Post-War Soviet parachutist's badges.

[Eric Gaumann]

Some examples of post-WW2 Soviet badges.
Left to right.

Row 1: Model 1936 basic badge (1940s-50s issue), Parachutist-Sportsman badge (40s-50s)(Osoavaikhim/Dosaaf issue).
Row 2: M55 basic badge, M55 Excellent badge, M68 basic badge, M68 Excellent badge.
Row 3: M68 Instructor badges, 3 variations.

Forum error: file failed to upload. But I'll keep going.

[Eric Gaumann]

Reverse images. Some are out of order.

[Eric Gaumann]

After getting the Parachutist-Sportsman badge (1st image, top row right) I have spent the last few days trying to figure out exactly what they were.
To the best of my knowledge:
Title: Athlete(or sportsman) parachutist badge
Issuing authority: Osoavaikhim, later Dosaaf

OSOAVIAKhIM (ОСОАВИАХИМ, Союз обществ содействия обороне и авиационно-химическому строительству СССР, Union of Societies of Assistance to Defence and Aviation-Chemical Construction of the USSR) created in 1927, and reorganized in 1951 as:
DOSAAF (ДОСААФ), Volunteer Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Navy (Добровольное Общество Содействия Армии, Авиации и Флоту)
Both were paramilitary organizations and so for participation in or completion of parachutist training members were awarded this badge. Organizations connected to these included the Komsomol and the Voluntary People's Druzhina (Добровольная Народная Дружина, ДНД, Dobrovolnaya Narodnaya Druzhina)

Note that there are two versions: the earlier badge issued by OSOAVIAKhIM and the later by DOSAAF.
Also note that the Voroshilov sharpshooter and horseman badges seem to be issued by the same authority for similar paramilitary feats although I have yet to look deeply into that rabbit hole.
These badges were awarded most probably and usually before military duty and while they were not Soviet military badges per se I would suspect a blind eye might be turned when it came to wearing them on a uniform.

The Parachutist-Sportsman badge from the time period (40s-50s). Marked 'MMA'. The screwplate may or may not be original. Some badges also have a distinct numbered pendant where the numerals are red enamel/paint-filled and the hanging holes are closer together than in this example. This one seems to have the typical pendant found on the M55 or M68 military para badges.

[Marcel Banziger]

Very nice collection! I always liked these badges and want a wartime one for my own collection but never managed to find decent information on what to look for in pre-war vs. wartime vs. postwar badges.

As far as I know these were indeed awarded before military duty however I have seen several photos of these being worn on military uniforms during the war. Have to check my collection because I think I also have one photo of this badge being worn late in the war.

[Eric Gaumann]

An image I altered from the Avers8 catalog regarding the paramilitary para badge:

[Marcel Banziger]

Thanks a lot. Clear differences can be seen indeed.

[Eric Gaumann]

> decent information on what to look for in pre-war vs. wartime vs. postwar badges.

A Russian language forum thread on pre-war para badges: http://www.sammler.ru/index.php?showtopic=27744

[Marcel Banziger]

Excellent. Thanks a lot. Exactly what I was looking for