Soviet WWII Campaign Medal “For the Capture of Vienna”
Authentic Soviet Medal “For the Capture of Vienna” (Russian: «ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ ВЕНЫ»), awarded to participants of the Capture of Vienna during the final stages of the Second World War.
The medal is struck in brass and measures 32 mm in diameter, featuring a raised rim. The obverse has a textured (pebbled) field with a five-pointed star at the top. Beneath it appears the bold three-line inscription “FOR THE CAPTURE OF VIENNA” («ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ ВЕНЫ»). At the bottom, a laurel branch curves upward along the left edge, symbolizing victory and honor.
The reverse displays a plain five-pointed star at the top, with the date “13 APRIL 1945” («13 АПРЕЛЯ 1945») arranged in three lines below, commemorating the fall of Vienna to Soviet forces.
The medal is suspended from a standard Soviet pentagonal mount, fitted with a 24 mm silk moiré ribbon in light blue with a central dark blue stripe (approximately 8 mm wide). The ribbon may show typical age-related wear such as light soiling, minor staining, and edge fraying, consistent with period use and storage.
Condition: As shown in photographs.
€85,00
In stock
In stock
Details
| Classification | Campaign Medal |
|---|---|
| Conflict | World War II |
| Country | Soviet Union |
Statement
Wolfgang Historica is a trusted seller with years of experience and consistently positive reviews. We are always interested in purchasing collections or unique objects and also offer a professional consignment service. Buy with confidence.
Historical Description
The Medal “For the Capture of Vienna” (Russian: «Медаль «За взятие Вены»») was a Soviet World War II campaign award instituted on 9 June 1945 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. It commemorates the successful Vienna Offensive, during which Soviet forces seized the Austrian capital from Nazi Germany in April 1945, a key operation in the final collapse of German resistance in Central Europe.
The decoration was established following a petition from the People’s Commissariat for Defense to formally recognize those who took part in the assault and capture of Vienna. It was awarded to personnel of the Red Army, the Soviet Navy, and NKVD troops who directly participated in the fighting, as well as to commanders and organizers responsible for planning and executing the operation.
Presentation of the medal was made in the name of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, based on official documentation confirming participation in the campaign. Active-duty recipients typically received the award through their unit command, while veterans and discharged personnel were decorated via local military commissariats.
In the official order of wear, the medal was placed on the left side of the chest. When worn alongside other Soviet decorations, it followed the Medal “For the Capture of Königsberg.” In modern contexts, when displayed with awards of the Russian Federation, those decorations take precedence. The statute governing the medal was later amended on 18 July 1980 to refine its regulations and eligibility criteria.
