Medals "For victory over Germany" - national dignity

The establishment of the medal "For Victory over Germany" was held on May 9, 1945, the same memorable day when General Wilhelm Keitel re-signed the document that declared the final and unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. In the first post-war years, this award found a colossal number of its heroes who somehow contributed to the overall victory: in the rear and on the front line. In addition to her, two other state awards of the USSR were provided as marks of distinction for fighters who deserved them on the fronts. We are talking about medals "For Military Merit" and "For Courage", which were approved literally a couple of years before the Great Patriotic War.

History of the medal "For victory over Germany"

The idea of creating such a regalia arose already at the final stage of the war, when the Red Army drove the Nazis through Europe, and the plans for the post-war peace were discussed in the offices of the world's leading governments. Discussion of what the regalia should be, began in October 1944. However, the sketch of this award of the Great Patriotic War was already developed in May 1945. That is literally in the last days before surrender.

The first medals "For the victory over Germany" were produced in June and entered the Presidium of the Supreme Council on June 15, 1945. Of course, the first who received the award, Were commanders of the highest rank. Among them - Marshals Tolbukhin and Rokossovsky, Generals Purkaev and Antonov, Colonels-General Gusev, Zakharov and Barzarin.

In the post-war years, the regalia was handed to absolutely all servicemen of the Soviet troops who took part in battles on the war fronts or worked for victory in the military districts, as well as other persons who contributed to the maintenance and the approach of victory.

In addition, the position of the medal was that it was given to those participants in the war who served in various military departments, military schools, training and spare parts, bases, special units, hospitals and other departments. And also to all those civilians who took part in the fight against the German Nazi occupiers as part of the partisan formations operating in the Enemy rear.

In the first post-war years, the medals "For the victory over Germany" after the death of the owner were returned to the state. However, the government decree of 05 February 1951 abolished this practice. He said that now, after the death of the owner, the reward should remain in the family as a memory. In addition, jubilee medals were subsequently issued on the round dates from the day of victory in the Great Patriotic War: for 20, 30, 40 and 50 years from the memorable date.

Over the entire history of the medal, it has been awarded to more than fifteen million people. A little over thirteen million people were assigned to it in the immediate aftermath of the war.

Appearance of the award

The front side of the coin represents the profile image of Stalin in the marshal's form. On the circumference there are inscriptions "Our work is right" and "We have won". The reverse side contains the name of the medal itself and a five-pointed star.