This is likely the rarest badge I will ever own. It was awarded to the senior commanders of the Red Army that captured Tbilisi (known as Tiflis back then) in 1921. This particular example was awarded to the army commander, M. Velikanov, who was in overall charge of the campaign.
Three colors of enamel, eleven pieces plus the screw post and screw plate, four rivets, solid silver except for the solid gold hammer and plow and the gold star underneath the enamel that itself sits on a silver base. No hallmarks. Undoubtedly locally manufactured (Tbilisi has been an art and jewelry center for centuries), this badge is said to have been awarded to perhaps five commanders. However, I cannot confirm that.
The inscription on the front is "Hero of the Capture of Tiflis". Ingraved on the back is T(ovarich) M. Velikanov, RVC (Revolutionary Military Soviet) XI Army.
This is not only a beautiful and rare piece, but it is also one with real historic significance.
Tbilisi used to have a Museum of Soviet History. After independence it was looted and trashed, but only after some employees took with them whatever appealed to them. Some of those employees were collectors, others just immediately sold whatever they picked up. The same with the looters.
A few things were stored and hidden by loyal museum staff but later abandoned, distributed or stolen. After all, Georgians had no particular love for the USSR or any fond memories of their history of Soviet and Russian domination that went back to 1783. Of course, the fact that museum employees were (and are) seldom paid gave some fuel to their feelings of justification for their acts.
Over the years since independence a few things have surfaced now and again. For instance, in 2002 I bought a collection of first day covers and other postal art that had been a museum exhibit at one time. This particular badge is quite likely (I am trying to be cautious here) to have come from the family of one of the ex-employees who, himself, has had this in his collection since independence.
I hope with time you can create some sort of display and be able to enjoy all of your beauties!
Rusty.
"Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none." Benjamin Franklin
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Member #193
My pleasure, gentlemen, and thank you for the kind words. I love history and these small pieces of history give us a chance to see it and touch it just a little. I enjoy seeing your things as much as I enjoy sharing mine. That's what this is all about, right?
"Live and learn"? Good tag line. Pretty much says it all.
It's more like: "Live a century, Learn the whole Century"
Now that I think about it, your translation is better...
:o Rusty.
"Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none." Benjamin Franklin
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Member #193
