WW2 Capture of Budapest Medal Variation 3 Voenkomat post-war issue ORIGINAL Soviet Russian USSR shops Award Near Mint Condition

Soviet WW2 Medal for the Capture of Budapest, Variation 3 (so-called "Voenkomat" version).

This is GUARANTEED 100% ORIGINAL official Soviet issue from 1960s-80s, not a reproduction.

The medal is shops made in brass and measures 32.0 mm wide. The front has Russian inscription "For the Capture of Budapest". On the reverse is the date, 13 February 1945, when the city was taken by storm after a prolonged and bloody siege. The medal is a VARIATION 3, characterized by its rounded eyelet which is struck as one piece with the medal. It is often referred to as "Voenkomat" version, because it was typically issued by military commissariats (Voenkomat in Russian) in the district where the recipient lived after the discharge from the military - as opposed to military units that issued medals to active-duty servicemen.

The Battle of Budapest was particularly brutal even by the standards of WW2 Eastern Front - and far more important than most people realize. The Soviets first attempted to break into the city in November 1944 in a lightning armor strike but were repulsed by some of the best panzer and SS units Hitler still had at his disposal. The battle then developed into a long and bloody siege; the city was completely cut off in December. Just like at Stalingrad, the German attempted relief operations and aerial resupply had ultimately failed, and the battle culminated in a nightmarish house-to-house fighting not too dissimilar to Stalingrad. The last German defenders held off in a small pocket of government buildings and royal castle in the old Buda part of the city until February 1945. The capture of the Hungarian capital was a psychological boost to the allied cause: Hungary had been one of only die-hard German allies that never surrendered or switched sides in the war. The defense and attempted counteroffensives had cost the Nazis large number of their elite troops and enormous amount of war material which significantly affected their ability to defend Berlin later on.

The medal is in SUPERB CONDITION! It is completely free of any visible wear. The details of the artwork and raised lettering on both sides are perfectly preserved and crisp. There are no blemishes or oxidation spots, only some light “tanning” on the reverse which is not detractive and actually adds character. The original “gilt” mint luster is beautifully bright on both sides.

The medal comes on appropriate Soviet suspension device in aluminum with well-preserved old ribbon.

This magnificent example of GENUINE Soviet Budapest medal can be a great addition to any collection of WW2 memorabilia!