The Hitler army, planning an attack on the Soviet Union, developed several directions, one of which was the north of the country, namely the Kola Peninsula. The fighting there began in September 1941 and continued until October 1944. The enemy attacks were reflected by the troops of the Northern and Karelian fronts, as well as the forces of the navy deployed in the North. This part of the front was called the defense of the Arctic.
Award institution
A couple of months after the German invaders, together with the Finnish units, lost the battle for the Soviet North, a decree was issued in early December, according to which the medal "For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic" appeared. The decree on the establishment and rewarding of defense participants was issued by the highest governing body of the country. Co-authors in the development of the medal were Lieutenant Colonel V. Alov and artist A. I. Kuznetsov.
Establish the medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic” proposed by intelligence officers of the Karelian Front. Of the several sketches presented, the sketch of Lieutenant Colonel Alov was recognized as the best. The military council of the front supported the idea, and the sketch was sent to Moscow. Later, after the capital also agreed with the proposal for the establishment of the award, the initial drawing was finalized by the artist Kuznetsov.
Civilians could also qualify for the medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic”. The list of recipients, thus, totaled 353 thousand 240 people as of October 1, 1995.
Award Rules
The defense of the Arctic includes the period from the beginning of the war until the end of autumn 1944. All participants in the events could be presented for the award - Red Army men, military navy, NKVD officers, as well as civilians. The basis for the award were documents confirming the actual participation in the defense. Corresponding papers were issued by the commanders of units, the leadership of hospitals, as well as representatives of the executive branch, which included the councils of people's deputies. The medal "For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic" was issued on behalf of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union.
Prizes were awarded to military and civilian employees of all types of troops who actively participated in the campaign for defense for at least six months, to participants in special operations conducted in the fall of 1944, while the term of service in specific formations did not play a role, as well as to all civilians who defended for at least six months Arctic by all available means.
Right to present a medal
From the provisions on the award, approved by the supreme leadership of the country, it also follows that the medal "For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic" is awarded by military commanders if the Red Army soldiers, military navy, and NKVD officers are presented for the award. For those who have ceased to serve in the army or navy for various reasons, including due to reaching retirement age, medals are awarded at the place of residence by local bodies of military commissariats. The powers to present state awards to civilians are vested in the councils of deputies of Murmansk and the region.
External design
The medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic”, the photo of which is presented in the article, was smelted from brass. In diameter, the award reaches 3.2 centimeters. The obverse depicts a half-chested soldier with his right shoulder pointing forward and his head slightly turned to the right. He is dressed in winter uniforms - a cap with earflaps with an attached badge of the Red Army star and short fur coat. In the hands of the soldier is holding a PPSh machine gun. A part of the naval ship is engraved to the left of it, and images of combat aircraft are located on top of both sides. In the lower part on the front background are the silhouettes of two tanks. The name of the award is engraved from left to right around the circumference of the medal; below, between the first and last words of the inscription, there is a ribbon with a five-pointed star on top of it with the image of the coat of arms of the USSR in the center.
On the reverse, in large letters in three lines, words are engraved, a kind of motto: “For our Soviet Motherland”. Above the phrase is the Soviet coat of arms - crossed hammer and sickle.
The tape has a width of 2.4 centimeters, blue, made of silk. In the middle of the tape is a green strip 6 millimeters wide, which divides the entire field into three equal parts.