In the spring of the penultimate year of the Great Patriotic War, military awards appeared, celebrating the contribution to the battle against fascism of sailors of all ranks and ranks: from privates of the Red Navy to admirals.
For the awarding of foremen, sailors and midshipmen, the Ushakov medal and the Nakhimov medal were intended. Officers and admirals were awarded the orders of the same name of two degrees.
Junior Naval Award
The decree on the establishment of naval awards of the USSR was issued on March 2, 1944, but the issue of special - naval - awards was raised earlier. The initiative in this belonged to the famous Soviet admiral, Commissar of the Navy of the USSR Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. He reported to Stalin about the expediency of establishing orders and medals dedicated to the memory of the great Russian naval commanders, back in mid-1943, it turned out to be possible to implement the idea in the spring of next year.
The operations of the Navy to combat the enemy fleet at sea, the participation of coastal artillery batteries in the defense of coastal cities, the heroism of marine battalions in battles on land - all this was highly valued by the Soviet high command, aroused hatred for Soviet sailors among the Nazis and created them glory among the people. Stalin knew about the bigthe contribution of sailors to the fight against the fascist invasion, therefore he supported the idea of special naval awards. The Nakhimov medal became the youngest among the four established awards, but especially appreciated not only by sailors and foremen, but also by officers.
Statute
According to the situation, the basis for awarding the Nakhimov medal was skillful and proactive actions to successfully complete tasks by ships and formations of the Navy, and naval units of the border troops in a combat situation. The Nakhimov medal was considered an analogue of the combined arms medal "For Military Merit" and enjoyed similar respect.
It did not contradict the provision of awarding the Nakhimov medal to those who served in other branches of the military. It could also be given to civilians. Soldiers and sergeants from the infantry, artillery and other ground forces awarded the Nakhimov medal especially valued interaction in combat with ships and marines. They considered it an introduction to the legendary sea brotherhood.
Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov said that the naval officers awarded with military medals were no less proud of them than they were of orders of more significant status. Awarded for bravery and courage in combat operations, the Nakhimov medal was a reliable testament to the personal courage of a person wearing any military rank.
Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov
Established in 1944, military naval awards - the medal and the Order of Nakhimov - bear the name of one of the most legendary Russian naval commanders. Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov was born into a poor noble family in1802. Deciding to devote his life to military service at sea, he entered the Naval Cadet Corps. After graduation, he traveled around the world, distinguished himself in a sea battle with the Turks in Navarino Bay, commanded the legendary ships - the frigates Pallada and Navarin.
By the beginning of the Crimean War, in 1853, Nakhimov was a vice admiral, commanded a large squadron in the Black Sea Fleet, had great authority with the command, was respected by the lower ranks, and had extensive combat experience. All this allowed him to win his most important victory - at Sinop. This was the last battle of warships under sail, in which the Russian squadron under the leadership of Nakhimov, thanks to bold and skillful actions on November 18, 1853, completely destroyed the main forces of the Turkish fleet.
After the blockade of Sevastopol by the Anglo-French troops and the death of Admiral V. A. Kornilov, Nakhimov led the troops defending the city until June 28, 1855, when he was mortally wounded on Malakhov Hill.
Description of the medal
For the preliminary development of new awards, Admiral Kuznetsov attracted a whole group of sailors under the guidance of captain B. M. Khomich. It was attended by N. A. Volkov, A. L. Diodorov and the architect M. A. Shepilevsky. According to their project, the order and medal of Ushakov, the order and medal of Nakhimov were created. Photos of these insignia show them as the highest examples of medal art.
The only award from the times of the Great Patriotic War made of bronze - the Nakhimov medal - isa disk with a diameter of 36 mm, through a soldered lug connected by a ring to a block covered with a moiré ribbon. Its coloring contains the motif of a sea collar - guisa - three white stripes on a blue background.
On the obverse is the profile of PS Nakhimov, on both sides of which along the upper edge there are convex letters: "Admiral Nakhimov", below - laurel branches separated by a five-pointed star, framing along the edges - convex dots. The reverse side of the medal is an expressive composition of the image of a sailboat, framed in a circle by a cable superimposed on two anchors connected by a chain, in a circle - convex dots.
History
During the war years, about 13 thousand awards were made with this insignia. The Nakhimov medal was part of the current state awards until 2010 and left a noticeable mark on the glorious history of the Russian fleet.
