One of the group of Soviet Union campaign medals, this one was issued to all troops involved in the capture of Budapest in 1945.
Archive for the 1939-1945 Service Medals Category
Medal for the Capture of Budapest
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Hungary, Soviet Union, WW2 on May 2, 2013 by The DudeMedal of Liberty 2nd Class 1941
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Finland, WW2 on May 2, 2013 by The Dude
The front of this Finland medal has the words “Urheudesta För Tapperhet” which means “For Valour”. This medal was awarded to NCO’s and other ranks for service to the state as well as on the occasion of their wounding.
The Commemorative Medal of the Winter War 1939-40
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Finland, Soviet Union, WW2 on May 2, 2013 by The DudeThis Finland medal is awarded for service in the war against the Soviet Union in 1939 and 1940. The war started out well for Finland when she was able to use her terrain and the Mannerheim Line of fortifications to blunt and in places, slaughter the Soviet invaders. Eventually the weight of numbers told and Finland was forced to seek peace. There are a lot of bars for this medal, mostly regional. Only one bar could be awarded per medal.
Ensconced in the snow, his white camouflage suit rendering him invisible to the invading Soviet soldiers he stalked, Simo Häyhä steadied himself to fire. During the 1939–1940 Winter War, in temperatures as low as –40 °C, the Finnish sniper undertook a killing spree that saw him single-handedly take the lives of at least 700 men in less than 100 days. Over 500 of these he shot using a standard, bolt-action rifle with non-telescopic sights. Is it any wonder he earned the nickname White Death among his enemies? Meet the man who would take Rambo to the cleaners.
The War Medal 1941-45
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Greece, WW2 on May 2, 2013 by The Dude
This Greek medal was instituted in 1947 to commemorate participation in campaigns and actions not covered by the War Medal 1040-1941l. Again two reverses exist, one for land and one for sea actions. The land operations reverse refers to North Africa, South Aegean Islands and Italy. This example is the land version.
The Medal of National Resistance 1941-45
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Greece, WW2 on May 2, 2013 by The DudeThis is a Greek medal created in 1948 and awarded to recognise all partisans and regular troops who served in the fight against the Nazis. It was also awarded to Allied soldiers involved in the defence of Greece in 1941.
The Medal for Outstanding Acts
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Greece, WW2 on May 1, 2013 by The DudeThis is a Greek medal, instituted in 1940, that was awarded to both civilians and military for acts of an outstanding nature that did not warrant a valour award.
The Commemorative Medal of the Continuation War 1941-45
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Finland, WW2 on May 1, 2013 by The DudeThis medal was instituted in 1957 and came in two varieties, one in Swedish for the Swedish volunteers and one in Finnish. The Continuation War was how the Finns described their war against the Soviets in 1941, in concert with the Germans. The continuation part refers to the Winter War between Finland and the USSR in 1940.
Medal for Foreigners in Tito’s Partisan Forces
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags WW2, Yugoslavia on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
This medal was awarded to the foreign fighters who fought as members of Tito’s Partisans for the liberation of Yugoslavia during the Second World War. It was issued shortly after the end of the war. The medal has an inscription on the back that reads “Smrt Fašizmu – Sloboda Narodu”, which translates as “Death to Fascism – Freedom to the People”. That was the slogan of the Yugoslav liberation fighters led by Marshal Tito.
The Medal for the Liberation of Siebenbürgen
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Hungary, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
This Hungarian medal was struck to commemorate the incorporation of Siebenbürgen (perhaps better known as Transylvania) into Hungary, this medal in “war metal” was instituted on 1 October 1940. Transylvania was taken from Transylvania.
The obverse has the bust of King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490) while the reverse holds the arms of Siebenbürgen.
The Medal for the Recapture of South Hungary
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Hungary, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The DudeThis medal celebrates the part Hungary took in the partition of Yugoslavia by the Axis in 1941. The German Army invaded Yugoslavia and quickly crushed Yugoslavian armed resistance. Horthy dispatched the Hungarian Third Army to occupy Vojvodina. Later, Hungary forcibly annexed sections of Baranja, Bačka, Međimurje, and Prekmurje.
