October 9, 1943—the day Soviet troops defeated the German fascist forces in the Battle for the Caucasus.

This commemorative date was established by the Federal Law on July 31, 2020.

The Battle for the Caucasus was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Great Patriotic War. It began on July 25, 1942, and lasted 442 days.

In the first stage, under the pressure of the enemy’s superior forces, Soviet troops were forced to leave the Northern Caucasus regions and retreat to the passes of the Main Caucasus Range and the Terek River. However, by November-December 1942, the advance of the fascist forces had been halted. The German "Edelweiss" plan to capture the Caucasus, particularly the oil-producing regions of Grozny and Baku, failed. In January 1943, Soviet troops launched a counteroffensive, and by October 9, all cities occupied by the fascists had been liberated.

Victory did not come easily for the Soviet troops: losses amounted to 1,112,000 people.

In 1944, the medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus" was established. It was awarded to around 870,000 people.

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