- Time Period: Second World War
- Year of Institution: 22 December 1942
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Medal for the Defense of Odessa (or Медаль «За оборону Одессы», Medal «Za oboronu Odessy» in Russian) was established on 22 December 1942 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and awarded to all Soviet military and civilians who participated in the defense of Odessa between 10 August and 16 October 1941.
The medal was awarded to soldiers of the Red Army, Navy, and troops of the NKVD, as well as persons from the civilian population who took part in the defense of the port city of Odessa from the armed forces of Nazi Germany. Award of the medal was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of documents attesting to actual participation in the defense of Odessa issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment, or by a relevant provincial or municipal authority.
Each medal came with an “attestation of award” certificate.
The Medal for the Defense of Odessa Design
The medal was 32mm in diameter, circular, and made of brass, with a raised rim.
On the obverse in the background, the seashore and a distant lighthouse at right, in the center, the image of a red soldier and a red sailor marching towards the left their rifles at the ready; above the servicemen, the relief inscription «СССР» (“USSR”). A circular band following the medal’s entire circumference bears the relief inscription «ЗА ОБОРОНУ ОДЕССЫ» (“FOR THE DEFENCE OF ODESSA”) at its top, at both ends of the inscription, relief five-pointed stars. On the same band at the bottom center, a five-pointed star over a ribbon superimposed over the crossing point of laurel and oak branches going up the band to the two five-pointed stars near the upper inscription.
On the reverse near the top, the relief image of the hammer and sickle, below the image, the relief inscription in three rows «ЗА НАШУ СОВЕТСКУЮ РОДИНУ» (“FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND”).
The medal was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24mm wide olive green silk moiré ribbon with a 2mm central light blue stripe.
