Stalinist historiography endured carefully assess the initial stage of the war of 1941-45.Only after the death of the "father of nations" began to mention the heavy losses incurred when the Red Army.The medal "For the Defense of Kiev", established at the initiative of the new leader of the country - Khrushchev, became a symbol of the memory of the terrible losses of the first summer of the war.
tragic outbreak of war
quick capture of Ukraine Hitler considered the most important strategic goal.This made it possible to deprive the Soviet Union and a major resource base for food, and free up forces to support troops in the main - Moscow - direction.
Ukrainian capital under attack aircraft from the first hours of the war, and in a short time a powerful group of German armies "South" came to the Dnieper.Confront her Soviet military units, combined in South-Western Front, commanded by General, the competence of which argue to this day - MP Kirponos and general management powers exercised southbound Marshal Budyonny.
Regulation on
medal dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of war medal "For the Defense of Kiev" was established June 21, 1961.Historians note the special political circumstances.Nikita Khrushchev, who became the new leader of the party and the country, for a long time was the head of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) of Ukraine, and even during the war raised the reward for the participants fighting for Kiev.Stalin spoke strongly against, arguing that while it is necessary to establish a separate award for each Union republic.But the main thing - Stalin did not consider Soviet troops and its command of the heroic pages of history.
According to the regulations, all awarded the medal "For the Defense of Kiev" from July to September 1941 were in Kiev and its surroundings as part of the regular troops and people's militia, participated in the construction of fortifications, worked for the military enterprises in the city, were members of the anti-Nazi undergroundor guerrilla movement.
By position, the presence of other state awards medal "For the Defense of Kiev" is after the "Stalingrad", "junior" for it was declared "For the defense of the Caucasus".
to take Moscow, Kiev must take
OKW, obeying the directive of Hitler, has decided that most military historians acknowledge a mistake in terms of the acquisition strategy of the Soviet capital.In an effort to quickly get out of the rich Ukrainian regions and Caucasian oil, the southern group was strengthened by two powerful tank armies, which had previously operated in conjunction with Army Group "Center" in the Moscow area.Hitler did it after failing to capture Ukrainian capital immediately, preventing counter-actions of the Red Army on the lines of the Kiev fortified area.
Strengthen the Soviet Southwestern Front by parts Germans barred the way to Moscow, did not rate, because Stalin was convinced that the Germans remained the main metropolitan area.The power and dynamics of the new tank units, their workarounds and Cleave led to the encirclement and destruction of Kiev by a huge group of Red Army led by the direction of the front.Even the official figure of losses is monstrous - more than 700 thousand people.
Description medals
form that has a medal "For the Defense of Kiev" standard for these awards: brass disk with a diameter of 32 mm.Familiar and pentagonal pad, covered with olive ribbon of moire, with two stripes: red (4 mm) and blue (2 mm).
The downside is the same as many medals since the Second World War - with the inscription "For Our Soviet Motherland!" But among collectors faleristov walks a rarity: a medal "For the Defense of Kiev", made by a wrongly used Mint mold fromother military awards.On its reverse it posted date of taking Vienna - "13 April 1945".These medals are not awarded.
Avers is made on the sketch artist VN Atlantov and a relief figure guerrillas armed with rifles and workers, sailors and soldiers against the building of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR with a distinctive dome and flag over it.At the top - raised letters: "For the defense of Kiev", in the center of the bottom - a five-pointed star on the background of the flag, and on either side of her - a laurel branch.Avers borders convex rim.
Results of Kiev defense
Fights summer of 1941 are hard lessons, which began with the Soviet command for the Great Patriotic War.Defense Kiev lasted 70 days and ended on September 26 when the fighting ended in the vicinity of the Ukrainian capital, had left by the time Soviet soldiers.
defeat of Southwestern Front of the Red Army had heavy strategic implications for the USSR: the Germans opened the road to the south of Ukraine and were soon captured Donbass and the Crimea, where he was locked Sevastopol - the main base of the Black Sea Fleet.The biggest economic zones - the sources of food and coal - were lost, threatening the major oil producing regions of the USSR.
But the feat of defending Kiev has historical significance for a common victory over fascism: the diversion of a large part of the armored forces of the central group of Wehrmacht troops eased the pressure on the Soviet capital, and gave time to better prepare for the defense of Moscow.
170,000 awarded
Soviet historical science was typical make assessment on the basis of the views of management and key party ideologues.This is especially touched the most complex and ambiguous victories and defeats of the Great Patriotic War, which include defense of Kiev.Second World War, its main events can be seen in the names of institutions awards for its participants - medals for the defense and the capture of cities and regions.Military medal "For the Defense of Kiev" was only established in the postwar period.But from this it does not become less than honorable and dear to the 170,540 people who were awarded it to their contemporaries and descendants.
