The award is one of the forms of encouragement, which is evidence of recognition of merit. Its main types in Russia are the titles of Hero of Labor, Hero of Russia, various other honorary titles, medals and orders, diplomas, certificates of honor, badges, awards, entry on the Board of Honor or in the Book of Honor, as well as an announcement of gratitude and other military awards (orders and medals) occupy a very important place among them.
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. The armed forces of the USSR provided assistance not only to compatriots, but also to other peoples living in Europe, in liberating them from fascist slavery. For this, many people received military orders and medals. The Soviet Armed Forces also fulfilled their duty in relation to the peoples of Asia enslaved by militaristic Japan, primarily Vietnam, Korea, and China.
How many medals and orders were awarded at this time?
For feats at the front were awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union 11 603warrior. 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 well-coordinated military economy was also created in the USSR, the unity of the rear and front was observed. During the war, 12 orders were established, in addition, 25 medals. They were awarded to participants in the partisan movement, wars, home front workers, underground workers, 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 participation in the war are as follows:
- 8 "For Defense": Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kyiv, Odessa, Sevastopol, Soviet Arctic, Moscow, Caucasus;
- 3 For Liberation: Belgrade, Warsaw, Prague;
- 4 "For the capture": Budapest, Vienna, Konigsberg and Berlin;
- 2 "For victory": over Japan, over Germany;
- "Partisan of the Patriotic War";
- "For valiant labor in the Second World War";
- "Gold Star";
- "For military merit";
- "For Courage";
- Nakhimov Medal;
- badge "Guard".
- Ushakov Medal.
A medal is less honorable than an order.
Orders for participation in the Second World War
Unlike a medal, a military order can have several degrees. For participation in the Second World War they were the following: Patriotic War, 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, the Decree on the establishment of this order of I and II degrees was signed. For the first time in the history of the award system of the USSR, specific feats were listed, for which this award was given to representatives of the main military branches in our country.
Combat Order I and II degree could be received by commanding officers and rank and file of the Navy, the Red Army, the NKVD troops. In addition, partisans were awarded who showed courage, steadfastness and bravery in battles with the Nazis or 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 negotiated separately. They were awarded for their contribution to the victory over the enemy.
Combat order of the 1st degree could be received by one who personally destroyed 2 medium or heavy, or 3 light enemy tanks, or 3 medium or heavy, or 5 light ones as part of a 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
Combat orders, which were named after 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 variousfighting, as well as for the difference in battles with the enemy.
The Order of Suvorov, I degree, was awarded to the commanders of armies and fronts, as well as their deputies, heads of operational departments and headquarters, military branches of armies and fronts for a successfully organized and conducted combat operation on the scale of a front or army, as a result of which one or more defeated enemy. One circumstance was specifically stipulated: victory must certainly be won by smaller forces over the enemy, numerically superior, since the Suvorov principle was in effect, which said that the enemy is beaten by skill, not by numbers.
The Order of the II degree could be received by the commander of a brigade, division or corps, as well as his deputy or chief of staff for organizing the defeat of a division or corps, breaking through the enemy’s defensive line with subsequent pursuit and defeat, as well as for the organization of the battle, carried out in the environment, the exit from it while maintaining the combat capability 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 for awarding various commanders (companies, battalions, regiments). It was awarded for the skillful organization and conduct of a battle that brought victory with fewer forces than the enemy.
Order of Kutuzov
This military order of the 1st degree, designed by the artist Moskalev,could be issued to the commander of the army, 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 inflicting counterattacks on the enemy, withdrawing their troops to new lines with small losses in their composition; as well as for the good organization and conduct of the operation to combat enemy forces that are superior to the large formations at their disposal, and to maintain constant readiness of troops for a decisive offensive against the enemy.
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 counteroffensive.
K. S. Melnik is a major general who commanded the 58th army, which defended a section of the Caucasian front from Malgobek to Mozdok. Having exhausted the enemy's main forces, in difficult defensive battles, his army launched a counteroffensive and entered the Yeysk region with battles, breaking the German defense line.
The Order of Kutuzov III degree was awarded to the officer who skillfully developed a battle plan, which ensured good interaction between various types of weapons and a successful outcome of the operation.
Order of Alexander Nevsky
Architect Telyatnikov won the competition for a drawing of this order. He used in his work a frame from a film called "Alexander Nevsky", which was released shortly before. Starred in the title roleNikolay Cherkasov. His profile was depicted on this order. There is a medallion with a portrait in the center of a five-pointed red star, from which silver rays depart. Ancient Russian attributes of a warrior (a quiver with arrows, a bow, a sword, crossed reeds) are located at the edges.
