Material: Gilt metal with red enamel and painted details
Size: 45mm w x 60mm h
Description: This vintage commemorative breast badge from the Soviet Union was explicitly manufactured for veterans who served in the 87th Perekop Red Banner Rifle Division. The central composition takes the shape of a massive multi-layered gold starburst radiating stylized beams, overlaid with rich crimson cold enamel accents along the primary star points. Spanned across the upper half of the medallion is a layered banner bearing the gilded Russian inscription "87 ПЕРЕКОПСКАЯ КРАСНОЗНАМЕННАЯ ДИВИЗИЯ" (87th Perekop Red Banner Division). The lower portion features a crescent-shaped white enamel scroll inscribed with the word "ВЕТЕРАН" (Veteran) framing a light blue medallion that illustrates a PPSh-41 submachine gun crossed over a golden laurel branch. The main badge body suspends via a small metal connector ring from a rectangular brass ribbon block filled with deep red enamel and a single golden palm branch symbol.
Reverse: Raised in sharp, blocky Cyrillic relief lettering across the center are five major battle honors: "СТАЛИНГРАД" (Stalingrad), "ДОНБАСС" (Donbass), "ПЕРЕКОП" (Perekop), "СЕВАСТОПОЛЬ" (Sevastopol), and "ПРИБАЛТИКА" (Baltics). These dynamic geographic indicators sequentially outline the division's historic wartime campaign route from the defense of the Volga to the final operations in Eastern Europe. The smaller upper rectangular suspension plate retains its authentic mounting configuration, showcasing a horizontal steel safety pin clasp permanently affixed to the center via a thick, hand-soldered brass bracket.
Notes:
Late Soviet veterans’ badges of this kind commemorated specific wartime formations and were often issued for reunions, anniversaries, or Victory Day observances. They were memorial and association pieces rather than official wartime decorations.