Greg Collins

Found this badge the other day- an Excellent Soldier of the Internal Ministry Border Guard. I don't know how this badge would rate in "rarity" compared to the Karhatalom version I posted a little while ago as the Border Guard was in existence until '89 (the Karhatalom was disbanded in '71), but I had not seen this badge before in my travels. The back is the standard opposing prong type with nut for changing the level of the award.

Hey Kevin, Who's Jeff? The text on the star itself reads "Pentru Emerit", while the text below the star (on the tricolour banner) reads "RPR"... although not very clearly (looks like "RRR")- and this is manufactural- not age. Yep, the screw post has been cut down. This is not that unusual, even in Soviet awards. Must be uncomfortable having something jabbing you constantly.

Found this the other day... an early badge for Meritorious Referee, RPR. I'm a sucker for a red star, and the price was right, so I got it. Upon receiving it I noticed that there is no star in the coat of arms, placing it between 1948 and 1952. It is also a screw-backed badge whereas most Romanian badges are pin backed. A nice example of an early RPR badge.

Thanks, Theodor!:beer:

Page one (just inside the cover) and the only page written upon. Here's where I could use the translation help.

The document cover, impressed with the badge image...

Here's an Excellent Worker of Public Health badge (second type; un-numbered) with document from 1965. While my reading of block Cyrillic is OK, I could use help on reading this "long hand" upper and lower case. Any translation help is appreciated. First the badge- standard pin back brass with hot enamel.

And the back...

Here's an interesting badge; I've not seen one like it before. It's for the Frontier Army... border troops. It would appear to be very early on from it's construction. Quite heavy and very large (2 3/8 inches). Numbered on the back 2579. Any additional info appreciated.

A few things came into play that moved me toward the DDR... I had lived in Germany when the wall was being built; I had already gotten all the Soviet and Mongolian items I could afford before the prices shot up; a guy I worked with had been there with the Air Force during reunification and had invested in a ton of items which he was now selling- very convenient and; I had formed a fascination with the MfS (Stasi) through watching a mini-series on PBS- Game, Set and Match (which I really wish they would release on dvd).

Charles, Thanks for the explanation; good information to have when attempting to decipher these gems. And thanks for your kind offer , but my unreasonable fetish for the Rakosi seal just won't let me part with it (I really need help ).

A close-up of the Munkasor emblem... "old school" embroidery at it's finest. These are beautiful banners that were well cared for- the only real flaw is that, on the Munkasor banner, the metal rod inside the top has broken through the end of the material. Other than that, these are perfect.

The second is obviously Munkasor and is for the "Best Section of a Battalion". This measures 22 1/2 by 15 1/2. I have not included the "hanger" nor the tassels into these measurements, so you can see these are quite large.

I recently came by two items which are, apparently, award banners. Both are satin with heavy embroidery and quite beautifully made. The first is, and I'm basing this on the wolf's tooth pattern, an armed forces banner which reads "Excellent Battalion". It measures 21 1/4 inches by 15 1/4 inches.

Gordon, Thanks for the information and peek into cultural differences. Just curious... how would this lady have been addressed in everyday social settings, say while shopping or at the grocer? At least formally, it appears, she "gave up" her own identity and became known strictly by her husband's. Is this still done?

And, on the 4th of April 1955, she was given this document for 10 years of hard work and building Socialism in the Steel and Oil Industry...

These next two documents are attributed to a woman named Fanosne Manik. On 17 September 1951, she graduated, with a grade of excellent, from a state-sponsored accounting course...

I do not normally collect blank documents, but as this one came in at under $1, I couldn't pass it up. It's a Rakosi era Excellent Worker of Light Industry document from the early '50's.

Hey Kevin, Nice RPR ribbon bar! Yep, that's a Soviet Bravery medal next to the Soviet Victory Over Germany medal. Looks like this guy was either a partisan or fled Romania to the USSR early on- perhaps due to his politics- and returned with the Red Army. I doubt this particular bar was put together later than '65... typical RPR-type soldered rows instead of the one-piece metal back; also nothing later than the 20th Anniversary of Liberation medal. Nice!:D

And the back...

A recent addition... pretty small Hungarian Workers' Party document (2 3/4" x 4 1/8"), dated 25 June 1951 for completion of Basic Political School, held at the Budapest Police Headquarters, to Istvan Sziman (hope I got that right). First, the document front and Workers' Party pin (basic pin-back)...

The back and nut...

This next badge is the older version of the badge shown in post #17. It's for an Excellent Worker of Communications. This version of the badge was awarded by the Ministry of Communications; newer versions were awarded by the Ministry of Transportation. The tower and letter combination in the center appears to be silver, while the rest of the badge is bronze. A very well made piece which was probably awarded in the late '40's-'50's.

Thought I'd add a couple of mine... an Excellent Worker badge, probably from the '60's (standard pin back). I'm not sure of the pursuit here- the graphics seem to indicate metallurgy or something along this line. The enamel on the star has held up well on this example; some of the silver plating has rubbed off the central disc.

And the badge inside...