Unkown badge identification

[Komandir RKKA]

This badge was found with SS-man remains in Novgorod region. I didn't clean it yet.
Anybody can help to identify this badge?
Maybe belongs to ethnik SS division?

[Komandir RKKA]

Cleaned and identified as latvian "Excellent marksman" . Prewartime made in Riga.
Belonged to latvian SS-man, or former latvian folksdeutsche SS-man.

[vacollector]

Return the badge to the remains. Grave robbing fallen soldiers is a crime.

[Komandir RKKA]

Be careful with your charges when you don't know the reality.

[mike y]

Be careful with your charges when you don't know the reality.

Please enlighten with the reality

[tampalam]

I draw the line at looting graves. The remains should have been turned over to authorities. I would never buy something from a grave. Have some respect for the dead. Even if this was an enemy.

[Komandir RKKA]

Please enlighten with the reality

Probably you don't know, but the most soldiers fallen on Ost front are still not buried and remains of this one was also found on german front position and this SS-man never was buried (but now he is).
My russian friend who send me this badge isn't grave robber, but if you are thinking that all soviet and german combat positions somewhere in Novgorod region are cemeteries, he is.

[Komandir RKKA]

Do you know about combat used items collectors ?
Are they all grave robbers?
Do you understand that the whole Eastern front war field is one big grave?
Most combat items came to collectors from East front belonged to killed solldiers and found not far or exactly on their last positions.

[rbminis]

IMHO, if this badge was found with remains, this is grave robbing.

[Komandir RKKA]

You are not right.
In Russia the bones wich was found on battle field never considered buried.
That's why such a bones collected in special cases and then buried according the military order in other places - military cemeteries.

[rbminis]

You are not right.
In Russia the bones wich was found on battle field never considered buried.
That's why such a bones collected in special cases and then buried according the military order in other places - military cemeteries.

Sorry, in my opinion, where these bones lay are their graves until they are found and moved to a cemetary. Taking anything from these soldiers in my opinion is grave robbing.
Although my father survived fighting in Russia, one of these men could very easily have been him.

[Komandir RKKA]

My personal opinion on this problem also is very different , but I've never expressed it here in such a form and try to respect my russian friends efforts in military archeology.

[tampalam]

If the remains are afforded the courtesy of an attempt to identify and them and to give them a military honors burial, I have no problem with the military equipment being taken from the places where they fell. If, however, the items are taken from a burial, then it is grave robbing. Personal civilian effects such as items from home (photo books or lockets and such) should be turned over to any surviving relatives of the fallen soldier.

I hope that the guys doing the digging are keeping meticulous records of everyhing and putting the information where it can be used to fill in historical gaps. I wouldn't mind going there and helping with the digs if this is beeing done with respect. I also have no problem with the diggers making money as long as respect is given to any human remains.

[Bart]

You are not right.
In Russia the bones wich was found on battle field never considered buried.
That's why such a bones collected in special cases and then buried according the military order in other places - military cemeteries.

If they send in the dog tags it's ok.