Badge "XXX Years Of Solidarity".

[desantnik]

Does anyone know what this was for?

I believe it to be a Spanish Civil War Veteran badge. The top reads "Solidaridad XXX Pasaremos". I know the popular slogan "No pasaran!" (They shall not pass!) that the Soviets often used coming from the Spanish Civil War period, but this is "Pasaremos" (We will pass).

Although difficult to read, the inscription around the outer badge reads "Voluntarios Internacionales de la Libertad" (International Volunteers of Liberty) and the years 1938 and 1988 which may not be correct due to the small size of the numbers.

I'm aware of the Soviet 50th and 60th anniversary badges for Spanish Civil War volunteers - but what is this? Is it even Soviet? Why the Roman numeral XXX (30) and the seeming anniversary dates 1938-1988 which would indicate 50th anniversary?

[Al-muell]

A badge definately related to the international brigades. Is it Soviet?
I would check the maker's mark, but I don't have the reference at hand here.

[Greg Collins]

OK, let me see... the central emblem has been used for pins celebrating the International Brigade for awhile now (I have an example of the most recent pin). They apply to all the marxist/socialist groups that fought in Spain. "Solidaridad XXX Pasaremos" in this case would indicate more of a "thirty year anniversary of solidarity". Judging the quality of the pin, I would say that the pin actually says 1938-1968... 3's, 6's and 8's will tend to look alike in some castings. The pin you have was likely distributed everywhere where there are veterans of the International Brigade- the USSR, Ireland, the US, etc. Oh yeah, almost forgot, the three-rayed star behind the central emblem was applied to the tricolours (flags) carried by the International Brigade.

Greg