Chinese Shanghai Air Defense Medal Badge Soviet Pilot Assistance Repro Replica
Chinese Shanghai Air Defense commemorative medal badge reproduction, inspired by the historic “自由的新上海” / “Free New Shanghai” medal.
This silver-tone badge features a bold radiating starburst body with a red star at the top. The central design shows a Shanghai city scene with buildings, bridge, water, industrial structures, wings, and a handshake motif. The inscription “自由的新上海” means “Free New Shanghai,” reflecting the post-1949 historical language used for the city.
Historical background:
This design is associated with the Shanghai Air Defense Medal, a rare early People’s Republic of China military-related decoration connected with the defense of Shanghai in the early 1950s. Auction and collector references describe original examples as Shanghai Air Defence Medals from around 1950–1952, with a silver body and red enamel star.
The medal is historically linked to Soviet assistance in Shanghai’s air defense after Nationalist air raids against the city. Soviet pilots, anti-aircraft artillery personnel, radar units, searchlight teams, and support staff helped strengthen Shanghai’s air-defense system and train Chinese personnel. Collector records note that the wings and handshake design symbolized Sino-Soviet military cooperation in protecting Shanghai.
Some Chinese auction references describe the Shanghai Air Defense commemorative medal as having been produced by the East China Military Region, with silver examples presented to Soviet air-defense personnel who assisted China, while extremely rare gold examples were reportedly made for senior command-level presentation.
This reproduction has strong display appeal for collectors of Chinese military history, Shanghai history, Sino-Soviet cooperation items, aviation memorabilia, Cold War-era badges, and historical reproduction medals.
Item details:
Type: Reproduction / replica collector medal badge
Theme: Shanghai Air Defense / Soviet assistance / Sino-Soviet cooperation
Material: Silver-tone metal
Design: Red star, Shanghai skyline, bridge, wings, handshake, and starburst rays
Back: Pin back
Size: approx. 53 mm diameter / 5.3 cm / 2.09 in
Weight: approx. 44.5 g / 1.57 oz
Quantity: 1 piece
Condition: New made reproduction with vintage-style finish
Please note: this is a reproduction collector piece, not an original 1950s issued medal, government award, or antique military decoration.