Bulgaria Bulgarian Medal For Military Friendship

[Stogieman]

Established on March 4, 1975. Comes in two distinct types. Type one with enameled flags of the nations of the Warsaw Pact on the front and type 2 without the enamel. Given at NCO level and up to members of any/all Warsaw Pact Countries. I assume some degree of interaction with Bulgarian Forces was required. Gilded bronze medal, 34mm. in diameter. Obverse bears the Hammer & Sickle emblem imposed over a broadsword. A banner below the hilt proclaims the date of the signing of the first Warsaw Pact Alliance on May 14, 1955. Above at the upper edge are the words "For Strengthening the Fraternity in the Sphere of Armaments". Reverse bears the national crest (post-1971) and the words "Bulgarian Peoples' Army", bottom edge bears the initials NRB surrounded by sprigs of laurel.

First up is the type 1. Very difficult to find and expensive to manufacture. Limited numbers produced before the issue of type 2.

[Stogieman]

Here is the Type 2 medal, much more common and easy to find:

[Guest Rick Research]

It actually translates "... brotherhood in arms." Common terminology to all the Warsaw Pact armies. In the DDR it was "Waffenbruderschaft."