SovietExcellent Firefighter badge of the WW2 \"Military Proficiency\" Series.
This isGUARANTEED ORIGINAL, official Soviet-made award from around early 1950s, not alater issue or a replica!
Qualitypiece in Gilded Brass and High-Quality Enamels, measures Size 44.0 mm x 35.8mm. Unlike most other Soviet Proficiency badges, this badge is of complexthree-piece construction: the center medallion and the nozzles and torch emblemare separate parts attached by wires to the shield base. Features very thick, convexmedallion. This badge was manufactured by the Artistic Engraving Workshop(ZkhG).
Thebadge is damaged but is still in decent condition, especially for the early andrelatively scarce Soviet award. There are chips to the red enamel on the centermedallion to the right of the sickle and near the handle of the hammer. Thereis also a repaired area in the lower part of the center medallion under thesickle, between the handles of the hammer and sickle. Nevertheless, most of thered enamel on the center medallion is original and still intact. The red enamelin the upper corners and lower part of the shield is original, perfect andshows trademark beautiful luster and quality. The white enamel on the bandaround the medallion is likewise original and shows only minimal rubbing, noflaking or other significant wear. The fragile gray finish on the edge of theshield has a couple of tiny chips, otherwise intact and looks great overall.The wires attaching the firefighter emblem of torch and crossed firehose nozzlesand the center medallion are intact (although the emblem is slightly loose, itis still safely and securely attached to the badge.) The screw post is fulllength, over 9.5 mm long, and although slightly bent, still sound and fullyfunctional. The unmarked screw plate is a replacement but fits the screw well.
TheExcellent Firefighter badge is one of the series usually called \"WW2Proficiency Badges\" even though they were really considered awards,essentially medals and not just qualification badges, and were often awardedfor skills displayed in combat. The Firefighter badge was instituted fairlylate in the war, in November 1944, and unlike all other badges of the series itwas continued to be issued well into the 60s. The early design in brass waseventually replaced by a simple, single piece construction badge in aluminum.The badge we offer here is one of the early issues from the 50s. Because thebadge was awarded by the Armed Forces rather than a civilian agency and wasexclusively to military firefighters, it is quite scarce, much harder to findthan most other WW2 \"Proficiency\" awards.
