Commemorative badge for the campaign against the Soviet Union
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The commemorative badge for the campaign against the Soviet Union (Pamätný odznak Za ťažení proti SSSR) was a Slovak award donated by President Jozef Tiso in 1943 (unofficially awarded since 1942), which could be awarded to Slovak soldiers, members of the support organizations and foreigners of the allied troops (Axis) during the Second World War. Like with the German Kraftfahrbewährungsabzeichen, drivers were also eligible under certain conditions, and instead of the Slovak steel helmet, which had been adopted by the Czechs, the badge of proven drivers showed a truck tire.
Contents
Classes
- The III. Grade in bronze was awarded to all those persons who had contributed to the eastern campaign in their homeland for at least three months through service or work in soldier's uniform or in the uniform of the work formation of the Ministry of Defense.
- The II. Grade was, like the I., also in silver, but with a polished blade. It was awarded if the military person had indeed crossed the Slovakian border, but was with units that were either not involved in the fighting at the stage or had not stood 30 days in the field at the front.
- The I. Grade in silver (silver-plated) was awarded if the military person to be lent was personally deployed on the war front outside of Slovakia for at least 30 days or had belonged to a fighting Slovakian unit as part of field units during the specified period.
Appearance
The highly oval badge shows a sun rising behind a piece of the globe within a closed wreath of olive leaves, indicated by six bundles of rays, which is represented by a lowered sword with the Christian cross on the crossguard. The point of the sword smashes a Soviet star next to which the broken symbols of Bolshevism, hammer and sickle, are already lying. In front of the sword is a Slovak steel helmet with the Slovak double cross on the forehead and the date of the declaration of war on the Soviet Union (22.VI.1941) underneath. The 1st class of the badge was fully silver plated, the 2nd class featured a silver wreath and silvered sword with a polished blade, while the 3rd and lowest class was bronze. The commemorative badge was worn on the right side of the chest.
