The Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" was approved in 1994 in the Russian Federation. It was he who was considered the most valuable award until 1998. Then, the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called was presented as the highest award. It is this order that is considered to this day the main and highest award. The junior award is the Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine.
Order of Merit for the Fatherland
Reward Rules
In addition to the orders "For Merit to the Fatherland", medals are also awarded. In the hierarchy of awards, they occupy a lower position and also have their own degrees. For example, after receiving the medal "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd degree, with the reappearance of merits, a medal of the first degree is awarded. And if a person is awarded the re-delivery of the medal, instead of it they are awarded the order of the fourth degree.
Thus, medals have two steps, and the order has four. They are called degrees. The highest degree is the first. In order to present an award of this rank, it is necessary either to perform the greatest deeds related to activities in Russia, or to receive orders, gradually increasing their value. Or you need to have:
- the title of Hero of the Russian Federation;
- the title of Hero of the USSR or socialist labor;
- one of the orders, such as: St. George, Alexander Nevsky, Suvorov, Ushakov, Zhukov, Kutuzov, Nakhimov, Courage;
- the title of "folk", for example, an artist, artist;
- the President of Russia has the right to assign a person who does not have titles to the order for special merits.
Outwardly, awards of varying degrees differ in the size of the bar and the orders themselves. So, the order of the first degree has a cross size of 6 centimeters, and a ribbon - 10 centimeters. The order of the 4th degree in size of the cross corresponds to four centimeters with a ribbon of two and a half centimeters.
As well as awarding the Order for Merit to the Fatherland of the 2nd degree and above provides for receiving a star. The lower ranks receive the rank without stars. And the order can also be awarded to military personnel who receive an award with swords, its design is slightly different from the usual order. In the military interpretation, swords are attached either between the order and the ribbon, or on the bar of the order. According to the rules, if a person has orders of several degrees, then only the highest degree award should be worn.
The order of the first degree is attached to a ribbon that passes over the right shoulder. The badge of the second degree may be worn on the left side of the chest, below the Star of St. George, if any. Sometimes the owners of the order of the first and second degree wear only the stars from the order. But the lower degrees, for example, the 3rd or 4th, are worn on a neck ribbon.
Cases in which a person is assigned to receive the Order of Merit for the Fatherland:
- contribution to the strengthening of the state, including taking into account military and defensive merits;
- contribution to the socio-economic development of the country;
- scientific activity that develops the relevant industries;
- development of art and culture of the country;
- multiple sports achievements on the world stage;
- development of friendship and cooperation between peoples.
Mikhail Kalashnikov and Dmitry Kozlov (developer rocket technology). The first to become a full cavalier of the award, which means the gradual receipt of orders of various degrees, was Yegor Stroev. There are many gentlemen in the field of art and culture: Armor, Zakharov, Volchek, Plisetskaya.
Jacques Chirac, the former president of France, was awarded the order of the first degree among foreigners for supporting the Russian Federation and showing loyalty to her both to him and to France as a whole. But in 2006, the former mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, was also assigned to the award. The authorities appreciated his efforts in relation to the development of the capital and awarded him the order of the first degree.
There are 34 full cavaliers for today. The order of the first degree was awarded to 64 people. From this it follows that it is really difficult to receive an order, you need to earn it with your actions. Some figures did not have enough life to reach the award of the order of the first degree.
Registration of the order
The appearance of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" is solemn. It has symbols on both sides. The front side is a straight red cross with a convex image of the coat of arms of Russia - a double-headed eagle. The cross can be smooth or grooved.
Order and certificate to it
Most often, the orders "For Merit to the Fatherland" of the second and third degrees have a smooth cross. But on reverse side there is an inscription "BENEFITS, HONOR AND GLORY". As well as the year of manufacture of the first order - 1994, under which there are crossed branches of laurel. In addition, each order has its own serial number. From above, the order is attached to a ribbon without red stripes of a pentagonal shape.
