Medaile Za zásluhy o obranu vlasti

The Medal for Merit in the Defense of the Homeland [Medaile Za zásluhy o obranu vlasti] was a Czechoslovak state decoration awarded by the President of the Republic between 1955 and 1990 to enlisted personnel, warrant officers, officers and generals of the Czechoslovak People’s Army and the armed units of the Ministry of the Interior for personal courage in combat, both during wartime and in defending the inviolability of the state borders, or in combat against terrorists and other enemies of the homeland; for successful activity that substantially increased the combat readiness of the armed forces, the security of the republic or the military training of workers; and for courageous and enterprising acts involving danger to one’s own life that contributed to the successful completion of a unit’s tasks. It was also awarded for outstanding work in building the armed forces over a period of at least 10 years.

There were two versions of this medal: the first was awarded from 1955 to 1960, and the second, bearing a new state emblem, was awarded from 1960 to 1990.