A rare, gold coloured metal badge with a 3.3cm wide badge face and a long, stick pin style fastener to the rear. This is a souvenier pin from the Czechoslovak national aircraft aerobatics championships (Mistrostvi CSSR) from 1961 in the Czech city of Plzen. Depicting the Czech red, white & blue aircraft roundel under eagle's wings. The Svazarm lion in a star logo crest is above this and below is the text 'PLZEN 1961'.
The event was organised by the Svazarm, a paramilitary group that existed in Czechoslovakia under communism.
Historical Background
The Svazarm were formed in 1951 in former Czechoslovakia to train the population in military based disciplines. The svazarm was a copy of the Soviet DOSAAF paramilitary group. The activities the Svazarm provided were extremely diverse, ranging from medical training to dog training. Dog lovers would be instructed in the training and breeding of dogs suitable for military purposes, especially German Shepherds. Shortwave radio operation was another popular activity, and was also useful for creating future radio operators in the army.
A more specialised branch of the Svazarm, based at Kosice, trained pilots for the air force. Training included at least twenty flight hours of glider training and forty hours of basic training on motorised aeroplanes, as well as the necessary aviation theory. There ware also sections: Model airplanes and gliding (formally DOSLET), motor sport section (motorcycles and cars) and all sort of shooting sports. (rifle, pistol)