In addition to the order, holders of the award "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd degree and above receive a star. It is eight-rayed and in its center there is a medallion with a reduced image of a double-headed eagle. On its edge is also written "BENEFITS OF HONOR AND GLORY". And here interesting fact is that after the word "benefit" there should be a comma, which was forgotten during the manufacture of the layout. But since the first stars have already been awarded, and the mistake was noticed recently, no one is going to remake the star.
Such orders are practically not sold at auctions, since they are valid and give the right to an increase in payments, whether it be salary or pension. And also the order allows you to receive several benefits, for example:
- priority recruitment to public office;
- exemption from taxes, fees, duties;
- priority treatment of the gentleman and all family members, providing him with medicines, free replacement of dentures;
- free improvement of living conditions, including major repairs, and there are no obstacles to the privatization of occupied housing;
- extraordinary use of all services.
And this is not the whole list of advantages of the owners of the order. Each degree of award has its own advantages, but, for example, the third degree has fewer privileges than the first. But the process of awarding itself takes place in a solemn atmosphere and the gentleman receives the order from the hands of the incumbent president. Therefore, this ceremony is the ultimate dream of many figures in Russia.
Established by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of November 8, 1943. Subsequently, the Statute of the Order was partially amended by Decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of February 26 and December 16, 1947 and August 8, 1957.
STATUTE OF THE ORDER
The Order of Glory is awarded to privates and sergeants of the Red Army, and in aviation and to persons with the rank of junior lieutenant who showed themselves in battles for Soviet Motherland glorious feats of courage, courage and fearlessness.
The Order of Glory consists of three degrees: I, II and III degree. The highest degree of the order is the 1st degree. The award is made sequentially: first the third, then the second and, finally, the first degree.
The Order of Glory is awarded for:
- breaking into the enemy's location first, with personal courage he contributed to the success of the common cause;
- being in a tank on fire, continued to carry out a combat mission;
- in a moment of danger, he saved the banner of his unit from being captured by the enemy;
- from personal weapons, with marksmanship, destroyed from 10 to 50 enemy soldiers and officers;
- in battle, with the fire of an anti-tank rifle, he disabled at least two enemy tanks;
- destroyed with hand grenades on the battlefield or behind enemy lines from one to three tanks;
- destroyed at least three enemy aircraft by artillery or machine gun fire;
- despising the danger, he was the first to break into the bunker (bunker, trench or dugout) of the enemy, with decisive actions destroyed his garrison;
- as a result of personal reconnaissance, he established weak points in the enemy’s defense and withdrew our troops behind enemy lines;
- personally captured an enemy officer;
- at night he removed the guard post (patrol, secret) of the enemy or captured him;
- personally, with resourcefulness and courage, having made his way to the position of the enemy, destroyed his machine gun or mortar;
- being on a night outing, he destroyed the enemy's warehouse with military equipment;
- risking his life, he saved the commander in battle from the immediate danger that threatened him;
- neglecting personal danger, he captured the enemy's banner in battle;
- being wounded, after bandaging he again returned to duty;
- from personal weapons shot down an enemy aircraft;
- destroying enemy firepower with artillery or mortar fire, ensured the successful operations of his unit;
- under enemy fire, he made a passage for the advancing unit in the enemy's barbed wire;
- risking his life, under enemy fire, assisted the wounded during a series of battles;
- being in a wrecked tank, he continued to carry out a combat mission from the tank’s weapons;
- swiftly crashing his tank into the enemy column, crushed it and continued to carry out the combat mission;
- crushed one or more enemy guns with his tank or destroyed at least two machine-gun nests;
- being in reconnaissance, he obtained valuable information about the enemy;
- a fighter pilot destroyed in air combat from two to four enemy fighter planes or from three to six bomber planes;
- as a result of an assault raid, an attack pilot destroyed from two to five enemy tanks or from three to six steam locomotives, or blew up an echelon at a railway station or stage, or destroyed at least two aircraft at an enemy airfield;
- an attack pilot destroyed one or two enemy aircraft as a result of bold initiative actions in aerial combat;
- the crew of a day bomber destroyed a railway echelon, blew up a bridge, an ammunition depot, fuel, destroyed the headquarters of any enemy unit, destroyed railway station or haul, blew up a power plant, blew up a dam, destroyed a military ship, transport, boat, destroyed at least two aircraft at an enemy airfield;
- the crew of a light night bomber blew up an ammunition depot, fuel, destroyed the enemy headquarters, blew up a railway echelon, blew up a bridge;
- the crew of a long-range night bomber destroyed a railway station, blew up an ammunition depot, fuel, destroyed a port facility, destroyed a sea transport or a railway echelon, destroyed or burned down an important plant or factory;
- a day bomber crew for a daring action in a dogfight resulting in one to two aircraft being shot down;
- the reconnaissance crew for a successful reconnaissance, as a result of which valuable data on the enemy was obtained.
