The Medal for Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR

• Time Period: Post-WW2
• Year of Institution: 13 July 1950
• Country: Russia & USSR

The Medal for Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR (or Медаль «За отличие в охране государственной границы СССР», Medal «Za otlichie v okhrane gosudarstvennoj granitsy SSSR» in Russian) was established on 13 July 1950 and awarded to K.G.B. Border Troops personnel for military or other actions displaying excellence in guarding the Soviet borders.

The medal was awarded to soldiers of Border Troops and other military personnel as well as to Soviet citizens for military exploits and special services displayed in the protection of the state borders of the USSR:

• for bravery and selflessness displayed during combat operations aimed at the arrest of violators of the State Border of the USSR;
• for the leadership of border protection units while ensuring the inviolability of the borders of the USSR;
• for a high degree of vigilance and proactive actions which resulted in the arrest of violators of the State Border of the USSR;
• for the skillful organization of border service units and exemplary work to strengthen the borders of the USSR;
• for the excellent performance of military duties associated with the protection of the state borders of the USSR;
• for active assistance to border protection forces in their combat assignments aimed at the protection of the state borders of the USSR.

The Medal for Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR Design

The medal was originally struck in silver, after 1966 it was constructed of silver-plated nickel and later of cupro-nickel. It’s circular and measures 32 mm with a raised rim on both sides.

The obverse bears the relief image of an erect border guard holding a PPSh-41 submachine gun standing guard beside a border marker with high mountains in the background. The reverse shows a relief inscription on six lines “For Distinction in the Protection of the State Border of the «За отличие в охране государственной границы СССР» (“USSR”), at the top, the relief image of a five-pointed star, at the bottom, a relief hammer and sickle over laurel and oak branches.

The medal was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24 mm wide green silk moiré ribbon with 3 mm wide red edge stripes.