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`RUSSIAN BADGES GALLERY`

1917

The first Soviet state security organization, the Vecheka, was created on 20 December 1917. The Vecheka (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-revolution and Sabotage) is more commonly known as the Cheka.

1918

The NKVD (People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs) had been formed to control the militia (police), criminal investigation departments, fire brigades, internal troops, and prison guards.

1922

With the end of the civil war and the resulting period of stabilization, the Cheka was transformed, on 8 February 1922, into the GPU (State Political Directorate) which was subordinated to the NKVD.

1923

With the formation of the USSR in 1923 the GPU became the OGPU (Unified State Political Directorate) and was upgraded to an independent directorate of the Soviet Council of People's Commissars (i.e. it was removed from NKVD control).

1934

In 1934 the OGPU was transformed into the GUGB (Chief Directorate of State Security) which was subordinated into the new All-Union NKVD. This marked the beginning of Soviet state security’s most powerful and autocratic period. All key aspects of internal and state security were now subordinated into one body under one leader – at first G.G. Yagoda, then, from 27 September 1936, N.I. Yezhov, and finally, from 25 November 1938 Lavrentii Beria.

In 1934 the NKVD was organized as follows: - GUGB (Chief Directorate of State Security)- GUPVO (Chief Directorate of Frontier Guards and Interior Troops)- GULAG (Chief Directorate of Camps)- GUM (Chief Directorate of the Militia)

- other units responsible for Fire Fighting, Local Antiaircraft Defense, Highway Construction, Archives, etc. .

1939

On 2 February 1939 the GUPVO was divided into 6 Chief Directorates: - GUPV (Chief Directorate of Frontier Guards)- GUKV (Chief Directorate of Convoy Troops)- GUVOVPGO (Chief Directorate of Troops for Guarding Industry and State Facilities)- GUZhV (Chief Directorate of NKVD Railroad Troops)- GUInzhV (Chief Directorate of NKVD Engineer Troops)- GUIntV (Chief Directorate of the NKVD Intendants Service)

- GUOV (Chief Directorate of Operational Forces) since 1940

1941

On 3 February 1941, Decree 149 of the CPSU Politburo removed the GUGB from the NKVD and elevated to equal People’s Commissariat status creating the NKGB. The NKGB was led by V.N. Merkulov, Beria’s former deputy, who remained a loyal lackey. The new NKGB was responsible for - external espionage, - counterespionage throughout the USSR) - operations to find and liquidate anti-Soviet parties and counterrevolutionary formations in the USSR- guarding the leaders of the party and state. The NKGB organization was created at all levels (All-Union down to Oblast, Krai and Raion). The NKGB was divided into:- UR (Directorate of Intelligence)- UK (Directorate of Counterintelligence)- USP (Secret-Political Directorate)

- UKMK (Directorate of the Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin)

1941

The NKGB’s independence was short lived. In late June 1941, after the German invasion, the NKGB was resubordinated into the NKVD as the GUGB to ensure closer control of the nations security apparatus during this chaotic time.

1943

In April 1943, after the military situation had changed in favor of the USSR, the GUGB was again removed from the NKVD and became the NKGB. This time the change lasted until the birth of the MGB in 1946.

1946

In March 1946 the Soviet government was restructured and all People's Commissariats (NK) were designated Ministries (M). Thus the NKVD became the MVD and the NKGB became the MGB. Merkulov was replaced as head of the new MGB by V.S. Abakumov, S.N. Kruglov replaced Beria as head of the MVD, and Beria became a full member of the Soviet Politburo and a deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers exercising full control over the MVD and MGB.

1953

On 6 March 1953, the day after Stalin died, Beria succeeded in uniting the MVD and MGB into one body, the MVD.

1954

On 13 March 1954, after Beria's fall, " secret trial", and execution, the monster unified MVD was again split up. The reformed MVD retained its traditional policing and internal security functions while the new KGB took on the state security functions of the MGB. The KGB was subordinated to the USSR Council of Ministers, the Soviet Cabinet.

Today the FSB (Federal Security Bureau) is the New KGB in Russia.

