Coat of arms of the Moldavian SSR
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
Another interpretation of the emblem of Moldavian SSR indicates the following symbols:
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."
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It shows symbols of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, an outer rim featuring wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, grapes and clover
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
. The red banner bears the Soviet Union state motto ("Workers of the world, unite!
Workers of the world, unite!
The political slogan Workers of the world, unite! is one of the most famous rallying cries of communism, found in The Communist Manifesto , by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels...
") in both the Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and Moldovan
Moldovan language
Moldovan is one of the names of the Romanian language as spoken in the Republic of Moldova, where it is official. The spoken language of Moldova is closer to the dialects of Romanian spoken in northeastern Romania, and the two countries share the same literary standard...
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
Coat of arms of Moldova
The coat of arms of Moldova consists of a stylized eagle holding a cross in its beak and a sceptre and an olive branch in its claws. According to the author of the coat of arms, the eagle symbolizes the Latin origin of the people....
.
The unrecognised Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
(also known as Transnistria) uses a similar state emblem
Coat of arms of Transnistria
The national emblem of Transnistria is a remodeled version of the former Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic emblem, that was substituted by the internationally-recognized Moldovan government after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The only major change made in the Transnistrian device...
.
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 sickleHammer and sickle
The hammer and sickle is a part of communist symbolism and its usage indicates an association with Communism, a Communist party, or a Communist state. It features a hammer and a sickle overlapping each other. The two tools are symbols of the industrial proletariat and the peasantry; placing them...
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
Moldovan language
Moldovan is one of the names of the Romanian language as spoken in the Republic of Moldova, where it is official. The spoken language of Moldova is closer to the dialects of Romanian spoken in northeastern Romania, and the two countries share the same literary standard...
and Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
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.
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
Ukase
A ukase , in Imperial Russia, was a proclamation of the tsar, government, or a religious leader that had the force of law...
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
Coat of arms of Moldova
The coat of arms of Moldova consists of a stylized eagle holding a cross in its beak and a sceptre and an olive branch in its claws. According to the author of the coat of arms, the eagle symbolizes the Latin origin of the people....
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 StarRed starA red star, five-pointed and filled, is an important ideological and religious symbol which has been used for various purposes, such as: state emblems, flags, monuments, ornaments, and logos.- Symbol of communism :...
above the emblem is the guiding star of all humanity building communism; - The Hammer and sickleHammer and sickleThe hammer and sickle is a part of communist symbolism and its usage indicates an association with Communism, a Communist party, or a Communist state. It features a hammer and a sickle overlapping each other. The two tools are symbols of the industrial proletariat and the peasantry; placing them...
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 UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
; - 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 ArmySoviet ArmyThe Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
."
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."
See also
- Coat of arms of MoldovaCoat of arms of MoldovaThe coat of arms of Moldova consists of a stylized eagle holding a cross in its beak and a sceptre and an olive branch in its claws. According to the author of the coat of arms, the eagle symbolizes the Latin origin of the people....
- Coat of arms of TransnistriaCoat of arms of TransnistriaThe national emblem of Transnistria is a remodeled version of the former Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic emblem, that was substituted by the internationally-recognized Moldovan government after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The only major change made in the Transnistrian device...
- Coat of arms of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicCoat of arms of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicThe coat of arms of the Moldavian ASSR was the official emblem of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union, and underwent a number of changes over time.-Mid-1920s:...