"Nationwide People's Gratitude To People's Liberation Army Delegate Gift" Badge.

[CtahhR]

Here is the "Nationwide People's Gratitude To People's Liberation Army Delegate Gift" Commemorative Badge (全国人民慰问人民解放军代表团赠-纪念章).

On the 17th February 1954 an extraordinary congress of leaders decided that due to the success of the People's Liberation Army in overcoming extreme difficulties during its existence and victories in both securing the regime and borders of the People's Republic (including actions in Korea against United Nations Forces) the serving members of the Armed Forces of the People's Republic deserved to be honoured with a uniform and universal recognition. Throughout 1954 these gifts of gratitude were handed out across the whole of the nation to all good standing service personnel of all branches of armed service.

These are often misidentified as 5th anniversary of victory in the Civil War items (which doesn't have a defined end date by either regime), 5th anniversary of the People's Republic (which would have been 1st October) or for service in Korea. This was awarded to combatants of both the Civil War and Korean Conflict but not for their participation in either. This is a very general "from a grateful nation" type award.

Although it is just the portable part of a larger physical award group and merely a "Badge" it is comparable in size to an early Soviet Order Of The Patriotic War.

They were seen on nearly every service uniform at some point in 1954 but soon disappeared. They can still sometimes be seen on older veterans' chests alongside other awards. There were a vast number produced, somewhere around the 4-5,000,000 mark - and still they are heavily faked.

[CtahhR]

Here is the full set of gifts. The handbook and the enamelled mug are also fairly common survivors.

Here is one of the Commemorative Badges in wear on 1st August 1954 (Armed Forces Day).