TacHel

Here's an example of what a unit anniversary badge might look like. Like previously mentioned, the design might actually perfectly match the badges above with the simple addition of the unit number and anniversary dates. The 5 digits at left are the unit number. 45 LET at right means 45 years.

Some badges have the departmental name abbreviated on the obverse. But there should be no date, this would indicate a unit level anniversary badge. They sometimes simply use these badges and add the dates of the anniversary and their unit number. Russian heraldics being unique, do not too quickly assume you know the meaning of the center emblems. The one at right for example has nothing to do with the medical corps. The inscritpion GUT MO RF actually stands for Main Commerce Department, Ministry of Defense.

The badges bearing a sun as part of the main design usually denote a school or academy. You will also notice the shield has at times been replaced by the shape of a book. Either feature or both can be found. Badge at left bears the eagle of the air force, center has the eagle of the army, right hand badge has the eagle of the ministry.

As you can well imagine, there is a large market for these in Russia where they have quickly become sought after collectables. Although rare at the moment on the Western market, it is only a matter of time before you start seeing them. Another small selection, 2nd badge from left bears the eagle of Strategic Rocket Troops.

There are literally dozens, probably well over a hundred different designs. You will notice differences in the detailing, especially in the ministerial or branch eagles due to different makers and also to refinements and improvements in design and manufacturing procedures over the past 20 years. Some badges bear the Defence Ministry's eagle, like the far right badge shown above, the others, such as the 3 others here bear the eagle of the army (grenade in lieu of laurel wreath in left talons). You will find them bearing the eagles of all MD RF branches and departments (navy, air force, airborne, etc)

Below is the insignia of the Federal Agency for the Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons. The heavy badge at left is worn as prescribed above, the smaller insignia composed of the center shield/medallion only of the larger badges is mounted on a leather strip for wear on the shirt when the uniform tunic is not worn (summer dress). It hangs from the left breast pocket button. In this case, the smaller badge is that of Department 8 charged with classified communications and incriptions.

Following many requests for info by colleagues as to whether these badges were awards, I feel it important to share some more info with the membership of this forum. This thread will deal with departmental and higher formation insignias of the Ministry of Defence (MD RF). Although quite intricate, of heavy metal construction and most often adorned with ornate enamels, these high quality badges are in fact only that, badges denoting the wearer’s specific department, special unit or formation. The picture below (from the web site of the MD RF) shows where to wear the different awards and insignia on the modern Russian military uniform. The badges which are the topic of this thread are worn centered on the left breast pocket (yellow arrow).

I am unaware of any change or tolerance of the law... But have had absolutely no problem whatsoever getting whatever I wanted out of there. And not by devious means either, no tin foiled boxes to foul up Xrays or stupid stunts like that. Bubble envelopes with customs declarations clearly indentifying the contents as military medals. I've purchased both modern and Soviet Era stuff for over 2 years now without the slightest problem. I'm told it isn't quite that easy when facing a customs agent there, but from auction sites, no prob at all!

Good eye, very attractive designs. But to be perfectly honest with you, #2 is the one I'm most excited about in this group. VERY difficult to come by!

1- Type 2 Min Def medal for the brotherhood of arms; 2- Badge for Veteran of railway troops; 3- EMERCOM badge for excellent civil defense troops; 4- FSB Border Guards badge for merit 2nd class; 5- MVD jubilee medal 200 years of interior troops; 6- Cap badge for border guard.

This is your lucky day... Took me 30 seconds to find the smaller one. It's a qualification level badge for an armed forces specialist 3rd class.

The large badge if an FSB (ex KGB) qualification level badge (3rd class). I'd require a larger picture of the other one to give you an honest answer.

