Medal Nakhimov - naval analogue of the combined arms award "For Combat Merit"

In the spring of the penultimate year of the Great Patriotic War, military awards appeared, marking the contribution to the battle against fascism of sailors of all ranks and ranks: from rank-and-file soldiers to admirals. To reward the foremen, sailors and midshipmen, the Ushakov Medal and the Nakhimov Medal were intended. Officers and admirals were awarded the same-name orders of two degrees.

Junior Naval Award

The decree on the establishment of USSR sea prizes was issued on March 2, 1944, but the issue of special naval awards was raised earlier. The initiative in this belonged to the famous Soviet admiral, People's Commissar of the Soviet Navy Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. He reported to Stalin on the expediency of establishing orders and medals dedicated to the memory of the great Russian naval commanders, back in the middle of 1943, it became possible to implement the idea in the spring of the following year.

Navy operations to combat the enemy fleet at sea, the participation of coastal artillery batteries in the defense of coastal cities, the heroism of the Marine Corps battalions in land-based combat - all this was highly appreciated by the supreme Soviet command, evoked hatred of the Soviet sailors among the fascists and created glory among the people. Stalin knew about the great contribution of the sailors to the struggle against the fascist invasion, and therefore supported the idea of special naval awards. Medal Nakhimov became the youngest among the four established awards, but especially appreciated not only by sailors and sergeants, but also by officers.

The Statute

According to the provision, the basis for awarding the Nakhimov medal was skillful and proactive actions to successfully accomplish tasks by ships and formations of the Navy, and naval units of the border troops in a combat situation. The Medal of Nakhimov was considered an analogue of the Combined Military Merit medal and enjoyed such respect.

The position of awarding Nakhimov's medal to those who served in other branches of the army did not contradict the provision. It could also be given to civilians. Awarded with the Nakhimov medal, soldiers and sergeants from infantry, artillery and other land forces valued the interaction in combat with ships and marine infantry. They considered it an introduction to the legendary sea brotherhood.

Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov said that the naval officers awarded with military medals were as proud of them as the more important orders. Handed for courage and courage in combat, Nakhimov's medal was a reliable testimony of the personal bravery of a man wearing any military rank.

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov

Established in 1944, naval sea awards - a medal and the Order of Nakhimov - bear the name of one of the most legendary Russian naval commanders. Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov was born in a poor family in 1802. Deciding to devote his life to military service at sea, he entered the Marine Cadet Corps. After his graduation he made a round-the-world trip, distinguished himself in sea battle with the Turks in Navarino Bay, commanded the legendary ships - frigates "Pallada" and "Navarin".

By the beginning of the Crimean War, in 1853, Nakhimov was vice-admiral, commanded a large squadron in the Black Sea Fleet, had great authority with the command, enjoyed the respect of the lower ranks, and had great combat experience. All this allowed him to win his most important victory - under Sinope. This was the last battle of military ships under sails, in which a Russian squadron led by Nakhimov, thanks to brave and skilful actions, completely destroyed the main forces of the Turkish fleet on November 18, 1853.

After the blocking of Sevastopol by the Anglo-French troops and the death of Admiral VA Kornilov, Nakhimov stood at the head of the troops defending the city until June 28, 1855, when he was fatally wounded on the Malakhov Hill.

Description of the medal

For the sketchy development of new awards, Admiral Kuznetsov attracted a whole group of seamen artists under the supervision of the caperman BM Khomich. It was attended by NA Volkov, AL Diodorov and architect MA Shepilevsky. According to their design, the Order and Medal Ushakov, the Order and the Medal of Nakhimov were created. Photos of these insignia show their highest examples of medal art.

The only award of the times of the Great Patriotic War, made of bronze, is the Nakhimov medal - it is a disc of 36 mm in diameter, through a soldered ear with a ring connected to a shoe covered with a moiré band. Its coloring contains the motif of the sea collar - gyuysa - three white strips on a blue background.

On the obverse is the profile of PS Nakhimov, on both sides of which along the upper edge - convex letters: "Admiral Nakhimov", below - laurel branches separated by a five-pointed star, framing along the edges - convex points. The reverse side of the medal is an expressive composition from the image of a sailboat, surrounded by a circle surrounded by a rope, superimposed on two anchors, connected by a chain, in a circle - convex points.

History

During the war, about 13 thousand awards were given to this distinction. The Medal of Nakhimov was part of the existing state awards until 2010 and left a notable mark in the glorious history of the Russian fleet.