USSR. WW2 Excellent Mine Layer badge. 1940s.

In connection with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, a new type of badge was required to award military personnel for highly qualified and selfless performance of official duties under martial law. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief (I.V. Stalin) personally approved this innovation. The new type of badge was established by the order of May 21, 1942. Accordingly, the presentation of previous types of badges of distinction was discontinued. Awards were made by commanders of military units and formations. A certificate was not provided for the badges, but the awarding of them was entered in the military ID. The badges were worn on the right side of the chest. To attach them, a screw pin was used, onto which a nut with the manufacturer’s stamp was screwed. Given the great need for excellent badges, several factories were involved in their production – “Pobeda”, Shcherbinsky Stamping Plant, MTH, Stamping and Mechanical Plant of the NKPS and others. Therefore, many minor differences arose in the appearance of the manufactured badges.