USSR – The Medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus”

Description

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

he Medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus” was established on May 1, 1944, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Its statute was modified by multiple resolutions of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, on May 16, 1944, June 2, 1944, June 5, 1944, March 10, 1945, March 15, 1945, and lastly by decree No. 2523-X of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 18, 1980.

The Medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus” was awarded to all participants in the defense of the Caucasus – soldiers of the Red Army, sailors of the Navy, troops of the NKVD, as well as persons from the civilian population who took part in the defense of the Caucasus during the battle for the Caucasus.

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 Caucasus issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment or by a relevant provincial or municipal authority of the Stavropol or of the Krasnodar Soviets of People’s Deputies, of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, of the Azerbaijan SSR, of the North Ossetian ASSR or of the Kabardin ASSR. 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 Caucasus received their medal from regional or city Councils of People’s Deputies of the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories Soviets of Workers’ Deputies, from the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, of the Azerbaijan SSR, of the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic or from the Kabardin ASSR.  For the defenders who died in battle or prior to the establishment of the medal, it was awarded posthumously to the family.

The statute of the Medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus” was amended to include members of the civilian population of the Dagestan ASSR, of the Grozny Region,  of the Armenian SSR and of the Rostov region  as eligible recipients for their participation in the defense of the Caucasus.

The Medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus” 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 Kiev”.  If worn in the presence or Orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.