Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Budyonny, 1940 honorary citation to professor of Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization of RKKA, later renamed Stalin Armored and Mechanized Forces Academy, Nikolai Polyakov (Николай Александрович Поляков).
Single page 9 ½" x 12 ½", typed document signed. Issued by the Central Council of Osoaviakhim of the USSR. High-quality lithographic decorative design, with photo portraits of Stalin and Marshal Voroshilov at the top corners, with their quotes under the portraits, extolling the military readiness of the Soviet Union and calling to improve this readiness even more. A finely detailed State Emblem of the USSR anchors the decorative elements. Note the 11 scrolls. This is the second version of the emblem, in use from 1937 to 1946, reflecting the 11 republics comprising the Soviet Union
Single page 9 ½" x 12 ½", typed document signed. Issued by the Central Council of Osoaviakhim of the USSR. High-quality lithographic decorative design, with photo portraits of Stalin and Marshal Voroshilov at the top corners, with their quotes under the portraits, extolling the military readiness of the Soviet Union and calling to improve this readiness even more. A finely detailed State Emblem of the USSR anchors the decorative elements. Note the 11 scrolls. This is the second version of the emblem, in use from 1937 to 1946, reflecting the 11 republics comprising the Soviet Union at that period.
Issued on the verge of WW2 by the decree of the Presidium of the Central Council of Osoavikhim of 6 September 1940, the citation honors Nikolai Polyakov for his exemplary performance in preparing the masses for defense of the country, and for good work on strengthening the member organizations of Osoaviakhim.
OSOAVIAKhIM, the Society for Assistance of Defense, Aircraft and Chemical Industry, was a huge paramilitary organization founded right after the Civil War to train the population in preparedness for military service.
The citation is hand-signed by Chairman of the Central Council of Osoaviakhim Air Force Maj. Gen. P. Kobelev, in green ink, and by Marshal of the SU Semyon Budenny in his capacity as Chairman of the Central Awards Commission of Osoaviakhim, at the bottom, in blue ink.
In good to very good condition. The margins show moderate wear, but it does not reach the document and, if framed, will become invisible. All the elements of the citation are vibrantly clear and legible, including the Osoaviakhim seal and signatures.
Semoyn Budyonny was among the most recognized personalities in Soviet military and political history. He earned enormous fame and influence during the Civil War by achieving some of the greatest victories for the Bolshevik cause, especially when commanding the Soviet 1st Cavalry Army against Poland, the the White Army of the South of Russia. He closely allied himself with Stalin and thereby was one of the only two Soviet Marshals left alive following Stalin's culling of the military in the late 30s.
During the early part of WW2, Budyonny occupied an important position but by that time, he had become rather inept in modern warfare. In 1941, Budyonny's incompetence contributed to the Soviet disasters in Ukraine, and he was eventually relieved of his posts. Nevertheless, he never suffered any prosecution and retained his high rank and awards. Budyonny went into comfortable retirement after the war, and died peacefully in 1973 in Moscow at the ripe age of 90 years old.
Please note that the pen in our photo is for size reference.
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