Orders and Medals of the USSR

Jubilee Medals

Medals for the 20th, 30th, and 40th Anniversaries of Victory in the Great Patriotic War

Established May 7, 1965; April 25, 1975; and April 12, 1985. These medals were awarded to those who fought in the Great Patriotic War against Germany and in the war against Japan. All of the medals are 36mm in diameter and made of brass. Over 40,000,000 of these medals have been given to Soviet and foreign citizens.

Medal for the 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and 70th Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces

Established January 24, 1938; February 22, 1948; December 18, 1957; December 26, 1967; January 28, 1977; and January 28, 1988. The 20th anniversary medal was awarded to regular command personnel of the Army and Navy who had served for more than 20 years, Civil War veterans, and to those who received the Order of the Red Banner for distinguished service in the Civil War. The medal is made of silver with a large red enameled star in the center of the medal and the Roman numeral 20 at the bottom of the obverse. The 20th Anniversary Medal has been awarded more than 37,000 times. The other jubilee medals were awarded to regular servicemen of the Armed Forces who took part in the defense of the USSR and people who were honored with the Medal for Valor, Ushakov Medal, Medal for Combat Service, Medal for Distinguished Service in Guarding the USSR State Boarder, Nakhimov Medal, and the Distinguished Military Service Medal. These awards are made of brass.

Medal for the 250th Anniversary of Leningrad

Established May 16, 1957. This medal was awarded to all Soviet citizens who lived in Leningrad or it's suburbs for 5 or more years by 1957 or who had participated in the defense of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War. The obverse of the bronze medal shows a statue of Lenin with the inscription "In Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of Leningrad" around the statue. Over 1,430,000 were awarded. The medal was issued four years late since the original city, St. Petersburg, was founded in May of 1703. Czar Nicholas II changed the city's name to Petrograd during World War I and then the name changed again on January 26, 1924 after the death of Lenin.

Medal for the 800th Anniversary of Moscow

Established September 20, 1947. This medal was awarded to all Soviet citizens who lived in Moscow for 5 or more years by 1947 or who had participated in the defense of Moscow during the Great Patriotic War. The obverse of the copper medal has the bust of Yuri Dolgoruki who is believed to be the founder of Moscow in 1147 when the name of the city is mentioned for the first time in Russian history. His bust is surrounded by the inscription "Founder of Moscow - Yuri Dolgoruki". The medal has been awarded over 1,700,000 times.

Medal for the 1500th Anniversary of Kiev

Established May 16, 1982. This medal was awarded to all Soviet citizens who lived in Kiev for 5 or more years by 1947 or who had participated in the defense of Kiev during the Great Patriotic War. The brass medal was made to commemorate the founding of the city of Kiev in the year 882. Over 1,000,000 have been awarded.

Medal in Honour of the Centenary of Lenin's Birth

Established November 5, 1969. This medal was awarded it two variants. One for distinguished service in labour efforts and one for distinguished service in the military occurring before the celebration of Lenin's birth. The brass medal has the bust of Lenin in the center with the dates "1870-1970" at the bottom of the medal. The difference between the military and civilian versions of the medal can be found on the reverse. Both types have the same central inscription "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of V.I. Lenin". The civilian medal has the inscription "For Valiant Labour" over the central inscription and the military medal has the inscription "For Military Valour" over the central inscription. Both medals are suspended by a small rectangular red ribbon with yellow stripes on the edges and 2 yellow stripes in the center of the ribbon separated by a red stripe. The medal has been awarded over 11,000,000 times.

Medal for the Anniversary of the Soviet Militia

Established November 20, 1967. The medal was awarded to all members of the Militia who were in the service by November 21, 1967 and to those who had retired or on the reserve lists after 25 years of service. The medal is a copper-nickel alloy with a star in the center and a shield with the number 50 on the obverse.

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