A brief study of Soviet ribbons and suspensions.

[Eric Gaumann]

We've had a few questions of late about ribbons and suspensions. I've collected a few of mine to show some different examples.

The upper row in the photo shows what wear and tear looks like on original ribbons. Note the wear on the sides, the four corners and where the ribbon covers the connection of the suspension to the medal.
In the second row 2nd, 3rd and 5th from the left show what replacement ribbons typically look like; very crisp and pristine (despite the faded ribbon on the 3rd from left.)
The 3rd and 4th rows are simply the reverse of the 1st and 2nd rows.
In the 3rd row the 1st item on the left is an older, suspension for an Order; made of white metal and a steel backplate it is magnetic as is the pin. Note the typical rust stains on the ribbon. The next 3 items after the 1st show two versions of the earlier, two piece medal suspensions followed by 2 single layer suspensions in brass and finally a late Soviet era aluminum suspension style.
The bottom row begins with another two piece Order suspension; this one in aluminum and tinplate backplate. The following three are examples of brass or steel two piece styles. The 5th item in the row is a version that was not actually included with an awarded item. It was available for purchase at the local voenkomat as a replacement, as were ribbons.
Hope this helps.

[Marcel Banziger]

Very informative for those new into Soviet medals....and nice collection!

Worth adding: connecting rings and pins on suspensions are fragile. In combat these often broke hence the replacement suspensions.
Furthermore many veterans still wear their medals and orders for parades and reunions and they always wanna look at their best. Therefor one can see the many replaced ribbons on Soviet medals. Some even change the ribbon annuallly for the victory parade. That said, it is quite common to see replaced ribbons and this doesn't really affect the value (myself I prefer the original, combat worn ribbons though).

[Eric Gaumann]

Thanks Marcel! I was hoping you'd add to the conversation.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Eric,

Great learning thread and lovely display of ribbons and suspension types, thanks for putting this together.

I assume the 2 piece suspension are wartime, but were there any one-piece suspension done during the war too?

Thanks

Tom

[Marcel Banziger]

The medals were awarded with a two-piece suspension yes but these were replaced when broken with either a double-piece suspension and later in war single piece brass suspensions. The lightweight aluminum single piece suspensions are postwar as Eric showed in the thread's first post. So yes, there were single-piece suspensions during the war as well.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Marcel,


Thanks for the info and confirming that some single-piece suspensions were used wartime.



Tom