Interior Ministry buckle?

[Kevin Rea]

Hello all,
Just wondering about a brass Soviet buckle featuring a globe with hammer and sickle and star, surrounded by a wreath with ribbons on it. Could this be Interior Ministry?
Thanks,
Kevin

[Rick Research]

That sounds like civil police ("militia"). The number of Republic "ribbons" on the wreath would help date it-- Left side 5, 1 on bottom bow, right side 5 = pre-1947, 8-1-7 = 1947-56, 7-1-7 = post 1956... but as I recall I think they stopped using this type in the mid 1950s.

I'll go rummage in Tokar's not always reliable Police book to see.

Here are the crests, as used on Soviet Generals' buttons, showing what I mean about the 5-1-5, 8-1-7, 7-1-7:

[Kevin Rea]

Militia/Police buckle

Hello Rick,
Thanks very much for the very prompt reply! My version is the 8-1-7.
I am a collector of buckles, German primarily, but also Czarist and Soviet bloc. Anyone else out there? There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on the subject. Another question -- When did the classic Soviet brass (sometimes steel with brass plating) star, hammer & sickle buckle come into use? WW2 pics and film footage rarely show it, with the exception of the officers' version, which seems to date from the late '30s. I have seen pics of the buckle in use among troops occupying Germany after 1945.
Another question for you experts -- I have a gray steel Soviet buckle on a green web belt with 1956 date stamp. What is the story with this one? Tropical?
Happy New Year to all!
Kevin Rea

[Kim J]

Hi Kevin

I thought I was all alone in collecting soviet buckles This makes two of us... The classic army buckle with the big star was issue from, I think as I have no proof other than a dated photo, 1945. There is also a smaller version of this buckle, used by cadets.

Red Navy buckles are older than the army ones, they were issued in the 30-ties.

If you join the soviet award forum you can see some photos I posted on older buckles. Can't post pics here, probably because I'm a newbie...

/Kim