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EXTREMELY SCARCE //

IN 1923 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE USSR THE GPU BECAME THE OGPU, (UNITED STATE OF POLITICAL DIRECTORATE), AND WAS UPGRADED TO AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORATE OF THE SOVIET COUNCIL OF "PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS". (i.e. It was removed from NKVD control.) Hallmarked. Diameter approximately 2 1/2 inches. Comes in original book of issue. Multi piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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SCARCE //

IN 1923 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE USSR THE GPU BECAME THE OGPU, (UNITED STATE OF POLITICAL directorate), AND WAS UPGRADED TO AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORATE OF THE SOVIET COUNCIL OF "PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS". (i.e. It was removed from NKVD control.) BADGE IS FOR 'FIVE YEARS SERVICE". Diameter approximately 1 1/2 inches. Multi piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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SCARCE //

IN 1923 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE USSR THE GPU BECAME THE OGPU, (UNITED STATE OF POLITICAL directorate), AND WAS UPGRADED TO AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORATE OF THE SOVIET COUNCIL OF "PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS". (i.e. It was removed from NKVD control.) BADGE IS FOR "FIFTEEN YEARS SERVICE". Hallmarked and numbered: 346. Diameter approximately 1 1/2 inches. Multi-piece construction. Silver.

Condition: GVF.

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EXTREMELY SCARCE //

IN 1923 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE USSR THE GPU BECAME THE OGPU, (UNITED STATE OF POLITICAL directorate), AND WAS UPGRADED TO AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORATE OF THE SOVIET COUNCIL OF "PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS". (i.e. It was removed from NKVD control.) Hallmarked No.1. Diameter approximately 2 inches. Multi piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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EXTREMELY SCARCE //

IN 1934 THE OGPU WAS TRANSFORMED INTO THE GUGB, (CHIEF DIRECTORATE OF STATE SECURITY), WHICH WAS SUBORDINATED INTO THE NEW "ALL UNION" NKVD. THIS MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE SOVIET STATE SECURITY'S MOST POWERFUL AND AUTOCRATIC PERIOD. ALL KEY ASPECTS OF INTERNAL AND STATE SECURITY WERE NOW SUBORDINATED INTO ONE BODY UNDER ONE LEADER -- AT FIRST G.G. YAGODA, THEN , FROM 27 SEPTEMBER 1936, N.I. YEZHOV, AND FINALLY, FROM 25 NOVEMBER 1938 LAVRENTIL BERIA. THIS IS A BADGE FOR THE GULAG, (CHIEF DIRECTORATE OF CAMPS). Diameter approximately 2 inches. Multi piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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AN EXAMPLE // A VERY GOOD COPY.

IN 1923 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE USSR THE GPU BECAME THE OGPU, (UNITED STATE OF POLITICAL directorate), AND WAS UPGRADED TO AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORATE OF THE SOVIET COUNCIL OF "PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS". THIS BADGE IS FOR A GRADUATE WITH HIGH GRADES FROM THE OGPU SCHOOL. (i.e. It was removed from NKVD control.) Hallmarked, Number 39. Diameter approximately 2 1/2 inches. Multi piece construction. Silver.

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SCARCE //

MVD 1942. Multi piece construction. Silver. Diameter approximately 1 1/2 inches. Badge numbered: 4571.

Condition: GVF.

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A VERY GOOD COPY

"FOR GOOD SERVICE" IN 1923 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE USSR THE GPU BECAME THE OGPU, (UNITED STATE OF POLITICAL directorate), AND WAS UPGRADED TO AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORATE OF THE SOVIET COUNCIL OF "PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS". (i.e. It was removed from NKVD control.) Hallmarked. Multi piece construction. Silver. Diameter approximately 2 1/2 inches.

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9.NEVSKY ORDER.

Established July 29, 1942. This was awarded to military commanders for personal velour and courage in the Great Patriotic War and insured the successful execution of missions by the troops under their command. The solid silver award consists of a 50mm red enameled star with gilt edges over silver beams radiating from the star. In the center of the award is a silver medallion surrounded by a gilt wreath of laurel. The medallion shows the bust of Alexander Nevsky surrounded with his name in Cyrillic letters. On each side of the top point of the star are two gilt battle axes. Between the lower points of the star is a light blue enameled shield with the hammer and sickle on top of a sword and a bow and quiver in silver gilt. The award is the screw-back type and may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with a 6mm red center stripe. Since there were no portraits of Alexander Nevsky, the bust on the medallion is that of actor Nikolai Cherkassov who played the part of Alexander Nevsky in a film about the hero. The award has been issued to over 42,165 officers and to 1,470 army units.

