Badge to a Fighter of OKDVA, OSOAVIAKhIM issue, 1930.
Brass, enamels; the oval portion not including the
protruding hat of the solider and flagpole finial measures
41.7 mm in height (the "egg" portion only not including the
soldier's head) x 32.7 mm in width. Two-piece construction:
the cogwheel and star emblem is a separate, superimposed
part attached by wires. Shows the railroad passing among the
distinctive Manchurian sopka hills. The writing on
the background is "KVZhD" - Cyrillic abbreviation for the
Chinese Eastern Railroad. The raised inscription along the
edge is "OSOAVIAKhIM. To a Fighter of OKDVA".
In fine overall condition. The enamel on the banner is well-
preserved overall, better than on most other surviving
examples of this badge. There is a single tiny repair in the
upper corner of the banner, a triangular area roughly 3 mm
tall. The enamel on the rest of the banner is largely intact
having only minor scratches and minimal surface flaking
along the right edge. It retains very attractive luster. A
substantial portion of the enamel on the star is replaced
with the same epoxy based compound as in the upper tip of
the banner. Judging by its amateur nature, this is probably
a very old repair, very possibly done by the original owner
of the badge.
The badge shows very little overall wear and its raised
details are exceptionally well preserved. In particular, the
face of the soldier, his hand holding the rifle, and his hat
are crisp and nearly pristine - an extremely uncommon case
for this badge. The raised inscription "OSOAVIAKhIM" is
completely intact (many recipients had it erased, apparently
to emphasize the "military" nature of their decoration).
Traces of the original silver finish are visible in recessed
areas on both sides of the badge. The screw post is of full
length, approx. 10 mm; unlike many of the OKDVA badges we
have seen, the screw post has not been repaired and remains
fully functional. The badge includes scarce original screw
plate marked "FABMASS Factory, Leningrad".
The badge was issued to the servicemen of the Order of the
Red Banner Far Eastern Special Army (OKDVA) who participated
in the 1929 campaign against the Manchurian warlord. This
"lightning" offensive led by Marshal Blyukher reestablished
Soviet control over the strategic railroad built by Russia
in the early 1900s. The decisive and relatively easy victory
gave Blyukher celebrity status in the Soviet Union and
enormous power in the Far East. Thus it may have also
spelled his doom - he would be the last of the top Soviet
military commanders to be executed prior to the Patriotic
War. Although instituted by the OSOAVIAKhIM paramilitary
organization, the OKDVA badge is rightfully considered a
military award, essentially a campaign medal.
/"Avers 8", p. 311, fig. 1528; also Borisov, "Badges
of the Soviet Armed Forces", fig. 138, V. Durov, "Russian
and Soviet Military Awards" p. 72, fig. 3/
$295.00 