Cross for War Merit
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Italy (Republic), WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
This is the Italian Republican version of this medal, indicating post 1949.
Italian Spanish Civil War Volunteers Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Italy (Fascist), WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
This medal was issued to all the Italian Volunteers who served in the Italian Fascist forces in Spain. My one is missing its ribbon loop.
The Abyssinian Campaign Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Abyssinia, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Italy (Fascist), WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The DudeThis medal, missing its ribbon, commemorates the Italian invasion and defeat of Ethiopia in 1936.
The Iraq 1945 Victory Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Iraq, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
The Victory Medal (Nut al-Nasir): instituted by the Prince Regent ‘Abdu’l Illah, on behalf of King Faisal II, in 1945. Awarded in commemoration of the Allied victories over the Axis powers in 1945.
Medal of the May 1941 Revolt
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Iraq, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The DudeThis Iraqi medal was awarded to the troops involved in the overthrow of the pro-Axis Iraqi government in 1941.
The Iraq War Medal 1939-1945
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Iraq, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The DudeThis medal was awarded to all members of the Iraqi Levies who served in WW2. In 1940/41 the Iraqis joined the Axis and invited a German mission to enter the country. The British sent a column into Iraq and was able to overthrow the Iraq government and put in place a puppet government which stayed in power until the mid-50’s. The photos below include an early issue example.
The Transjordan WW2 Victory Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Rare Medals with tags Jordan, Trans-Jordan, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
This medal, from the Principality of Transjordan, was issued to all citizens of the mandate who served in WW2. Trans-Jordan later became the Kingdom of Jordan. It’s Arabic name is “Midalat al-Zarari al-Herb al-Iradani Lasanat 1939-1945“.
An Bonn Seirbhise Eigeandala
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Ireland, WW2 on April 30, 2013 by The Dude
This is the Emergency Service Medal 1939-1946 issued by the Republic of Ireland. For service with good conduct between 3 September 1939 and 31 March 1946 this medal came in eleven variations depending on the unit or branch of service. I have four of these variants. This one is for AN FORSA COSANTA AITIUIL : the Local Defence Force.
The Medal for the Patriotic War 1944-1945
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Bulgaria, WW2 on April 28, 2013 by The Dude
All soldiers and partisans acting on behalf of the unity government instituted in Bulgaria after the Soviet occupation of 1944 were entitled to this medal.
Fighters Against Nazism Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Israel, WW2 on April 28, 2013 by The Dude
This Israeli medal, from 1967, is awarded to any Israeli who was either a partisan or a regular member of the Allied armies between the 1st of September 1939 and the 1st of September 1946.
The Philippines Defence Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Philippines, WW2 on April 28, 2013 by The Dude
Created in 1944 this medal was awarded to all troops involved in the defence of the Philippines between 8 December 1941 and 15 June 1942.
The Merchant Marine Commemorative Medal 1939-1945
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Rare Medals with tags Maritime Medals, Portugal, WW2 on April 28, 2013 by The Dude
This medal was created by Portugal in 1951 to recognise the crews of the ships of its merchant navy who sailed into war zones during WW2. Portugal was neutral throughout WW2.
The Anti-Fascism Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Czechoslovakia, Unofficial, WW2 on April 26, 2013 by The Dude
This is a medal issued in 1981 by the Czechoslovakian Anti-Facist Committee to all surviving ex-members of teh Communist resistance to the Nazis. It’s a state supported organisation but the medal should be considered an unofficial issue.
The Participation Medal 1940-45
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Norway, WW2 on April 26, 2013 by The Dude
This Norwegian medal was awarded after the end of the war to those soldiers and sailors who served in Norway during the initial German invasion, in the forces in the U.K. through the war and in the home forces who stayed in Norway through the occupation.
The King Haakon VII’s Freedom Medal
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Norway, WW2 on April 26, 2013 by The DudeThis is a Norwegian medal awarded for outstanding acts during WW2 that fell short of the valour requirements of the War Cross.
Kiwi Medals 