Romania The Romanian Securitate

[Corabia Alex]

I wasn't THAT interested in Securitate, but after finding this royal-RPR-RSR-post socialist document, I definitely raised an eyebrow :jumping:

[Greg Collins]

Wow! Great Livret! I have only the documents to individual awards and always am in awe of those who have a Livret, as these really tell a story. What I don't quite understand is why "MAI Securitate" is crossed out along with the Specialitatea Militara number 235/a??? Was this guy originally Securitate, and then transferred to another branch? Very nice piece!:jumping:

[Corabia Alex]

I would say it has something to do with his promotion from major to lt-colonel('92) and then to colonel('95).

Or maybe the retirement ? Anyway, I have no idea on how I could find out what the list of specialties was...

[Greg Collins]

I also find it interesting that the photo shows the Colonel in (a) civilian attire and (b) at apparently advanced age. I don't know this for sure, but maybe this is a Livret given upon retirement (as you said), more or less like when an American member of the armed forces retires, his standard I.D. card is taken and he is issued a "retiree" I.D. (so he can still use some of the military facilities). But I'm just speculating here...

[Corabia Alex]

Well, you are actually right; he' a little too jolly, too !

But now that you've drawn attention to it, the issue date (next to his picture) 18.05.1964, so he was 49; and retired in 30.04.1964.

....which should place the strike over the "MAI Securitate" at a later phase, after retirement; so you can definitely say that he was an agent.

WHICH explains why he`s in civilian: paranoid "Secu" never released any unrequired info.

[Greg Collins]

It all begins to fall into place... thanks, Alex! Our own agents here in the States are somewhat paranoid in the same way.

Oh yeah, watch the "jolly" stuff... it's much easier to put on than take off after a certain age.:whistle:

[Greg Collins]

A three space Internal Ministry ribbon bar. The awards covered are (from left) the Order for Service to Socialist Country-3rd Class, the Medal for Service to Socialist Country-Gold and the 20th Anniversary of the Romanian Armed Forces Medal. This bar could be for anyone employed in the Internal Ministry... Securitate, Security Troops, Militie (Police)... what is interesting about it is that there are no medals or orders indicating time in service (Military Merit). Also, these particular awards are from an interesting period in Romanian Communist history- a transitional period that appears to run from 1963 to 1968- where many changes took place including, but certainly not limited to, the name of the country.

[Corabia Alex]

I don`t know if this would necessarily be a Securitate bar, but since it is not mine, I thought I should put it here, just to have a record of it.

I've seen the ribbon of the last piece before, I know it`s for the police, but I do not know what the medal looks like. Anyone ?

[Corabia Alex]

... and the back:

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Corabia Alex

great looking bar, must be for somebody of high rank.

Ribbon 13, I believe was specifically a Securitate award:-

Medalia "De strajà patriei".

Kevin in Deva. :beer:

[Greg Collins]

Also the bar in the fourth position is an RPR Securitate Order "Pentru servicii deosebite aduse în apãrarea orânduirii sociale i de stat" (Order for Distinguished Services in Defense of the Social Order and the Country) 3rd Class.

[Corabia Alex]

ooooook.... what about this one: ?

[Corabia Alex]

maybe the two before the last ?

[Corabia Alex]

and the back:

[Kev in Deva]

What is very odd is that ribbons 6 & 8 are for the same medal!

Kevin in Deva :cheers:

[Greg Collins]

Also no real military awards here- civilian awards and commemorative medals. Definitely not Securitate/Internal Ministry, but may be a civilian ribbon bar (probably Party member). As Kevin pointed out, two 25th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Country medals is kind of weird.

[Kev in Deva]

"Concursul DRUMUL DE GLORII" <=> THE WAY OF GLORIES Contest

-> the name is a little fishy, if you'd ask me....

How about this one?

Kevin in Deva. :whistle:

[Greg Collins]

Nice badge, Kevin. I believe this is the first time I've seen the Security Troops insignia (in yellow, no less) incorporated into one of these music contest badges.

[Corabia Alex]

Wooow ! Nice ! Securitate AND National Independence Centenary !

Never seen one of those before.

[Corabia Alex]

Speaking of ...

[Corabia Alex]

I`ve been looking at similar pins, the design is identical, but the two vertical bars the stand aside the soldier determine the national flag colours.

So you've got that, and some "enamel" , so to speak, over it, that almost doubles the thickness; it's almost like plastic.

Which is why I`ve never been tempted to get one, until I saw this variation. :jumping:

[Corabia Alex]

.... and the back:

Edited June 7, 2010 by Corabia Alex

[Corabia Alex]

I took a quick look through the thread and didn't spot my latest finding:

Hope I didn't miss it, and it`s something new to the topic :rolleyes:

[Corabia Alex]

And the reverse:

Every now and then, the flea market in Timisoara gives me a little incentive, so I don't quit searching :whistle:

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Alex,

I believe your variation

is simply one of these

but missing the enamels and plastic.

Rear:-

with "M.S." Pin.

Kevin in Deva. :beer:

Edited June 8, 2010 by Kev in Deva