USSR – The Medal “For the Defence of the Soviet Transarctic”

Description

(Russian: Медаль «За оборону Советского Заполярья») was a World War II campaign medal of the Soviet Union.

The Medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Transarctic” was established on December 5, 1944, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR  to satisfy the petition of the People’s Commissariat of Defense of the USSR.

The Medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Transarctic” was awarded to all participants in the defense of the Soviet Arctic region – 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 North.

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 the Soviet Transarctic 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. For the defenders who died in battle or prior to the establishment of the medal, it was awarded posthumously to the family.

The Medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Transarctic” was worn on the left side of the chest and in the presence of other awards of the USSR, was located immediately after the Medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus”.  If worn in the presence of Orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.