Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    Excellent Serviceman of the WPRA (Otlichnik RKKA)


    Guest Rick Research

    Recommended Posts

    Guest Rick Research

    Authorized in 1939, these badges were only awarded from the spring of 1940 until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War when-- although never OFFICIALLY cancelled, they simply seem to have ceased being processed and awarded.

    I always thought these were much more for Enlisted Comrades than Officer Comrades, though the foundation statutes made this an all ranks badge. What got me thinking about these was finding this private photo today of an unnamed Medical Corps Colonel circa 1946 wearing one:

    Aside from the :banger: HITLER mustache, he seems to have gotten nothing except long service Orders. The 3rd medal MIGHT be a lowly MMM rather than a campaign medal--which would then be his only "real" award. How "excellent" was THAT?

    I've had these two of the same man for years--

    Pavel Yaklovlievich Kamzolov is first seen circa 1947 as an Air Force Aviation Technical Service Senior Lieutanant:

    Excellent WPRA, Red Banner (surely not for long service!), Victory Over Germany-- and stamped by the Chief of Administration of MANUFACTURING.

    Here Kamzolov is again, as an ATS Captain on 2 February 1951:

    He's added qualifiued flight engineer wings, DROPPED the Excellent WPRA, added a Lenin (surely not for long service!), and the 1947 Moscow and 1948 Armed Forces Jubilee Medals. Now he was with the laboratory of "Faculty (Kafedra) 17"--all verrrry secretive and sinister sounding. :rolleyes:

    So: how likely were OFFICERS to have gotten this badge?

    Was there a time when they ceased being officially wearable-- between 1947 and 1951?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • Replies 116
    • Created
    • Last Reply

    Top Posters In This Topic

    The Red Army didn't have much bling-bling in late 30ties or early 40ties. So if you could get some you'd wear it. Officers were also more likely to be "excellent" in what they had as their profession than enlisted men. But I haven't got any statistics on who actually got it.

    Here is a pic of a artillery captain wearing the badge on the other/first side. The only one I have...

    Nice pics you found!

    /Kim

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 5 years later...

    This badge was introduced by SNK USSR decree # 1889 on November 14, 1939.

    Badge was awarded to servicemen of the Red Army (soldiers, students of military schools and officers) for excellent combat and political training, service and discipline.

    The first 200 badges were awarded on May 1940 to the servicemen of division named after Dzerzhinsky.

    How many of them are out there?

    Somewhere between 200 000 and 250 000 pieces ;)

    Edited by JapanX
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Manufacturers

    There were several manufacturers.

    The main manufacturer was Leningrad Mint.

    44 806 pieces were minted in 1940 and another 104 300 pieces in 1941.

    Official cost of one piece was 7 rubles 18 kopecks.

    In toto 149 106 pieces was made by July 1941.

    After the start of war production (not awardings!) was halted and never resumed.

    Edited by JapanX
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Another three manufacturers of this badge were

    HZO DSO "Motor"/ХЗО ДСО «Мотор» (approximately 20 000 pieces)

    Enamel fabric M.T.X./Эмальерная фабрика M.T.X. (approximately 24 000 pieces)

    Factory «Leningrad Enameler»/фабрика “Лен. Эмальер” (unknown number)

    Let`s take a look at them ;)

    Edited by JapanX
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now



    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.