The Medal for Military Merit was one of the very first insignia in the Soviet state. It was instituted simultaneously with another well-known and similar in subject matter medal - "For Courage". Their establishment took place in October 1938.
Appearance of the insignia
Medal "For Military Merit", the photo of which is presented in the article, is made in the form of a regular circle with a diameter of 31-32 mm. The weight of the award is just under 20 grams. The author of the drawing on the obverse and reverse, artist Sergey Dmitriev, depicted the following. The front side of the medal presents us with an inscription in depressed letters "USSR" around the circumference of the upper part, which are covered with ruby red enamel. In the middle part there is a relief inscription "For Military Merit" in three lines. Below is a relief drawing of crossed swords and a rifle with a bayonet. Along the entire edge on the front side of the award there is a slightly convex rim with a width of 1 mm. On the reverse side of the medal "For Military Merit" is smooth, without any images or inscriptions. Although in the versions of the product made before 1948, its serial number was engraved here, since in the first period of its existence the awards were numbered. Medal "For Military Merit"made from silver alloy. The ribbon for the award is silk - gray with golden stripes along the edge.
Product varieties
In different years, the regalia had different features in its execution. Several of these are known. First of all, there are two types of lasts: rectangular and pentagonal.
Rectangular block.
In this form, the medal existed from its very foundation, in 1938, until 1943, when its appearance was changed by a party decree. In its first version, the "Medal for Military Merit" had a rectangular hanging block, which was covered with a red ribbon. To the block, on its reverse side, a threaded pin and a clamping nut were attached, located there to fix the regalia on clothes. The serial number in this version was located on the reverse, at the bottom.
Pentagonal block.
After the government decree of June 19, 1943, the general appearance of the award was somewhat changed: the rectangular block became pentagonal, and the product was now fastened with a pin, which was located on the back of the block.
Documents for the medal
The certificate for the badge of distinction was introduced already in 1939, simultaneously with the document-attachment to the medal "For Courage". However, in the first post-war years there were changes in the order of issuance. Firstly, the badges have changed in design, and most importantly, they are no longer individual.
Reward provisions
According to the decrees of the Soviet leadership, the medal "For Military Merit" could receive the following distinguished: a) those who showed direct courage in the defense of the state borders of the country; b) soldiers who demonstrated initiative, skillful and courageous decisions in battle, which became the key to the successful completion of a combat mission by a military unit or unit; c) those who distinguished themselves by special success in combat, political training, in the development of new models of military equipment; for other merits that were shown by the military during the period of their active service.
History of the award
The first recipients of the Military Merit Medal appeared before the Second World War. However, its presentation acquired a really wide scope during the years of the Great Patriotic War and immediately after it. Here the account went into the millions. In the second half of the 20th century, the regalia again became quite rare to acquire its heroes.
