Valour Medals
Medal for Combat Service
Established October
17, 1938. The medal was awarded for a person's contribution
to the success of a combat mission and for the enhancement of
the combat readiness of the military units. The award consists
of a 34mm silver medal with the inscription "For distinguished
service in battle" over a saber crossed with a rifle. The
top of the medal has the letters "CCCP" in red enamel.
The medal is suspended by a light green pentagonal ribbon
with a 2mm yellow stripe on each edge. The medal has been
awarded over 5,000,000 times.
Medal for Valour
Established October
17, 1938. The medal was awarded for personal courage and
valour in the defense of the Homeland and the execution of military
duty involving a risk to life. The award consists of a 38mm
silver medal with the inscription "For Valour" in the
center of the award and the letters "CCCP" at the bottom
of the award in red enamel. The inscription is separated
by a Soviet battle tank. At the top of the award are three
Soviet fighter planes. The medal is suspended by a grey
pentagonal ribbon with a 2mm blue strip on each edge. The
medal has been awarded over 4,500,000 times.
The Nakhimov Medal
Established March
3, 1944. The medal was awarded to seamen and non-commissioned
officers for distinguished conduct and gallantry in battle for
the defense of the Homeland. The award consists of a pentagonal
ribbon with four blue stripes with 3 white stripes separating
them. From the ribbon is suspended a 38mm bronze medal with
the bust of Nakhimov and the inscription "Admiral Nakhimov"
on the obverse. The reverse of the medal shows a sailing
ship superimposed over two crossed anchors surrounded by ship's
chain. Over 13,000 Nakhimov Medals have been awarded.
The Ushakov Medal
Established March
3, 1944. The medal was awarded to seamen and non-commissioned
officers for courage and bravery in battle for the defense of
the Homeland. The award consists of a light blue pentagonal
ribbon with a 2mm blue and a 2mm white stripe on each edge.
From the top corners of the ribbon is attached a 50mm ship's chain
in the shape of a "V". From the chain a silver
anchor is suspended with a 36mm silver medal superimposed over
the anchor. On the medal is the bust of Ushakov surrounded
by the inscription "Admiral Ushakov" in Cyrillic letters
on the obverse. On the reverse of the medal the anchor can
be seen. Over 15,000 Ushakov Medals have been awarded.
The Partisan Medal
Established February 2, 1943. The
medals were awarded to partisan fighters, commanders of partisan
detachments, and organizers of the partisan movement during the
Great Patriotic War for valor, personal 
bravery, and courage in the struggle to liberate the
Soviet Union behind the lines of the German invaders. The
awards consist of a pentagonal light green ribbon with a small
red center stripe for the First Class award and a small blue center
stripe for the Second Class award. The obverse and reverse
of the medals are the same for both classes. The difference
in the two classes is that the First Class medal is made of silver
and the Second Class medal is made of bronze. The obverse
of the 34mm medals contains the profiles of Lenin and Stalin.
Around the profiles are the words "To The Partisan
of the Patriotic War" in Cyrillic letters. At the bottom
of the obverse is a small banner with the letters "CCCP"
divided in half by a small star. The reverse of the medals
contain a hammer and sickle at the top of the award followed by
the inscription "For Our Soviet Fatherland" in Cyrillic
letters. Over 127,00 1st and 2nd Class Partisan Medals have
been awarded.
