KGB Special Section badges are for the OOs (Osobyi Otdely or Special Sections) of the KGB's 3rd (Military Counter-Intelligence) Chief Directorate. The first special sections were formed in the Cheka on 16 July 1918 and were responsible for counter-intelligence in the military. This included genuine counter-intelligence operations and looking for traitors and dissidents within the military. Note that the OOs were part of state security not the military! The OOs remained in place during the GPU, OGPU and NKVD-GUGB eras. Between 1943 and 1946 the special sections were renamed SMERSH (Death to Spies) and put under the control of the military - although there was no real change of personnel. After they war they reverted to state security, by this time the MGB. They wore distinctive uniforms, with yellow-piped green as their service colour, until the mid-1920s when it was realized that wearing distinctive uniforms was a really dumb idea. Instead, they wore the uniforms of the military unit they served with. It is not known whether they had a distinguishing badge or just their ID. During the SMERSH era there were definitely no badges. Good genuine photos would be appreciated.

It is likely that both Type 1 and Type 2 OO badges are fake/fantasy. Their construction matches that of other fakes. None of these badges has ever been seen in an official KGB photo or in the KGB-FSB Museum.

Fake KGB Special Section badges, Type 2 Variation 1(left) and Type 1 (right). (Courtesy of Charles Daum, Excaliber Imports.)

Reverse view of the two badges in the top image. Note the reverse of the Type 1 (right side) is completely flat and featureless.

The Type 1 badge presents an interesting question. Its construction is very similar to the fake Distinguished KGB Employee badge B.1.4 Type 1 which is itself a reasonable qality fake of the genuine Distinguished KGB Employee badge B.1.3. Is the Type 1 fake OO badge a copy of a genuine but yet to be seen OO badge or is it simply a fantasy piece??