After the assassination of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by the Serbian student Gavrilo Princip, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia by direct telegram on July 28, 1914, and on the same day began shelling Belgrade.

According to the treaty, the Russian Empire was to support Serbia. In order to ensure this support, a general mobilization was announced in the country on July 31, 1914. On August 1, 1914, in response to Russia’s refusal to cease mobilization efforts, the German Empire declared war on Russia. Later this war became known as the Great War, or the First World War.

For the successful implementation of the necessary activities, the head of the mobilization department of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Alexander Sergeyevich Lukomsky, was presented with a unique award. The Imperial decree from December 6, 1914 stated:

On February 12, 1915, Emperor Nicholas II established the medal “For the Efforts in the Excellent Implementation of the General Mobilization of 1914” to award those who, “according to their official duties, took part in preparatory work on elaborating mobilization plans, conscription of reserve and militia ranks for military service, supply of bandages to the troops, aided in receiving horse-drawn carriages, automobiles and ships from the population, as well as in transporting troops and military cargo, and persons who took a direct part in the execution of these tasks.”

The main bulk of the medals in circulation (50,000 copies) was prepared at the Imperial St. Petersburg Mint, but many medals were made by private manufacturers.