Soviet Medal for the Defense of Sevastopol, Variation 1, 1940s issue. This is GUARANTEED 100% ORIGINAL medal of WW2 era, made at the Soviet mint and officially issued by the Soviet authorities NOT a post-war version or a fake! Made in brass, measures 32.2 mm wide; weighs 17.7 grams not including the suspension and connecting link. The medal is the early Variation 1, with the eyelet at its top being a separate part attached by solder. This particular version of the medal has a raised border around the edge. The medal is in SUPERB CONDITION exceptionally rare for the Sevastopol Medal! The portraits of Soviet navy sailor and army soldier representing the defending garrison of the city are beautifully defined and crisp, practically pristine. The raised lettering on both sides of the medal is likewise perfect and crisp allowing to see all the details that are requisite of an original medal. There are some tiny contact marks on either side of the medal, but they are practically unnoticeable to the naked eye. The only sign of wear that is really visible without magnification is a small ding to the edge on the reverse, at about 8 oclock positon, but it is certainly not detractive or even very noticeable. The brass has acquired beautiful even toning, completely free of oxidation spots or blemishes, while some of the original gilt finish (which is really the shiny surface left after the medal was struck at the mint) is clearly visible in recessed areas. The medal comes on an original WW2 period two-layer suspension device in steel with self-locking pin (unlike the suspensions made later). The immaculately clean ribbon is relatively recent although it does show some age (Soviet war veterans wore their decorations often and routinely replaced ribbons). Overall, this is a truly magnificent example of the Defense of Sevastopol Medal, and it will be almost impossible to find a better piece! The Medal for the Defense of Sevastopol is one of the hardest to find of the Soviet WW2 campaign series. The battle for Sevastopol was one of the most epic sieges of WW2. The initial attempt by the German and Romanian troops to capture this vital port in 1941 was completely frustrated by both the determined defenders and massive forts ringing the city. The siege that ensued went on for 250 days devolving into the kind of siege warfare similar to battlefields of WW1 and Verdun in particular. The Germans had to use their heaviest siege artillery on the forts and to neutralize the Soviet Black Sea Fleet by incessant air attacks. Even then, they only just barely managed to break through the defenses by resorting to a desperate nighttime seaborne assault across the bay. The cost of capturing Sevastopol had been very high to the Nazis and it severely reduced their chances of victory at Stalingrad later on. Many of the Soviet defenders fought to the bitter end, and even the families of the Red Army officers carried on the fight in the caves and underground tunnels until those were sealed by the German engineers. Those who survived the battle were awarded with the Medal for the Defense of Sevastopol, one of the first Soviet campaign medals of the war. Because there were not many survivors on the Soviet side fewer than 50 thousand according to official Soviet records this medal is quite rare compared to most other Soviet WW2 Defense, Capture or Liberation awards. This is also one of the most widely faked of Soviet WW2 medals. Not to worry though: the SUPERB example we are offering is definitely a genuine, WW2 era award we guarantee it! The item “ORIGINAL Soviet WW2 MEDAL for DEFENSE OF SEVASTOPOL + Old Suspension A+CONDITION” is in sale since Friday, June 15, 2018. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\Russia\Medals, Pins & Ribbons”. The seller is “collectrussia” and is located in Tenafly, New Jersey. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Type: Badge
- Country: Soviet Union
- Category: Collectibles
- Original or Reproduction: Original
- Region or Culture: Russian