- Time Period: Interwar Medals
- Year of Institution: 17 October 1938
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Medal for Battle Merit (or Медаль «За боевые заслуги» in Russian) was a Soviet military medal created on October 17, 1938 by the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. It was awarded for “courageous defense of the state borders“, “combat action resulting in a military success” or “successful military and political training and preparation“.
The Medal for Battle Merit was Like the Medal for Courage, its status was revised to prevent the medal from being given for years of service (a practice that was rampant in the USSR) rather than actual bravery during a battle.
More than 5,210,000 medals were awarded between 1938 and 1991.
The Medal For Battle Merit Medal Design
The Medal for Battle Merit is a 32mm in diameter circular silver color medal with a raised rim on both the obverse and reverse.
The medal is secured to a standard Russian pentagonal mount by a ring through the medal suspension loop. The mount is covered in a 24mm wide grey ribbon with a yellow 2mm edge stripe on each side.
