For Courage

Description and requirements

The Medal “For Courage” is a state award of the USSR for personal awarding for personal courage and bravery demonstrated in the defence of the Fatherland and the fulfilment of military duty. The Regulation on the medal states: “The Medal ‘For Courage’ was established to award for personal courage and bravery demonstrated in the defence of the socialist Fatherland and the fulfilment of military duty. The Medal “For Courage” is awarded to servicemen of the Red Army, Navy, border and internal troops and other citizens of the USSR.” It is the highest medal in the award system of the USSR. The medal is made of 925 silver.

The medal was given for extraordinary courage and bravery demonstrated in battles with enemies of the socialist Fatherland, while protecting the state border of the USSR, while performing military duty in conditions involving risk to life. It is important to emphasise that the Medal “For Courage” was awarded exclusively for bravery shown on the battlefield. This is how it differs from some other awards, which were often awarded “for participation.” This medal was for personal feats, so it was awarded mainly to privates and sergeants and sometimes to officers, mainly mid-level command personnel. Regimental commanders were given the right to award the medal to soldiers and sergeants of the unit entrusted to them. Awarding the medal directly on the battlefield acquired an extensive character. So the ceremony was held in front of the unit’s formation.

About 4.6 million people were awarded, of whom most were given during WW2.

---

My medal

It was purchased from Estonia and has the number 996389. That is a rare version of the medal, with a shorter piece of armour over the tank tracks in the picture. Awarded in the first part of 1944.

Zaporozhets Ivan Trofimovich, born in 1923.
Name of military registration and enlistment office: Cherkasy District Military Commissioner’s Office, Ukrainian SSR, Kyiv Oblast, Cherkasy District
Date of entry into service: 23.12.1943
Military rank: private
Military unit: 859th Rifle Regiment, 294th Rifle Division
Who awarded: 859th Rifle Regiment, 294th Rifle Division, 1st Ukrainian Front
Name of award: Medal “For Courage”
Document number: 13/n
Document date: 28.06.1945

Order
“On behalf of the Praesidium of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I award the medal ‘For Courage’ to assault rifleman of the company of assault riflemen, private Ivan Trofimovich Zaporozhets, for an active part in the regiment’s battles. In the fight for the village of Staroselye in February 1944, he was the first to cross the Olshanka River, break into the village, where he killed a German soldier with his assault rifle and captured another one. Born in 1923, not a party member, Ukrainian. Mobilised to the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army on 23.12.1943 by the Cherkasy District Military Commissariat. Has no wounds or awards. Home address: <hidden>”