1st Class-Established 10 October 1943. Awarded to commanders of fronts, fleets, armies, and flotillas and to commanders of partisan unit formations for outstanding merit.

2nd Class-Established 10 October 1943. Awarded to corps, division, brigade, and regimental commanders; to their deputies and chiefs of staff; and to commanders of partisan unit formations, their deputies, and chiefs of staff for outstanding merit.

3rd Class-Established 10 October 1943. Awarded to officers up to battalion commander in the armed forces and to equivalent regimental commanders, their chiefs of staff, and battalion and company commanders for outstanding leadership, organizational ability, and perseverance leading to decisive victory in battle.

Multi piece construction and numbered.

Condition: GVF.

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10.

Established 3 March 1944. Awarded to marines, soldiers, sergeants, petty officers and warrant officers of the Soviet Navy and marine divisions of Frontier troops. The Medal of Ushakov was awarded for personal valor and courage shown in sea warfare theatres, defense of USSR land and water borders and for execution of military missions involving warships. The medal was named in honor of the famous Russian Naval commander, Admiral F. F. Ushakov. This medal could be received more than once. Approximately 16,000 were issued. Numbered 9862.

Condition: GVF.

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11.

Russian "Best Aviator" World War Two. Screw-Back.

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12.

Russian "Best Machine Gunner" World War Two. Screw-Back.

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13.

Russian "Best Artillery" World War Two. Screw-Back.

Condition: GVF.

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14.

Russian "Best Sharpshooter" World War Two. Screw-Back.

Condition: GVF.

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15.

Soviet/Russian Navy. Researching. Screw-Back. Multi piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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VERY GOOD COPY/

Russian World War II "Best Pilot" Badge. Hallmarked. Screw-Back. Multi piece construction. Silver.

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17.

Soviet/Russian Era Anti Aircraft Badge. Post World War Two. Multi piece construction. Screw-Back.

Condition: GVF.

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18.

Russian World War Two "Best Spy" Badge. Screw-Back.

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19.

Soviet/Russian era Special Forces Frogman Badge. Screw-Back. Multi piece construction. Screw-back.

Condition: GVF.

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21.

EXTREMELY SCARCE //

Russian medal for the Civil War. "THE REDS AND THE WHITES". Pin-back. (Ribbon is not for the this medal). Medal given for rank and file.

Condition: GVF.

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22.

Soviet/Russian SPETSNAZ screw back badge. Special Forces ALFA.Multi-piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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23.

Soviet era Spetznas // Navy. Screw-back. Multi piece construction.Screw-back.

Condition: GVF.

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24.

Soviet/Russian era Deep Sea Divers/Naval medal. Multi piece construction. Screw back.

Condition: GVF.

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25.

SCARCE //

Soviet/Russian era Nuclear Powered Polar Ice Breaker "SIBIR' ". First Crew (1977). Screw back.

Condition: GVF.

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26.

EXTREMELY SCARCE // NKVD Badge

Soviet/Russian badge 1920's. Badge is for "The Merciless Struggle Against Counter- Revolutionaries" Multiple hallmarks and multi-construction. Screw back. Silver. Most of these badges were destroyed in 1933 by the Russia Government and few are believed to have survived.

Diameter approximately 3 inches.

Condition: GVF.

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27.

A VERY GOOD COPY

Soviet/Russian 1924. Badge is for Criminal Investigations Department. Hallmarked. Multi-piece construction. Screw-back. Silver.

Diameter approximately 2 1/2 inches.

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28.

SCARCE //

"10 years of Russian Federation Workers and Peasants Militia 1927." Multi-piece construction.Screw-back. Diameter approximately 2 inches.

Condition: GVF.

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29.

