- Time Period: Second World War
- Year of Institution: 5 December 1944
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Medal for the Defense of the Soviet Transarctic (or Медаль «За оборону Советского Заполярья», Medal «Za oboronu Sovestkogo Zapoliarja» in Russian) was established on 5 December 1944 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of the Soviet Trans-Arctic regions between 25 June 1941 and 19 September 1944.
The medal was awarded to soldiers of the Red Army, Navy, and troops of the NKVD, as well as persons from the civilian population who took part in the defense of the Soviet Transarctic. Award of the medal was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of documents attesting to actual participation in the defense of Stalingrad issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment or by the Murmansk Regional or Urban Councils of People’s Deputies. 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, members of the civilian population, participants in the defense of the Soviet Transarctic received their medal from the Murmansk Oblast or city Councils of People’s Deputies.
The Medal for the Defense of the Soviet Transarctic Design
The medal was 32mm in diameter, circular, and made of brass, with a raised rim on both sides. It was worn on the left side of the chest and in the presence of other awards of the USSR.
On its obverse, the bust of a soldier in a sheepskin coat and fur cap carrying a PPSh submachine gun. To the left of the soldier, the half-hidden image of a warship, on both sides of his head, military aircraft in flight, superimposed on the bottom center and bottom right of his coat, two tanks. Along the entire circumference of the obverse, a 3mm band bearing the relief inscription «ЗА ОБОРОНУ СОВЕТСКОГО ЗАПОЛЯРЬЯ» (“FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE SOVIET TRANSARCTIC”), at the bottom, a five-pointed star bearing the hammer and sickle superimposed on a length of ribbon.
On the reverse near the top, the relief image of the hammer and sickle, below the image, the relief inscription in three rows «ЗА НАШУ СОВЕТСКУЮ РОДИНУ» (“FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND”).
The medal was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24mm wide blue silk moiré ribbon with 2mm white edge stripes and a white 6mm central stripe with 1mm white edge stripes.
Other Soviet Defense Medals from WW2
The medals awarded for the defense of various places during World War II belong to a specific group of Soviet campaign medals. These medals were instituted by the Soviet Union to recognize and honor the efforts and sacrifices of those who participated in the defense of key cities and regions against Axis forces.
The Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad
The Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who were part of the defense of Stalingrad in 1942.
The Medal for the Defense of Moscow
The Medal for the Defense of Moscow was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the Battle of Moscow during WW2.
The Medal for the Defense of Leningrad
The Medal for the Defense of Leningrad was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of Leningrad in 1944.
The Medal for the Defense of Odessa
The Medal for the Defense of Odessa was awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of the port city.
