Badge "Ready For Labour And Defence Of The U.S.S.R.".

[pacha b]

hello everyone

This is my very first question, regarding a badge i recently found in a draw (beginners luck) which has got me interested in soviet medals awards and badges any info would be most appreciated thanks.

[Art]

Welcome! I split this off the thread you originally posted onto. Seemed to be unique enough to warrant the move. This is a nice old badge, mondvor (moscow mint) issued, with hand cut serial number and what appears to be makers marks stamped on the reverse on the banner post.

It's obviously a 2nd place prize, for running...Am not fluent enough in Russian to decipher the rest, but for free I'd say you have a real keeper there!

[pacha b]

Hi Art,
Thanks very much for the reply, as with this being new to me
I value your comments.
Pacha B.

[ericlida]

The bedge is from 50s. It is GTO (Ready for the Labor and Defence) badge - 2nd class.
There are many differen types of GTO badges.
Here are few examples.
GTO 2nd class from 60s and several GTO (different classes) from 70-80s.
If you need more information or pictures, I can come up with much more.
GTO in the USSR was very important sport event and preperation of people.
Eric

[Art]

Did a little digging and found the badge pictured in my copy of Badges of the Soviet Armed Forces by V.A. Borisov:

http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...risov.html

See attached. It seems to be from 1939.

[ericlida]

Art
GTO Sport Program was for civilians. The main idea of GTO (Ready to Labor and Defence) is to physically prepare Soviet people for fight with animies (Capitalizm :)).
They are not Military badges, only civilians were recieving them.
Military personal had other sport programs, requirements and awards.
You can see some examples.
Eric

[pacha b]

Thanks both for being so helpful,one of the main problems with having a new interest in militaria like russian medals awards etc is reference material to go of,i have recently bought the comprehensive guide to soviet orders and medals (excellent book) but have not got round to a book on badges yet,my other main problem seems to be like everyone new were do you buy and who to trust, thanks for now

pb

[pacha b]

hello everyone
This is a follow up question regarding serial numbers, measurements, dimensions, and dates
of this mondvor marked badge and the similarities with orders of the time, this is what i have noticed so far using my one and only reference book luckily comp guide to soviet orders and medals. and the internet.(art and eric you did mention 1939 as a possibility for age.how about 1935/6 in the same transitional stage as type 1 ors orbl and obh below are weights and measurements

badge

height 30mm same as red star tip too tip ref page 164
width at widest 24.5mm same as star centre too tip ref 164
screwback 18mm exactly half the unique screwback on a type 1 goznak ref page 164
screwpost 12mm exactly double transition red star ref page 165
screwpost width 3mm half normal ? ref page167
serial number 2mm high
makers marks two digit similar to type 2 1936 orbl and no mint mark ref page 153
other similarities 1936 type 2 obh no mint mark 2 digit mm transitional? ref page179

weight exactly 10g

one last thing the screwback plate of a type 1 early suspension gold star medal ref p24 is 17.75mm and looks as close as anything i've seen to the badges.and with the serial number 2224 fitting right into this time frame 1935/6 as far as i can tell with my limited knowledge and lack of reference.

food for thought i've had this badge sat in a draw for 3-5 years with no idea what it was or were it came from,then one day while looking at a well known internet auction site (lettered cove !!!!) one word caught my attention "MONDVOR" and a new hobby began. thanks for eveyones time i await the replies with beginners trepidation.

pb


pics include

[ericlida]

It is as very nice, old GTO badge. :thumbsup
Also, I did not see from the beginning - it is 2nd Class "Excellent in GTO", which makes it rare and more expensive than just regular 2nd class!!:thumbsup
Here are few more examples of old GTO badges 1st class and 50years VLKSM GTO badge.
Eric

[pacha b]

eric thanks very much for the info, are the badges illustrated your own? The main thing i don't understand is why! if it's a civilian award why put such effort into a badge! which is why researching awards i noticed a lot of similarities with orders from 1935/6 almost like it was a special project done at 25% scale what do you think, also have you ever seen anything like it before ?

regards

pb