A Collection of Soviet Union Cold War Military Uniform Items and Insignia Including VDV Airborne Forces Beret

This collection comprises a variety of late 20th-century Soviet military items and insignia. Included is a light blue wool felt beret, the official headwear of the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) introduced in 1968. The beret features a side-mounted metal cockade with a red enamel five-pointed star and hammer and sickle within a gold-tone laurel wreath. The lot includes several sets of shoulder boards (pagoni): one pair for a Junior Lieutenant in field tan with gold-tone stars; one pair for a Lieutenant in olive drab with a red longitudinal stripe and gold-tone stars; a single tan board with a metal VDV parachute and aircraft emblem above a Cyrillic letter C representing the Soviet Army; a pair of light blue boards with white stripes and crossed rifle insignia; and a pair of black fabric boards with red piping. Two metal and enamel badges are present: a Soviet Guards (Gvardiya) badge featuring a red banner and star with a laurel wreath, and a blue and white enamel paratrooper qualification rhombus. A standard issue dark brown leather waist belt completes the lot, featuring a heavy brass buckle embossed with a large five-pointed star containing the hammer and sickle motif.