Medals "For the defense of the Caucasus." Medal "For the defense of the Caucasus" - the USSR award

Already in the first years of the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the USSR realized the need to appreciate the feat of defenders of the Motherland. To this end, orders and medals were instituted, which were awarded to the most distinguished servicemen, as well as to civilians who showed courage and courage in the fight against the German fascist invaders. One of such awards was the medal "For the defense of the Caucasus" (1944). Today it is kept in many families as a reminder of the exploit of fathers and grandfathers.

Prehistory

Before telling about the medal "For the defense of the Caucasus", it is worth saying a few words about how the battle took place for this important geopolitical region and what significance the victory of the Russian army in this direction had for the outcome of the Great Patriotic War.

The beginning of military operations for control of the Caucasus is considered to be July 25, 1942. However, the German General Staff decided to seize the territories adjacent to the Don, a month earlier. For this, the Fourth Panzer Army of the Wehrmacht had to break through the front on the section between Kharkov and Kursk, and then the city of Rostov-on-Don was taken, which is an important strategic point.

The Battle for the Caucasus

In August 1942, the troops of fascist Germany seized the "Shelter of eleven", the highest mountain climbing hotel in the USSR, located at an altitude of 4130 meters, which the NKVD troops heroically defended (many of the survivors of these battles were subsequently awarded the medal "For the defense of the Caucasus"). They installed the flag of the Third Reich there. This event was highlighted in the world press as the end of the seizure of the Caucasus, and Hauptmann Heinz Groth, who carried out this operation, was awarded Hitler 's Knight's Cross.

A month after the described dramatic events, the German troops captured most of the city of Novorossiysk, and after a while the Sanchar and the Marukha passes of the Caucasian ridge. However, from that moment on, their progress slowed, and then it was completely stopped by parts of the Soviet army. Up until the end of 1942, the balance of forces remained at the front, which was broken as a result of the successes of the Soviet troops at Stalingrad. As a result, there was a threat of encirclement of Wehrmacht forces in the Caucasus, which caused concern of the German General Staff.

Counterattack of Soviet troops

Large-scale military actions in the Caucasus were initiated from the beginning of January 1943. As a result, the Wehrmacht troops were forced to retreat in order not to get surrounded. A few weeks later, Soviet soldiers managed to drop Wehrmacht troops west of Rostov-on-Don, and the first half of February was marked by the landing of troops in the area of Novorossiysk. Thus, a springboard "Small Land" appeared, which played a major role in the liberation of Novorossiysk, fighting for which lasted until mid-September. By the way, it was there that Leonid Brezhnev distinguished himself, who also received a medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus", the cost of which can now be learned from the Falerist.

In parallel, since April, one of the largest air battles in the history of wars took place in the sky over the Kuban, as a result of which Soviet pilots turned the situation in their favor and dealt a crushing defeat to the Luftwaffe troops.

On September 3, Hitler was forced to give an order for the immediate retreat of German troops to the Crimean peninsula. Thus, by October 9, 1943, the RKK units had completely captured Taman, that is, an event occurred which most military historians consider to be the actual end of a bloody and fierce battle for the Caucasus. Such an outcome of the battle played a big role in the fate of the Transcaucasian republics of the USSR. In particular, they avoided occupation. In addition, the successes of the Soviet army prevented the entry into the war of Turkey, long cherished dream to expand its borders at the expense of the territory of the Soviet Union.

Awards: medal "For the defense of the Caucasus" (general information)

The author of the sketch is the artist N. I. Moskalev. The award was established in May 1944. The medal should be worn on the left side of the chest and, if the awardee has other awards of the USSR, it is available after the medal given to the participants of the defense of Kiev. According to the data available at the time of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory, a total of 870,000 Soviet citizens received it.

Regulations on the medal

This award was presented to all servicemen of the Red Army, the NKVD and the Soviet Navy, as well as representatives of the civilian population who took direct part in the defense of the Caucasus. According to the provision on its establishment, the basis for this was data that certified actual participation in hostilities in the region. The awards were presented on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Council.

Medals "For the defense of the Caucasus" were intended for military personnel who actually participated in the defense of the Caucasus for at least three months, and also from July 1942 to October 1943. As for civilians, the award was received by people who took part in hostilities, as well as those who built defensive lines and fortifications, beginning in the autumn of 1941. Like other awards of the Second World War, the medal "For the defense of the Caucasus" is no longer produced. The fact is that almost all those to whom it should be served received it, including posthumously.

Medals for the defense of the Caucasus: a description

This award in form and size (a circle with a diameter of 3.2 cm) is identical to most others created during the Second World War, and is made of brass.

On the upper part of its obverse there is a mountain Elbrus, at its foot - oil towers, past which a group of tanks is moving, over the mountain tops - the silhouettes of flying planes. The award is bordered by a rim with a garland of bunches of grapes and flowers, in the center of which, at the top, is a small five-pointed star. At the bottom of the coin is the inscription "USSR", and between the letters - a sickle and a hammer. Under the garland on the circumference there are raised letters, folding in the phrase "FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE CAUCASUS". As for the reverse, it is made in the traditional style and on it you can read the slogan "FOR OUR SOVIET HOMELAND", over which there is an image of a sickle and a hammer towering above the surface.

Tape

The medal has a small round eyelet, through it, and also a thin metal ring connects to a pentagonal shoe, which is covered with a moire- colored silk ribbon of olive color , 2.4 cm wide. At the edges are marked blue stripes, and in the middle - two white stripes (the width of all strips - 2 mm).

The medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus", the price of which currently ranges from 700 to 2000 rubles, can become an adornment of the collection of any falerist.