I got this one in a few days agao and giving it a good looking over I decided a few things:
1. great badge and well made (Moscow Mint circular mark practically hiddend from view - why? - Picture 3)
2. According to the dates (1920-1980) that only leaves the MVD which was at least a part of all of the internal AND external units in the early years.
But there is a shield, sword on top, and a star on top of the blade, and in the star an h&s - normally reserved only for the KGB. (picture 2)
Lacking any other indicators other than the ones that suggest the motif is the standard long-sworded "Criminal Police" symbol (pictured in the next post),
Perhaps, it is a badge to represent all of the branches of security from the state level (Cheka-KGB) to the (NKVD-MVD) to the militsias all under one pin. Of course this does not seem likely, but who knows?
Okay, I know I'm one of the odd fellows who is really into these badges, but I went through every book I have and cannot find this badge. My limited knowledge of the history of the early law enforcement orgs doesn't help me figure out which group would claim 1920 as a beginning date and then put nothing but the "mixed" symbol on the badge.:confused: All I know is that it isn't KGB proper - maybe a "special department"? But it looks more like MVD and then the dates are confusing with them too.
Anybody ever see this before or know exactly who/what this is for? I'm running out of ideas.
The first badge is not MVD, but KGB. Not an award, but a commemorative pin, issued to officers in the headquarters, and high ranking officers elsewhere. Doesn't cost much, but is quite rare.
11-09-2009, 05:43 AM (This post was last modified: 11-09-2009, 05:46 AM by deValcourt.)
Thank you Alexei. I like the 50th one as well.
About them being KGB, which is what I was beginning to suspect, why do the dates not coincide with all the other KGB anniversary 50th and 60th items I've seen (1967 and 1977, resectively)?
The dates are what's giving me a headache unless it is for a specific directorate (i.e. FCD). I would think from what I've read that the INO or foreign intelligence would be the ones claiming 1920 as a start date, no? Maybe a specific republic? It is clear that you will have answers to my questions, but could I ask where you learned about these in the first place so that I may add to my reading list?
That does fit the symbolism and the time frame - Lenin didn't believe there were "criminals" in the very beginning, only "counter-revolutionaries." It took a few years to acknowledge basic criminals.;)
Ah, do you mean the Lubyanka, formerly the home of the All-Russia Insurance Company? But that was done in March of 1918. However, are you referring to the formation of an all-union headquarters after the end of the Civil War?
I apologize for my ignorance about the earliest history of the secret police? Please be patient with me as I try to catch up on a history I should have learned long ago.