The Order of Glory is awarded by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Those awarded with the Orders of Glory of all three degrees are awarded the right to confer military rank:
- privates, corporals and sergeants - foremen;
- having the rank of foreman - junior lieutenant;
- junior lieutenants in aviation - lieutenant.
The Order of Glory is worn on the left side of the chest and, in the presence of other orders of the USSR, is located after the Order of the Badge of Honor in order of seniority.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ORDER
The badge of the Order of Glory is a five-pointed star measuring 46 mm between opposite peaks. The surface of the rays of the star is slightly convex. On the front side in the middle part of the star there is a circle-medallion with a diameter of 23.5 mm with a relief image of the Kremlin with the Spasskaya Tower in the center. Around the circumference of the medallion is a laurel wreath. At the bottom of the circle there is a convex inscription "GLORY" on a red enamel ribbon.
On the reverse side of the order there is a circle with a diameter of 19 mm with a relief inscription in the middle "USSR".
Along the edge of the star and the circle on the front side there are convex sides.
The badge of the order of the 1st degree is made of gold (sample 950). The gold content in the order of the 1st degree is 28.619 ± 1.425 g. The total weight of the order is 30.414 ± 1.5 g.
The badge of the Order of the II degree is made of silver, and the circle with the image of the Kremlin with the Spasskaya Tower is gilded. Silver content in the order of the II degree - 20.302 ± 1.222 g. The total weight of the order - 22.024 ± 1.5 g.
The badge of the order of the III degree is silver, without gilding in the central circle. Silver content in the order of the III degree - 20.549 ± 1.388 g. The total weight of the order - 22.260 ± 1.6 g.
With the help of an eye and a ring, the badge is connected to a pentagonal block covered with a silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. There are five longitudinal stripes of equal width on the ribbon: three black and two orange color. Along the edges of the tape has one narrow orange strip 1 mm wide.
The Order of Glory was established on the same day as the Order of Victory. He became the last of the "land" orders created during the war years: after him, only the "naval" orders of Ushakov and Nakhimov appeared. The order had several features that no other domestic award had. Firstly, this is the only combat distinction intended to be awarded exclusively to soldiers and sergeants (in aviation, also junior lieutenants). Secondly, they were awarded only in ascending order, starting from the lowest - III degree. This order was repeated only thirty years later in the statutes of the Orders of Labor Glory and "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR." Thirdly, the Order of Glory until 1974 was the only order of the USSR, issued only for personal merit and never issued for any military units neither businesses nor organizations. Fourthly, the statute of the order provided for the promotion of holders of all three degrees in rank, which was an exception for the Soviet award system. Fifthly, the colors of the ribbon of the Order of Glory repeat the colors of the ribbon of the Russian Imperial Order of St. George, which was at least unexpected in Stalin's times. Sixthly, the color and pattern of the ribbon were the same for all three degrees, which was typical only for the pre-revolutionary award system, but was never used in reward system THE USSR.
The order was established on the initiative of IV Stalin. For the first time, a proposal to establish it was made on June 20, 1943, during a discussion of the project of the Order "Victory" at a meeting of the People's Commissariat of Defense. The Technical Committee of the Main Quartermaster Directorate of the Red Army, which was headed by Lieutenant General Aginsky S.V., was tasked to develop a draft of this order in August 1943. Nine artists worked on sketches for the order. On October 2, 1943, out of 26 projects created by the artists, 4 were presented to Stalin, who chose the drawing by N. I. Moskalev (the author of the designs for the Order of Kutuzov, the medal “Partisan of the Patriotic War” and all medals for the defense of cities in the USSR).
