The Medal of Zhukov () is a state award of the

Russian Federation Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

initially awarded to veterans of the

Great Patriotic War The Eastern Front, also known as the Great Patriotic War (term), Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union and its successor states, and the German–Soviet War in modern Germany and Ukraine, was a Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II ...

but now awarded to serving members of the

Armed Forces of the Russian Federation The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, commonly referred to as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military of Russia. They are organized into three service branches—the Ground Forces, Navy, and Aerospace Forces—two independent comba ...

. It is named in honour of

Marshal of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union (, ) was the second-highest military rank of the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin wore the uniform and insignia of Marshal after World War II. The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was created in 1935 and abolished in ...

Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( 189618 June 1974) was a Soviet military leader who served as a top commander during World War II and achieved the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. During World War II, Zhukov served as deputy commander-in-ch ...

, the most decorated general in the history of the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

Award History

The Medal of Zhukov was established on May 9, 1994 by

Decree A decree is a law, legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, monarch, royal figure, or other relevant Authority, authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislativ ...

of the President of the Russian Federation No 930. The medal's statute was defined on December 30, 1995 by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No 1334. The initial statute of the award stated the medal was to be awarded to military and civilian veterans of the Red Army, the Navy, of NKVD troops, guerrillas and members of the underground, for bravery, fortitude and courage displayed in fighting against the Nazi invaders or the Japanese militarists, and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Georgy Zhukov. The basis for award of the medal was simple proof of direct participation in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 as part of the army, or in combat against Japan. It could also be awarded to servicemen of the Ministry of Defence and other ministries and departments, in which Russian law provides for military service, for courage and bravery displayed in combat operations in defence of the Motherland and the public interests of the Russian Federation. Although established in Russia, the Medal of Zhukov was later adopted by and also established in all of the countries of the

Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization, regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia. It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It covers an ar ...

by decision of the Council of the Heads of State of May 26, 1995.

Award Statute

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No 1099 of September 7, 2010 completely revamped the Russian state awards system including a new statute for the Medal of Zhukov. The Medal of Zhukov is now awarded to soldiers for bravery, selflessness and personal courage in fighting for the protection of the Motherland and the public interests of the Russian Federation, for distinction in military bearing during service, for alertness and active participation in exercises and manoeuvres, for excellent performance in combat training. The Russian Federation Order of Precedence dictates the Medal of Zhukov is to be worn on the left breast with other medals immediately after the Medal of Ushakov.

Award Description

The Medal of Zhukov is a circular, 32mm in diameter brass medal. On the

obverse The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...

, the bust of marshal Zhukov, his head half turned to the right, on his uniform, four stars of

Hero of the Soviet Union The title Hero of the Soviet Union () was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. The title was awarded both ...

and a

Marshal's Star The Marshal's Star () is an additional badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the Soviet Union, and subsequently the Russian Federation. Overview The armed forces of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation have two such insigni ...

around his neck. Below the bust along the medal's lower circumference, two branches of oak and laurels. Above the bust, along the medal's upper circumference, the relief inscription "GEORGY ZHUKOV" (in Russian "ГЕОРГИЙ ЖУКОВ"). The medal's original reverse, as mandated by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 6, 1995 No 243, bore at its center the large relief years "1896 - 1996" and oak and laurel branches at the bottom following the medal's lower circumference. Some makers produced a variant of the medal with a smaller inscription (1896 - 1996) and added a relief "N" and a line for an award serial number. More than 2.5 million were awarded. Following the 2010 amendment to its statute, the reverse of the Medal of Zhukov now bears the relief inscription "FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE" (in Russian "ЗА ОТЛИЧИЕ В СЛУЖБЕ") in the center, below the inscription, a relief "N" and a line for an award serial number. At the bottom, along the medal's lower circumference, oak and laurel branches. The medal is suspended to a standard Russian pentagonal mount by a ring through the medal's suspension loop. The mount is covered by an overlapping 24mm wide silk moiré ribbon, the left half of the ribbon is red, the right half of the ribbon is in the colours of the

Ribbon of Saint George The ribbon of Saint George (also known as Saint George's ribbon, the Georgian ribbon; ; and the Guards ribbon in Soviet context) is a Russian military symbol consisting of a black and orange bicolour pattern, with three black and two orange stri ...

References

External links

The Commission on State Awards to the President of the Russian Federation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medal Of Zhukov Military awards and decorations of Russia Awards established in 1994 Courage awards 1994 establishments in Russia

Award History

Award Statute

Award Description

See also

References

External links