — Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class.”

Following the liberation of Minsk, the division continued its advance west as part of the Lomza-Ruzan offensive, managing to secure a bridgehead on the west bank of the Narew river by September and holding it for the remainder of the year. This bridgehead would form the starting point for the January 1945 East Prussian offensive, during which the division advanced all the way to the Gulf of Gdansk, where it would spend the remainder of the war eliminating the remaining German troops from Army Group North around Königsberg. By now a Senior Lieutenant and MG company commander, Kozychev would be decorated a third time for his part in crushing the Heiligenbeil pocket during the Braunsberg (today Braniewo) offensive operation:

“Comrade Kozychev on March 20, 1945, in the battle for the town of Braunsberg, showed examples of leadership, valor, and bravery. Overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, he boldly rushed into the outskirts of the town and provided forward movement for rifle sub-units with machine-gun fire, repulsed two enemy counterattacks, and destroyed over 60 Hitlerites. On March 21, 1945, with machine-gun fire, he skillfully secured the crossing of the Pasłęka River.

Comrade Kozychev, for exemplary leadership in battle and displayed valor and bravery, deserves the state award — Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class.”

With the fall of Königsberg in early April and the subsequent elimination of the German Zemland Group, the very last of the German troops in the area had withdrawn onto the Vistula spit by the end of April. The 194th Rifle Division was one of the units tasked with clearing this final pocket of resistance. 

On April 30, the division was ferried across the Vistula lagoon and landed at Karmeln, from where it would begin offensive operations the next day. Pushing west along the spit’s southern shore, it would face an extensive network of fortifications manned by roughly 35.000 desperate German defenders in the war’s final week.

In the early morning hours of May 5th, the 616th Rifle Regiment, which included Kozychev’s MG company, was tasked with capturing the settlement of Pröbbernau (today Przebrno). For his actions during this engagement, he would be awarded this order:

“Comrade Kozychev, during the combat operations on May 5, 1945 for the settlement of Kahlberg in the region of the Frische Nehrung spit, demonstrated examples of leadership, bravery, and courage. He skillfully organized his machine gun company to fulfill its combat mission. Overcoming intense enemy artillery and mortar fire, he boldly advanced forward and, through the machine gun fire of his company, secured the capture of the settlement, repelling the enemy’s counterattack. Swiftly pushing forward, machine gun fire ensured rifle units captured the settlements of Schelmühl and Schmergel and, through battle, broke into the settlement of Pröbbernau, where he quickly organized the repulsion of a hostile counterattack, during which he died the death of the brave.

Comrade Kozychev – for exemplary leadership in battle and shown bravery and courage – is worthy of the state award: the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class (Posthumously).”

Just four days before the German capitulation, which would also see the surrender of all remaining German troops on the Vistula spit, Senior Lieutenant Viktor Afanasievich Kozychev was Killed in Action, at just 21 years old. He was one of 146 KIA the division suffered in the final week of the war, with another 638 wounded and 34 missing. 

His awarding of this Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class was rapidly approved just 5 days after the citation was written, with the award being physically presented to his mother two months later. Kozychev is buried in the Soviet military cemetery in Kahlberg (now Krynica Morska).

Hello everyone. I figured I would show everyone my growing US canteen collection. These canteens range from 1910-1956. Below is a description of each canteen in order with the photos. What do y’all think? Have a good one 👍

1. Very rare configuration with 8 line vertical stitch M1941 Mounted/Paratrooper cover with porcelain enameled, 1942 dated canteen by SM.Co and 1945 cup made for the US army by Sartel in Belgium. I truly did not know that Belgium made things for the United States during ww2.

2. Standard M1910 cover with named 1918 dated canteen by AGM.Co. This one is named to a P.Sardella. Unfortunately missing the cup.

3. Standard M1942 cover with pre 1918 made canteen. You can tell if a canteen is made before 1918 because it will be lacking any sort of stamps. This example is also missing its cup.

4. Standard M1942 cover with equipment belt and 1943 made canteen by SM.Co. This one also has the cup, but it is too stuck inside of the cover to try and take it out. I don’t know the maker of it.

5. British made M1942 4 line stitch cover made for US Army. You can tell these covers are British made because of the distinct 4 line stitching and on the inside flap it will say British Made. This set also features its equipment belt. The canteen is 1942 dated and made by AP.Co. The cup is also included, however it is unmarked.

6. 1951 dated M1942 cover with a 1943 dated GP&F.co canteen. This canteen is particularly shiny compared to the rest. Maybe it was polished at some point in its life? This example is also missing its cup.

7. M1956 cover with heavily dented 1945 dated canteen by AGM.Co this example is also missing its cup. Nothing really more to add for this one…

8. 1918 dated canteen with the later style black cap. This canteen was most likely refurbished during the interwar period. This example does not have a cover or cup.

Hey everyone! I recently acquired a military pin that looks like it could be from WWII, but I’ve been hitting a dead end trying to identify it.

Google suggested it might be a WWII 334th Field Artillery Battalion pin, but the more I looked into it, the less it looked like that was the case.

I appreciate any help identifying it or pointing me in the right direction!

No labels or writing at all. Any guesses as to the age?

Hey guys this is actually my first time buying a military helmet, so i bought this "M1" helmet but thats what the seller said, but i am certain that is not an M1 after comparing it to some pics? (Correct me if im wrong), so i also wanted to get some tips on how to remove active rust from my helmet. Thanks y'all

1943 Boyt jungle pack, 1944 pilot survival manual, 1944 The Walker Company USMC reverseable poncho, 1888 US Merriam.

Produced by Deschler** & **Sohn of Munich.
Early “Cupal” pair.
Unfortunately all mounting prongs are gone.
Enjoy!

I found this in a berlin antique shop, I do think it is ww2 and the shoulder boards indicate it is a field engineer or sapper? Thanks

Produced by Deschler** & **Sohn of Munich.
Early “Cupal” pair.
Unfortunately all mounting prongs are gone.
Enjoy!

Yesterday was a great day for my collection!

No clue what the seller is circling in the last photo

Could anyone help identify the military or era this is from? I used google lens and it gave a few suggestions such as Austrian, Swiss, or Polish, and said that it could be Cold War era but it didn't show any similar ones. Its a pair of dark grey dress drousers in wool or wool-blend with black piping across the outer seam. Thank you.

Hello everyone, I was wondering if this piece is authentic.

It's a three piece construction, has a metal core and the core has a bit of play and rattles.

So to me it seems authentic but maybe someone can tell more by looking at it.

On the front you can see that it has been repainted at two places.

How much would this iron cross be worth?

Thanks in advance :)

From what I’ve looked up about its style, it’s a Reichsdienstflagge(State service flag). Any information is helpful. Seems to look like a bullet hole near the head of the eagle.