Conditions for battle medal awards

[skipper1939]

I have raised this point elsewhere but I got a jolt today when I was looking up the "Libertion of Belgrade" medal in Kuznetsov's ENTSIKLOPEDIYA. First of all, of course, Belgrade had already been liberated - by Tito. Second it says that members of the navy who participated were eligible! Must have been a lot of them. And all of those involved in the PLANNING of the march through Belgrade were eligible. And finally, it says that some 70,000 were awarded - for a battle that never took place. Of course, Soviet troops did come under attack by American P-38s (accident?) while on the march to Belgrade. Maybe that counts as a battle.

My own opinion is that the Red Army by 1944-45 had gotten somewhat medal-happy and that many battle medals were indeed given out on an heroic scale.

I know 70,000 was only a small percentage of the Red Army. But was the march past in Belgrade really 70,000 strong?

[otlichnik]

The decisions surrounding the establishment of Soviet WWII "battle" medals is, frankly, rather odd.

First, it must be kept in mind that they are campaign medals and not battle medals. That is why, as I have said before, you don't need to have been near the actual named city to be eligible for an award.

Two medals are clearly named for campaigns - Arctic and Caucasus, or three if you count V over Japan. The rest are named for cities but primarily deal with campaigns. Thus Berlin can be thought of as Germany, Warsaw as Poland, Budapest as Hungary etc.

The problem here is that some minor and even some major campaigns seem to be left out.

Belgrade can be taken as an award to the 4th Ukrainian Front, not just for the actions in Yugoslavia including around Belgrade, but also for their drive through Moldova, Romania, limited actions in Bulgaria, and then a swing back north into Hungary. Without Belgrade most of the 4th Ukrainian Front would not have been eligble for any of the liberation/seizure medals.

Kiev was left out till the 1960s. This is understandable given the fact that there was little to be proud of regarding the defence of Kiev or the first several atepts to liberate the area. The medal was introduced under Krushchev who "fought" there and tried to enhance his reputation.

The great mystery to me is why there was never anything for Kursk or Minsk/Belorussia. Both were major Soviet successes.

Anyway, I don't think you are right Bob that the RKKA was medal happy. Few who got Belgrade (aside from pilots) added it to anything else. It was not like they were adding medal #5 or anything to the average soldier. If you look at an avarge of medals per days or miles or battles fought then the average Red Army soldier or officer has far, far, far fewer medals than the rest of the allies.

Shawn

PS For the liberation of Belgrade itself and the actions south and west of the city the Danube river foltilla played a huge and key role and were thus all eligible for the medal.

PPS People forget that some successes owe more to the planers than the fighters. The biggest success of the Campaign against Japan in Manchuria was the absolute record setting (still standing to today) movements for comat capable mech/motor units. Planners of that received, rightly, major Orders.

Shawn

[HuliganRS]

Shawn,

Thanks! I was wondering about this for a while but couldn't find an answer that made sence.

I agree that average soldier came home with only campaign medals and maybe a bravery or combat medal.

Rusty.

[skipper1939]

Shawn:

Good points. I particularly thank you for getting me to study the history of the river flotillas. Dotseko's FLOT, VOYNA, POBEDA 1941-1945, has a separate chapter on the flotillas. I assume that your reference was to their role ferrying troops across the Danube. Their naval infantry tactical role was not large. The book has some great photos of the flotilla, including one of Soviet army troops coming ahore on lend-lease DUKWs and an all-female cutter crew.

I seem to remember reading that the average commonwealth soldier ended the war with four decoration, five if he was unlucky. They included the Africa Star, the Italy Star and the European Star (unlucky guy) as well as two King George war service medals. Different concept from a different kind of war.

I think that you would have an up-hill fight trying to convince any Yugoslav who was there that they were truly liberated by the Soviets. Regards, Bob

[otlichnik]

Bob,

You are right that since around 1950 no Yugoslav or ex-Yugoslav would admit to being liberated by the Red Army. And it is true as far as the fact that the Partisans, both the victorious Communists and the less victorious Mikhailovich ones, were here fighting for ages.

But they didn't really win anything themselves. They basically were able to tie down lots of Germans and to tread water and create a successor regime while the war went on.

The Germans left because in late-44/45 defending their Yugo gains was not high on their list of priorities. It would be a big stretch to say that the ugo partisans chased them out of the country.

The Red Army did deal with the few actual German formations and heavy gear left and then helped to transform the partisans into a real army. They also brought with them a small, but partially mechanised, Yugo military which did form the core of the later Yugo tank and mech units.

Shawn