Russian Karelian Front Badge – 1922

Product Description:  A rare Russian Karelian Front Badge, 1922. This Soviet military artifact is crafted from brass gilt with silver plating and “cold” enamel. Measuring 55.27 mm in height and 37.26 mm in width, it showcases superb craftsmanship and historical significance. The badge features a three-piece construction with a silver shield, crossed rifles, and an early Red Army star with the hammer and plow emblem. It bears the correct spelling “Karelskogo” (“Карельского”), unlike the older “Karelskago.” The original tin star was replaced with a solid copper piece with “cold” enamel, likely by the recipient, adding a distinctive, period-authentic touch.Despite this customization, the badge is exceptionally well-preserved, with bright gold on the wreath and intact silver on the shield. The period-correct pin on the reverse remains functional. Originally a jetton, not a badge, these pieces were produced without attachments, leaving recipients to add pins or screw posts as needed. This example stands out for its excellent condition compared to the typically corroded or heavily restored counterparts. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a genuine Russian Karelian Front Badge, a rare and significant piece of Soviet history in excellent condition.

Historical Description: The Russian Karelian Front Badge was issued to commemorate the Soviet victory in the Karelian campaign, which took place between October 1921 and February 1922. In one of the final episodes of the Russian Civil War, an anti-communist peasant rebellion erupted across Karelia and the Murmansk region, with rebels seeking to secede from Soviet Russia. The Bolshevik government attributed the uprising to intervention by neighboring “White Finns” and dispatched a punitive expedition of 8,500 men under commanders like Kamenev and Gittis. In December 1921, the Red Army launched an offensive from three rallying points and, by February 17, 1922, had successfully crushed the “White” resistance, pushing the front to the Finnish border. Participants in the battle were awarded the jetton “Honest Warrior of the Karelian Front,” the first Soviet campaign medal. While no certificate accompanied the award, it was recorded in the recipient’s military ID and service record, cementing their contribution to the Soviet victory in Karelia.

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