The award is a form of encouragement, which is a testament to the recognition of merit. Its main types in Russia are the titles of the Hero of Labor, Hero of Russia, various other honorary titles, medals and orders, diplomas, diplomas, badges, awards, entry on the Honor Board or in the Book of Honor, as well as the announcement of gratitude and other military awards ( orders and medals) among them occupy a very important place.
The role of our country in the Great Patriotic War
The Great Patriotic War was the greatest test for all the people of our country. Armed forces of the USSR provided assistance not only to compatriots, but also to other peoples living in Europe, in their liberation from fascist slavery. For this, many people received military orders and medals. The Soviet Armed Forces also fulfilled their duty with respect to the peoples of Asia enslaved by militaristic Japan, primarily Vietnam, Korea, and China.
How many medals and orders were awarded at this time?
11,603 soldiers were awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union for feats at the front. Of these, 104 people received it twice, and A.I. Pokryshkin, I.N. Kozhedub and G.K. Zhukov - three times.
10 900 orders were awarded to ships, units and formations of the Armed Forces. A coherent military economy was also created in the USSR, and the unity of the rear and the front was observed. During the war, 12 orders were established, in addition, 25 medals. They were awarded to participants in the partisan movement, war, home front workers, underground fighters, as well as people's militias. In total, more than 7 million people received military orders and medals.
Established Medals
The medals that were established for participating in the war are as follows:
- 8 “For Defense”: Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kiev, Odessa, Sevastopol, the Soviet Arctic, Moscow, the Caucasus;
- 3 "For Liberation": Belgrade, Warsaw, Prague;
- 4 “For the capture”: Budapest, Vienna, Koenigsberg and Berlin;
- 2 "For victory": over Japan, over Germany;
- "The Partisan of World War II";
- "For valiant labor in the Second World War";
- "Golden Star";
- "For military merits";
- "For courage";
- Nakhimov Medal;
- Breastplate "Guard".
- Medal of Ushakov.
A medal in comparison with an order is a less honorable award.
Order for participation in the Second World War
Unlike a medal, a military order can have several degrees. For participation in the Great Patriotic War they were the following: World War II, Lenin, Red Star, Red Banner, Nakhimov, Ushakov, Victory, Glory, Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Kutuzov, Alexander Nevsky, Suvorov. We will tell you more about all these awards.
Order of the Patriotic War
In 1942, on May 20, a Decree was signed on the establishment of this order of the I and II degrees. For the first time in the history of the USSR award system, specific feats were listed, for which this award was given to representatives of the main military branches in our country.
Persons of the commanding and rank-and-file composition of the Navy, Red Army, and NKVD troops could receive a military order of I and II degrees. In addition, partisans were awarded, who showed courage, stamina and courage in battles with the Nazis or their actions contributed in one way or another to the success of military operations of the USSR troops. The right to receive this order by civilians was separately stipulated. They were awarded to them for their contribution to the victory over the enemy.
A battle order of the 1st degree could be obtained by one who personally destroyed 2 medium or heavy, or 3 light tanks of the enemy, or 3 medium or heavy, or 5 light as part of the gun crew; II degree - 1 medium or heavy tank, or 2 light, or 2 medium heavy, or 3 light as part of the gun crew.
Order of Suvorov
The military orders, which were named in honor of Alexander Nevsky, Kutuzov and Suvorov, were established in the USSR in June 1942. These awards could be received by officers and generals of the Red Army for the skillful leadership of various military operations, as well as for the difference in battles with the enemy.
The Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree was awarded to commanders of armies and fronts, as well as their deputies, chiefs of operational directorates and staffs, arms of the army and fronts for successfully organized and conducted combat operations on a front or army scale, as a result of which the enemy was destroyed or defeated. One circumstance was specifically stipulated: the victory must certainly be achieved by lesser forces over the enemy, numerically superior, since the Suvorov principle acted, which stated that the enemy was beaten by skill, not by number.
The Order of the II degree could be received by the commander of the brigade, division or corps, as well as his deputy or chief of staff for organizing the rout of the division or corps, breaking through the enemy’s defensive line with subsequent pursuit and rout, as well as for organizing the battle conducted surrounded, exit from it while maintaining the combat effectiveness of its unit, its equipment and weapons. The commander of an armored formation could also be noted for carrying out a deep raid behind enemy lines, inflicting a sensitive blow on him, which ensured the successful completion of the operation by the army.
The Order of the III degree was intended to reward various commanders (companies, battalions, regiments). He was awarded for the skillful organization and conduct of a battle that brought victory with less power than the enemy.
Order of Kutuzov
This military order of the 1st degree, created by the project of the artist Moskalev, could be issued to the commander of the army, the front, as well as his deputy or chief of staff for the fact that they had well organized the forced withdrawal of some large formations along with the application of counterattacks to the enemy, the withdrawal of new the borders of their troops with small losses in their composition; as well as for the good organization and conduct of an operation to combat enemy forces that exceed the large formations at their disposal, and to keep the troops in constant readiness for a decisive attack on the enemy.
The fighting qualities that distinguish M.I. Kutuzov, were the basis of the statute. This is a skillful defense, as well as tactical exhaustion of the enemy, followed by a decisive counterattack.
One of the first to receive this order of the II degree was K.S. Melnik is a major general who commanded the 58th Army, which defended a section of the Caucasian Front from Malgobek to Mozdok. After exhausting the main forces of the enemy, in difficult defensive battles, his army went on the counterattack and went into the Yeysk region with battles, breaking the German line of defense.
The Kutuzov Order of the III degree was awarded to the officer who skillfully developed a battle plan, which ensured good interaction between various weapons and a successful outcome of the operation.
