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

KGB related badges which do not fit into any other category will be covered in this section. Right now only Alfa Group badges are covered. However, others will eventually be added.

B.7 KGB Alfa Group Badges

There were several small, elite, KGB Spetsnaz, or commando, units. The most famous of these is the Alfa Group, or "Spetsgruppa A". Alfa Group was formed in 1974 as a part of, oddly enough, the 7th (Surveillance) Directorate, not the 9th (Guards) Directorate. Alfa Group was created as a special counter-terrorist and crime fighting squad. It also saw service in military conflicts such as the storming of the Darulaman Palace in Kabul on Christmas Day, 1979. It still exists as Alfa Group or Spetsgruppa A in the Russian Main Guard's Administration.

Another KGB Spetsnaz unit was "Vympel" or "Pennant", created in 1981, was part of the 1st (Foreign Intelligence) Chief Directorate. Vympel, which eventaully grew to reinforced battalion strength (about 500) was created as a diversionary force for use abroad in case of war, military conflict, or other special need. It now exists as "Vega" in the Russian MVD.

There were also other lesser known, or possibly short lived, KGB Spetsnaz units including "Kaskad" ("Cascade") in the 8th (Guard's) Directorate, "Zenit", "Grom", and "Spetsgruppa B".

There are no know badges or insignia of any KGB Spetsnaz unit dating from the Soviet period! These units were, after all, truly secret then. However, there are reports that the Royal Blue beret was first used by members of Alfa Group or Vympel before it was, likely, adopted by all uniformed KGB personnel.

There are several items related to Alfa Group that date from the post-Soviet period. These badges are not genuine issue badges but they are not fakes either. They are genuine badges made and sold by non-governmental veteran's organizations.

B.7.1. Alfa Group 20th Anniversary badge.

This screw-back multi-piece tombac badge was made in 1994 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Alfa Group. It is in the usual KGB sword and shield form and is 50mm x 28mm. The obverse has the usual sword, rivited shield rim and horizontal stripes on the shield background. While there is no star or hammer and sickle there is a ribbon in the usual place. The ribbon, a separate piece epoxyed to the main body, has "1974 - 1994" on it and is filled in with high quality, dark red, hot enamel. In the middle of the badge, over the sword blade, is a large dark red enamel "A" with "20" on its lower arms. The "A" is a separate piece and is attached to the 2.5 mm diameter screw-post which passes through a hole in the main body. The main body is just over 1mm thick and the reverse is flat and featureless. The badge is attached with a 20mm diameter "moskovskii monetnyi dvor" screw-nut. The high quality of the badge makes it likely that it was made at this state mint. The badge is likely an unofficial badge sanctioned either by the Alfa unit commander or its veteran's association.

B.7.2. Association of Veterans of Group Alfa badge.

This screw-back two piece tombac badge is the official badge of the Alfa Group veterans association. In other words, it is not a military-issue badge. It is in the usual KGB sword and shield form though it appears a little "fatter" than usual. The badge is 47mm x 28mm. There are no horizontal lines on the barely visible shield background though the rivited shield rim can be seen clearly. Most of the badge is taken up by the attached second piece, a large circle. This circle has an "A" in the centre on a dark red, high quality, hot enamel background. The "A" is surrounded by a laurel leaf wreath. The outer portion of the circle has "assotsiatsiya veteranov gruppy "al'fa"" (Association of Veterans of Group "Alfa") on a dark blue enemal background. This piece is attached to a 2.5 mm diameter screw-post which passes through a hole in the flat, featureless reverse. The badges is attached by a common brass 19mm diameter screw-nut.

The 20th Anniversary of Alfa Group and the Association of Veterans of Alfa Group badges. (Courtesy of Charles Daum, Excaliber Militaria.)

B.7.3. Alfa Group cloth patch

There is a post-Soviet manufactured Alfa Group cloth patch. This patch has real multi-colour embroidery, indicative of the post-Soviet patches, and not the Soviet era heat-affixed yellow rubber. The patch has an "A" over the standard KGB sword and shield symbol with a blank ribbon and laurel leaf wreathing. The top of the shield-shaped patch has "antiterror" on it. This is possibly an official post-Soviet Alfa Group unit uniform patch though no photos of it on a uniform have been seen yet.

The Alfa Group unit cloth patch. (Courtesy of Dennis Desmond, Webmaster of the Spetsnaz Home Page. See the links page of this site for a direct link to the Spetsnaz Home Page.)

B.7.4. Association of Veterans of Group Alfa cloth patch

Another post-Soviet era cloth patch, this one was issued by the same association that issued B.7.2 above. This badge has the more usual heat-affixed rubber instead of real embroidery. The patch has a symbol in the middle which looks just like the badge B.7.2. though without the writing on it. Instead the writing is around the outside of the patch: "assotsiatsiya veteranov spetspodrazdeleniya antiterrora AL'FA-K" or "Association of Veterans of the Special Anti-terrorist Sub-unit ALFA-K". "Podrazdeleniya" or sub-unit is a term reserved for units smaller than a battalion. It is believed the "K" stands for "kompaniya" or company.