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1989 IUS International Youth Students Union 50th Anniversary Pin Badge

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A pretty 1989 gold coloured metal pin badge from the IUS and marking the 50th anniversary of the Prague student massacre
The badge face is 2.6cm wide and has a long stick pin style fastener to the rear. It features the IUS logo in the centre of the '50' and the date 17th November.
November 17, 1939 (Friday)
Germans stormed the university dorms in Prague and other towns in the former Czechoslovakia, attacking and arresting thousands of students. The Nazis executed nine Czechs by firing squad without trial that day for leading the recent demonstrations.[24][27] Today International Students' Day is observed on November 17 in remembrance of the students who were killed or sent to concentration camps for opposing the Nazis.

The IUS, formed in Prague in 1946 and was a worldwide student association recognised by the United Nation. Created to defend student rights, improve welfare and education standards.
It was apparent, even in 1946, that the opposing influences of democracy and communism would hinder long term cooperation of IUS student bodies around the globe. Within years the Western democracies had withdrawn support and the IUS turned its attention to spreading the benefits of socialism to the student bodies of South America and Africa,
The Czechs had never wanted the IUS to become a pro-Soviet organ. Many Czech liberals were operating as best they could within the structure of the IUS. Funding came from the Czech and Soviet governments and in 1990 the organisation was expelled from Czech lands because of it's pro-Russian stance.

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