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

Issued in an amount of more than 16.000.000. Since there is much to choose from, you usually have no problems with this medal and where to find it. My medal arrived from Estonia. However, its origin and original recipient are unknown.

Interesting facts

• Established one month after the medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945,” the medal “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945” was intended for home front workers. The design on the obverse side of both medals was identical; only the reverse side and the colour of the ribbon on the suspension differed. A poet later said of these two medals: “From the same metal are cast the medal for battle and the medal for labour.” Unfortunately, this was not entirely accurate, as the metals used for the medals also differed. The former was made of brass, while the latter was made of copper.
• Regardless of a bad relationship bettween the Soviet State and any religion, in 1946, a group of clergy members was awarded the “For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945” medal for their significant contributions to the victory over Germany and for raising substantial funds to aid the motherland and the families of fallen soldiers.
• By decree of the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated February 5, 1951, it was established that the medal “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945” and its accompanying certificate would remain with the family of the deceased awardee as a keepsake. Before this decree, the medal and certificate would be returned to the state upon the recipient’s death.
• In Estonia [maybe in some other places as well, I didn’t check, I am an amateur], civilians who worked in several institutions attached to the military units were getting both medals: “For Labour” and “Victory over Germany”. Additionally, that promoted loyalty to the Soviet system to which Estonia was freshly integrated through occupation, intervention or liberation (please choose the definition favouring your educaton and political interests).