Dan, Been looking over your choice of medals (rack) and was thinking... Considering the authenticity and awesome look of the uniform, you might want to rethink your choice of medals on the rack. IMHO, the present choice seems unlikely, actually darn near impossible considering the valour awards displayed. Look at it this way. Hero of the USSR Order of the Red Banner Order of Lenin Order of Nevsky Order of the Red Star Order of the Patritoc War Medal of Bravery Our colonel would've earned ALL of these solely against the Japanese?? (You only have the medal for Victory against Japan) Unlikely, actually, I don't think it possible when considering the time it woul've taken to earn these in the very short period of actual combat between the USSR and Japan... Might I suggest placing a Victory over Germany medal in front of the Victory over Japan medal. I also notice the lack of any DEFENSE or CAPTURE medal... Not impossible mind you, but a bit improbable considering the other gongs... Personally, I would take off the 2 anniversary medals clean off the rack (a wartime issue uniform with medals issued 20-30 years later just doesn't look quite right). Add a Victory over Germany and any one of the CAPTURE or DEFENSE medals. So your 6 medal rack would contain: Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner, Bravery Medal, Victory over Germany, Victory over Japan, CAPT or DEF medal. IMHO, it will make your display more believable.

Wow! Looks awesome with the awards!! Worthy of any museum and then some! Congrats on a great acquisition! :cheers:

Beauty! :jumping:

I'm usually not into ribbon bars, but those are real stunners! Good for you, great acquisitions!

That's why I didn't venture a guess... I've never seen one with a ribbon device before. Unless it's also an MID? There's a thought... I'm afraid my talents stop well short of this.

We're posting in stereo... Do you also notice something (must be an MID) on his victory medal?

And the gent in post #3: 1914-15 Star, BMW, VM with MID, ?, Army LSGC.

Upon further examination of the officer in posts 5 ans 6, his BMW ribbon comes out very dark! So our chap in posts #2 could very well be wearing: MM, 1914-15 Star, BMW, rest are too hard to tell... VM and a long service medal?

Hi Noor! Very nice pics!! About the gent in post #2. His ribbons throw me for a loop... - The first one could be a MM, I guess, but the 2 central stripes look too narrow and they seem darker then the 2 wide ones on the sides... Odd considering the wide stripes were dark blue while the central narrow ones were bright red. Unless original period ribbons had narrower central stripes? - The 2nd ribbon looks more like a 1914-15 Star ribbon. An inter-allied victory medal would be after a BMW and darker in the center area. - The 3rd... Hard to imagine a BMW with such a dark central stripe. Unless original period ribbons were much darker? Here's a question for people who know much more than I do: Were the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars awarded prior to the end of hostilities? If so, then the 3rd, 4th and 5th ribbons would have no connection to WW1 and it would make the 1st and 2nd easier to ID. 1= MM, 2 = 1914-15 Star, rest = ? The gent in post #3 would then be also wearing a 1914-15 Star ribbon at left... And the picture would've been taken before the award of both the BMW and VM. Any thoughts gents? Addenda: I believe the officer in post #6 is a lieutenant-colonel.

A possibility, but then why only reinstate the award on our charts nearly 2 years later?...

James, I'm sure you're 100% correct. The fact remains though, this particular decoration had been summarily removed from our awards system, it only just reappeared out of thin air after many decades. The only one retained from day one that is still there is the Royal Victorian Order. Although the OBE and DFC were retained for some obscure reasons for 10 or 12 years (obscure meaning serving generals had them and they were removed upon their retirement. How utterly aristocratic and sickening.) If this is the result of a rationalization of our awards system to fix past errors, I'm all for it. On the other hand, if this was done merely to allow a politician or high military person to receive and wear such an award, then I will be utterly disgusted with the entire affair.

Well, here's one I didn't see coming. The British Order of Merit has been reinstated in the Canadian Honours System. LINK HERE Anybody know when this happened? I has to be recent, I just only found out by going on the DHH web site for some other info.

I recently found this award for sale on a Russian auction site. BEST 2009 EMPLOYEE OF BOEING OF RUSSIA. Not that long ago, the only Boeings likely to go to Russia were B-52s... (No crack intended I assure you, so don't take offense if from an Eastern European country) Incredible how time has passed so quickly! I for one am glad that, IMHO anyway, things are changing for the better.