Greg Collins

Two nice looking badges, virtually identical except one is RPR and the other RSR. Both are pin backed and both have "MFA" at the bottom. Can anyone tell me what "MFA" stood for? I have seen this badge on the uniform of a Colonel of Security Troops.

Thanks for that, Kevin. It is the first time I've seen a Soviet style multiple mounting applied to Romanian medals (the Soviet Victory in Europe and the Czech War Cross not withstanding). A very nice set which I see could be expensive. At least now I know that some did wear sets of properly mounted medals.

Interesting that he chose to wear the ribbons above the medals. Also of note here: have you ever seen Romanian medals in a Soviet style multiple mount? I don't believe I ever have... they just seem to be placed along side each other in kind of a haphazard way, which got worse with the introduction (1966) of the "straight" medals and the mix of the Soviet-style mount with the straight mount. All over the place.

Thanks, Kevin. The Online Communism Photo Collection is pretty interesting and bears a look. A lot of images and, while some are relatively boring- Ceausescu meeting with other countries' leaders in the same old room- there's some pretty good stuff there. The link is: http://fototeca.arhivelenationale.ro/about_the_project/ Enjoy!

Next, and from the same source, a group photo of a 1 May crowd in 1965 (Bucharest). Ceausescu is in the very center of the crowd. A smattering of ribbon bars and medals can be seen.

Managed to find a couple of images that show ribbon bars being worn on uniforms and civilian clothing. These are from the Online Communism Photo Collection (Romania). First, a 1978 image of Ceausescu and Military Staff:

Kevin, While you're dining, and I hope you don't mind my "horning in", I thought I'd complete the list for the first bar... the first ribbon is actually a 2nd Class Order of Military Merit; in second position is the Order for Service to Socialist Country, 3rd Class (Bronze), and in the last position, the medal for the 20th Anniversary of the Romanian Armed Forces. A beautiful RPR Securitate/Militia bar! While I have the awards themselves, I haven't, to date, been able to track down the ribbons. Great find!

And the backs...

These Outstanding Border Guard awards are very similar to the Soviet awards except for the "hanger", the material used and the pin back. The hanger bears the PMR flag colours (red-green-red) and the material used is a heavy alloy. The pin back is of a design similar to one used in the USSR, although the pin is of a very light gauge steel- just doesn't feel sturdy enough to me. The back bears a nearly 100% reverse image of the front.

Another Securitate ribbon bar arrived today and, as luck would have it, it continues the trend of having ribbons out of order. This time I honestly believe it was caused by the maker not recognizing the subtle differences between the Order and the Medal for Distinguished Services in Defense of the Social Order and the Country as these are the two awards which, if switched, would have made this ribbon bar in correct order. Anyway, as it stands, this ribbon bar was assembled after 1969 but before 1972, and the owner is showing 20 years of service, placing his beginning of service at 1949-1952. The awards are: Order of Military Merit, 2nd Class (20 Years) Medal for Distinguished Services in Defense of the Social Order and the Country (1968)- *out of order Order of Military Merit, 3rd Class (15 Years) 40th Anniversary of the Communist Party Order of Distinguished Services in Defense of the Social Order and the Country (1968)- *out of order Medal of Military Merit, 1st Class (10 Years) Medal of Military Merit, 2nd Class (5 Years) 25th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Country Medal (1972)

The badge as worn by General Colonel Milea Vasile, the last Defense Minister of the RSR.

And the back...

Picked this up recently, with Kevin Ryan's help (Thanks Again, Kevin!). A badge for a Deputy of the National Assembly. Unlike the more lavish Soviet badges, this is bronze with no number with a standard pin back.

Picked this up recently, with Kevin Ryan's help (Thanks, Kevin!). A late model Military Academy badge. This would be worn, above the right pocket, by senior officers upon completion of studies at the National Military Academy. Bronze and enamel with a full closure pin back.

Finally, a pair of Militia Officer's collar insignia; silver coloured on dark red. These are for officers from Lieutenant through Colonel. The Security Troops equivalent would be gold-coloured leaves on blue.

And now, my complete collection of Internal Ministry boards. The three collar tabs pictured at the top are, from the left, a Militia enlisted collar tab, a redesigned-but-never-used Militia enlisted collar tab and a Security Troops enlisted collar tab. The boards below are, left side, top to bottom, top four boards: Militia Lt. Colonel, Militia Plutonier, Militia Sergent Major, Militia Plutonier (very late model). The right side, top to bottom, top four boards are: Security Troops Colonel, Security Troops Lieutenant, Security Troops Plutonier and a Security Troops Sergent Major. The two boards at the bottom of the image are very early (late '40's/early '50's) Internal Ministry troops boards for (left) Warrant Officer 1st Class and (right) 1st Lieutenant.

Some new Militia shoulderboards, also with the help of Kevin. Note that these are complete with shields and buttons... after 1989, the Militia that "stayed on watch" until the conversion to Politia kept their boards but removed the items that linked the boards to the former administration, namely the buttons and shields. These items, especially the shields, were very difficult to get. The single boards (epoleti) all represent pairs and are, from the left, Lt. Colonel, a Plutonier (Sergeant First Class) and a Sergent Major (Staff Sergeant).

Now an image of the full progression of the 3rd Class Order for Distinguished Services in Defense of the Social Order and the Country. The two "hanging medal" types, RPR and RSR, flanking the completely redone final type of the award.

OK, these are, at least for now, close to the final entries I'll be making in this thread as my Securitate (Interior Ministry) collection is probably as complete as it is going to get. I don't have everything, but I have been able to amass those items that are within my reach and means, and I am very happy with the collection as it stands. A great friend- an Irishman in Transylvania, Kevin Arthur Ryan (Kev in Deva)- has facilitated so much of this, and I cannot thank him enough. First up, a 3rd Class Order for Distinguished Services in Defense of the Social Order and the Country. This is the transitional variant that was awarded between 1966 and 1968- note the RSR on the banner.

Taras, I've seen a police badge for lower ranks and it is the same State seal applied to a silver, rayed oval (no leaves). I'm not sure about this at all, but based on other aspects of my collection, I'd be willing to bet that silver would be the metal colour for police and gold would be the metal colour for the Armed Forces. Just a guess, though. Nice looking badge, by the way.

A detail of the seal of the PMR Ministry of Justice...

And finally, for now, the Honours Officer of Ministry of Justice Troops, PMR; First Class in gold, Second Class in silver. Both made of heavy alloy. The seal of the Ministry is, apparently, glued on. Screw back (behind ribbon).

Ah, the return of the "egg"... a 15 years Police Special Assault Forces (Spetsnaz/SWAT) Brigade- Dneister badge. Large of heavy alloy. Screw back with a marked nut that I just cannot read... sort of a mixture of cursive capitals and some other characters that I cannot completely make out.

Acquired several new items today. First, a lapel pin for a Veteran of the Special Forces (Police Spetsnaz or SWAT-type), Dneister. It's made of a heavy white alloy and is quite shiny- difficult to photograph. Military clutch-type back.

My last post for now (until I find more stuff): a group of four lapel pins. Top left is a full-sized, gold filled SCV pin- nice. Below that is the standard cloisonne miniature lapel pin for the SCV. At the top right is the Virginia Division lapel pin- another of my designs. Below that is the MOS&B rosette- very Victorian.