USSR – Medal “For the Defence of Leningrad”
kr 550.00
In stock
Description
This medal is the Soviet “For the Defense of Leningrad” (Медаль «За оборону Ленинграда»), one of the Soviet awards of World War II.
Background and History: Established: December 22, 1942
Purpose: Awarded to military personnel and civilians who participated in the defense of Leningrad during the siege of the city by Nazi Germany (September 8, 1941 – January 27, 1944).
Number awarded: Approximately 1,470,000 people received this medal.
Description of the Medal:
Material: Brass
Diameter: 32 mm
Design:
The obverse depicts Soviet soldiers in battle, with the Spire of the Admiralty Building in the background.
The inscription reads: “ЗА ОБОРОНУ ЛЕНИНГРАДА” (For the Defense of Leningrad).
The reverse features the State Emblem of the Soviet Union and the text “За нашу Советскую Родину” (For our Soviet Fatherland).
Ribbon: Yellowish with a green center stripe.
Historical Significance:
The medal honored the soldiers, partisans, and civilians who endured the 872-day siege of Leningrad, one of the most brutal sieges in history.
Many of the recipients were ordinary citizens who participated in the city’s defense by working in weapons factories, building defenses, or participating in food transport.
The siege cost an estimated one million civilian lives, primarily due to starvation and bombing.
