"GVARDIA"
BADGE
The
"GVARDIA" badge was instituted on 21 May 1942 by order of
Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR at the same time with institution
of gvardian ranks for soldiers and officers. (For example: when the
unit got the gvardian title, soldier or officer got the "gvardian"
tilte for his rank "gvardian sergant", "gvardian major",
etc.)
The
first units to get the "GVARDIA" title were: 100, 127, 153
and 161 infantry divisions for merit and courage in September of 1941.
(Later they were renamed 1, 2, 3 and 4 Gvardian Infatry Divisions),
first air unit was the 29 Redbanners Fighters Air Regiment, and first
ship were the "Stoykiy" ("The Staunch One") destroyer
and the cruiser "Krasniy Kavkaz" ("Red Caucasus").
This symbol had also been used by tanks and aircrafts crews for decoration
of turrets and fuselages of units that hadgvardian ranks.
RussianLegacy.com
is selling post-war versions of this badge, 100% authentic, made in
the Soviet Union.
