Soviet Lieutenant of Paratroops (1)

[David S]

First . . . I have only a basic knowledge of Soviet uniforms, insignia, decorations and medals. The fact that my gray matter is unable to digest and comprehend the cyrillic alphabet is a major roadblock. That doesn't
stop the fascination.

These pictures came as a bonus on something (non russian) I got on eBay.

What color would the collar tab piping be??

[David S]

Here is the parachute qualification badge.

Apologies for the picture quality.

[David S]

The collar insignia.

[David S]

The back

[Vadim K]

And the last one... Betmanov Vasiliy Spiridonovich, Oct. 26, 1939. Signature verified by an officer whose info I cannot make out in April, 1940

[David S]

Vadim, Many Thanks for the deciphering . . .

[HuliganRS]

The badge to the left of parachute qualification badge is a GTO badge.

GTO = Gotov k Trudu e Oborone = Ready for Labor and Defense.

Rusty.

[Rick Research]

He is a POLITICAL COMMISSAR-- they had "enlisted" tab edging (in this case, black) instead of "officer" gold tab edging.

I don't recognize the parachute badge: it is something "extra"-- either "master" or "instructor"-- not the NORMAL one, with that wide edging.

The splotched stamp with missing letters is the "(Kharkov?)skovo Military..... School"

[Vadim K]

The splotched stamp with missing letters is the "(Kharkov?)skovo Military..... School"

Another stamp I did not look at... Yes, it is "Kharkovskoe"

[NavyFCO]

First . . . I have only a basic knowledge of Soviet uniforms, insignia, decorations and medals. The fact that my gray matter is unable to digest and comprehend the cyrillic alphabet is a major roadblock. That doesn't
stop the fascination.

David,

If you want any more of these, let me know... I've got about a thousand of them for sale...

--Dave

[John F.]

I don't recognize the parachute badge: it is something "extra"-- either "master" or "instructor"-- not the NORMAL one, with that wide edging.

Rick:

That parachute badge could be a Parachutist-Sportsman type. I know the Sportsman version had a wide white border and Vadim stated the year "1939" and that would have been the correct year for production on that type of badge.

John

[Ciaran Byrne]

I have quite a few photos of air force personnel wearing para qualification badges. This would suggest to me that pilots who were para trained would wear these badges and not paratroopers as early Soviet para formations were part of the army and would not wear air force insignia.
Soviet paracute formations were incorporated into the air force after the war.