Romania, Kingdom. Three Second War Straja Țării Items

Includes:

1. Straja Țării Decoration, II Class: two-piece construction, in silvered bronze with blue, yellow, red and black enamels, marked "I.A. / LEI26. / S.T. (Straja Țării)" on the reverse, measuring 31.3 mm (w) x 36.5 mm (h), vertical pinback, silvering wear evident on the eagle arms.  

2. Straja Țării Membership Badge: in bronze with blue and yellow enamels, marked "I.D.", number stamped "7048" and maker marked "OETR" inside an oval on the reverse, measuring 16.3 mm (w) x 18.5 mm (h), vertical pinback, chipping evident in the yellow enamels at the upper right on the shield.

3. Straja Țării Sleeve Patch: in red, white, light blue, dark blue, brown and black embroidery, on a yellow rayon base, illustrating the Straja Țării insignia with "14LEI" at its base, measuring 85 mm (w) x 115 mm (h), light soiled. 

Ranging from fine to better than very fine.

Footnote: The "Straja Țării" (roughly translated as The Sentinel of the Motherland) was a youth organization in the Kingdom of Romania, created in 1935 by King Carol II, to counter the growing influence the Iron Guard had over the youth of Romania. Its members were known as "străjeri" (sentinels), and used a form of the Roman salute as greeting. The monarch modeled it on the Nazi Germany's Hitler Youth, and took inspiration from other fascist groups such as the Italian Balilla. This shape became more obvious on December 3, 1938, when Straja Țării was re-organized along the lines of Carol's personal regime (National Renaissance Front), replacing all existing youth movements, including Scouting, and became overseer of sports and all other activities. Although the King was often referred to as "Marele Străjer" (The Great Sentinel), the actual leaders of the group were General Teofil Sidorovici and Nisa Cămărășescu. All boys aged 7 to 18 and all girls between 7 and 21 were supposed to join. A body comprising 18- to 21-year-old boys completed Straja, and it was responsible for offering low-level military education and training. The organization was disbanded in 1940 and all its assets were taken over by the Iron Guard.