Graduate badge of G. Dimitrov Military Artillery School of Higher Education
GEORGI DIMITROV is one of the few Bulgarians who is included in world encyclopedias. Though subject to much dispute, there is little doubt about the strength of his influence on Bulgaria's modern history. He and the communist rulers that succeeded him were caught in the despotic grip of Stalin's Asiatic regime. The power of that regime was imposed on Bulgaria after World War II, under Georgi Dimitrov's direction. The Leipzig fire trial of 1933 was a defining moment in his life and career. Accused of having set the Reichstag on fire, he defended himself brilliantly, and the imperial court was compelled to acquit him. Prime Minister Dimitrov was a Stalin-style party leader who imposed the Communist Party as the single ruling power in the country, eliminated the bourgeois opposition from political life and crushed ideological resistance by means of staged trials and political oppression and executions.
Military school graduate badges were made after the Soviet model badges of this type: with a “rhomb” form and screw back reverse. What should be noted is that here in Bulgaria these badges played an important role in the Communist military awarding system; they were valued to all military men. Even if someone was later awarded with orders and titles of a higher rank, he kept on wearing the Graduate badge.
There are about 10 military schools (academies), each having 1, 2 or 3 emission badges.
The initial emission of the badges, also called “silver”, is characterized by a solid silver base, white enamel and a silver plate bearing the name of the school. These badges are a bit heavier than the emissions to come.
The second emission has a base and plate made of different metals, the enamel is white too.
The third emission is much different than the previous two by its cream colored enamel.
Some of the emissions differ also by the acronym-name of the school or by the coat of arms, in the latter case depending on whether the emission was issued before or after 1971.
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