Trans-Siberian Railway imperial collapse, and before the Red Army took control, the Czechs and Slovaks were able to use their organisation and the resources of the railway to establish a temporary zone of control before eventually continuing onwards towards Vladivostok, from where they emigrated back to Czechoslovakia. During World War II, the Trans-Siberian Railway played an important role in the supply of the powers fighting in Europe. During the first two years of the war the USSR had secretly agreed to a neutrality and non-aggression pact with Germany. While Germany's merchant shipping was interdicted by the Western allies, the Trans-Siberian Railway (along
Jubilee Medal "100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway" Decree 1099 of September 7, 2010 removed the Medal "100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway" from the list of state awards of the Russian Federation. It is no longer awarded. The Jubilee Medal "100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway" is a silver 32mm in diameter circular medal with raised rims on both sides. On its obverse the relief image of a locomotive pulling a train towards the right at a shallow angle. Above the train, the ancient emblem of Siberia (two sables supporting a crown, a bow and arrows). Along the medal circumference in the upper half of the obverse,