According to the military statute, an officer who fought in the ranks of the Red Army is awarded the order for the initiative shown in choosing a good moment for a bold, sudden and successful attack on the enemy and inflicting a major defeat on the enemy. Moreover, it was necessary to save significant forces of their troops. This award was given for the successful completion of a certain task in the face of superior enemy forces. At the same time, it was necessary to destroy most of its forces or completely defeat it. Also, the words "combat is awarded with an order" a person could hear for the command of an aviation, tank, artillery unit, which inflicted heavy damage on the enemy.
In total, more than 42 thousand soldiers, as well as approximately 70 foreign officers and generals, received this award.
Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky
The Soviet army in the summer of 1943 was preparing for a responsible operation - the liberation of Ukraine. The poet Bazhan, as well as the film director Dovzhenko, came up with 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 awarded to commanders and soldiers of the Red Army, andalso to the partisans who showed distinction in the battles during the liberation from the fascist invaders of the 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 formations and units (over a thousand) received it as a collective award.
Order of Glory
Combat 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 and black. The ribbon of the Order of St. George, the most honorable military award in pre-revolutionary Russia, had the same colors.
The Order of Military Glory has three degrees. 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). This sign could be received by a warrior for a personal feat shown on the battlefield. These orders were issued strictly sequentially - from the lowest to the highest degree.
The one who broke into the enemy's location first, saved the banner of his unit in battle or got the enemy's could receive this award; as well as the one who saved the commander in battle, risking his life, shot down a fascist plane from a personal weapon (machine gun or rifle) or personally destroyed up to 50 enemy soldiers, etc.
In total, about a 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 about2600.
Order "Victory"
This order of the Second World War (combat) was established in 1943, by decree of November 8th. The statute stated that they were awarded to the highest command staff for the successful conduct of military operations (on one or several fronts), as a result of which the situation is radically changing in favor of the USSR army.
Total 19 people received this order. Twice it was Stalin, as well as marshals Vasilevsky and Zhukov. Timoshenko, Govorov, Tolbukhin, Malinovsky, Rokossovsky, Konev, Antonov received it once each. Meretskov was awarded this distinction for participation in the war with Japan. In addition, five foreign military leaders are marked by him. These are Tito, Rola-Zymerski, Eisenhower, Montgomery and Mihaly.
Order of the Red Banner
This order was established in 1924, two years after the formation of the USSR. The soldiers of the Soviet army, civilians and partisans, who were awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Battle (there are about a hundred thousand of them in total), 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 Battle Banner could be earned by a person for outstanding leadership in the operations of various military associations, formations, units, and courage and bravery shown at the same time. He was given out for special courage and courage during the performance of a special task. It was also possible to receive the Order of the Red Banner of War for the bravery and courage shown in providingour country's state security, the inviolability of the border at risk to life. The Order of the Red Banner was issued for the successful combat operations of warships, military units, formations 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 the implementation of a major operation.
Order of Ushakov
The Order of Ushakov is the highest in relation to another order, which was awarded to officers of the fleet, - Nakhimov. It has two degrees. The award of the first degree is made of platinum, and the second - of gold. The colors of the sash are white and blue, which in pre-revolutionary Russia were the colors of the St. Andrew's flag (naval). This award was established in 1944, on March 3. The order was issued for a successful active operation, as a result of which a victory was achieved over an enemy that was numerically superior. For example, for a naval battle in which significant enemy forces were destroyed; for a successful landing operation, which entailed the destruction of coastal fortifications and enemy bases; for bold actions carried out on the sea lanes of the enemy troops, as a result of which valuable transports and warships were sunk. The Order of Ushakov II degree as an award was presented 194 times. 13 ships and units of the Navy have this insignia on their banners.
Order of Nakhimov
Five anchors made up a star on the sketch of this order. They were turnedwith their stocks to the medallion depicting the admiral according to Timm's drawing. This order is divided into two degrees - first and second. The materials for making were gold and silver, respectively. The rays of the star were made from rubies in the first degree of this award. A combination of orange and black was chosen for the ribbon. This award was also established in 1944, March 3.
Order of Lenin and the Red Star
More than 36 thousand people received the Order of Lenin for military distinctions, and about 2900 received the Order of the Red Star. Both of them were established in 1930, April 6.
