Battle for the Caucasus has become one of the longest time-battles of the Great Patriotic War.The name of the institution 1 May 1944 medal marked only the initial phase of confrontation between the two armies in the mountainous areas south of the USSR, although according to the regulations, the medal "For Defense of the Caucasus" was given to the participants and offensive battles that took place during 1943.
Operation «Edelweiss»
plan to capture the major oil-producing regions, where the Soviet Union was getting up to 85% of raw material for fuel, was approved by Hitler in the summer of 1942.This military operation was given the code name for the title of a beautiful mountain flower."Edelweiss" provided three lines of blows to German Army Group "A": the two - to bypass the mountain ranges of the Caucasus with the occupation of the ports of the Black Sea coast and the attack on the Caspian Sea with access to the district of Baku, the third - through the main Caucasus range with the seizure of oil fields in Grozny.
Given that there has deposits of tungsten and manganese, which are indispensable to melt the weapons and armored steel that after the loss of Ukraine Caucasus has become one of the main suppliers of grain, the plan "Edelweiss" would put the Soviet Union in a very difficult position.All were awarded the medal "For Defense of the Caucasus" - both military and civilian, realizing the value of the victory in the south, and the severity of the fighting in the foothills of the Caucasus, was considered the award of one of the most prestigious awards of all wartime.
Author sketch
Nikolay Moskalev.The name of the artist is included in the description of medals and decorations created by his designs.Among them, the medal "For Defense of Moscow", "For defense of Stalingrad" et al., Order of Kutuzov, and probably the most revered World Order - the Order of Glory soldier.
medal "For Defense of the Caucasus" stands out in this series that in its design of the artist is the only time to use national motifs with geo-referenced: flowers and bunches of grapes.
Description medals
On the front side of the round brass medal "For Defense of the Caucasus" has a diameter of 32 mm image of the highest peaks of the Caucasus mountains - Mount Elbrus.At its bottom - the images of oil-producing towers, tanks and combat vehicles with the soldiers.Over the hill there are three aircraft silhouette.All of this is inside of the rim with the image of a decorative vine.In the upper part - arched inscription in raised letters "For the defense of the Caucasus".Decorative rim at the top divides the star at the bottom - belt with a hammer and sickle and the inscription "USSR".
downside - the reverse - a concise solution possessed many WWII combat medals: protruding hammer and sickle, and under them - the horizontal inscription in three lines "For Our Soviet Motherland."
Standard pentagonal blocks which are almost all combat medals of the USSR, tight moire ribbon.Its width - 24 mm, the primary color - olive, on the edges - blue stripes 2.5 mm wide.The mid - olive strip (2 mm) with a red border superimposed on the white strip (6 mm) with a blue outline.
first stage of the Caucasian battle
Performing operation "Edelweiss" was initially successful for the German army, and went according to schedule.One after another was captured biggest cities of Stavropol and Krasnodar region, including the regional capital and Armavir, Elista, Mozdok, Maikop, and most of Novorossiysk.The symbol of the success of the Nazis was planting in August 1942 special group of climbers with a swastika flag on the top of Mount Elbrus.
retreat of the Red Army in some mountain areas looked disorganized: the Soviet command did not expect that the Germans would attack through rugged mountain passes.And too much of the difference was in the preparation of the German mountain shooters and counter the Red Army.Still, by September 1942 the Wehrmacht offensive was halted.
Regulation on medals
According to the Statute of the medal was awarded to all soldiers of the Red Army, the Navy and the NKVD, at least three months participated in the battles for the Caucasus in the period from July 1942 to October 1943.Get the wounded in these battles the medal "For Defense of the Caucasus" was given regardless of the length of participation in the Caucasus military operations.
Civilians also awarded the medal, including for participation in the construction of fortifications, which began in 1941.Medals were given to the Soviet Union on the basis of documents issued by the military, military medical authorities and the authorities of areas where military action: Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, the Georgian and Azerbaijani Soviet republics.
Like all such awards, the medal "For Defense of the Caucasus" is worn on the left side, place it was determined after the medal "For the Defense of Kiev."
Counterattack Soviet troops
main reason for the defeat of the Germans in the southern campaign, military analysts say the dispersion of forces in the two directions - Caucasian and Stalingrad, which led to the defeat of the Wehrmacht at the banks of the Volga and the shores of the Black and Caspian Seas.But the main reason was displayed by Soviet soldiers and sailors resilience and courage.The Germans failed to capture any of Stalingrad or break Grozny and Baku.
After fierce defensive battles since the beginning of 1943 the Red Army launched a counteroffensive, and if it were not for Hitler's order to withdraw the army in the south of Crimea, the main forces of Army Group "A" would be encircled and destroyed.
Particularly impressive was the air battle that unfolded in the skies Kuban - one of the largest in history.Winning it provided an advantage to Soviet pilots in the air, which they did not lose the war.It has since risen star of the Soviet ace Alexander Pokryshkina also awarded an honorary award.
October 9 last German soldiers left the Taman Peninsula, the Caucasus has been completely released.A German streamers dropped from the top of Mount Elbrus Soviet soldiers-climbers in February 1943.Instead, they were hoisted flags of the USSR.
Southern bow
unofficial name of the set of three awards - medals of the USSR, on the events in the southern section of the Great Patriotic War - Southern bow."For the defense of the Caucasus" - the massive reward of this set: by 1985 it was awarded approximately 870 thousand. This includes even the medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol" (52.5 thousand awarded) and "For the Defense of Odessa" (about 30 thousand), established at the same time - December 22, 1942.
Southern Knights bow, there are only about 990 people.The most famous of these is the legendary Marshal Semyon Budyonny - he commanded the connections that participated in the toughest battles of the first stage of the war on the Black Sea coast.But the feat worthy of eternal memory of all the participants in those battles - from the ordinary to the marshal.
