Bulgarian Ribbon Bars.

[medals73]

The domed plastic style.

-- Order of National Liberty, 1st class; Order of National Liberty 2nd class; Medal for Participation in the Antifascist Struggle; Patriotic War Medal 1944-45

-- Medal for the 25th Anniversary of Peoples’ Power; Jubilee Medal “25 Years of the Bulgarian People’s Army (?); USSR: Victory over Germany; USSR: 25th Anniversary of Victory Badge

As the reverse fixing is interesting, I show it too.

[medals73]

1) Order of the Peoples’ Republic of Bulgaria ?? class; Order of the 9th of September 1st class; Order of the 9th of September 3rd class; Order of National Liberty, 1st class

2) Order of National Liberty 2nd class; Order of the Red Banner; Medal for Participation in the Antifascist Struggle; Medal for Combat Merit

3) Medal for Combat Merit; Long Service Medal 20 Years; Long Service Medal 15 Years; Jubilee Medal “25 Years of the Bulgarian People’s Army (?)

4) Jubilee Medal “20 Years of the Bulgarian Peoples’ Army (?); Jubilee Medal “25 Years of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior (?); Jubilee Medal “25 Years of the Bulgarian Construction Troops (?)

[CtahhR]

I think this is a great depiction of the hindrance of using the same ribbon for not only different classes of the same award but also using the same ribbon for awards given to different branches. Without the actual Medals or documents we can never know.

There is no Bulgarian Medal for "combat" merit it is in fact "military" merit which was a pre-long service awards long service award. As was the "Red Banner". Before the long service awards in 59/60 these Medals and Orders were extremely common and fell out of popular use almost instantly. The Medal "For Military Merit" was almost completely redundant by the late 1970's with service specific merit awards. I have not yet seen a single document for the Medal "For Military Merit" dating after the instituting of actual long service awards. Red Banners continued to be awarded right though to the late days of the PRB but in far less numbers. There were great numbers of both awards piled up in warehouses until more recently sold off.

[medals73]

1) Order of the Peoples’ Republic of Bulgaria ?? class; Order of the 9th of September 3rd class; Order of National Liberty, 1st class; Order of the Red Banner

2) Medal for Participation in the Antifascist Struggle; Medal for Combat Merit; Medal of the Patriotic War, 1944-45; USSR: Victory over Germany (?)

[CtahhR]

There is still no Medal "For Combat Merit" but the last ribbon is indeed the Soviet Medal "For Victory Over Germany In The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"

The Medal "For Military Merit" will be for 5 years service, Order "Red Banner" for 10 years service, Order "9th September 1944" will be a 15th anniversary award and "People's Liberty" 1st Class a 20th anniversary award. No Medals for long service would indicate leaving the services before 1959 (1954-1958).
The Order "People's Liberty" is most likely a 30th anniversary treat.
Oh! The courage of being at a commemorating award ceremony (whilst remaining loyal to the regime), The attributes of most Bulgarian awards.... just be careful with the pins on the back of those commemoratives comrade! We do not wish you to shed blood!

[medals73]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

There is still no Medal "For Combat Merit" . . .

I'm just using the English translations from the only sources available.

Originally Posted by CtahhR

. . . but the last ribbon is indeed the Soviet Medal "For Victory Over Germany In The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" . . . .

Could be the 25th anniversary badge, but I agree that the Soviet medal is the most likely.

Originally Posted by CtahhR

. . . just be careful with the pins on the back of those commemoratives comrade! We do not wish you to shed blood!

Yes, they are quite lethal! And an interesting attachment method.

PS- And it is a shame to see how Bulgaria (like Mongolia and others) followed the unfortunate Soviet example by cheapening perfectly fine awards by giving them away simply for long service.