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.
9 - Akademiya BTV/ Panzer (Tank) Troops
Title in Russian: Академия БТВ
11 - LBBIKA im. Mozhaiskogo/ Higher Leningrad Officer Academy Mozhaiski
Title in Russian: ЛВВИКА им. Можаиского.
13 - VPA im. V. I. Lenina/ Lenin Academy
Title in Russian: ВПА им. В. И Ленина.
15 - VВМИОАУ im. Dzerzhinskogo/ Dzerzinski Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМИОАУ им. Дзержинского.
17 - VVMURZ im. A. C. Popova
Title in Russian: ВВМУРЗ им. А С Попова.
19 - VAS Academy
Title in Russian: ВАС.
21 - VMA im. S. M. Kirova/Kirov Academy
Title in Russian: ВМА им. С. М. Кирова.
23 - VPU Academy
Title in Russian: ВПУ.
25 - VYUA Academy.KVVA Academy
Title in Russian: ВЮА.
27 - VAEFP VYUF Academy
Title in Russian: ВАЭФП ВЮФ.
29 - VVMU Kaliningradskoe Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМУ Калининградское.
31 - LVVPU Academy
Title in Russian: ЛВВПУ.
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.
8 - VVA im. Gagarina/ Gagarin Academy
Title in Russian: ВВА им. Гагарина.
10 - ChVVMU im. Nakhimova/ Nakhimov Academy
Title in Russian: ЧВВМУ им. Нахимова
12 - Podvodnogo VVMU Plavaniya/ Naval Academy, Submarine Navigation
Title in Russian: Подводного ВВМУ Плавания.
14 - VA im. Dzerzhinskogo/ Dzerzinski Academy
Title in Russian: ВА им. Дзержинского.
16 - VMA im. Kuznetsova/ Kuznets Academy
Title in Russian: ВМА им Кузнецова.
18 - VASA Academy
Title in Russian: ВАСА.
20 - KVVA Academy
Title in Russian: КВВА.
22 - VAA Academy
Title in Russian: ВВА.
24 - VVM UPP Academy
Title in Russian: ВВМ УПП.
26 - VIA im. Kuybysheva Academy/Kuybyshev Academy
Title in Russian: ВИА им. Куйбышева.
28 - TOVVMU im. Makarova/Makarov Academy
Title in Russian: ТОВВМУ им.Макарова.
30 - RAGS pri Prezidenterf Academy
Title in Russian: РАГС при Президентерф.
32 - VMII Academy
Title in Russian: ВМИИ.
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.