NKVD and KGB Badges - An Intro

[otlichnik]

More stuff from my old NKVD/KGB website.

K.G.B. BADGES

REAL VS. FAKE:

Since I first made the badges page of my NKVD/KGB militaria website in June 1998 a great deal more information has come to light. It is now possible to state conclusively that most KGB badges currently on the market are fakes or fantasies. Genuine KGB issue badges are few and far between and demand prices almost always in excess of $100 US. While there are still some types that the jury is out on, most badges can now be confirmed fake or genuine.

KGB personnel used a large number of badges, including some of the same badges used by the military. Unfortunately KGB uniform and badge regulations are not available and much speculation must be made on the basis of photo evidence and similarities to the military.

Generally, it is easier to verify the authenticity of Border Guard badges than badges for the rest of the KGB; there are simply more photos and public information available on the Border Guards. Rules for wearing badges are, like those for orders and medals, identical for all Soviet personnel.

Badges can be grouped into three categories according to the issuing body: official, sanctioned, and unofficial.

Official badges are authorized by order or decree of the government of the USSR and its Republics, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), or the Committee for State Security (KGB). The Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet had the authority to establish USSR government awards while the KGB Chairman had the authority to establish KGB awards. Official badges are accepted throughout the USSR and are generally well known and documented. They may be worn on uniforms (as long as the standard guidelines are followed concerning type of uniform, badge placement, number, etc.).

Sanctioned badges are authorized by order of a unit commander and are usually only worn by personnel of that unit. They are therefore not officially recognized outside of the issuing unit or formation and were not accepted throughout the USSR. Examples include badges for crews of specific ships, unit anniversary badges, local association badges, and even unit veteran badges. There are many such badges and they are often not well known or documented. Many of them are of the same quality as official badges, some are of very high quality, some are very cheaply made.

Unauthorized badges are not authorized for use on uniforms by any official authority. Most of these are "fakes" or "fantasies". However, some are genuine badges but not for the KGB. For example, there are several cheap tinnie badges made to commemorate things like Border Guard Day which were available to civilians but not authorized for use on KGB uniforms. There are also several post-Soviet badges by organizations such as the Alfa Group Veteran's Society. Again, these are not KGB issue badges even though they are often sold as such.

Shawn