Badges & Cocarde

Ravna Gora Badge

Ravnogorski Znak was made in Italy after WWII. Manufactured (late 1945) in full size and miniature. It became the symbol for the Soldiers Association of the Royal Yugoslav Army. It was also made in the Latin script for members of the Royal Yugoslav armed forces of non-Serbian origin. Highly symbolic triangle with the two headed eagle and the letters P and D M (in Cyrillic) which represent King Petar II and Gen. Draža Mihailović. At the base of the badge are the words “Ravna Gora“ the mountain where General Mihailović formed one of Europes first Allied resistance movements during WWII.

Dinarska Kokarda

The Dinarska Cocarde was most likely made during wartime. Worn by members of the Dinaric Chetnik Division whose commander was Vojvoda Momčilo Đujić. It used a bullet casing and aluminium for the skull and cross bones. Some suggest that this cocarde was a copy of the pre WWII wartime cocarde see below. The two headed eagle appears to be stamped with a die and the skull cast. Made of brass it has a red cloth backing.

Ratna Kokarda

Wartime Cocarde probably made prior to WWII. Several versions exist however with minimal differences.  On the reverse some versions had the name of the mint, in this case: “Ковница АД Београд” (translated: Mint AD Belgrade). The term AD is believed to be something similar to what we call today a corporation. This badge was struck in two pieces, probably brass with silver plated eagles. The skull, possibly bronze is on a black painted background.

Officers Kokarda

Several versions exist of the Officers Cocarde. However, it always had the two headed eagle with a single crown; the monarchs initial П II (Petar II Karageorgevich) on top of the Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia) represented by the four letters “C” (Serbs); the checkerboard (Croats) and the crescent and three stars of Celje  (Slovenes), surrounded by oak and laurel leaves.

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) Kokarda

Once again, several versions exist however all with a similar theme. Two examples with the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Serbian crests (without oak and laurel leaves), worn by soldiers.

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) Kokarda

As above

Officers Dinarska Kokarda

This cocarde was first worn by Djuro Djurdjevic in 1943 at Dalmatinsko Kosovo. The words around the laurel leaves are “With Faith in God for King and Country”