The following information was provided courtesy of:
Alex V.Naida
Schelkovo,Russia

The "GVARDIA" badge was instituted 21.05.1942 by order of Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR as the same time with institution of gvardian ranks for soldiers and officers.(For example :when the unit got the gvardian title,soldier or officer got the "gvardian" tilte for his rank "gvardian sergant","gvar- dian major" etc.)

The first units to get the "GVARDIA" title were :
100,127,153 and 161 infantry divisions for merit and courage in Se- ptember of 1941.(Later were renamed in 1,2,3 and 4 Gvardian infa- try Divisions),first air unit was the 29 Redbanners Fighters Airregim- ent,and first ships were the "Stoykiy" destroyer and cruiser "Krasniy Kavkaz". This symbol also had been used by tanks and aircrafts crews for de- coration of turrets and fuselages if the unit has a gvardian rank.

The example displayed on this page is a post-war production of this badge.

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