The Cold War Victory Medal was established in the United States as an unofficial commemorative award. At the end of the Cold War, Americans began to believe that it was they who won, as a result of which they got this medal.
The beginning of the cold war
The history of the Cold War began immediately after the Second World War due to the confrontation of two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. In many ways, it was due to different perceptions of the world.
The term itself was proposed by Churchill in 1946. In 1947, Truman already proposed the doctrine of the Cold War, which provided the exclusive right of the United States to intervene in certain processes taking place in the world, if this intervention is necessary for America. The same doctrine encouraged the support of those countries that followed the Washington line. There is another point of view, the essence of which boiled down to the fact that the USSR must be constantly pressured so that it goes on the capitalist path of development, abandoning socialism. After all, socialism threatened the Western system, its values and way of life.
The height of the confrontation
In 1947, the CIA was created in the USA, and the Committee on Information, headed by Molotov, was formed in the USSR. The Soviet Union tried to expand its sphere of influence, spreading the ideas of socialism throughout the world and abandoning private property. The USA acted from sharply opposite positions. Both concepts were determined by the struggle for resources. As a result, the Soviet Union formed a socialist camp with pro-Soviet rulers, in most countries of the world capitalist ideology prevailed.
These two ideologies formed two military blocs: NATO from the West and the Warsaw Pact from the countries of the socialist camp. This gave rise to the beginning of the arms race, which consisted in the fact that if one country created something new in the military-industrial complex, the other responded to it by creating no less powerful weapons. Atomic and thermonuclear bombs began to be created. World peace began to depend on the will of two leaders of states.
One of the most difficult moments of the Cold War was the division of Germany into two countries. This state in the West was captured by the USA, France and Great Britain, and in the East - the USSR. As a result, Germany and the GDR were formed.
Also an important stage of the Cold War was the requirement of Harriman, who was the US Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1945, from the USSR to accept the Japanese surrender terms proposed by the Americans. The Soviet Union rejected these conditions.
The struggle broke out for China, which was divided into two parts - communist in the northeast and pro-Western in the rest. As a result, it was held in 1946-1949. civil war, as a result of which China became a socialist state.
Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation by the American army in the south and the Soviet army in the north, as a result of which two states were formed - North and South Korea.
The Cold War was accompanied by the struggle against dissidents in both states.
The peak of US arrogance manifested itself during the Vietnam War, when the Americans wanted to win at all costs, without giving the Vietnamese people the right to self-determination.
In the 60s of the last century, the confrontation between the two states reached a new point - a wall was built in Berlin between its western and eastern parts. In 1960, the United States sent a U-2 aircraft, which was shot down by a rocket, on a reconnaissance flight over the Soviet Union, which caused a scandal.
American missiles surrounded the USSR from all sides, in response, the leadership of the Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba. This led in 1962 to the Caribbean crisis.
The cold war between the USSR and the USA did not develop into a "hot" one only due to nuclear deterrence, which both states had.
Relationship Attempt
At the end of the 1960s, Americans began to realize that pressure on the USSR only leads to an even greater exacerbation of the latter. The leadership of the Soviet Union also began to talk about establishing relations with the Americans. US Nixon’s administration has chosen the “selective” path of the Cold War. An agreement was signed on limiting missile defense systems, and an agreement on limiting strategic weapons.
However, in 1976, the USSR improved its medium-range missiles deployed in Europe. In 1979, the NATO bloc deployed Tomahawk and Pershing 2 missiles in Western Europe, but Europeans began to protest, as they could be the target of Soviet missiles instead of the United States. In 1981, Reagan proposed withdrawing American and Soviet missiles from Europe, but there were still French and British missiles that were aimed at the Soviet Union, so Brezhnev refused this option.
The break in the Cold War was finally “buried” in 1979 with the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan.
In 1979, the OSV-2 agreement was signed, but it did not limit the deployment of nuclear weapons. The Americans began to build on this bluff about the "Star Wars". In the early 80's. The United States continued to deploy missiles in Europe; in response, the USSR stopped communicating with this country.
End of the cold war
In 1985, the new Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee Mikhail Gorbachev met with Reagan and asked him to freeze the SDI. In the end, Reagan realized that it was better to make mutual concessions. In 1987, an agreement was reached on the withdrawal of American and Soviet missiles from Europe. In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell apart, Germany became a single state. The socialist camp also collapsed.
