Orders "Red Banners" are the first awards of the Soviet state. They were established to reward for the manifestation of special bravery, dedication and courage in the defense of the Fatherland. In addition, military units, ships, public and state organizations were also awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Until 1930, the order was the highest degree of promotion in the Soviet Union.
The first Soviet award
In 1918, a few days before the celebration of the first anniversary of the October Socialist Revolution, the first badge - the Order of the Red Banner - was approved in the country of the Soviets. There was this award in two versions: Combat and Labor. In September 1918, the statute of this sign was first approved, and then, a month later, he himself appeared.
A bit of history
It is a well-known fact that the Bolsheviks, having come to power in 1917, abolished all the awards and distinctions that existed in the pre-revolutionary period of the history of our country. Initially allincentives that marked any merits to the Motherland were replaced by nominal gifts: cigarette cases, watches, weapons. However, the longer the civil war in Russia lasted, the more clearly the need for the appearance of award signs that would clearly demonstrate the merits of this or that person before the new country and the new government was manifested. Thus, they would stimulate even more selfless activities of those who have already received such encouragement, and those who only aspired to this.
As a result, in 1918, on the initiative of Sverdlov, Ya. This group is headed by Avel Safronovich Enukidze, and the work on the sketch of the order is entrusted to the artist V. I. Denisov and his son V. V. Denisov. So, literally after a few days of hard work, father and son offer sketches of the first Soviet badge for consideration by the commission. From several options, they chose the one that included all the elements symbolizing the young Soviet power. This is a red star, a developing red banner, a sickle and a hammer, a plow and a bayonet, which are symbols of the unification of peasants, workers and soldiers. The final design sketch was approved in October 1918 by the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Thus, the young state marked the first anniversary of the Great October Revolution by issuing the Orders of the Red Banner of Labor and Battle.
Statute of the award
The statute for the orders of the Red Banner of Labor and Combat was very short. It contained some specifics about what actions a person can be awarded with this award. This is explained by the fact that the "Red Banners" were the only badges of their kind and in the system of the young state in principle. In particular, this was mentioned in a special explanation. The Order of the Red Banner of War was the only reward that could be awarded to the soldiers of the Red Army for their military merits. They were noted for courage, special courage and selflessness as individuals, as well as military units (companies, regiments, units, etc.), and public organizations. Cavaliers awarded the Order of the Red Banner were called "Red Banner", and the teams were called "Red Banner". In the future, the statute of this badge was edited and supplemented several times.
All the first "Red Banners" were supplemented with special certificates, which stated who, when and for what merits this award was presented. Such a letter was a very important and necessary attribute, certifying the right of the encouraged person to wear such a badge. According to the original statute, only commissars and commanders of the Red Army, volunteer detachments and fleet had the right to be presented to the order. However, over time, the list of promising gentlemen has been expanded.
Award description
Breastplates "Red Banners" were made of silver in the form of a laurel wreath(gilded), serving as its basis. At the bottom of it was a ribbon on which was written in gold letters "USSR". The top of the order was covered by an unfolded red banner, on which was written "Proletarians of all countries, unite!" A little below the center, the pole of the flag crosses with the torch. Their lower ends protrude slightly beyond the wreath. The flame of the torch on the order should symbolize the immortal feat of the heroes of the revolution. In the center of the badge on a white background are a crossed hammer, plow and bayonet, which are covered by a five-pointed inverted red star. In its center is a golden laurel wreath, inside of which a gilded hammer and sickle are placed on a white field.
On the repeated orders of the Red Banner, a small white enamel shield was placed directly under the ribbon, the numbers 2, 3, 4 and so on were put on it. They indicate the number of awards with this sign. The banner, ribbon and ends of the five-pointed star are covered with ruby-red enamel, and the images of the hammer and plow are oxidized, the rest of the images and inscriptions are gilded.
Parameters
The Order of the Red Banner of Labor, like its combat version, was made of silver. Its content in this award is 22.719 grams ±1.389. The total weight of the sign is 25.134 grams ±1.8. The height of the order is 41 millimeters, the width is 36.3 millimeters. With the help of a ring and an eyelet, the award is connected to a rectangular block, which is covered with a moire silk ribbon, 24 mm wide. In its center is a white longitudinal strip, the width of whichis eight millimeters, closer to the edges are two more white stripes seven millimeters wide each and two white stripes one millimeter wide. Cavaliers of this order wear it on the left side of the chest.
First Cavalier
The first owner of this honorary award was Vasily Konstantinovich Blucher, in 1918 he was chairman of the Chelyabinsk Revolutionary Committee. He received the Order of the Red Banner of War for having managed to unite several armed detachments under his command, with which he made his legendary campaign to the Urals. This military operation was accompanied by fierce and difficult battles with detachments of the White Guards. The 10,000-strong army led by Blucher passed through the rear of the enemy and covered 1,500 kilometers in forty days, after which the partisans joined up with regular Soviet units. For the accomplishment of this feat on September 30, 1918, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee presents Blucher to the government award - the Order of the Red Banner for the first number. Subsequently, during the entire period of the civil war, he was presented three more times for this honorary award. And Vasily Blucher receives his fifth Order of the Red Banner for his work in China, where he was a military adviser to the revolutionary government. However, it is worth noting that all these merits did not save the Soviet marshal from repression and death.
The Great Patriotic War
During the Second World War, the "Red Banner of Victory" (as the order was called by the soldiers of the Red Army) was awarded 305,035 times. A lot of warriors deserve severalsuch awards. It is worth thinking about this figure - more than three hundred thousand, and despite the fact that such a sign was among the elite. Such a number, without any words, speaks of a high degree of heroism and self-sacrifice shown by Russian soldiers. Usually, the "Red Banner of Victory" was received by the commanders of various formations, as well as pilots for successfully carried out assault / bombing, downed enemy vehicles. The junior commanders of the Red Army, and even more so the privates and sergeants, were awarded this honor extremely rarely.
Exceptions to the rule
However, unique cases have also been recorded. For example, the young partisan Volodya Dubinin was awarded this badge at the age of 13, though posthumously; and 14-year-old Igor Pakhomov had two orders at once. Another Kyiv student at the age of 12 received this award for keeping two regimental colors during the occupation.
Full list of awardees
In total, from 1918 to 1991, this award was issued more than 580 thousand times, including the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Moreover, some persons became five-time, six-time, and some even seven-time cavaliers. The first who was able to receive in 1967 an order with the number seven on the front side was Major General of Aviation M. I. Burtsev. Later, the famous ace pilot, Air Marshal I. N. Kozhedub became another seven-time owner of this badge. Today, this government award has been abolished, but the most famous units and formations of the armed forces continue to be calledRed Banner.
