Medal for Combat Service
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The USSR Medal for Combat Service (Russian: Медаль "За боевые заслуги") was a Soviet military medal awarded for "combat action resulting in a military sucess", "courageous defense of the state borders", or "successful military and political training and preparation".
It was created on October 17, 1938 by the decision of the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Like the Medal for Valor, its status was subsequently revised to prevent the medal from being given for years of service (a practice that was rampant in USSR) rather than actual bravery during a battle. Overall, more than 5,210,000 medals were awarded between 1938 and 1991.
References
- Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- Kolesnikov G.A. & Rozhkov A.M., Orders and medals of USSR, Moscow, Mil. lib., 1983.
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