According to the plan, the order was supposed to have 4 degrees: the same as the Order of St. George and the "insignia of the military order" - the famous St. George's Cross. It was originally planned to call it the Order of Bagration. Stalin approved the colors of the ribbon, but ordered the number of grades to be reduced to three, similarly to "commander's orders", and to name the award the Order of Glory, explaining that "there is no victory without glory." On October 11, 1943, the revised drawings were submitted to the NPO and on October 23 they were approved.
The right to award the Order of Glory of the III degree was granted to the commanders of formations from the brigade commander and above, the Order of Glory of the II degree - from the commander of the army (flotilla), and only the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR could award the Order of the I degree. From February 26, 1947, the right to award any degree of the order passed exclusively to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The first reliably established presentation to the Order of Glory took place on November 13, 1943, when an award sheet was signed on the presentation to the Order of the III degree of sapper senior sergeant Malyshev V.S. During the battle, Vasily Malyshev made his way to the enemy machine gun, which interfered with the advance of our troops, and destroyed it . Later Malyshev V.S. earned another Order of Glory - II degree.
Among more than two and a half thousand full cavaliers of the Order of Glory, four bear the title of Hero Soviet Union:
- artilleryman of the guard senior sergeant A. V. Aleshin;
- attack pilot junior lieutenant of aviation I. G. Drachenko;
- Marine guards foreman Dubinda P. Kh.;
- artilleryman senior sergeant N. I. Kuznetsov (received the order of the 1st degree only in 1980).
There are four women among the full holders of the Order of Glory:
- sniper foreman Petrova N.P. (died in action on May 1, 1945, born in 1893);
- machine gunner of the 16th Lithuanian division, Sergeant Staniliene D. Yu.;
- nurse foreman Nozdracheva M.S.;
- air gunner-radio operator of the 99th separate Guards reconnaissance aviation regiment of the 15th air army of the guards foreman Zhurkina N. A.
There are known cases of awarding four Orders of Glory. Among the four order bearers A. Gaibov (two orders of the II degree), V. Naldin, A. Petrukovich.
Soldier Kuzin S.T. fought in the ranks of the Red Army, a holder of two St. George crosses, who was also awarded two Orders of Glory during the Great Patriotic War.
According to some information, the soldiers of the Allied armies were also awarded the Order of Glory. So, on the website of the American collector Paul Schmitt, I found information that a serviceman was awarded the Order of Glory III degree Navy USA Cecil R. Haycraft. Probably, the American Knight of Glory could be part of one of the sea convoys.
Left: Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory, Major of the Engineering and Construction Troops Baranov Ivan Pavlovich. During the war, senior sergeant (then guard foreman) Baranov was an assistant commander of a reconnaissance platoon, then commanded a platoon of submachine gunners of the 129th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 45th Guards Rifle Division (6th Guards Rifle Division). Guards Army, 2nd Baltic Front). Since 1961, Major Baranov was in reserve.
Right: Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory, Artillery Major Kravtsov Georgy Konstantinovich. During the war, Senior Sergeant Kravtsov commanded a mortar company of the 838th Infantry Regiment of the 237th Infantry Division (4th Ukrainian Front). Member of the Victory Parade. Since 1976, Lieutenant Colonel Kravtsov has been in reserve.
By 1945, there were about 1,500 awards of the Order of Glory of the 1st degree, about 17,000 awards of the Order of Glory of the 2nd degree, and about 200,000 awards of the Order of Glory of the 3rd degree.
After the war, the Order of Glory was awarded to many privates and sergeants who distinguished themselves in the suppression of the "counter-revolutionary rebellion" in Hungary in 1956. So, only in one 7th Guards Airborne Division, 245 people were awarded the order of the third degree.
By 1978, 2562 awards were made with the Order of Glory, 1st degree.
