June 25, 20233 yr #2 3 hours ago, Tolzer said: What is this? Any help to identify this is appreciated. Thanks! Hi Tolzer. I believe this is known as a World War Two Chetnik Guerilla / Partisan veterans badge. The artefact, also called a Ravnogorski Znak (Ravna Gora Badge), was made in Eboli, Italy of an aluminium alloy and was awarded to members of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland (JVuO), starting at the end of 1945 until the end of 1946. These badges were given to JVuO members who were then in Allied camps in Italy (Eboli) and Germany (Munster), but not to civilians. The triangular design, with an upright sword through the center, a human skull just above the hand guard, and palm and olive branches crossed over the handle, are similar in both sizes. At the bottom of both large and small badges is stamped “РАВНА ГОРА” (“Ravna Gora”). The Serbian Cyrillic letters “ДМ” (“DM”), which stand for the name of Draža Mihailović, are also incorporated into the design of the badge. The badge was also made in Latin script (PII) for members of the Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces of non Serbian origin and also for some Bosnian Chetniks. The image of the Ravnogorski Znak is now used as a symbol for the Veterans Association of the Royal Yugoslav Army. This larger version of the badge sometimes had the Roman numeral “II” stamped on the blade of the sword for King Peter II Karađorđević (“П”, the Serbian Cyrillic letter for “P”, also appears under the crown), and on the reverse there is always a unique number-of-record stamped into the bottom, under the safety pin. There are many different versions and variations of this badge.
June 27, 20233 yr Author #3 Thank you Gunner87. I found this in Italy many years ago and was never able to identify what is was. Nice Write Up.
June 27, 20233 yr #4 40 minutes ago, Tolzer said: Thank you Gunner87. I found this in Italy many years ago and was never able to identify what is was. Nice Write Up. Hi Tolzer Apparently there is an 'Association of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gore in Great Britain' who can be contacted at info@pscrg.com I wonder if they could advise you as to whether there is a central list held of the badges issued by serial number??? Gunner...
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