Rare 1959 Soviet Ural Watch with Proven Historic Military Provenance – Fully Researched Case-Back Up for auction/sale is a truly remarkable piece of Soviet horological history. This vintage Ural watch features a fascinating, hand-engraved presentation case-back that has been meticulously translated and historically cross-referenced with official Soviet military archives.
Presentation watch engravings are highly collectible, but it is incredibly rare to find one where the exact recipient can be verified with 100% accuracy. Thanks to the highly specific dates on this piece, the original owner has been identified.
The Engraving Translation (Corrected Cyrillic Reading: УО УБС, 7 ОТДЕЛA):
- Н.П. СЛОВЕНКО (N.P. Slovenko)
- В ДЕНЬ 50 ЛЕТИЯ (On his 50th birthday)
- ОТ СОСЛУЖИВЦЕВ (From fellow servicemen / co-workers)
- УО УБС (Directorate of Combat/Coastal Service)
- 7 ОТДЕЛА (of the 7th Department)
- 5. V. 59г. (May 5, 1959)
The Historical Recipient (Verified Archive Match):
Cross-referencing the initials "Н.П." and the exact 50th birthday milestone (calculating a birth date of May 5, 1909) in the Central Archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense yields an exact, undeniable match:
- Full Name: Nikolai Petrovich Slovenko (Николай Петрович Словенко)
- Date of Birth: May 5, 1909
- Service History: Entered active military service in the Red Army in 1931. He fought throughout the entirety of WWII (The Great Patriotic War), achieving the rank of Major (Майор) and continuing into senior administrative officer roles post-war.
- Decorations: A highly decorated officer, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, and the Medal "For Battle Merit."
About the Gift:
The watch was gifted to Major Slovenko on May 5, 1959, by his fellow officers ("сослуживцы") to celebrate his 50th birthday and his long, decorated career. The engraving places him in the 7th Department of a high-level Soviet state/military operational directorate (УО УБС).
This is not just a watch; it is a museum-grade piece of history tied directly to a decorated WWII officer. A phenomenal centerpiece for any collection of Soviet watches or military memorabilia.