Variants of the "Liberation from fascism" medal, Is there a RSR version?

This is the first medal established by the Romanian communists in 1949, after they seized power. It was awarded to soldiers who fought on the Western Front, after Romania changed sides. It can be considered a WW2 victory medal.

Romania had another medal for WW2 participants, the “Crusade against communism” medal, established in 1942 (and obviously awarded only to the participants in the Eastern Campaign, it was promptly banned by the communists afterwards).

The front of the “Liberation” medal shows the busts of two soldiers, one Romanian and one Soviet, surrounded by the text “Eliberarea de sub jugul fascist” (Liberation from the fascist yoke). The reverse has the text “RPR In slujba poporului muncitor” (RPR Serving the working people) surrounded by a laurel wreath.
Some rare examples of this medal are cased (see photo for a case).

Medal:


Case:


Nicolae Ceausescu still awarded these medals in the 70's. Did these late medals have RSR on them instead of RPR? Also, is there another known version of this medal?

Yes, I believe that was the only difference-they rarely are on the market.

Were these RSR medals awarded in a case?

I do not know-the only one I have seen was not in a case.

Thank you.

Yes, I believe that was the only difference-they rarely are on the market.

Was the design left unchanged in the 1970s? Namely, is the Soviet soldier still shown on the embossing?

Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on January 20, 2006 12:28 am

My memory is that the only change was RPR to RSR. I have one and will try to find it this weekend, and post a pic-I recently moved and can't find anything.

RSR Version

Thank you Cuza, very interesting.

Some of these late medals were awarded to women. I wonder if there were also women who received the original version.

I have one RPR model, but it was awarded without a case and came in a sort of paper pouch.

I also have this medal. It was given to a ww2 veteran and was cought by the brevet.