Medal to the Drozdovtsi - the Dobrovol'cheskiy Army was united and formed in 1917-1918, not only on the Don, but also on the Romanian Front in the city of Yassa at the end of 1917. At this time, a detachment of Dobrovol'cheskiy, numbering about 1500 men, who, under the command of the Colonel of the General Staff, M.G. Drozdovskiy, went to join General Kornilov. Fighting their way through to the Don, on 25 April 1918 at New Cherkassk, they became the 3rd Division of Drozdovskiy (as part of the Dobrovol'cheskiy Army). Because of this campaign, the High Command of the Dobrovol'cheskiy Army awarded the Drozdovtsi this medal on 25 November 1918.

The medal is stamped from silver. It is one inch by one half inch. Each sword is exactly one inch long. The name of the recipient is engraved on the back. 1200 of these were issued. (picture #10)

Cross of the Cherpetsov Partisans - in the first Kuban Campaign, a Partisan Detachment of Colonel Cherpetsov took part. Already by the end of 1917, Partisan Detachments were appearing on the Don. These Partisans were very young, formed from cadets and students, generally 14 to 16 years old. Their education was in war and they became cruel. They fought in battles here and there without consistency and their enemies became blurred (one never knew if they were friend or enemy). The leadership of these Partisans awarded them with this badge, so they wouldn't forget who they were.

The medal was stamped from oxidized silver and is 34mm across. A number was on the backside. (picture #13)

Cross for the salvation of Kuban and Medal for the Liberation of the Kuban - awarded from 8 December 1918.

1st Class - Heroic act at personal risk in combat. The soldier received both medals (Salvation and Liberation).

2nd Class - Cross for the Salvation of Kuban (and there were two classes of this class. The 1st is the black iron cross. The 2nd is the same as the first with the Order of St. Vladimir and Kuban National color (ribbon).

3rd Class - Medal for the Liberation of the Kuban (again, two classes. The 1st is light bronze with St. George and the Kuban National colors. The 2nd is with the Order of St. Vladimir and the Kuban National colors.)

Cross for the Ekaterinoslav Campaign - awarded on 6 Jun 1920. Worn with a ribbon of the national colors, it had a number on the backside. The cross was silver, with black enamel and white edges. (pictures #14 and #15)

Cross for the Campaign of General Bredov - awarded by General Wrangel on 25 February 1920. Nearly 7000 wounded, sick, and refugees traveled via rail between Odessa and Dnestr. The Romanians refused to let the Russians in, but after negotiations between the Poles and Romanians, they were allowed. The cross is silver with white enamel and is 10mm by 15mm. (picture #16)

Order of St. Nicholas the Wondrous - this order was established by Wrangel as a counter to the Russian Imperial award - The Order of St. Velikomuchenik and George (4 classes, the first of which was awarded to only four soldiers). By order, this was awarded for heroism above and beyond, under extreme threat of life, etc… The medal was stamped from silver. (picture #17)

Russian Civil War 1917-1922 White Army Badges and Decorations
Color Illustration 1 (83K)
Color Illustration 2 (111K)