Aug 5, 2008

Soviet Military Awards

The collapse of the Soviet Union opened up a wave of interest in collecting Soviet military memorabilia. Western visitors to Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union could purchase medals, hats, and even full uniforms in open-air markets for a song. It is still possible to find their like in souvenir markets, but the prices they command are much greater than in the early 1990s. What may have begun as novelty souvenirs for travelers seeded interest in building full-fledged collections. Now individuals seek out information about the items in their collection and search for special items to fill out those collections.

The site Soviet Military Awards is a welcome home for these collectors. Begun when interest in this subject took off, the site offers pages and pages of useful descriptions and photos of Soviet awards. The forum brings enthusiasts together in one place. These pieces of the past represent Soviet values and say much about the former USSR.