Belaruski

The red piped black patch, is actually raspberry red and black, an infantry one like Mefferts' but I adjusted the exposure. Some are srewback, some with prongs, and the set on the border guard corporal's with the short bayonet's are brass. The others may be coppered steel, I'm not sure!

The badge in post#10 is indeed Belarusian. Let me know if you want to sell it! The Navy belt is a post war one, as the arms of the anchor are very flat 1970's probably. And your badge in post 17 and 18 is a 1985 issue Order of the Patriotic War. Oh and your flag is a Komsomol one.

And the last one!

And some more..

Some variations..

The rigles insignia was indeed an award for units who somehow distinguished themselves, thus in peacetime it w as more likely that border troops would do something to earn them Which means that every soldier, (officers and men) would be entitled to wear them. Incidentally they were also awarded to NKVD internal troops, who continued to wear them on their shoulder boards too. (The only units to do so).

Rick, the 'streltsi' insignia were certainly worn by infantry too. I think that proportionally border guards may have been awarded them more often pre-war, but look in Webster and Nelson's and the Shalito et al books for plenty of infantry uniforms with this insignia.

Bryan these caps are heavily faked now, and that one has a few warning signs. Particularly the material for the crown, and the chinstrap and buttons are repalcements if the cap is early and original. You need a photo of the inside, and behind the sweatband. The damage to the visor itself is also a little suspicous, but wait for better photos. (Here's a picture of mine)

A very Soviet inspired lapel badge. MYC is the Belarusian language version of MVD. The hammer and sickle of a Soviet insignia is replaced by the outline of Belarus.

The collar tabs are definately 1941 subdued ones. There is a clear lack of piping. As for enameled insignia I have seen this in other photo's and own some green enameled squares which were used on subdued patches. I have also heard of red squares on the green patches when there were no green squares to issue. In 1941/2 all sorts of breaches of uniform regulations were allowed by neccesity.

A very odd souvenir to take home! Most Germans took cap stars, awards etc. I have in my collection a Budionovka cloth star with 2 piece badge that was a German souvenir. Apparently He collected the different colours.

Razvedchiki?

Sergey, have you seen the film 'Immortal Garrison' about the battle of Brest Fortress? (and is it available on DVD?)

At the museum in Auschwitz there is a room piled high with pots pans etc. that the prisoners brought with them. On the top is a Soviet mess tin like the one posted above by Sergey.

Come and See is a superb film. I think that too many people watch it hoping to see a 'war film' like Platoon or Private Ryan. This is a durty, nasty film, and very disturbing. As for portraying the Germans as badly as possible, I don't agree. The film holds back at times, and the Russian collabortors are also shown, and not discreetly erased from history. The scene wher Florya returns to his native village (with all the flies) is powerful and very un-Hollywood, the glimpse of the heaped bosdies is so much more powerful than a slow pan, or series of close ups. It's not a film I'll watch for entertainment, but I don't think that was the point of the film. It's meant to be brutal and disturbing.

I remember being told that "the key to buying a real tank destruction adge, is that there are no real ones". A cynical point of view, but one worth bearing in mind! How would it survive un-tampered with, why is it not on a tunic etc..... Unless you KNOW the provenance be super wary!

The pin assembly looks very good, but the difference in quality of photos' between those offered and asked for, is suspicous.

Here's a couple of different Brest Fortress badges. 35, 15 &25 Kopeks!

I've seen '825' on quite few Soviet items, particularly from the Baltics.

No offence taken Sergey! My interests primarily lie in Belarus at the moment, and I do have connections to the country. But the main reason is, as mentioned above that finances force me to focus my collecting.

If of any use, the buttons are late 40's 50's

Snoopy, quite a few of those badges have a Belarusian connection. I notice the Belarusian SSR flag pin and a Mogiev one too. If you ever wish to part with them, I'd be interested in a couple! Nice set of badges though! Regards. B.

Nice quality badge, if it helps, it's not ZPLS but Ts P L S (Tsentr- Centre for something?)

60th anniversary of the Red Banner Brest border control group. Hence the Red Banner Order in the centre, and frontier post background. This is heavy brass like a 30's Soviet badge, and numbered too. I've never seen another one. Due to limited finances I'm moving almost exclusively into modern Belarusian stuff now, as part of the fun in collecting, is collecting! And with Soviet awards and militaria, it was become exceptionally rare that I could afford anything. Plus it's galling shelling out more for repro awards that you used to see the originals for.

Unfortunately it could be from any country or era. If it helps the hammer and sickle did not become the official symbol of the Red Army until 1922. But it was also used by Communists elsewhere, both officialy and unofficialy. Any other markings?