Soviet/American Award Comparisons

[CtahhR]

Comparisons can also be drawn between the Campaign Medals of the three allies.

All of them awarded both defensive and offensive campaign awards.

The British "Defence Medal" could be most closely equated to the Soviet Medal "For Valiant Labour In The Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" as it was for service in non-combat sections of the home front. The Soviet Medal was awarded for 1/2-1 year service whereas the British Medal was awarded for 1/2-3 years service.

Both Soviet and British uniformed police service personnel would have been entitled to their nation's Medals for serving in the same roles during the same time period.

[CtahhR]

The American Campaign Medal is the American equivalent to a "Defence Of" Campaign Medal. Although the mainland United States was not attacked by land forces there was a naval campaign against it by the German Navy.
These were awarded for 30 days - 1 year campaign service (depending on situation). This example with the Campaign Star was awarded to a US Naval Serviceman.

A Soviet Naval equivalent in home waters encountering the Naval blockade of Leningrad would in turn have been awarded the Medal "For The Defence Of Leningrad".

[CtahhR]

The British Campaign Stars/Bars cover both defensive and offensive campaigns (only ones comparable to Soviet operations show here).

The 1939-1945 Star was awarded for 2-6 months campaign service in either a defensive or offensive campaign. These were awarded for those who fell back to Britain during the fall of France and those that also participated in the liberation of France (and anywhere else in the rest of the world).

The France And Germany Bar was awarded to Naval personnel (usually of Combined Operations) that not only participated in Arctic Convoys or Atlantic/"Home" waters for a minimum of six months but then had operational campaign service between 6th June 1944 and 8th May 1945 in liberating France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany or Denmark.
Very much a "Liberation Of" or "Capture Of" Campaign Medal equivalent.

The France And Germany Star was awarded to any service personnel that participated in the operational campaign between 6th June 1944 and 8th May 1945 in liberating France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany or Denmark and had not previously qualified with six months Arctic Convoys or Atlantic/"Home" waters.

[CtahhR]

The United States equivalent of an offensive Campaign Medal was the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Awarded for any military service in the "European Theatre" from 7th December 1941 to 2nd March 1946.
The Campaign Stars were awarded for certain campaign criteria (This example with four campaign stars is part of a group to a Bomber Pilot).

Every US Service Person seen photographed with their Soviet allies during the war (or soon after) will have been awarded one of these.

[CtahhR]

The British War Medal 1939-1945 is the closest equivalent the British had to a Victory Over Germany/Japan. Awarded for 28 days military service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

[CtahhR]

The United States equivalent to the Victory Over Germany/Japan is the World War II Victory Medal which was awarded for any military service between 7th December 1941 and 31st December 1946.