The Medal "For the Defence of Odessa" was awarded to all participants in the defence of Odessa - soldiers of the Red Army, Navy and troops of the NKVD, as well as persons from the civilian population who took part in the defence of Odessa during its siege by German forces. 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 defence of Odessa issued by the unit commander, the chief of the military medical establishment or by a relevant provincial or municipal authority. Serving military personnel received the medal from their unit commander, retirees from military service received the medal from a regional, municipal or district military commissioner in the recipient's community, members of the civilian population, participants in the defence of Odessa received their medal from regional or city Councils of People's Deputies. Each medal came with an "attestation of award" certificate. The Medal "For the Defence of Odessa" was worn on the left side of the chest and in the presence of other awards of the USSR, was located immediately after the Medal "For the Defence of Moscow". If worn in the presence of Orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.
Medal description
The Medal "For the Defence of Odessa" was a 32mm in diameter circular brass medal 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 "USSR". A circular band following the medal's entire circumference bears the relief inscription "FOR THE DEFENCE OF ODESSA" at its top, at both ends of the inscription, relief five-pointed stars. On the same band at 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 "FOR OUR SOVIET MOTHERLAND". The Medal "For the Defence of Odessa" 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.
Recipients (partial list)
The individuals below were all recipients of the Medal "For the Defence of Odessa".
