Part 5. KGB ANNIVERSARY BADGES (Copyright: Shawn M. Caza, June 1998, updated 2000)

There are more types and variations of KGB anniversary badges than of any other kind of KGB badge. There are also many unanswered question concerning these badges, most importantly: which are real?, which are fake?, and, why are there so many types? Unfortunately, it is likely that only the Type 1 anniversary badges are genuine and that all the rest are fakes. Only general KGB anniversary badges will be dealt with in this section, that is badges which do not identify a branch or sub-group of the KGB. Anniversary badges for specific KGB administrations and departments and for Republican KGBs will be handled in the next section. Anniversary badges for the KGB Border Guards will be handled under the Border Guard badges section. Anniversary badges for KGB educational institutions will be handled in the Educational badges section.

General KGB anniversary badges were issued for three anniversaries: the 50th in 1967, the 60th in 1977, and the 70th in 1987. Not all types or variations were issued for all anniversaries.

B.4.1. Type 1 KGB Anniversary Badges

The rare and valuable sterling silver Type 1 badges are the only type of KGB anniversary badges that are known to be genuine. There are two Variations of these badges and badges were issued for all three anniversaries. These badges are very high quality and are constructed of sterling silver, with some gold plating, and high quality hot enamel. Type 1 badges are one piece and are screw-back. The badges are 48mm x 26mm and are about 1.5mm thick. A 2.5mm diameter silver screw-post is soldered (flawlessly) to the reverse and a brass, 18mm diameter, screw-nut bearing the words "moskovskii monetnyi dvor" (Moscow Mint) is used. The reverse of the badge shows a relief of the obverse. A small (2mm diameter) mint mark is found on the reverse where the sword and the ribbon intersect. The mint mark is an MMD inside a circle.

The badge is in the standard KGB sword and shield image. There is a large star, with hammer and sickle, over the upper portion of the sword blade, the numeral (50, 60, or 70) is over the middle of the sword blade and there is a ribbon across the sides and lower portion of the shield. The sword handle and crossguard and the numeral are gold plated (the reverse of the sword handle is usually gold plated as well). The star and ribbon are covered in a translucent red enamel. Variation 1 badges have opaque dark blue enamel on the shield rim while Variation 2 badges do not. The 50th anniversary badge has only been seen in Variation 2, while the 60th has only been seen in Variation 1. The 70th may exist in both Variations (it certainly exists in Variation 2).

These badges are said to have been issued to high ranking KGB officers and generals and to Excellent Employees of State Security (i.e. recipients of badge B.1.3.). The badge is obviously much too rare to have been issued to all KGB officers.

Two Type 1 (sterling silver) KGB Anniversary Badges. The left badge is the 1967 50th anniversary badge and the right is the 1987 70th anniversary badge. Both badges are Variation 2 (without the dark blue enamel). The 50th anniversary badge lacks the gold plating on the sword handle and the numeral "50". However, it is still of the same excellent quality as the other. (Courtesy Charles Daum)

The reverse views of the same two badges shown in the top image. The fact that the reverse side is the relief of the obverse can clearly be seen in this image. The mint marks are just visible where the sword and the ribbon intersect. (Courtesy Charles Daum)

An award document for a 50th Anniversary of the KGB badge issued to Vladimir Semyonovich Ermakov on 18 December 1968. Note that the number on the document - 0478 - is the decree number not a serial number as these badges are not serial numbered.

Another award document for a 50th Anniversary of the KGB badge. This one was issued to Anton Anisimovich Osmirko.

A 60th Anniversary of the KGB badge (note the blue enamel which is not present on the 50th and 70th badges) with award document. This document was issued to Valery Vasilevich Bushuyev on 13 December 1977.

The issue box for a 5th Anniversary of the KGB badge. This box is KGB blue instead of the usual red associated with Soviet award presentation boxes. (Courtesy Robert Pandis)

Marshal of the Artillery Troops Tolubko, Chief of the Strategic Rocket Forces of the USSR in the early 1980s, wearing his service uniform. He has a Gold Star Hero of Socialist Labour, and many ribbons, on his left breast. Visible on his right breast is an academy badge and a (Type 1) 60th Anniversary of the KGB Badge (1977)!! This is an unusual badge award for a non-KGB officer. The reason for Tolubko's award is not known for sure. Perhaps he once worked for the KGB (or NKVD or MGB) since the Soviet nuclear arms industry was controlled by the state security organs in the 1940s and 1950s. The award might also have been issued because of his close work with the KGB. The KGB was responsible for safeguarding the USSR's nuclear warheads and Tolubko's Strategic Rocket Forces were responsible for delivering them to their targets in case of a war.

Information concerning the variations of this badge, and photos of personnel wearing it, would be greatly appreciated.

(Copyright: Shawn M. Caza, June 1998, update 2000)

B.4.2. KGB Anniversary badges - Type 2

Type 2 KGB anniversary badges are poor quality fakes of the genuine Type 1 badges. Type 2 badges were never issued by the KGB and were made post-1991 in Russia and/or the Baltic states.

