Ralph Pickard is published author and Cold War collector. He has authored three well received books titled STASI Decorations and Memorabilia Volumes I (2007), II (2012), and III (2018). He has furthered authored a number of noteworthy combined history and artifact articles related to both the East German MfS (STASI) and the Soviet KGB. In addition to acquiring an extensive MfS collection, over the years he has broadened his collection and research efforts to include the KGB during the Cold War era. His analysis of history and memorabilia of the KGB and MfS provides insight into how closely these two organizations and other foreign colleagues (including Warsaw Pact) assisted and worked with each other throughout the Cold War.
Articles published in 2020: This article provides a short history of the GRU Spetsnaz during the Cold War. This article goes on to provide a short background and history of a GRU Spetsnaz officer and his awarding of the Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR in second and third class during the Cold War.
This article provides a short background about the official anniversary of the MfS badges that were presented to members of the MfS during the founding month of the MfS organization. This article further provides a short background and history of a MfS officer who received these anniversary badges during his career in the MfS.
https://stasidecorations.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nov-dec-2019-mfs-anniversary-article-jomsa-1.pdf This article provides a short background about the kidnappings that took place during the early period of the Cold War conducted by the MfS organization. This article further provides a short background and history of a MfS officer who received a East German VVO medal for his activities related to a kidnapping operation in West Berlin.
This article provides a short background about the military side of KGB-Vympel, in this case the KGB/FSB Special Operations unit since the end of the Cold War. This article is a follow up to the 2014 KGB in Afghanistan article. This article goes on to illustrate a KGB/FSB-Vympel officer’s “Order of the Spetsnaz Veteran Star”.
This article provides a short background about the military side of the KGB, in this case the KGB Special Operations units during the Afghan War. This article goes on to illustrate a KGB-Vympel officer’s active career operating in Afghanistan.