A VERY GOOD COPY

NKVD "Excellent Firefighter." 1930's/40's. Multi-piece construction.Screw-back. Silver. Diameter approximately 1 1/2 inches.

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30.

RUSSIAN / SOVIET / 15 YEARS BADGE

SPETZNAS/MILITARY: FOR PENNANT GROUPMulti-three piece construction. Screw-back.

Condition: GVF.

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31.

RUSSIAN / SOVIET / 60 YEARS BADGE

PARATROOPER/MILITARY: "POWER, COURAGE & BRAVERY"Multi-three piece construction. Screw-back.

Condition: GVF.

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32.

RUSSIAN / SOVIET / SPETZNAS "CONDOR" DIVISION.

SPECIAL FORCES. USED IN AFGHANISTAN TO STORM PRESIDENTS PALACE PRIOR TO SOVIET INVASION. ALSO FIGHTING IN CHECHNYA. USED TO FREE HOSTAGES IN MOSCOW THEATER.

VERY TOUGH GUYS!

Multi-three piece construction. Screw-back. Condition: GVF.

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33.

EXTREMELY SCARCE // NKVD 10 YEARS BADGE FOR THE UKRAINE.

ONLY ONE I'VE EVER SEEN!

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34.

SCARCE // RUSSIAN/SOVIET BADGE:

To a Fighter of OKDVA, 1930. Issued for fighting against Manchurian warlord in 1929

CONSTRUCTION. Multi piece construction. Screw-back. Great over all condition.

Condition: GVF.

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35.

SCARCE // RUSSIAN // SOVIET SUBMARINE BADGE.

CONDITION: VF

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36.

RUSSIAN // SOVIET NAVEL SPECIAL FORCES. MULTI PIECE CONSTRUCTION.

CONDITION: GVF.

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37.

EXTREMELY SCARCE // RUSSIAN // SOVIET OGPU FIVE YEARS GUP CHNM. 1920'S. MULTI-PIECE CONSTRUCTION. CONDITION: GVF

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38.

EXTREMELY SCARCE // RUSSIAN // SOVIET OGPU 1917-1922. MULTI PIECE CONSTRUCTION.

CONDITION: EF.

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39.

Scarce // Russian Imperial Order/Clerical Cross: 1853-1856 during the Crimean War. 1853-1856.

Rough translation of old Russian "God is with us and we won't forget you".

Copper.

Condition: NEF

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40.

Scarce // Activist Chemical Weapons unit of USSR.

Screw back. Heavy Silver.

Condition: VF.

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41.

Scarce // First Prize for Checkers Russian Army. 1937-38.

Screw back. Heavy Silver.

Condition: VF.

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Scarce // Pilots badge for 500,000 Km of flight.

Screw back and multi construction.

VF with damage to enamel.

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43.

Scarce // Badge given to Tankers in WWII for "For the Best Driving".

Condition: GVF.

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44.

Scarce // Army Good Shooter's Badge. Multi-Piece construction.

Condition: VF.

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45.

Badge for "Workers on Russian Railroad."

Condition: GVF.

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46.

SCARCE //

45 YEAR BADGE FOR ACADEMY MILITARY TANK DIVISION. Multi-Piece construction.

Condition: GVF.

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47.

POLICE BADGE FOR SERVICE DURING THE SOVIET PERIOD. "INTERIOR MINISTRY".

Condition: GVF.

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48.

Soviet Period

Police University badge of MVD. Seven Year Graduation Class. Screw-back.

Condition: GVF.

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49.

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50.

Soviet Period.

Instructor Scuba Diving // Russian Navy.

Condition: GVF.

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51.

Soviet Period.

Naval College // Leningrad.

Condition: GVF.

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52.

Soviet Period.

Aviator College.

Condition: GVF.

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53.

Late Soviet Period.

Rare badge for Para-KGB operations in Estonia to put down Pro-Democracy Movement.

Screw back. Multi piece construction.

Condition: EF

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54.

Internal Ministry of Police. Best performance badge.

Screw back. Multi piece construction.

Condition: EF

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55.

Air Force Badge 1930's.

Screw back. Multi piece construction. Condition: GVF.

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56.

Police Badge 1930's.

Screw back. Multi piece construction. Condition: GVF.

