Emblem of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic

Emblem of the Moldavian SSR
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Details
Armiger	Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
Adopted	10 February 1941
Crest	Red star
Escutcheon	Rising sun with hammer and sickle
Supporters	Wheat, corn, grape and fruit
Motto	Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, уници-вэ! (Moldovan) Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Russian) "Workers of the world, unite!"

The coat of arms of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted on February 10, 1941 by the government of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. The coat of arms is based on the coat of arms of the Soviet Union. It shows symbols of agriculture, an outer rim featuring wheat, corn, grapes and clover. The red banner bears the Soviet Union state motto ("Workers of the world, unite!") in both the Russian and Moldovan languages. In Moldovan, it was initially "Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, униць-вэ!", then, from the 1950s "Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, уници-вэ!", both transliterated as "Proletari din toate ţările, uniţi-vă!". The acronym "MSSR" is shown only in Moldovan ("РССМ").

The emblem was replaced on November 3, 1990 by the present coat of arms of Moldova.

The unrecognised Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (also known as Transnistria) uses a similar state emblem.

History

The coat of arms of Moldavian SSR was adopted on February 10, 1941, as described in the first constitution of the new Soviet republic. The 10th chapter (called "The emblem, the Flag, the Capital"), article 122 stipulates: "The state emblem of Moldavian SSR is the image of hammer and sickle over the rays of the rising sun, surrounded by a wreath of ears and maizes. The bottom of the wreath ends with a garland of fruits and grapes, superimposed by a red ribbon which has the inscription: "Workers of all countries, unite!" in Moldovan and Russian languages and the initials "MSSR". Above the emblem is a five-pointed star." The text was slightly refined in 1943, when the constitution has been printed for the public.

The Moldavian constitution adopted in 1978 gives more detailes regarding the inscription: "MSSR" ("РССМ") is placed on bottom, the Russian text "Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!" on the right and Moldovan text "Пролетари дин тоате цэриле, уници-вэ!" on the left (as seen by the reader).

The emblem was created by Eugen Nikitovich Merega, whose merits in this regard have been recognized by the Communist Party Leadership and Bureau of the Union of Artists of Moldova on June 29, 1971. His creation has been used almost unchanged until 1990.

Coat of arms of Moldavian SSR (1990-1991), today the coat of arms of Moldova

In the 1950s the spelling of Moldovan language was changed, thus, the word "unite" ("униць-вэ") was changed, being spelled with и instead of ь ("уници-вэ").

In 1981 painter Alexei A. Colîbneac improved the emblem's graphics in some respects. Instead of highlights and shadows, the emblem used single tones. Black contours became brown and the medium and big rays of the sun were made of the same length.

The amendments of 1981 were mentioned in the "Regulations on the emblem of the republic", adopted on May 7, same year, by ukase of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR: "the colored image of the coat of arms of Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic shows golden sickle and hammer, sun and ears, a gold line around the red star, red ribbon and vegetables, golden ochre maize cobs and strains, fruits and grapes, green leaves of vines and fruits; the contour of the elements is brown."

On August 7, 1981 the Soviet of the Ministers of Moldavian SSR approved the "Guidelines for implementing the Regulations on the state emblem of Moldavian SSR".

This emblem was replaced by a new coat of arms created by Gheorghe Vrabie, on November 3, 1990.

Symbolism

On April 21, 1965, the director of the "E. M. Rusev" Institute stated in a written reply to G. F. Savcenco, the head of the Office of the Supreme Soviet Presidium of Moldavian SSR, that the elements of the national emblem means the following:

• "The Red Star above the emblem is the guiding star of all humanity building communism;
• The Hammer and sickle signifies the unbreakable alliance between workers and peasants of our country;
• The sun that rises is the symbol of the bright communism dawn, which is more and more obvious;
• The wreath of ears, cobs of maize, grape leaves and grapes and apples is reflecting the fertility of Moldovan Republic, which by the will of the Party and the selfless work of its inhabitants is becoming the thriving orchard of the Soviet Union;
• The Communist slogan: "Workers of all countries, unite!" [...] talks about the internationalism of Moldovan people."

Another interpretation of the emblem of Moldavian SSR indicates the following symbols:

• "The rising sun represents the break of dawn, the horizon of the new communist era;
• The cobs of maize and the ears reflect the republic's economy, abundance of bread, vegetables, fruit and grapes;
• As a summoning bell, as a torch that illuminates the way of liberation from the yoke of oppressors for all the people of the world, there echoes the inscription "Workers of all countries, unite!";
• The five-pointed star states that the peaceful socialist work (another draft says "peaceful creative work") of workers, peasants and intelligence is guarded by the Soviet Army."

The "Regulations on the emblem of the republic" of 1981 states that "The State Emblem of Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic is a symbol of state sovereignty, of unbreakable alliance between workers, peasants and intellectuals, of friendship and brotherhood of the working people of all nationalities in the republic, which are building the communism."

Bibliography

• Silviu Andrieş-Tabac, Heraldica teritorială a Basarabiei şi Transnistriei (Territorial Heraldry of Bessarabia and Transnistria), Editura Museum, Chişinău, 1998, p. 120 - 122.

See also

• Coat of arms of Moldova
• Coat of arms of Transnistria
• Coat of arms of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic