Belaruski

I may be wrong, but I think Socialist Cuba will survive Fidel.

Sorry to ask here, but if anyone sees a Cuban guards badge for sale, please let me know!

Ow! The paint is in excellent condition considering..

Christian is right, Stalin was never an 'outsider' in Soviet politics. While Lenin was in exile, Stalin was 'his man in Russia'. Don't forget that Trotsky was a Menshevik, and that was something that essentialy proved his opportunism to the CPSU(B). This doesn't simply come down to who do you prefer, Trotsky or Stalin, but rather requires a thorough reading of both, as well as the history of the time. The problem we have in the West is that some lies we like to believe, and others we don't, without realising they all come from the same place. As collectors we all know the value of learning!

The pin fixing of 'coiled wire' with presumably a copper base points to the new Chinese fake industry. Look on ebaY and you'll find orders of the patriotic war like this.

On the other hand, if it's the law, it's the law! Plus it is much easier to track down Soviet medals when they appear in a catalogue, than it is to track down corrupt businessmen when they are in your cabinet..

Anyone?! Can anyone say if this was made in Vietnam or the USSR?

I wish they'd built it. Mind you it may have been a very expensive luxury..

1940's NKVD cap. 100% original!

Here's a tankists officers cap. Black velvet band, 1943 pattern.

Excellent stuff! Wher exactly are these from?

Some Belarusian award badges are really impressive. They are of a much higher quality than the later Soviet offerings.

Just thought I'd share this beautiful badge with you all! It's from the Brest Red Banner Border Group. 60th anniversary badge. Multi piece and numbered. (Thanks to RichieC for helping me find this!)

..and the back.

I recently bought this, as I collect Belarusian awards too. It appears to be a solidarity badge between Vietnam and Belarus. It appears to me to be made before Belarus became independent, but then why Belarus and not BSSR or USSR? Any help apreciated! (Sorry the pictures are quite big!)

Mike, those field made buckles are superb! Thanks for sharing! Here's a two piece variation of the 1935 officers pattern belt.

The ribbon issue is clearly a factor. As mentioned earlier Nevsky. valour, military merit etc. all were on red ribbons, so as new orders and medals were introduced it became neccesary to differentiate them on ribbon bars. Incidentaly I love the 1st types as they are the in the original 'Bolshevik spirit' as opposed to the Russian tradition. Same as the 1943 uniform change, which is another possibility in this question. The image of the Army was changed to be more 'traditional' as the war became a patriotic war. The revival of Imperial Russian heroes: Kutuzov, Suvurov, and Nevsky also meant the traditional 5 sided mount returned for medals, and large shoulder boards.

Mine came out of that T34 they pulled ou of an Estonian swamp Just picked up at a militaria fair, not stupid money, and no story with it. I didn't know these were faked. I bought it about 6 years ago. Like you say the press studs look the same, I remember seeing Ostfront's website had similar ones that were fakes, but they didn't have the little peak on them. (I still think it's a throw back to the 1930 design). All things considered I don't know it's fake, but I couldn't in good conscience ever sell it as original now either.

I think on the leather question, leather helmets and uniforms were always the preffered material due to their superior fire protection. The cloth materials were primarily cost savers when the Red Army tank forces increased in numbers in a very short space of time.

There isn't specific staining to the sweatband area of the blue cloth, but the fold up peak/sweatband is grimy. I 've seen a few small detail difference between mine and Mike's but I have to be honest if his is 100% fake I am concerned about mine now. The buckle loops for example are rusty and pitted, and have permanently marked the leather. But a faker can use old fittings and materials. The helmet doesn't really smell of anything though, just that mothbally air. At least it doesn't smell 'like leather'.

I think Dembel typically means standard insignia modified to make it appear 'special'. Such as piping added to collars, badges cut up and glued or sewn together in layers to make 3d ones etc. The Dembel stuff is completely non regulation, wheras field made things are usually are personal stuff, and not for wear. (The obvious exception is in modified German equipment during the war).

And the buckles. Plus some 'art'!

the visor, and studs.

Inside..

Hi all! Apologies for the late reply, I have been working on nights and do litle but sleep and work! Here's the promised pictures. The blue wool lining is darker than it appears in the photos. The pattern appears to be the '1936 initial version' as illustrated on page190 of Shalito et al's 1918-45 Red Army uniform 'bible'! but it also features the unusual leather 'visor' retained from the 1930 type (same page, and again on page 35).