pluribus

Latvian-made medal to the International military exercise . International military exercise Baltic Eagle 2003 begins [16 Sep 2003] Today, 16 September, the international military exercise Baltic Eagle 2003 will commence at the Adazi Mobile Infantry Training Centre (MITC). Around 350 servicemen and women from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and Great Britain will be taking part. Representatives from NATO Multinational Corps North East Headquarters will be participating in the exercise as observers. Their reports, along with conclusions, will be passed on to NATO Central Command. Commander of Latvia's Land Forces, Colonel Juris Kiukucans, has been appointed to co-ordinate the exercise. The aim of Baltic Eagle 2003 is to enhance co-operation between staff officers from a diverse range of countries within a multinational environment, to a level in conformity with NATO staff procedures and standards. Particular attention will be paid during the exercise to operational planning and co-ordination at headquarters. Baltic Eagle has been held every year since 2000, previously also in Lithuania (2001) and Estonia (2002). With the BALTBAT (Baltic Battalion) project winding up, this is the last time Baltic Eagle will be held. Planning for this year's exercise began in October 2002. Ministry of Defence

A Cross of Lily- V class. Women Defence League award. 43 awarded until 2004.

A graduation badge of the Higher Military School.

Hello, My guess is this a badge to the Order of the Red Banner Soviet border guard unit which was formed in Russia in 1922 and which located in Estonian SSR in 1970-s (Estonia was a part of USSR in 1944-1991). Maybe it did not locate in Estonia, just the medals were made in Estonia. There are no maker marks on the back (Russian-made badges usually have), a quality is excellent (common to the Estonian-made badges) and these can be find in Estonia (I saw one in Latvia too). pluribus

One of my favourites. Large commemorative medal, gilded bronze, enamels. Probably made in Estonian SSR. Maybe related to some border guard unit (green enamel).

Hello Megan, It was a decision of the Estonian Society of the Red cross to establish it`s own decoration in 1920. The decoration consisted of one class in form of silver medal on a pentagonally (Russian style) folded ribbon. It obtained the structure of an ordinary order in 1926 and consisted of five classes: I grade of the I class- a star and a sash, II grade of the I class- a star, I grade of the II class- a neck-ribbon cross, II grade of the II class- a chest cross. The initial silver medal became to the III class. The Law of Decorations from 1936 converted the Commmemorative Decoration of the Estonian Red Cross to the Governmental Decoration of the Estonian Red Cross. The structure was changed again: I class- a star and a sash II class- a star and a neck-ribbon cross III class- a neck-ribbon cross IV class- a chest cross with rosette on ribbon V class- a chest cross I class medal- gold medal II class medal- silver medal (similar to the initial silver medal of 1920 and to the III class of the 1926) III class medal - bronze medal. You can see in my previous posts which ribbons were in use. 1920 used totally different ribbon with wide white stripe in centre. 1926 and 1936 both used similar type of ribbon(with wide blue stripe in centre). Difference is in folding style. pluribus

#143942 and #428659

Badges of the Tapa Military Training Centre.

Defence League- Military Pistol Shooting Champion 1936 badge. Makermarked Roman Tavast. Maximum 15 issued in 1936.

A Graduation badge of second class of Military School. 196 esigns graduated in Dec., 1920. Makermarked H. Kiiwer.

Defence League- Badge of the Artillery subunit of the Petseri regional unit. Numbered no.1. Makermarked Roman Tavast.

Resque Service medal for life saving.

Badge of the Scout Single Infantry Battalion. Latest version (statue issued in 1934). Silver, gold, enamels. Multipiece construction. Makermarked Roman Tavast.

You`re welcome. Mine is issued by the local military commissar Ltn-Col. Paul Saask, who sent me to the Soviet army in 1982 and welcomed me after the two-years service in 1984. pluribus

Badge of the Kalev Battalion.

Hi, Yes, nothing wrong with that. Moscow printed them and then sent to the each of soviet republics. Estonian SSR got (speculation) 510.000-520.000, Armenian SSR 490.000-500.000 (speculation) and little by little issued via the local commissariats. pluribus

Defence League- A Badge of Avinurme subunit of the L??ne Virumaa territorial unit.

Badge of Baltic Battalion- For Distinguished Service.

A Star of the Higher Diligence Badge of the Fire Service. Less than 100 awarded. Makermarked Roman Tavast.

A Badge of the Sea Fortresses. Numbered no.77. Makermarked Roman Tavast.

Defence League- Badge of the Pohja subunit of the Tallinn Territoral unit. Numbered no. 85. Makermarked Roman Tavast.

Rick, The stamp shows he was issued a Certificate of the Participant of the War. Military Commissariats started to issue these certificates at least in 1980, probably earlier. I have no.510595 issued in 1980. No badges were attached to the certificate. A certificate was necessary to get some advantages (like to be first on the line in the shop when goods arrived). pluribus

As said in previous posts: If anybody would like to start with collecting of Estonian 1920-1940 ODM, then a good selection is available in http://www.emedals.ca/catalog.asp?country=E (Attention! One of the badges is not 1920-40 period). I have few doubles too. pluribus

Defence League- Badge of L??nemaa Territorial unit. Makermarked Roman Tavast.

Defence League- Badge of the Ida subunit of the Tallinn regional unit. Makermarked Roman Tavast. Numbered no.93