"Excellent Worker Of Light Industry" Badge.

[deValcourt]

The seller of this badge only knows that it translates to "Perfect Defender of Socialism." I was wondering if anyone knows the history or awarding criteria for this badge. Granted, it's not the most ornate award I've seen from Hungary, but I am curious nonetheless. (I love the way they made "wearing" copies of many of the awards.)

Phillip

[Hunyadi]

This is the "Excellent Work In Light Industry" Badge

The "Strawberry" flag is a result of the 1980's era production. The badge was introduced in 1952.

[deValcourt]

The "Strawberry" flag is a result of the 1980's era production. The badge was introduced in 1952.

Thank you for bringing us back. I did notice that the badge was far less stark and serious-looking as earlier badges I've seen. But by the time the 1980s came around, the Soviets at least were trying to tone down the image of the "powerful state" and emphasize the benevolence of the government toward its people. The KGB took the sword out of the "sword and shield" images for public display. I imagine the same emphasis on the "average" citizen was being practiced in the other Eastern Bloc countries, especially Hungary who had caught more than her fair share (along with Poland) during WWII and afterwards.

The colors here - are they the same as the 1952 version? The powder blue background just give me the feeling of "everything's going to be alright" so long as we all pull together and work for a better tomorrow... (I think I would have excelled as a soviet propagandist! )

I'm not making fun of anything here - really. It's just part of my study of the evolution of socialist societies, especially as they approached 1989.

Phillip

[Hunyadi]

Not that serious as for the image - by the 1980's Hungary could also see the writing on the wall as things were beginning to unravel. This was just simply a lack of material and craftsmen who cared. The mint in the 1980's was churning out cheap materials - cold enamel rather than hot which left such unsightly quality along with the quality of the manufactuing. The earlier badges do have the "strawberry" to the flag - but the enamel was hot and the craftsmen were building for a better life... or so it seemed. Another factor is that those working at the mint before and during the war were skilled and enjoyed churning out quality items - by the 1970's most of these craftsmen had retired or left the State Mint and their aprentices did not hold to the same standards it seemed.