Hungary Hungarian Kivalo Dolgozol Badges

[hunyadi]

After 200+ posts in the Hungarian thread, I thought that I would start a thread on the 1948-1989 HUPR era of the Excellent Workers Badge. This thread is going to limit it to the civilain form of which there were more than 300 variations. A breif history goses as such.

In 1948 the first form of the "Kivalo Dolgozo" badge appeared. The badge was nearly always a banner with the titiel on it and then having two chains that hung a five pointed star in silver or silver plate. At the center of these was a badge / coat of arms that showed from which industry the awardee worked - some what like a trade unioin - but not. There were about 15 different varaitions of the center. The most commonly seen are the metal workers industry. (I have seen one for the Red Cross - but as these are so rare - I could not justify the price.)

In 1953 the ramapant variation and titles on the banners was brought under the central control of the Council of Ministers. A standard from was adopeted whereby the central badge was to be only the HUPR coat of arms. The 'Rakosi' coat of arms was the central figure from 1953 to 1956 (but was awarded even into 1958!) After the 1956 revolution the central badge became that of the 'Kadar' coat of arms (1957-1989). The badge underwent several design revisions - namely in order to concerve material and by the 1980's the quality had degraded considerably.

Workers of all wlaks of life could aquire the badge. Factory, Engineers, Doctors, Secratries, etc... could all receive the badge. Generaly the requirement for receiveing the badge was an increase in production 20-60%. With each profession, this was determined by the local party secratary who reviewed each case for approval. The badge also caried with it a monetary award - generaly about 1 months salary. The real prize was the "Sztahanavista" badge which was awarded between 1950 (+ or -) to 1956. The badge meant 'to be like Sztanahov' the fabled Soviet worker who increased his personal production by 400%. The requirement in Hungary was to increase production by 300%. The tragic part of it all is that in many cases the worker was expected to maintian the level of production!

So with that all being said - I can say 'when it rains it pours'. Got this lot yesterday - the last day my friends shop will be open - thanks to the current government and rising rent Anyhow - meet "Piroska the Riveter" - this is a complete set from the family of a female Sztahanaviszta. She was awarded the highest badge in 1952 (with award book) the Sztahanaviszta is numbered 5768 and subsequently she went on to win three other Kivalo Dolgozol badges. (one for professional work in 1958! - she must have moved into a more 'trained' sector of the iron and steel facotry. Of interest (as I just said...) she worked for a company that manufactured seel and metal. The company later was bought out by none other than General Electric!

[hunyadi]

and the two othe Kivalo Dolgozol badges - notice the one on the left. It is a Szakma Kivalo Dolgozol (machinist) this is the 'professional' grade of the badge - also notice the carrying document is from 1958...

Edited February 1, 2007 by hunyadi

[hunyadi]

the back of the Szakma is numbered - rather high! But it was the end of this 'Rakosi' era of available examples

[hunyadi]

One of the very first forms a 1948 version for the Metal Industry

[Eric Schena]

I just got a cased & documented "Sztahanovista" badge from 1953 and will post it here when it arrives.

A little but for anyone who is curious, here is a photo of Aleksei Grigorievich Stakhanov, the Ukrainian miner for whom the "Stakhanovite" (Sztahanovista) movement was named.

Edited February 1, 2007 by Eric Schena

[Ulsterman]

Good thread and has made me realize i have waay too many of these for one shoebox, the variations are endless.

here's the "youth"/donkey one....more a variation really....

Edited February 1, 2007 by Ulsterman

[Ulsterman]

another later one from the 1960s-early 70s (type III):

Edited May 7, 2007 by Ulsterman

[Ulsterman]

and an earlier Sztahanovista type obtained from Charles!:

Edited February 1, 2007 by Ulsterman

[Ulsterman]

and one that is obviously earlier, but with a banner that translates "Excellent Muscovite worker"....or so I suppose?

[Ulsterman]

and this later one...which is almost FLAT! (hollow backed too, so as to save on materials and costs and in a nice plastic case-and sad to say, still three twice the quality of the average modern US award.)

