Aluminum, paint and lacquer; the medallion measures 33 mm in height (including the eyelet), about 30 mm wide. The obverse shows inscription "Neva Bridgehead". The reverse shows map of the area where the battle took place including the Neva River, Nevskaya Dubrovka staging area, the village of Arbuzovo (completely destroyed by the Germans early during the siege of Leningrad and never rebuilt), and the VIII GES Hydroelectric Station. The reverse of the suspension has trademark of the Lenemalyer Factory in Leningrad. The badge is in excellent condition.

The territor

Aluminum, paint and lacquer; the medallion measures 33 mm in height (including the eyelet), about 30 mm wide. The obverse shows inscription "Neva Bridgehead". The reverse shows map of the area where the battle took place including the Neva River, Nevskaya Dubrovka staging area, the village of Arbuzovo (completely destroyed by the Germans early during the siege of Leningrad and never rebuilt), and the VIII GES Hydroelectric Station. The reverse of the suspension has trademark of the Lenemalyer Factory in Leningrad. The badge is in excellent condition.

The territory marked on the map was on the western side of the so-called Mga Bottleneck, a German position south of Lake Ladoga which separated Leningrad from the Soviet mainland throughout the siege. Dominated by the Sinyavino Heights in its center, the Nazi stronghold was of extreme importance to both sides, as its recapture by the Soviet troops would allow the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts to link up thus breaking the blockade. The Leningrad Front struck from the west taking a small bridgehead on the Neva River which would become known as Nevskiy Pyatachok ("the Five- Кopek-Sized Spot on the Neva.") The subsequent numerous efforts to expand it however ended in failure at an enormous human cost. Literally packed with remains of Soviet soldiers, this area is considered hallowed ground in Russia to this day.

/See Paul Schmitt, "Soviet Second World War Veteran Badges", Page 64/.
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