Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original Soviet WWII Guards Badge, the distinctive insignia worn by personnel serving in units awarded the prestigious Guards designation. From its construction and overall style, this example is consistent with wartime manufacture and retains its original maker-marked screwback.

The badge measures approximately 2 ¼ x 1 ⅝ inches. The enamel remains in particularly good condition, with no cracking or loss, rare to see. The reverse retains its threaded post and original screwback, which bears a Russian manufacturer marking.

The Soviet Guards title was introduced on September 18, 1941, when Order No. 308 redesignated the 100th, 127th, 153rd, and 161st Rifle Divisions as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Guards Rifle Divisions in recognition of their performance during the Yelnya Offensive. The designation subsequently expanded to numerous infantry, armored, aviation, artillery, naval, and other formations as the war progressed.

The famous Guards badge itself was formally introduced in May 1942 for personnel serving in Guards formations. It was worn on the right side of the uniform and provided a readily visible distinction between Guards personnel and members of ordinary Red Army units. The Guards designation also became part of military rank terminology, allowing personnel to be referred to by titles such as “Guards Major” or “Guards Sergeant.”

Not every Guards formation received the title solely through battlefield distinction. Certain specialized formations, including Guards mortar units equipped with Katyusha rocket launchers and some airborne formations, were designated Guards upon formation or reorganization. By the end of WWII, thousands of Soviet units, formations, and ships had received the designation.

The survival of the original screwback, visible maker marking, strong wartime-style construction, and unusually well-preserved enamel make this a particularly attractive example of one of the most recognizable Soviet military badges of WWII. It represents both individual service and the broader Soviet system of honoring formations distinguished for combat performance and elite status.