In mid-1991, the Warsaw Pact military bloc ceased to exist. The USSR refused to spread its influence to third world countries. Reforms were carried out in the former countries of the socialist camp, liberals loyal to Washington came to power.
This marked the end of the Cold War.
The consequences of the cold war for our country
The USSR made sacrificial steps for rapprochement with the West, primarily with the United States. However, this turned out to be that Russia ceased to be considered a superpower, it could hardly say no to other countries. The United States became the only country that began to dictate its terms to all other states. Russia began to experience a "brain drain" - the best scientists in various fields left their homeland. The United States promised to support Russian democracy, but their main help was to reduce our country's nuclear stockpiles.
In the 90s of the last century, Russia received from the United States about 5.5 billion dollars, while the outflow from Russia annually amounted to 15-20 billion dollars.
The United States gradually expanded its area of influence. Despite the fact that Mikhail Gorbachev received assurances that NATO will not expand, it continues to do so to this day, but the Warsaw Treaty Organization has been liquidated.
Nevertheless, Russia has retained its place as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Today, it is the Russian Federation that is the only country in the world capable of destroying the United States. Today, attempts are being made to revive the military-industrial complex of Russia, notes of independence are noted in politics, which the West no longer likes, new sanctions are introduced, and this can lead to a new cold war.
Medal For Victory In The Cold War
The Americans still continue to believe that they won the Cold War. In the USSR and Russia, the version that dominates common sense continues to prevail today.
In the United States of America, the "For Victory in the Cold War" medal was established, which did not receive official status. It should not be worn, but can be acquired by persons with a certificate confirming their service in the period 1946-1991, that is, during the Cold War. These individuals can be either members of the US Armed Forces or US government civil servants.
In April 2007, Congress submitted a proposal to formalize the award to Hilary Clinton. It was said that the Cold War was very dangerous for American soldiers.
Recognition of the Cold War Victory Medal
Officially, the medal is not recognized by all but the United States National Guard Alaska and Louisiana. However, anyone who wants to be a member of the US Armed Forces who served during the Cold War years can purchase it.
Medal value
After examining the Runet, we can conclude that the collectors of Russia are not interested in this medal. To the question: “How much does a medal cost?”, You can try to answer by exploring the global trading floors. So, on one site it is offered for $ 22.
On the other, this medal can be bought depending on whether it is gold or not, or rather - for $ 17.95-22.95. Thus, the answer to the question: “How much does a medal cost?” Can range from $ 18 to $ 27.
History of the medal
In 1997, the US House of Congress voted to issue a certificate of service for the Cold War, a decree on the publication of which was signed by the Pentagon chief in 1998.
In 2001, these same chambers prepared a decree recommending that the Pentagon head approve the commemorative medal.
In 2003, Clinton in the Senate continued to raise the issue of issuing a medal.
In 2005, she was supported by the House of Representatives.
In 2007, Hilary Clinton again raises the issue of a new military award.
Medal Delivery Bill
In 2006, a bill was developed that instructed D. Rumsfeld, then the US Secretary of Defense, to design the medal. According to this bill, it was intended to award this award to American soldiers or those trained during the Cold War for at least 180 days.
Medal design
On the obverse of the medal is the abstract Liberty, located on a hill and looking at the views of the city of Fulda in the federal state of Hesse, which was considered by Americans as the most likely place of impact during the invasion of Europe by the Soviet army.
Another version of the medal
In addition to congressmen and senators, the Association of Cold War Veterans made a demand on the authorities to recognize the merits of the US military during the Cold War. It was thanks to the members of this association that the US Department of Defense began to issue evidence of confirmation of participation in the war in question. Having failed to gain recognition, this organization released its unofficial medal, the design of which was designed by N. Russell, a specialist at the Heraldry Institute, located in the US Army.
Where did the idea with the medal come from?
The idea with a medal arose in association with other medals existing in the USA, issued as memorials for participants in various wars. Since the Cold War in the view of the Americans is a war, then a medal should have been instituted for it. In addition, the Soviet Union ordered a long life at the time of the offer to issue the medal “For Victory in the Cold War”.
Finally
The Medal "For Victory in the Cold War" was never able to find official recognition in the United States. As a memorial, it can be used by the military and civilians who participated in exercises during the Cold War of 1946-1991. According to the Americans, they won the Cold War, although according to the figurative expression of George W. Bush, the USSR did not lose in it. A new cold war may begin these days. To prevent it is the main task of politicians.