The NVA and Soviet/Russian Academy Badges
During the Soviet period, the Russian armed forces, police and related agencies created a bewildering number of academies offering specialized training. The academies varied by specialization, branch of service, rank, and even by locality. Identifying by their badges the type of advanced training offered by many of the academies remains difficult.
Sources say that academy badges are no longer obtainable on the open market in Russia, part of the government’s all-too-successful crackdown on the sale of military insignia.
Higher officers in the East German armed forces and certain other agencies commonly attended professional academies in the Soviet Union. Upon graduating, they were entitled to wear one or more of the badges listed below. NVA generals and admirals, in particular, were expected to spend up to 2 years in the USSR attending academies at the general staff level for flag officers.
The screw-back badges follow a consistent pattern: diamond-shaped white badges rimmed in silver, usually with a silver plate identifying the academy. Badges awarded to generals and admirals are rimmed in gold.
Measurements: HEIGHT: 1 7/8 inches/4.8 cm. WIDTH (Maximum): 1 inch/2.8 cm.
Soviet Academy Badges
1 - VA im. Frunze/ Frunze Academy: Army Officers
Title in Russian: ВА им. Фрунзе.Description: The Army branch of the Unions foremost academy for training field grade officers for higher positions.
2 - VVMU im. Frunze/ Frunze Academy: Navy/Marine Officers
Title in Russian: ВВМУ им. Фрунзе.
Description: The naval branch of the Unions foremost academy for training field grade officers for higher positions.
3 - VVIA im. Zhukovskogo/ Zhukov Academy
Title in Russian: ВВИА имю Жуковского.
4 - SVVMIU/ Higher Marine Engineering Academy, Sevastopol
Title in Russian: СВВМИУ.
5 - VVMIU im. Lenina/ V. I. Lenin Higher Military Naval Engineering Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМИУ им. Ленина.
6 - VAS im. Budennogo/Signals Academy Budennyi
Title in Russian: ВАС им Будённого.
7 - VATT/ Logistics Academy
Title in Russian: ВАТТ.
8 - VVA im. Gagarina/ Gagarin Academy
Title in Russian: ВВА им. Гагарина.
9 - Akademiya BTV/ Panzer (Tank) Troops
Title in Russian: Академия БТВ
10 - ChVVMU im. Nakhimova/ Nakhimov Academy
Title in Russian: ЧВВМУ им. Нахимова
11 - LBBIKA im. Mozhaiskogo/ Higher Leningrad Officer Academy Mozhaiski
Title in Russian: ЛВВИКА им. Можаиского.
12 - Podvodnogo VVMU Plavaniya/ Naval Academy, Submarine Navigation
Title in Russian: Подводного ВВМУ Плавания.
13 - VPA im. V. I. Lenina/ Lenin Academy
Title in Russian: ВПА им. В. И Ленина.
14 - VA im. Dzerzhinskogo/ Dzerzinski Academy
Title in Russian: ВА им. Дзержинского.
15 - VВМИОАУ im. Dzerzhinskogo/ Dzerzinski Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМИОАУ им. Дзержинского.
16 - VMA im. Kuznetsova/ Kuznets Academy
Title in Russian: ВМА им Кузнецова.
17 - VVMURZ im. A. C. Popova
Title in Russian: ВВМУРЗ им. А С Попова.
18 - VASA Academy
Title in Russian: ВАСА.
19 - VAS Academy
Title in Russian: ВАС.
20 - KVVA Academy
Title in Russian: КВВА.
21 - VMA im. S. M. Kirova/Kirov Academy
Title in Russian: ВМА им. С. М. Кирова.
22 - VAA Academy
Title in Russian: ВВА.
23 - VPU Academy
Title in Russian: ВПУ.
24 - VVM UPP Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМ УПП.
25 - VYUA Academy.KVVA Academy
Title in Russian: ВЮА.
26 - VIA im. Kuybysheva Academy/Kuybyshev Academy
Title in Russian: ВИА им. Куйбышева.
27 - VAEFP VYUF Academy
Title in Russian: ВАЭФП ВЮФ.
28 - TOVVMU im. Makarova/Makarov Academy
Title in Russian: ТОВВМУ им.Макарова.
29 - VVMU Kaliningradskoe Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМУ Калининградское.
30 - RAGS pri Prezidenterf Academy
Title in Russian: РАГС при Президентерф.
31 - LVVPU Academy
Title in Russian: ЛВВПУ.
32 - VMII Academy
Title in Russian: ВМИИ.
33S - Soviet Armed Forces Junior Officer Academy Badge
Description: Lieutenant-grade officers in the Soviet armed forces received this badge upon graduating from officer intermediate training school. It is valuable to collectors in that it can be put on a wide range of officer tunics.
34 - Soviet MVD Political Academy Graduation Badge: Intermediate Level
Description: The MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs) evolved out of the notorious NKVD to become one of the pillars of the Soviet system of state security. Under Stalin, the authority of the MVD reached into every area of Soviet life. To staff its massive empire, the MVD operated a large number of specialized academies, including the intermediate level political academy whose badge for graduates is offered here.
35 - Soviet Period Stalin Academy Tank Badge: Akademiya BTV
Description: Quite appropriately, the Soviet Army named its major academy for studying and practicing armor tactics after Joseph Stalin, the USSR's leader in World War 2. We cannot furnish names, but believe that the academy was also open to officers in the East German armed forces.