Original Item. Only One Available. The American Expeditionary Force, North Russia (AEF in North Russia) (also known as the Polar Bear Expedition) was a contingent of about 5,000 United States Army troops that landed in Arkhangelsk, Russia as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. It fought the Red Army in the surrounding region during the period of September 1918 through to July 1919.

This is a very scarce WWI Victory Medal with the “Russia” bar, only awarded to members of the American Expeditionary Force, North Russia. Members of the Siberian Expedition were awarded medals with “Siberia” bars, and the Russia bar medals are much more difficult to find. The ribbon shows staining and the planchet and bar show verdigris, certainly a set that has always been together.

The brooch still works great without issue, and this would fit well into any WWI medal collection.

With its original rainbow ribbon, functional brooch, strongly legible RUSSIA service clasp, and untouched age showing across the ribbon, bar, and planchet, this is an especially interesting variation of the U.S. WWI Victory Medal. The Russia clasp immediately sets it apart from the much more commonly encountered medals representing service on the Western Front and connects the award to one of the most unusual overseas deployments undertaken by American troops at the close of the Great War. It would be an excellent addition to a collection devoted to U.S. WWI medals, the 85th Division and 339th Infantry, the Polar Bear Expedition, or American intervention in the Russian Civil War.