Soviet WWII Campaign Medal “For the Defence of Leningrad”
Authentic Soviet Medal “For the Defence of Leningrad” (Russian: «ЗА ОБОРОНУ ЛЕНИНГРАДА»), awarded to participants in the prolonged defence of the city during the Siege of Leningrad, one of the most significant and devastating sieges of the Second World War.
The medal is struck in brass and measures 32 mm in diameter with a raised rim. The obverse features a detailed relief composition depicting a group of Soviet soldiers in winter gear advancing with rifles at the ready, symbolizing the दृढ़ resistance of the city’s defenders. Behind them rises the Admiralty building of Leningrad, anchoring the scene geographically. Along the upper circumference runs the inscription “FOR THE DEFENCE OF LENINGRAD” («ЗА ОБОРОНУ ЛЕНИНГРАДА»), with a five-pointed star positioned at the base.
The reverse bears the hammer and sickle emblem above the inscription “FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND” («ЗА НАШУ СОВЕТСКУЮ РОДИНУ»), consistent with the standard reverse design of Soviet campaign medals.
The medal is suspended from a standard Soviet pentagonal mount, fitted with a 24 mm silk moiré ribbon in olive-green with a central green stripe. The ribbon may show age-related wear such as light soiling, minor staining, and edge fraying, consistent with period use and storage.
Condition: As shown in photographs.
€55,00
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Historical Description
The Medal “For the Defence of Leningrad” (Russian: «Медаль «За оборону Ленинграда»») was instituted on 22 December 1942 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. It was created to honor the extraordinary endurance and sacrifice of both military personnel and civilians during the Siege of Leningrad, when the city endured 872 days of blockade by the forces of Nazi Germany. The statute of the medal was subsequently amended on 8 March 1945 and again on 18 July 1980 to refine eligibility and administrative provisions.
The medal was awarded broadly to all participants in the defense of Leningrad, including members of the Red Army, Soviet Navy, and NKVD troops, as well as civilians who contributed to the city’s survival. This encompassed not only those engaged in direct combat but also individuals involved in constructing defensive fortifications, maintaining essential services, and supporting the war effort under extreme siege conditions. A special provision in 1945 extended recognition to distinguished civilian workers from the Yaroslavl region who assisted in building defensive structures around Leningrad.
Awards were issued in the name of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of official documentation confirming participation. Military personnel typically received the medal through their unit commanders, while veterans were decorated via local military commissariats. Civilian recipients were awarded through regional or municipal Councils of People’s Deputies. Each medal was accompanied by an official award certificate.
In the prescribed order of wear, the medal was placed on the left side of the chest. Among Soviet decorations, it ranked immediately after the Medal “For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR.” In modern contexts, when worn alongside awards of the Russian Federation, those decorations take precedence.
