1940s Soviet Red Army Parachute Jump Badge – 1936 Type, Rare Original Issue

Description

Original Item – Only One Available. A rare early Soviet Parachutist qualification badge of the 1936 pattern, representing the formative decades of Soviet military parachute training and the emergence of the Red Army's airborne forces. The original Parachutist badge was instituted on 12 February 1931 by OSOAVIAKhIM, the Soviet defense and aviation training society, and was subsequently authorized for wear by Red Army personnel in March 1932. Awarded to military personnel and civilian parachutists who had successfully completed qualifying parachute jumps, it became a distinctive symbol of airborne proficiency during an era when parachuting was developing from an experimental aviation discipline into an essential military capability. Badges of this pattern remained in use throughout the Second World War and the early postwar period, closely associated with Red Army parachute training, airborne formations, and the pioneering generations of Soviet military parachutists.

The badge retains the characteristic elongated, pointed shield of the early Soviet design, executed in metal with vivid cobalt-blue enamel and gilt-toned detailing. A white-enamel parachute canopy dominates the upper portion, with eight finely outlined suspension lines converging upon the small white figure of a descending parachutist. Above the canopy rises a red five-pointed star bearing the Soviet hammer and sickle, completing the original composition established during the earliest years of Soviet parachuting. The reverse exhibits a smooth, slightly concave surface with substantial natural patination. Particularly desirable is the original circular screwplate bearing the manufacturer's inscription "LENIZO Enamel Factory," identifying the Leningrad enamel-producing establishment associated with early examples of this pattern. 

The historical significance of this badge extends beyond its role as a parachute qualification insignia. The 1936 pattern belongs to the period in which the Soviet Union established itself as a pioneer of large-scale military parachuting, ultimately developing airborne formations that participated in the Second World War. Earlier screwback examples are particularly appealing to specialist collectors for their traditional metal construction, period enamelwork, and identifiable manufacturing variations, which distinguish them from later Soviet parachutist badges. With its original LENIZO-marked screwplate, attractive early design, and well-preserved enamel, this is a desirable period example for collectors of Red Army insignia, Soviet airborne history, and early military aviation qualifications.