Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"


The Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" was a World War II civilian labour award of the Soviet Union established on June 6, 1945 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to recognise the valiant and selfless labour of Soviet citizens in the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. Its statute was later amended by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on July 18, 1980.

Medal statute

The Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" was awarded for wartime labour of one year or six months in the case of disabled veterans, to:
Presentation of the award of the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945" was made by the executive committees of city and district Soviets on the basis of documents issued by the heads of enterprises, institutions, party, government, trade unions and other civic organizations. Lists submitted for the award of the medal were reviewed and approved:
Award of the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet by executive committees of regional, district and city Soviets in the area of residence of the recipient.
The Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" was worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other Orders and medals of the USSR, was located immediately after the Medal "For the Liberation of Prague". If worn in the presence of awards of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.
Each medal came with an attestation of award, this attestation came in the form of a small 8 cm by 11 cm cardboard booklet bearing the award's name, the recipient's particulars and an official stamp and signature on the inside.

Medal description

The Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" was a 32mm in diameter circular copper medal with a raised rim on both sides. On the obverse, the left profile bust of Joseph Stalin wearing the uniform of a Marshal of the Soviet Union, along the upper circumference of the medal, the relief inscription "OUR CAUSE IS JUST", along the lower circumference of the medal, the relief inscription "WE HAVE WON". On the reverse along the upper circumference of the medal, the relief inscription "FOR VALIANT LABOUR", in the center, under a relief hammer and sickle, the inscription on four lines "THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1941–1945", at the bottom, a small relief five pointed star.
The Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by a 24mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with 2mm wide yellow edge stripes and a 7mm wide green central stripe.

Recipients (partial list)

The individuals below were recipients of the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".