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57.

Second World War Submarine Badge.

Some damage to enamel.

Condition VF.

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58.

PILOT'S BADGE FROM WORLD WAR I. RUSSIAN AIR FORCE UNDER THE CZAR.

NUMBERED.

Condition: VF

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59.

As well as placing restrictions on evangelisation and the abilities of priests to perform their traditional duties to their parishioners, the Communists attacked the Church as an institution. The Decree on the Separation of Church and State of 5 February 1918 deprived the Church of its status as a juridical person. It could not hold property, and the decree provided for the nationalisation of Church land, funds, and buildings, which believers were required to lease back from the state. Churches could be closed down by the local authorities without the consent of the worshippers if the workers requested this. This resulted in the systematic closure of Orthodox churches. Of 54,457 churches in 1914, only 4, 255 remained in 1941. The number of active priests fell from 57,105 in 1914 to 5, 665 in 1941. Of the 1,498 monasteries and convents that existed in 1914, there were 38 left in 1941. None of the 4 theological academies, seminaries and 40,150 other religious schools that existed in 1914 survived into 1941. 34 The unofficial Concordat between Stalin and the Church did allow many churches and other religious institions to be reopened. In 1947 for there 22-25,000 churches, 33,000 active priests, 80 monasteries and convents, 2 theological academies and 8 theological seminaries. The other religious schools supported by the Church before the Communists seized power remained closed, however. 35 However, from 1959 the Church was again attacked and ecclesiastical institutions closed by the Soviet authorities. By the late 1970s less than 7,000 Orthodox churches were open in Russia. Five of the eight seminaries opened in 1945 had been closed down by 1966, and of the 80 monasteries only 16 still survived by the 1970s. During the closure of the Monastery of Saint Job of Pochaev one monk was beaten to death in prison, several others taken to hospital for injections, despite their good health and others placed in psychiatric hospitals. In 1918 and 1919 28 bishops were killed by the Communists. A further fifty were killed between 1923 and 1926 and from 1917 to 1926, 2,700 priests, 2,000 monks, and 3,400 nuns were killed by the Communists. Emigre Russians estimated that from 1917 to 1983 at least 12,000 priests were killed. The Metropolitan of Petrograd was executed for anti-Soviet activities and the Patriarch Tikhon jailed in 1922. The Communists also attempted to destroy the Church by encouraging a group of clergy sympathetic to the Communist regime, calling themselves the Living Church to take over its leadership, and arresting their ecclesiastical opponents. Tikhon was deposed by the Living Church, and his trial set for 1923, but he signed a confession and publicly repented of his past opposition to the Communists. He was thus released, and reinstated as the head of the Church. Nevertheless, the Living Church continued to exist and the Communists attempted at times to play it and the Orthodox Church off against each other. The Living Church split into a number of increasingly smaller factions and lost its significance in 1926.

Other Christian denominations, such as the Roman Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostalists and the Seventh Day Adventists were also subject to terrible persecution.

The League of the Militant Godless

The League of the Militant Godless was founded in 1925 as part of the Soviet authorities’ attack on religion. At its height in 1932 it had about five million members, before it was eventually disbanded in 1942. Originally its activities included vandalism and the destruction of church property, like smashing church windows and desecrating cemeteries, done more out of its members’ hatred for religion rather than any attempt to spread atheism. Over time it became more sophisticated in its approach, organising meetings in the villages to promote its atheist message. It also organised anti-religious lectures, and published anti-religious books, magazines and journals. These included works of popular science written to show how science had disproved religion. These included quizzes, which presented the approved answers to criticism of Communism as well as attacking religion. Thus a 1930 handbook for the League, Dosug Bezbozhnika, by S. Glyazer and N. Kopievskii, included questions such as:

‘Q. How do reply to a priest who says ‘your communism is just another religion’?

A. All religions involve belief in the supernatural. Communism does not.

Q. How did Karl Marx describe Christianity?

A. As the Executive Committee of the bourgeoisie.’

The League also organised plane trips above the clouds in Tupolevs in order to show that there was no God or heaven up there. Before the Second World War, the League also organised blasphemous processions and demonstrations against religion, especially on religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter.

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