Recently came by these badges- "For Merit in Medical/Sanitation Work". Both are pin-backed bronze. The RPR (pre 1965) is not numbered while the RSR (post 1965) is... this is the reverse of what I have come to expect with Romanian items. As I was shooting in low light due to our recent weather, there is some camera shake- I've tried to correct as best I can. First, the RPR version. Note the "strawberry" finish in the red areas. Next, the RSR version front. This version is a two-piece (the snake and cup is a separate piece). The third image is the back of the RSR badge.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Nice badges!
I wonder how the Soviet Party officials felt about the use of Latin? Isn't that kind of bourgeois? :)
"patina imparts character" - PJS
A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'
12-26-2009, 11:29 PM (This post was last modified: 12-26-2009, 11:36 PM by Greg Collins.)
Actually, Eric, it's Romanian. Strongly based in Latin (Roman-ia, get it?), Romanian is a romance language- not at all similar to Russian- more like Italian/Spanish... when you see it spoken, the speaker frequently uses all the gestures we've come to associate with the Italians.
The only badge I know of that had Cyrillic on it and was associated with Romania was the Danube River badge- a co-operative effort by Romania and Bulgaria (hence the Cyrillic).
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Greg Collins Wrote:Actually, Eric, it's Romanian. Strongly based in Latin (Roman-ia, get it?), Romanian is a romance language- not at all similar to Russian- more like Italian/Spanish... when you see it spoken, the speaker frequently uses all the gestures we've come to associate with the Italians.
The only badge I know of that had Cyrillic on it and was associated with Romania was the Danube River badge- a co-operative effort by Romania and Bulgaria (hence the Cyrillic).
Frankly I prefer the "clam shell" style to the blue background of the RPR badge. It reminds me of the backing in some notorious "egg" badges.;)
Eric, as for the language differences, the Soviets sought to create coalition governments they referred to as "People's Democracies" in their satellite countries. Part of doing that and maintaining stability was to allow the local customs (including languages) to remain untampered with for the most part (which is why you generally see Soviet republic documents in both the native language and in Russian). The obvious failure was in Yugoslavia, but the lesser known failure of Poland is one of the reasons they kept the eagle as their national symbol and never adopted the H&S on nearly every award (that I've seen at least). I think you had raised this question about the Polish Eagle elsewhere and I finally got an answer for you.:D
A nice set that will probably cap off my Romanian Medical Badge collection. A document "For Merit in Medical-Sanitation Work" #13552 presented to Dr. Mrejeru in 1964 and matching badge. There is a space for a photo, but no evidence that a photo was ever attached.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
03-06-2010, 01:44 AM (This post was last modified: 03-06-2010, 02:02 AM by Greg Collins.)
A family portrait showing the outside cover of the document next to two RPR badges (top, the badge that goes with this document, and center, one which was shown earlier in the thread) and one RSR badge (shown earlier in the thread).
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Greg Collins Wrote:Actually, Eric, it's Romanian. Strongly based in Latin (Roman-ia, get it?), Romanian is a romance language- not at all similar to Russian- more like Italian/Spanish... when you see it spoken, the speaker frequently uses all the gestures we've come to associate with the Italians.
You´re right on that. However, there is some slavic language infuelnces in romanian, like "Slujba" (service), "Munca" (from the hungarian word for labor), etc.
BTW loved the badges shown till now. Romania is like a half-beaten piñata, if you understand what I mean. Surprises are coming out continously!:)
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight The Who, Won't get fooled again
I know what you mean about "co-opting" other languages... this may be due to the heavy Hungarian population in the east, the Romani (gypsy) who's ancestry is, essentially, Indian and, of course, the Russian influence. In searching online Romanian language courses, I find they all give a dictionary of must-know non-Romanian words and expressions. Insofar as Communist period ODM's are concerned, I note that the name of the recipient is preceded by "Tov.". While I don't know, off hand, the exact Romanian word for this abbreviation, I do know it is a word derived from the Russian "tovarish" (comrade).
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Greg Collins Wrote:I know what you mean about "co-opting" other languages... this may be due to the heavy Hungarian population in the east, the Romani (gypsy) who's ancestry is, essentially, Indian and, of course, the Russian influence. In searching online Romanian language courses, I find they all give a dictionary of must-know non-Romanian words and expressions. Insofar as Communist period ODM's are concerned, I note that the name of the recipient is preceded by "Tov.". While I don't know, off hand, the exact Romanian word for this abbreviation, I do know it is a word derived from the Russian "tovarish" (comrade).
The romanian term you´re looking for is "tovaris" with a small 'tail' at the bottom of the S.:thumbsup
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight The Who, Won't get fooled again
![Miltacusa Asshoxx Merit Badge Tactical Hook Patch [3PCS Bundle-2.0 inch Ash234]](/vintage/img/g/4hYAAOSwQwFb1mCI/s-l225/Miltacusa-Asshoxx-Merit-Badge-Tactical-Hook-Patch-.jpg){kind=icon}
