Already in the early years of World War IIThe leadership of the USSR realized the need to appreciate the feat of the defenders of the Motherland. For this purpose, orders and medals were instituted, which were awarded to the most distinguished servicemen, as well as civilians who showed courage and courage in the struggle against the Nazi invaders. One of these awards was the medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus" (1944). Today, it is kept in many families as a reminder of the feat of fathers and grandfathers.
Before telling about the medal “For DefenseOf the Caucasus ”, it is worth saying a few words about how the battle for this important geopolitical region took place and what significance the victory of the Russian army in this direction had for the outcome of the Second World War.
The outbreak of hostilities for control of the CaucasusIt is considered to be July 25, 1942. However, the German General Staff decided to take possession of the territories adjacent to the Don a month earlier. For this, the fourth tank army of the Wehrmacht had to break through the front in the area between Kharkov and Kursk, and then the city of Rostov-on-Don was taken, which is an important strategic point.
In August 1942, the troops of Nazi Germanycaptured the Eleven Shelter - the highest mountain climbing hotel of the USSR, located at an altitude of 4130 meters, which the NKVD troops heroically defended (many of the surviving participants in these battles were subsequently awarded the medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus”). They were set there flag of the Third Reich. This event was covered in the world press as the completion of the seizure of the Caucasus, and the Hauptmann Heinz Groth, who carried out this operation, was awarded the Knight's Cross by Hitler.
One month after the described dramaticevents German troops captured most of the city of Novorossiysk, and some time later the Sancharsky and Marukhsky passes of the Caucasus range. However, from that moment on, their advancement slowed down, and then was completely stopped by parts of the Soviet army. Up to the end of 1942, the balance of forces remained at the front, which was disrupted as a result of the successes of the Soviet troops at Stalingrad. As a result, there was a threat of encirclement of the Wehrmacht forces in the Caucasus, which caused concern of the German General Staff.
Large-scale hostilities in the Caucasus wereinitiated from the beginning of January 1943. As a result, the Wehrmacht forces were forced to retreat in order not to be surrounded. A few weeks later, Soviet soldiers managed to throw away Wehrmacht troops west of Rostov-on-Don, and the first half of February was marked by the landing of troops in the Novorossiysk area. Thus, the “Small Land” bridgehead arose, which played a large role in the liberation of Novorossiysk, the battles for which lasted until mid-September. By the way, it was precisely there that L. I. Brezhnev distinguished himself, who also later received the medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus”, the value of which can be learned today from falerists.
In parallel with this, from April in the sky over the Kubanthere was one of the largest air battles in the history of wars, in which Soviet pilots turned the tide in their favor and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Luftwaffe.
September 3, Hitler was forced to give the order toimmediate retreat of the German troops on the Crimean peninsula. Thus, by October 9, 1943, the RKK units fully captured Taman, i.e., an event that most military historians consider to be the actual end of the bloody and bitter battle for the Caucasus. This outcome of the battle played a big role in the fate of the Caucasian republics of the USSR. In particular, they avoided occupation. In addition, the successes of the Soviet army prevented Turkey from entering the war, which had long cherished the dream of expanding its borders at the expense of the territory of the Soviet Union.
The author of the sketch is the artist N. I. Moskalev.The award was established in May 1944. The medal must be worn on the left side of the chest and, if the recipient has other USSR awards, it is placed after the medal awarded to the participants of the defense of Kiev. According to the data available at the time of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory, all of it was received by 870,000 Soviet citizens.
This award was presented to all military personnel.The Red Army, the NKVD and the Navy of the USSR, as well as representatives of the civilian population, who took a direct part in the defense of the Caucasus. According to the regulation on its establishment, the basis for this was data that confirmed actual participation in hostilities in the region. The awards were given on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Council.
The medals “For the Defense of the Caucasus” were intendedfor military personnel who actually participated in the defense of the Caucasus for at least three months, as well as in the period from July 1942 to October 1943. As for civilians, the award was received by people who took part in the hostilities, as well as those who built defensive lines and fortifications, starting in the fall of 1941. Like other World War II awards, the medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus” is no longer made. The fact is that almost all those to whom it should be given, received it, including posthumously.
This award in form and size (a circle with a diameter of 3.2 cm) is identical to most of the others created during the Second World War, and is made of brass.
On the top of its obverse is a mountainElbrus, at its foot - oil rigs, past which a group of tanks moves, above the mountain tops - silhouettes of flying aircraft. The award is edged with a rim with a picture of a garland of bunches of grapes and flowers, in the center of which, at the very top, is a small five-pointed star. At the bottom of the medal is the inscription "USSR", and between the letters - the hammer and sickle. Under the garland around the circle there are bulging letters that are folded into the phrase “FOR THE CAUCASIAN DEFENSE”. As for the reverse, it is made in the traditional style and you can read the slogan “FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND” on it, above which there is an image of a sickle and hammer rising above the surface.
The medal has a small round ear, byIt, as well as a thin metal ring, connects with a pentagonal pad, which is covered with a moire silk ribbon of olive color 2.4 cm wide. There are blue stripes along the edges and two white stripes in the middle (all stripes are 2 mm wide).
The medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus”, the price of which currently ranges from 700 to 2000 rubles, can be a decoration for the collection of any falerist.
