Soviet Medals - Sets Complete

[Darrell]

Well ... these came in the Post today from a good reliable friend in New York. You guys may know him as Alexei Merezhko (aka Nota Bene in the Soviet Forums).

I received these three "last" and most rare of the Defense / Liberation Medals to complete their respective sets.

First up the LIBERATION OF BELGRADE (Variation 1):

Obverse:

[Darrell]

LIBERATION OF BELGRADE (Variation 1):

This completes my "Liberation of" Set ...

Reverse:

[Darrell]

Next up is the "Defense of Sevastopol" Medal. Second rarest of the Defense series.

Obverse:

[Darrell]

"Defense of Sevastopol" Medal

Reverse:

[Darrell]

Last up the elusive "Defense of Odessa" Medal. For those not familiar with these guys ... they'll set you back about the cost of a cased EK1 !

With these two Defense Medals, that series is also complete for me as well

Obverse:

[Darrell]

"Defense of Odessa" Medal

Reverse:

[SWE Erik]

Great looking medals! Got mine too from Mr Alexei.
But there is one thing I must ask, where is the lighthouse on the Odessa medal?
Hope it is just the scan. It looks wery faint.

/Erik

[Soviet]

Very nice Darrell. Those are the 3 medals I don't have to complete my set. if only Alexei had more pictures on is site, it would be really nice. I always like to have my medals with the original ribbons.

[Darrell]

Great looking medals! Got mine too from Mr Alexei.
But there is one thing I must ask, where is the lighthouse on the Odessa medal?
Hope it is just the scan. It looks wery faint.

/Erik

Yep it's there .. just my scanner (older than the medals themselves ).

Here are a couple taken in some better light.

1.

[Darrell]

Second one ... I'm just glad it's not -20C and snowing here in Canada

[Darrell]

Very nice Darrell. I always like to have my medals with the original ribbons.

I've tried to do that when possible. Many of the more common ones come with their original ribbons. Since these are so rare, the few that are in existence, it's tough to find them at all, much less having the original ribbons. The backplates are most often original to the medals (indicated by the folded tabs on the reverse) in the two piece form. I would imagine considering that they were worn into combat and in everday life, the ribbons would eventually be in some terrible shape.

[SWE Erik]

Yep it's there .. just my scanner (older than the medals themselves ).

Here are a couple taken in some better light.

1.

Did not know they had scanners back then.
Love the way it is worn. Too bad it can't tell us its story.

/Erik

[Darrell]

Did not know they had scanners back then.
Love the way it is worn. Too bad it can't tell us its story.

/Erik

Well ... IF there was a scanner back then ... I own it

Thanks for the compliments guys ... appreciated

[Darrell]

To followup.

A little on the history of the Odessa Medal:

Established 22 December 1942. Awarded to all servicemen of the Soviet Army, Navy, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and civil citizens who took part in the defense of Odessa. From 10 August 1941 until 16 October 1941, Soviet troops bravely defended the city against an attack force comprised of 16 divisions of German forces. Despite being outnumbered 5 to 1, the siege lasted for 73 days before the city fell to the Nazis. Odessa was awarded the Title of "Hero City" on 1 May 1945, and is one of only four "Hero Cities" in the USSR (the others being Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Sevastopol.) It is made of brass. Approximately 38,000 were issued.

and the Sevastopol Medal:

Established 22 December 1942. Awarded to all servicemen of the Soviet Army, Navy, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and civil citizens who took part in the defense of Sevastopol. For 250 days, 5 November 1941 until 4 July 1942, Soviet Army and Soviet Marines defended Sevastopol against German invaders. Despite being greatly outnumbered in guns, planes and tanks, Soviet forces defended the city until it was evacuated when food and ammunition ran out. Several military divisions managed to hide in the mountains to survive and fight using guerilla tactics against the Nazis. Sevastopol was awarded the Title of "Hero City" on 1 May 1945, and is one of only four "Hero Cities" in the USSR (the others being Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Odessa.) It is made of brass. Approximately 50,000 were issued.

[Gerd Becker]

Very nice early Variations, Darrel

Still need Sevastopol and Odessa

Gerd