[Ulsterman]

and this one, which we have discussed before, I got off ebay:

[Ulsterman]

Then there's this little Stav. doc from within the same little wallet as in #1 above; I like the wallet as they took a coat of arms and merely pinned it through the front of the leatherette.

[hunyadi]

and one that is obviously earlier, but with a banner that translates "Excellent Muscovite worker"....or so I suppose?

"Muszaki" is the Technical Engineer. So this one was given specificaly to those in an engineering field (mechanical, electrical, chemical, ect...) dont see this type too ofthen after the Rakosi period, but I have seen a few examples with the Kadar coat of arms.

Also didnt know that Stakhanov was a miner - everyone I talked to here said he was a facotry worker - the legend evolved...

Edited February 1, 2007 by hunyadi

[decker]

didnt know that Stakhanov was a miner

Yes, he was. I was born and raised in a town called Tatab?nya (b?nya = mine), and my parents and grandparents all worked for the mining corporation (though not under ground). My grandpa told us stories about a miner in the 50's, who made some adjustments to his shovel to make it wider as letting him put more coal into the carriages with one move. He made 2-3 times the work of an average miner during the same time.

Of course he got the stakhanovist badge in no time. And all the miners wanted to be like him.

OFF: There was a lot of disfunctional things in that era of socialism, but having people work was operable. There was a saying (one of our leaders said, maybe): "Work is a matter of honour and glory"

[Ulsterman]

Decker, did your family get the mining medals or any of these awards? Did they get any other awards at all? If so, can you tell us more about the awards-what they did etc? I would REALLY like to know.

Edited April 28, 2008 by Ulsterman

[hunyadi]

Got this in the TESCO bag bargain. "Buy it all for XXXX!" is what the guy said. To me it was a bag full of stuff I already had or didnt need. But the price was great for all that came in it so I caved in. Inside were two Kivalo Dolgozol boxes with documents to the smae man from 1968-1969. One of the boxes was nearly destroyed - the other was in not too good of shape either. Took them home and needed to clean the grime and such off of them - thats when I discovered.......

[hunyadi]

the back - privately engraved numbers co-oridinating with the award documents. The uncased one is #1409 and mathces the number of the document. However - the other one has the document to #500 not #733. But for some reason this guy felt that he should have numbered Kivalo Dolgozol badges. Somewhere out there is #500 I am sure of it - porbably also with the award doc to #733....

Edited February 3, 2007 by hunyadi

[hunyadi]

and also another example "Ace Hungarian Worker" - the version before the Sztahanoviszta of 1948.

[hunyadi]

and the reverse - rather high serial number for such an early badge - perhaps 'restored' parts - or perhaps they used serial numbers for one year and then started over. Dont have enough examples to say for certian. The more I learn about these - something always gets throwin into the mix...

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

No one showed a "Sztahanavista" with numbers on the back. Mine isn't numbered. Were they?

Cheers,

Gordon

[decker]

Here's one with numbers engraved on the backside. Awarded in May, 1953. I have the document too (the little brownish-red book), but the number is not mentioned in it.

[hunyadi]

Decker - that is a very rare first form of the Letter then number combination! Been looking for one of those! Very nice I have to ask - is this a 19-53 marked one. All of the 1953 marked ones (on the banner) dont seem to have numbers on them. Can you post the front?

Gordon - as for numbers - only some of them have them - mostly only the early ones. Out of all of mine I only have 20% that have numbers on them.

[decker]

Here it is. I hope it helps.

This is an extremely rare piece, coz there is no other copy I could break the needle's catch of...

[Gordon Craig]

Deker,

Very nice badge thanks for the pictures.

Charles,

Thanks for the info.

Cheers,

Gordon

[hunyadi]

Here it is. I hope it helps.

This is an extremely rare piece, coz there is no other copy I could break the needle's catch of...

That is very rare - I have never encountered a "19 Sztahanovista 53" with the nmbers like that, even though I have a coupe of 19-53 types - none have a number. WOW!