Soviet 1940s Medal Bars

[Rick Research]

Here are the obverses of a couple of typical late 1940s medal bars. IF any single multi-award backing was used at all (and many times awards were simply worn individually), typically only four across like these were worn-- even a single additional 5th medal was usually worn beneath. Longer bars did exist, but apparently were not as available or cost too much for most wearers, even of fairly senior rank.

Top bar: Order of the Red Banner, Military Merit Medal, Defense of the Caucasus Medal, Victory Over Germany.

Bottom bar: two Military Merit Medals, and particularly nice (scans don't do justice) Defense of Leningrad and Defense of Moscow Medals, with crisp details and remains of the original matte gold finish.

[Rick Research]

And the reverses, showing the early brass suspension devices. I have also seen white metal alloy and a type with a "watering can" sort of zink finish. By the end of the 1950s, these metal backings were aluminum, and typically screw back disks were used on either end of bars longer than three awards.

Using Paul McDaniel's "Comprehensive Guide" typology (of course!) the ORB is a Type 3 variation 1 (probably a reworked screwback die). The MMM on the upper bar and the first MMM on the lower bar are Type 2 variation 3 (suspension struck with medal and machined down), while the second MMM on the lower bar is a Type 2 variation 1 (straight sword hilt). These MMMs are all some sort of white alloy, NOT--as usually described--real silver.

The serial number of the ORB, 176,859 falls into the range in which most were November 3, 1944 "20 years plus" long service awards, while that MMM, # 2,689,507 would date it circa June 1946.

The lower two MMS are #3,173,062 (1946 probably) and #1,174,279 (about March 1944).

Comment: I am virtually a lone voice in calling these "Military Merit Medals"--they are commonly MIS-identified (even by native Russian speakers) as "Combat Service Medals." That is NOT correct-- "Zasluga" is MERIT, not "service" (the same error that twists German "Verdienst" "merit"into "dienst" "service"). "Voeviye" may be interpreted in many ways, but since most of these medals were awarded for NOTHING to do with actual "combat" (probably over half were granted 1944-57 for 10 years long service), I believe "military" is a better translation than "combat."

The ribbons on these are silk--these bars are untouched, which is more and more difficult to find. The pins are typical brittle substandard Communist Bloc wire.

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Rick,

pretty nice bars.

Your opinion about the MMM is right. There was a special Bravery medal (Za Otvagu) , the bigger one with the blue edged ribbon to denote small acts of bravery. The MMM was awarded for "participation in fights" but also for "increasing the readiness of the troops, good results in the political education and tactical training and other merits in service"
Around 2 million MMM were awarded after WW2, but "only" less than 500 000 bravery medals!

Best regards

Daniel

[Ville Ruokonen]

Rick, do you find Russian WWII medals commonly grouped in bars? The local antique shop which practically is the only one that has russian/soviet stuff around here doesn't have any bars. All awards are separate. I don't think he has broken any up, given that he has piles of various soviet medals.

Ironically, here a Defense of Leningrad medal is worth a bit more than a Winter War Commemorative medal...

Oh yeah. Deutsches Kreuz im Silber for 720 Euro. Any takers?

[Daniel Krause]

I´ve handled hundreds of soviet russian awards in the late 80ies and early 90ies. The lower ranks normally worn their awards separate, but most of the higher ranks had multiple bars (they could afford it).

Best greetings

Daniel

[Rick Research]

Here is Medical Lieutenant Colonel M. L. Kallibov, about 1950, wearing his medals loose. The medal below is the 1945 Korean Liberation Medal of 1948-- foreign awards were always worn under Soviet ones--

[Rick Research]

Also wearing M1945 full dress uniform is Colonel A. G. Kalmi'kov, this taken in November 1951. His single-mounted bar of four over loose second row (Korean mdeal under both) is about typical for the period.

[Rick Research]

Air Force Engineer Colonel D. I. Stepanov only had a single five medal bar to work with-- note the FOURTH medal, which will be switched in the next photo, and the distinctive angle at upper left of his Victory Over Germany Medal's ribbon in last place. His Capture of Königsberg Medal is actually loose in 6th place at the end. This from 1946

[Rick Research]

And here he is in 1949, wearing his M1945 full dress tunic-- he has bumped the 1938 Jubilee down to add his third Red Banner on the five medal bar.

[Rick Research]

This unnamed Armor Colonel is wearing full medals on his special M1949 everyday armored corps service tunic-- note he only has a THREE medal bar, with his two Red Banners loose and his Czech and Polish awards loose underneath.

However, proving that Ricky can be picky about SOVIET, as well as GERMAN awards mounting, the Polkovnik is wearing senior-top-down screwbacks, but senior-bottom-up ribboned, mixing the two styles.

[Rick Research]

Guards Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Kanevets of the 96th Guards Mechanized Regiment is wearing full dress M1949 armor tunic (note the collar tabs)-- his second Red Banner is loose, and his Capture or Liberation of someplace Medal and 1948 Jubilee medal are loose underneath. he is also mixing senior-top-down screwbacks with senior-bottom-up ribboned awards styles.

[Daniel Krause]

Here is Army General D.D.Leljuschenko with 2 loooong medal bars.
He is wearing his Order of the October Revolution between the 2 rows.

Best greetings

Daniel

P.S. Nice thread!

[Daniel Krause]

Sergeant Pankov at the victory parade in Moscow.

all 3 classes of the Order of Glory on a bar, Victory over Germany- Medal as single award. Note no Defense of whatever or capture of whatever - medal is worn.

Best regards

Daniel

[Daniel Krause]

Sergeant I.P. Romanov (the old czarist name is a nice name for a communist soviet hero!) is wearing all his awards singulary. Note also only high ranking stuff is worn!

Best Regards

Daniel

[Rick Research]

The huge "Christmas tree" Full-body-bars tend to be from the early 1960s on. This is about the Stalin period: less awards, and sloppier mounting. here are a few more from the original photos drawer:

Air Force Technical Junior Lieutenant Ye. G. Koplyupovsky of 28th Aviation regiment, November 1946