History

This medal was conferred for the Defence of Odessa, on December 22, 1942. This medal was conferred for the Defence of Odessa, even though Odessa was lost to the Germans. This medal was awarded roughly 30,000 times.

This medal is made of brass, and all of the "defence of" medals have the same reverse. The obverse shows a soldier and a sailor charging with bayonets and a lighthouse 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 Odessa". The reverse Russian inscription translates to: "For Our Soviet Motherland".