M1943 Special Tunic for NKGB Commissars

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by DougD

Due to fading, the outlines of the two orders (see previous posts) were easy to see; a Lenin and Red Banner worked perfectly. Nice to know what he was awarded.

DougD

Beautiful tunic in every respect. And yes, it would be a "crown jewel" for a State Security collector like myself.

As for the state security aspect, though I'm happy I guessed correctly about the Lenin, ;) I am surprised that there were no other badges on this tunic. Becoming a Commissar of the NKGB one would think he had to be with one of the previous branches of State Security (NKVD, OGPU). I'm again guessing he was probably a soldier or security officer because of the Red Banner - though I know it was possible to earn one without being in the military (later, they were often given to KGB agents for successful important missions and in the 1970s onward the Order of the October Revolution was another often used option). So the lack of security awards makes me wonder if this fellow was a political appointment by or from the CPSU. My knowledge of pre-KGB/MVD organs is basic and I'm always learning. So if anyone could shed some light on what the commissars' function(s) in the NKGB were and how they came to have that position, I would certainly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
Phillip