Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad

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The Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad (Медаль За оборону Сталинграда) was established on December 22, 1942. It was designed to commemorate the deeds of all the soldiers and civilians who had actively fought in the defence of Stalingrad from the Germans, in the Battle of Stalingrad, between July 12 and November 19, 1942.

The medal shows images of the soldiers of the Red Army and the inscription on it reads, "The defence of Stalingrad". The award was awarded to 759 560 persons (as of 1995) and is an identifying distinction of a Russian World War II veteran. The award, similar to most Soviet medals, is now defunct. It is a highly-sought collectors' item, as the Battle of Stalingrad was quite a significant turning point in World War II.