As of 1989, 2,620 people were awarded the Order of Glory of the 1st degree, 46,473 people were awarded the Order of Glory of the 2nd degree, and 997,815 people were awarded the Order of Glory of the 3rd degree.
The sign of the Order of Glory of any degree was one-piece, that is, it consisted of one part without any overhead parts. separate element the order can be considered a pentagonal block, covered with a ribbon of the order. There are no rivets on the reverse of the order. Also on the Order of Glory there is no mint mark. The number of the order is located on the reverse horizontally at the base of the upper beam of the star (at 12 o'clock on the dial).
Order of Glory, 1st class.
The order of the first degree is made of gold. The number of the order is marked with punches and is located at the base of the upper beam. We can propose the following classification of the Order of Glory, I degree.
. Option 1. Early option. The clock on the dial of the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin shows the time 11:52. The divisions of the dial are embossed, made in the form of Roman numerals. The minimum known order number is 1, the maximum is 2988.
Order of Glory, 1st class, Variant 1
. Option 2. Late option. On the obverse, characteristic differences of the stamp appeared, which made it possible to distinguish these orders into a separate version. If we describe the main differences from top to bottom, we can note the following features. The enamel star on the top of the tower no longer touches the outer rim of the medallion. Instead of Roman numerals, abstract triangles appeared on the dial, although the position of the hands remained the same. Between the dial and the top of the central arch, to the right and left of the place of their contact, clear images of contour triangles appeared. The internal jagged elements of the arch began to reach the very bottom. The groove between the base of the tower and the enamel band has disappeared. The minimum known order number is 3136, the maximum is 3776.
Order of Glory, 1st class, Variant 2
Comparative image of the Spasskaya Tower on the medallion of the orders of the first variant (left) and the second variant (right).
Order of Glory II degree.
Unlike the Order of Glory of the first degree, the badge of the second degree is made of silver. The central round medallion on the front of the order is gilded. The serial number of the orders of the second degree is made by hand with a engraver and is located on the reverse at the base of the upper beam.
Depending on the features of the stamp, the following classification of the Orders of Glory of the second degree can be proposed.
. Option 1. The reverse of the order is bordered along the contour by a convex border 1 mm high. On the obverse of the signs of the first version, the clock on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin shows the time 11:52. The divisions of the dial are embossed and well defined. The minimum known order number is 4, the maximum is 1773.
Order of Glory, 2nd Class, Option 1
Option 2. The main difference from the first option is the absence of a convex rim on the reverse. The clock face on the obverse is similar to the first version - the clock shows 11:52. The minimum known order number is 747, the maximum is 18674.
Order of Glory, 2nd Class, Option 2
. Option 3. There is no convex rim on the reverse. On the dial of signs of the third variant, there are no small elements - divisions and arrows (the so-called "smooth" dial). The smoothness of the dial is not the result of wear, this is the peculiarity of the stamp. A number of well-preserved badges are noted, which do not have traces of wear on the obverse, but have a smooth dial. The minimum known order number is 15634, the maximum is 24687.
Order of Glory, 2nd Class, Option 3
Option 4. The clock on the Spasskaya Tower shows the time 9:05. The hands and dot divisions of the dial are clearly visible. The tower window, located under the dial, has a double contour. On the signs of the previous versions, the window had a single outline. The minimum known order number is 25445, the maximum is 32647.
Order of Glory, 2nd Class, Option 4
Option 5. The clock on the Spasskaya Tower shows 9:00. The arrows are thin, poorly defined. The divisions on the dial are long. The so-called "orange" dial. The tower window, like the previous version, has a double contour. The minimum known order number is 24722, the maximum is 49382.
Order of Glory, 2nd Class, Option 5
Order of Glory III degree.
The main difference from the order of the second degree is that the central circle-medallion is not gilded. Depending on the features of the obverse and reverse of the sign, the following variants and varieties of the Order of Glory III degree can be distinguished.
