Auxillery Guard Of Public Safety Badge

[Greg Collins]

There had been some discussion, in another thread, about exactly what was the Czechoslovakian equivalent of the USSR "druzhninnik". I believe I have found it, along with a couple of badges and a medal (in the CSR medals section).

The regular police force of the CSR was known as the VB- Veřejná bezpečnost or Public Security. Their civilian auxiliary was known as the Pomocná Stráž Veřejná Bezpečnost or the PSVB. They wore a small badge and red armband with "PSVB" and assisted with things like public order, directing traffic, etc.

The badges I have here are, in the first image, a badge identifying a member of the PSVB. It's light alloy and pin backed- probably a late model badge. The cased set (full size and miniature) in the second image is an award badge for an "exemplary member" (in the blue scroll). The mini is a stick pin; the full size has a horizontal pin with a maker's mark "MK" on a textured back (third image). I have no document with either of these badges and am unsure of the criteria for the award.

[deValcourt]

Great find Greg! These are great and remind me a bit of their Hungarian counterparts (I'm not sure why since they look nothing like them, but they do).:)

Now I know what to look for in my pursuit of collecting "Druzhinnik" badges from the Warsaw Pact countries and others within the Soviet Sphere.

Phillip

[Greg Collins]

Phil,

I know exactly what you mean with reference to similarities between Czechoslovakian and Hungarian badges; a very similar "feel" to them that has caused me, upon occasion, to inadvertently place a Hungarian badge in the Czechoslovakian collection and vice versa. Then begins the anguish of, "now where did I leave that...".

Greg