Type 2 KGB anniversary badges are almost identical in basic form to the Type 1 badges. However, there are some very important differences which close examination will reveal!! These badges are made of tombac and not sterling silver. These badges are 46-47mm x 26.5-28mm (the Type 1 are 48mm x 26mm). The reverse of Type 2 badges is flat and featureless with no relief or makers mark visible. Some examples are completely flat while others are slightly concave. The 2.5mm diameter screw-nut often, but not always, widens in a v-shape where it meets the badge, on some examples it fits into a small circular depression on the badge. The badge is attached by a variety of brass and steel screw-nuts.

The obverse of the badge looks very similar to the Type 1 badge. On some examples the sword handle and numeral is plated with a lighter metal, though not actually gold plated. The body itself ranges from bronzy to silvery in colour and is 1.5 to 2mm thick. The star and ribbon are filled with red enamel, hot enamel on the 50th and 60th anniversary badges and cold enamel on the 70th anniversary badges. There is never any blue enamel on the shield rim of Type 2 badges.

While a Type 1 Variation 2 (no blue enamel) and a Type 2 50th or 70th anniversary badge may look very similar from several feet away they are very different on close examination. The superior sterling silver of the Type 1 versus the tombac (a brass-like alloy) of the Type 2 is very evident. The reverse, showing the relief and the tiny maker's mark on the Type 1 versus the flat featureless Type 2 is perhaps the key indicators of the difference. Also the general quality of the Type 2 is much poorer than the Type 1. The Type 1 have very sharp and fine details, the Type 2 is less sharp and a slight mistrike is often evident, especially where the sword point and the bottom of the shield meet.

Type 2 Variation 2. These badges are very similar to the regular, Type 2 Variation 1, (described above) but they are made from brass. They have a blue cold enamel on the shield rim. There is no makers mark on the reverse and the enamel is of poorer quality than the Type 1 badges. This badge has only been seen in a 60th anniversary version.

Type 2 Variation 3. These badges look very similar to the Type 2 Variation 1 described above but are pin-back and are made from a lighter (aluminium?) alloy. They are attached with a small pin. They have a small maker's mark on the reverse but this is not the circular MMD of the Moscow Mint but a small upside down star minus the bottom point (possibly the "pobeda" factory). This badge is silvery in colour with cold-enamel. It has only been seen in the 60th anniversary version.

Three Type 2 KGB Anniversary badges. The 50th and 70th are Variation 1 badges while the 60th in the middle is a Variation 2 (brass) badge. (Courtesy of Charles Daum, Excaliber Imports.)

The reverse of the three Type 2 badges seen in the top image.

B.4.3. KGB Anniversary badges - Type 3

Type 3 anniversary badges are also fakes of the genuine Type 1 badges and are very similar to the Type 2 badges. The main difference is that the numeral (50, 60, or 70) is smaller and is a separate piece which is affixed to the main body. Type 3 badges are made of a coppery-coloured tombac. The detail on the obverse is shallower than the Type 2 (or Type 1). The reverse is done in a relief pattern though this is also very shallow and results from a separate stamping. It is not a true relief like on the Type 1 badges. The badges are 48.5mm x 28mm and are 1.5mm thick. The numerals are small (about 10mm x 7.5mm) and are a separate piece which is attached to the 2.5mm diameter screw-post which passes through a hole in the badge. The badges are attached with a plain 19mm diameter brass screw-nut. Type 3 badges have a high quality, dark red, hot enamel and are of a very fine quality with nice clean stamping. However, details such as the material, the construction, and the fact that the screw-post is sharpened to a point, remind one of the post-Soviet era Alfa Group anniversary and veterans association badges (B.7.1. & B.7.2.)> They are of post-Soviet manufacture as well.

There are no known variations of Type 3 badges.

Three Type 3 KGB Anniversary badges. The smaller numeral, which is a seperate attached piece, is clearly visible. Other differences in the details between the Type 2 and Type 3 stampings can be seen. (Courtesy of Alexei Merezhko, Russian & Soviet Militaria [Nota Bene]. Now in author's collection.)

(Copyright: Shawn M. Caza, June 1998, updated February 2000)

B.4.4. KGB Anniversary badges - Type 4

It is highly likely that Type 4 anniversary badges are, like other stamped brass and cold enamel KGB badges, fake/fantasy pieces. However, some have been seen with higher quality enamel and there are interesting runours that they were issued to regular or perhaps border guard personnel. Nevertheless, they are relatively common and cheap. Until they appear in an official KGB photo or toher reputable source they must be considered likely fakes with only a small possiblity of being genuine KGB issue pieces.

Type 4 anniversary badges are very different from Types 1, 2, & 3. They are thinner, are made of stamped brass, and have their numbers within the star instead of below it. Type 4 badges still have the same basic KGB sword and shield form. The badges are 43mm x 22mm and are made of 1.5mm thick stamped brass. There is a clear relief pattern of the obverse on the reverse. There is a 2.5mm diameter brass screw-post attached with grey epoxy to the reverse of Type 4 badges which use an 18mm diameter brass or aluminium "moskovskii monetnyi dvor" screw-nut.

