History

This medal was conferred for the Defence of Leningrad, on December 22, 1942. The time period considered for the Defence of Leningrad Medal was for the whole period of the defence, from September 1941 until January 1944. This medal was awarded roughly 1, 470,000 times.

This medal is made of brass, and all of the "defence of" medals have the same reverse. The obverse shows three soldiers, a sailor, a partisan and a woman charging with bayonets and the winter palace in the background.

Variation I medals have a separately soldered ring at 12 o'clock.

Variation II medals were awarded at a later date and have a thick gold wash on the surface.

The obverse Russian inscription translates to: "For the Defense of Leningrad". The reverse Russian inscription translates to: "For Our Soviet Motherland".