- Time Period: Second World War
- Year of Institution: 9 June 1945
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Medal for the Capture of Berlin (or Медаль «За взятие Берлина», Medal «Za vzjatie Berlina» in Russian) was established on 9 June 1945 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and awarded to Soviet service personnel who took part in the capture of Berlin from 22 April and 2 May 1945.
The medal was awarded to soldiers of the Red Army, Navy, and troops of the NKVD, direct participants of the assault and capture of Berlin as well as to the organizers and leaders of combat operations in the capture of this city. Serving military personnel received the medal from their unit commander, retirees from military service received the medal from a regional, municipal, or district military commissioner in the recipient’s community.
The medal’s statute was amended on July 18, 1980, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR № 2523-X.
The Medal for the Capture of Berlin Design
The medal was 32mm in diameter, circular, and made of brass, with a raised rim on the obverse. It was worn on the left side of the chest.
On its pebbled obverse at the top, a plain five-pointed star, its top point touching the medal upper rim. Below the star, the relief inscription in bold letters on three rows «ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ БЕРЛИНА» (“FOR THE CAPTURE OF BERLIN”) ending halfway down the medal. At the bottom, the relief image of a wreath of oak branches going up the left and right circumference of the medal up to the lower row of the inscription. On the reverse near the top, the relief date on three rows over a relief plain five-pointed star «2 МАЯ 1945» (“2 MAY 1945”).
The medal was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with a 12mm wide Ribbon of St. George in the center.