The obverse of the badge is similar to that of the Type 1, 2, & 3 badges however, the star is small in proportion, and the numeral (50, 60, or 70) is in the star, not below it. The "let" ("years") which appears below the star is larger than that on the Type 1, 2, & 3. The ribbon has "VChK KGB" on the sides and not the centre portion as the centre portion is too narrow to have writing on it. The star and the ribbon are covered in red enamel. This is a cold enamel though it varies greatly in quality from thick semi-opaque to thin and washy.

Type 4 Variation 1: This badge has blue enamel on the shield rim and a translucent grey (or thin black) enamel wash on the shield background. Variation 1 badges exist for the 60th & 70th anniversaries.

Type 4 Variation 2: This badge is identical to the Variation 1 badges except the blue and grey-black enamels are reversed. There is a thin black-grey wash on the shield rim and a thin blue wash on the shield background. Variation 2 badges exist for the 50th anniversary.

Type 4 Variation 3: This badge is identical to the Variation 2 badge however, the entire badge is constructed of a silvery coloured alloy. Variation 3 badges exist for the 50th anniversary.

Two Type 4 KGB Anniversary badges. The 50th is a Variation 2 badge and the 70th is a Variation 1 badge as is normal for those anniversaries. (Courtesy of Charles Daum, Excaliber Imports.)

The reverse view of the two Type 4 badges shown in the top image.

Two Type 4 50th KGB Anniversary badges, the left one is a Variation 2 and the right is a Variation 3 (silvery coloured). (Courtesy of Charles Daum, Excaliber Imports.)

(Copyright: Shawn M. Caza, February 2000)

B.4.5. KGB Anniversary badges - Type 5

Type 5 anniversary badges are slightly similar in overall appearance to the Type 4 badges. However, they lack the ribbon and are aluminium and pin-back. Type 5 badges are 42.5mm x 20mm and are 1.5 mm thick. They are made of stamped gold coloured aluminium and a partial relief pattern is just visible on the reverse. Type 5 badges are attached with a 15mm long vertical pin assembly which is attached to the badge reverse by two raised "lips". There is a small maker's mark, a "PE" in an oval on the reverse of the sword crosspiece. (The E is the Russian character for E not for Ye, that is it is a backwards latin E!)

The obverse of the badge has a small star over the upper part of the sword blade but lacks the usual ribbon. "50 let" or "50 years" is written on the star (only the 50th anniversary version has been seen of this badge). The rivited shield rim is covered with thick opaque white cold enamel while the shield background is covered with a thin green cold enamel wash. The numerals and letters are filled with a red cold enamel.

The badge was reportedly for use by KGB officer's on civilian clothes though this cannot be confirmed and there is a high probability that it is fake. It simply does not match the high quality of known genuine KGB peices.

B.4.6. KGB Anniversary badges - Type 6

Type 6 badges resemble KGB Service badges (B.2.1.). They are tombac, screw-back, and are 47mm x 25mm. There is a large star with hammer and sickle in the middle of the sword blade, however, there is no numeral on or under the star. The ribbon has VChK - KGB on the middle portion and 1917 / 1967 on the two side portions. The numbers are facing (badge) right, not left. Although a B&W drawing of this badge has been seen in a Russian book no physical examples have been seen or examined (and only the 1967 or 50th badge is seen in that book).

B.4.7. KGB Anniversary badges - Type 7

Type 7 have also only been seen in B&W drawing form in a Russian book. They appear very different from other KGB anniversary badges. The standard KGB shield, with riveted rim but without horizontaly striped background, can be seen in the centre of the badge. There is a large star taking up the middle of most of the shield. A sword can be seen covered by the shield in the standard fashion. There is a wide band of laurel leaves to either side of the shield. A ribbon across the bottom of the badge has "VChK - KGB" on it while another ribbon at the very top of the badge (over the sword handle) has "1917 60 1977" on it. The badge is screwback, german silver, and is 47mm x 31mm. Only the 60th anniversary (1977) version can be seen in that book.

B.4.P KGB Anniversary button.

This odd item is a large, round, Soviet made steel and plastic button, like those popular in the west. The badge is 60mm in diameter and is fastened with a 32mm long horizontal pin assembly. The badge is two piece. The reverse is a glossy off-white colour with two large holes for the pin assembly. Between the holes is stamped a black circle with a latin "N" and the latin letters "NORMA" on it. Below this is stamped, in English "MADE IN USSR" and in Russian "Ts. 30 K." ("cost 30 kopeks"). This is usual for many civilian items made in the USSR meant for both Soviets and tourists.

The obverse of the button is white with a red double-line around the edge. In the middle is a multi-colour image of a Type 1 Variation 2 (no blue enamel) 70th KGB Anniversary badge. This is done in black lines with silver, red, and yellow colours. The badge has the proper shape and writing of the Type 1 Variation 2 badge. An odd, but original Soviet civilian/tourist item!