Help needed

[VC89]

I received this pin with some stuff from the Belgian Para-Commandos. It looks like it is a Russian pin or medal but I can't find anything of it. Do sombody on this forum know what it is?

[tynesideirish]

It's one of dozens of 'Former Soviet bloc' airborne badge flooding the market. Probably Czechoslovak or Bulgarian. Doubtful that it is genuine, if indeed that pattern of badge was even issued in the 1st instance. I'm no expert on Russian Airborne Forces but it is not in my War Office Restricted Soviet Army Uniforms 1961 book or Osprey Soviet Bloc Elite Forces.

[cossack]

I can tell you it says 'Tulskaya' at the bottom so I would assume it relates to the city of Tula which was a major weapons producer. Maybe the 50 relates to 50 years snce the end of WW2 but who knows as modern Russian stuff is not my thing, if it was Imperial I could tell you straight away

Hopefully the place name might give you a clue in searching for it!

Regards....Andy

[VC89]

Thx for the info.

I found that the 106th Guards Airborne have their garrison in Tula and they have the same word on their insignia. Because of the the 50 on the medal I also thought it was a commemorative medal of some sort. Could be 50 years after the war, their 50 years anniversary, etc. I don't know that part yet nor have I seen a picture of this medal on the internet.