Table Medal "General Staff".

[Upperbylad]

I acquired a boxed dagger the other day in a peculiar mixed lot. The only other soviet item was a boxed table medal, withwhat I believe says "General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces".

Can anyone enlighten me as to it's purpose?

[Upperbylad]

Just bumping my own post here...

I am interested to know how Table medals were used/regarded/given/received in the USSR. How did they fit into popular or official culture?

The table medal I showed, if it is really a table medal, or perhaps a military award, is an example.

Who would give this out? A part of attaining officership? Officially? Unofficially by unit or family?

For clearly civiliam table medals, they often have great artwork, and I can see how they would be attractive simply as objects in themselves.

In the typical soviet era home, were they mantelpiece objects, for personal collections, or were they semi-official, and kept on office desks etc.

Excuse my ignorance, but this does seem to be a very peculiar Soviet tradition, not really followed with such enthusiasm in other countires.

[desantnik]

They were often given as presentation pieces, either to individuals who excelled or more frequently, VIP or foreign visitors to the organization. From my experience this tradition/practice was not limited to the Soviet Union or its military.