Original 1980 Soviet Military Poster – “Glory to the Soviet Warrior-Winner!” – Artist V. Potapov

A bold and historically resonant original from the final decade of the Soviet era, this 1980 military propaganda poster was published by Voenizdat (Воениздат) — the Military Publishing House of the Ministry of Defence of the USSR — and designed by V. V. Potapov, a prolific graphic artist known for his contributions to Soviet military and patriotic print culture.

The composition is structured around a large St. George’s ribbon-styled star containing three heroic figures: a cosmonaut, a naval officer, and a soldier — representing the technological, maritime, and ground forces of the Soviet Armed Forces. Below them, the Order of the Patriotic War anchors the design against a deep red field filled with silhouettes of advancing tanks, aircraft, and infantry. The headline reads: «Слава советскому воину-победителю!» — Glory to the Soviet Warrior-Winner!

The poster situates the modern Soviet armed forces within the triumphant legacy of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) — a rhetorical move central to late-Brezhnev-era military culture, which increasingly drew on WWII memory to legitimise the USSR’s military posture during the height of the Cold War.

Produced at a print run of 53,000 copies. A handwritten notation on the verso — «ВОЕН. КАБ.» (Military Cabinet) — confirms this piece was once part of an institutional collection, a layer of provenance rarely found on the open market.

Authenticity

100% Guaranteed Original Vintage Poster — not a modern reprint or reproduction.

Artist: V. V. Potapov
Year: 1980
Publisher: Voenizdat (Воениздат), Ministry of Defence of the USSR
Origin: USSR (Soviet Union)
Language: Russian
Print Run: 53,000 copies
Medium: Offset lithograph on paper
Size: 57 × 89 cm (22.4 × 35.0 in)

Condition

Overall: Good to Very Good (Vintage Grade)

Wear: Minor edge wear along the left margin including small nicks, light fraying, and a small indentation/slight tear on the mid-left border. Minor handling ripples and a soft crease near the top right corner. Light surface rippling and mild horizontal handling waves consistent with rolled storage. Reverse shows historical staining (light brown tidelines) along the upper portion, mild to moderate foxing, and light red ink offsetting from rolled storage.

Details: Colours excellent — primary reds, golds, and whites remain highly saturated and vibrant with no significant fading. Central graphic striking and largely unblemished. Paper structurally sound and complete. Provenance inscription on verso in blue ink: «ВОЕН. КАБ.» (Military Cabinet) — confirming institutional display history.

This is an authentic vintage item. Please review the high-resolution photographs for a full and accurate representation. What you see is what you receive.

Shipping & Packaging

We handle historic paper with the utmost care to ensure it arrives immaculate.

Handling: Dispatched within 1–3 business days from our Sarajevo studio
Packaging: Rolled in acid-free tissue paper and shipped in a heavy-duty reinforced mailing tube — no folding, no creasing, no edge damage
Tracking: Fully tracked from our studio to your door
Standard delivery: Registered post (BH Pošta), arriving in 1–4 weeks
Express delivery: DHL Express available at checkout — delivery in 2–5 business days

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Framing

Professional custom framing is available for this piece upon request. Contact us before checkout to discuss options and tailored pricing.