Order of Alexander Nevsky
Architect Telyatnikov won the competition for the drawing of this order. He used in his work a shot from a film called "Alexander Nevsky", which was released shortly before. Starring Nikolai Cherkasov. His profile was depicted on this order. There is a medallion with a portrait in the center of a red star, five-pointed, from which silver rays depart. The ancient Russian attributes of a warrior (a quiver with arrows, a bow, a sword, crossed reeds) are located at the edges.
According to the statute, a combat officer is awarded an order who fought in the ranks of the Red Army for the initiative shown in choosing a good moment for a bold, sudden and successful attack on an enemy and inflicting a major defeat on him. Moreover, it was necessary to maintain significant forces of their troops. This award was handed over for the successful completion of a task in an environment of superior enemy forces. In this case, it was required to destroy most of his forces or completely defeat him. Also, the words "combat awarded order" a man could hear for the command of the aviation, tank, artillery unit, which inflicted heavy damage on the enemy.
In total, more than 42 thousand soldiers, as well as about 70 foreign officers and generals, received this award.
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky
The Soviet army in the summer of 1943 was preparing for a crucial operation - the liberation of Ukraine. The poet Bazhan, as well as the film director Dovzhenko, owns the idea of this award, named after the great Ukrainian commander and statesman. The material for this order of the first degree is gold, the second and third are silver. The statute was approved in 1943, on October 10. This order was handed over to the commanders and fighters of the Red Army, as well as to the partisans who showed a difference in battles during liberation from the Nazi invaders of Soviet land. In total, they were awarded approximately 8.5 thousand people. The order of the first degree was awarded to 323 fighters, the second - about 2400, and the third - more than 57. Many military units and units (over a thousand) received it as a collective award.
Order of Glory
The military orders of the USSR also include the Order of Glory. His project, completed by Moskalev, in 1943, in October, was approved by the commander in chief. At the same time, the colors of the ribbon of the Order of Glory proposed by this artist were approved. She was orange-black. The ribbon of the Order of St. George, the most honorable combat award in pre-revolutionary Russia, had the same colors.
Three degrees has the Order of Military Glory. The award of the first degree is gold, and the second and third are silver (the central medallion was gilded at the order of the second degree). The warrior could receive this sign for his personal feat shown on the battlefield. These orders were issued strictly sequentially - from the lowest to the highest degree.
This award could be received by the one who burst first in the enemy’s location, saved the banner of his unit in battle, or got the enemy’s; and also the one who saved the commander in battle, risking his life, shot down a fascist plane with personal weapons (machine gun or rifle) or personally destroyed up to 50 enemy soldiers, etc.
In total, approximately one million signs of this order of the III degree were issued during the war years. More than 46 thousand people received the II degree award, and about 2600 received the first.
Order of Victory
This order of the Second World War (military) was established in 1943, by decree of November 8. The statute said that he was awarded the highest command staff for the successful conduct of military operations (on one or several fronts), as a result of which the situation radically changes in favor of the USSR army.
Only 19 people received this order. Twice it was Stalin, as well as Marshals Vasilevsky and Zhukov. Once they received it Tymoshenko, Govorov, Tolbukhin, Malinovsky, Rokossovsky, Konev, Antonov. Meretskov was awarded this distinction for participating in the war with Japan. In addition, five foreign military commanders marked him. These are Tito, Role-Zhimersky, Eisenhower, Montgomery and Mihai.
Order of the Red Banner
This order was established in 1924, two years after the formation of the USSR. Soldiers of the Soviet army, civilians and partisans awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War (there are about a hundred thousand in all), received it for their deeds committed during the Great Patriotic War. He was awarded for heroic deeds that were committed with a clear danger to life in a combat situation. Also, the Order of the Fighting Banner could be deserved by a man for outstanding leadership in the operations of various military associations, formations, units, and courage and bravery shown. He stood out for special courage and courage during the performance of a special task. It was also possible to receive the Order of the Fighting Red Banner for the courage and bravery shown while ensuring our country’s state security, inviolability of the border in conditions of risk to life. The Order of the Red Banner was issued for the successful military operations of warships, military units, associations and formations that defeated the enemy, despite losses or other conditions unfavorable for this. They also received a reward either for inflicting a major defeat on the enemy, or if their actions contributed to the success of the USSR troops in carrying out a major operation.
Order of Ushakov
The Order of Ushakov is the highest in relation to another order, which was awarded to the officers of the fleet, Nakhimov. He has two degrees. The first degree award is made of platinum, and the second is made of gold. The colors of the sash are white and blue, in pre-revolutionary Russia they were the colors of the St. Andrew’s flag (naval). This award was established in March 1944. An order was awarded for a successful active operation, as a result of which victory was achieved over an enemy numerically superior. For example, for a naval battle in which significant enemy forces are destroyed; for a successful landing operation, which entailed the destruction of coastal fortifications and enemy bases; for bold actions carried out on maritime communications of the enemy troops, as a result of which valuable transports and warships were sunk. The Order of Ushakov, II degree, was awarded 194 times as an award. 13 ships and parts of the Navy have this insignia on their banners.
Order of Nakhimov
Five anchors made up the star on the sketch of this order. They turned their stocks to a medallion depicting an admiral according to Timm's drawing. This order is divided into two degrees - the first and second. Materials for the manufacture were gold and silver, respectively. From the rubies, the rays of the star were made in the first degree of this award. A combination of orange and black was chosen for the tape. This award was also established in 1944, March 3.
Order of Lenin and the Red Star
The Order of Lenin received more than 36 thousand people for military distinctions, and the Red Star - about 2900. Both of them were established in 1930, April 6.