. Option 1 (time 11:52, on the reverse side). Orders of the first version were made at the Krasnokamsk Mint. For all orders of the first variant, the reverse of the order along the contour is bordered by a convex rim 1 mm high. The serial number is hand-marked with a chisel. The minimum known order number is 14, the maximum is 907.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 1
On the obverse of the signs of the first version, the clock on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin shows the time 11:52. The divisions of the dial are embossed, made in the form of Roman numerals. Unfortunately, on the vast majority of signs of the first version, small elements of the dial (hands and divisions) are missing due to the natural wear of the sign, and it is very difficult to find a well-preserved sample. However, three varieties of the stamp of the first variant were found, differing from each other in small details of the central medallion on the obverse.
Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Option 1)
Orders of the first variant had low serial numbers. However, a copy of the first version of the Order of Glory III degree was found, with serial number 155369. The original early number on this order was removed and a six-digit serial number was cut instead. The operation to cut the number, apparently, was carried out at the Mint. It is interesting to note the good preservation of the small details of the obverse (the clock face and other elements of the Spasskaya Tower). This example may have been one of the early duplicates.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 1, number cutting
. Option 2 (time 11:52, without a side on the reverse). There is no convex border on the reverse of the badge. The watch face on the obverse is similar to the first version. The vast majority of signs of the second variant have strong traces of wear on the obverse, and small elements of the dial are practically undetectable. The second variant includes several types of stamp, differing in small details of the obverse. On all varieties, the clock of the Spasskaya Tower still shows the time 11.52, however, there are minor differences in other elements of the medallion.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 2
The first type of stamp of the second variant was made at MMD and is found in the approximate number range from 1 thousand to 75 thousand. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Option 2, Variation 1)
Signs of the second variety are also found in the interval of 160-166 thousand, however, they were made on the KMD and their characteristic feature is a pronounced gap between the tower and the enamel ribbon. Below are comparative images of obverse fragments of the first (left) and second (right) varieties of the second version.
. Option 3 (smooth dial without hands and divisions). On the dial of signs of the third variant, there are no small elements - divisions and arrows (the so-called "smooth" dial). Approximate number intervals are from 130 thousand to 340 thousand. Also, such signs are found in the region of numbers 460 thousand.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 3
Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse Option 3. 
Apparently, the letters of the USSR were knocked out, and the circles on the reverse were cut out on a ready-made, but not yet hardened punch, so the letters often do not line up, the circles are offset from the center and have different thicknesses, etc. It turns out that with each replacement of the punch, some changes appeared on the reverse. For example, for a number of characters of the third variant in the number range 153-156 thousand, the inner thin circle on the reverse is partially or completely absent. An image of such an order is shown below.
Order of Glory 3rd class, Variant 3, there is practically no inner circle on the reverse
Below is an image of the order of the third variant, which on the reverse has a strong displacement of the circle relative to the geometric center of the order. There are also signs in which the first letter "C" on the reverse can be located slightly higher than the rest of the letters (approximately 0.5 mm).
Order of Glory 3rd class, Variant 3, reverse with displaced circle
. Option 4 (time 10:12). On the dial of the Spasskaya Tower, the clock shows 10:12. Approximate number intervals of this variant are 314 thousand - 405 thousand. Known numbers are 314844, 329272, 345578, 345680, 346346, 347382, 347633, 405102. Despite the small number of known numbers, two slightly different varieties were found among the signs of the fourth variant stamp.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 4
The divisions of the dial, unlike the first and second options, are presented not in the form of numbers, but in the form of squares. In addition to the dial, this version has changed niches similar to triangles, located on the sides of the place of contact of the dial with the upper contour of the arch (hereinafter “niches”). The "points" at the vertical lines disappeared in them. On previous versions, these lines looked like harpoons, and in the fourth version they are just lines without points at the top. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Option 4).
. Option 5 (time 9:00, wide arch). On the dial of the Spasskaya Tower, the divisions of the clock are presented in the form of long marks, the clock shows 9:00. The minimum known number is 348054, the maximum is 367207.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 5
There have been changes in the "niches" of the Spasskaya Tower. In the left “niche” there is a clearly defined solid triangle, and in the right, a solid figure similar to a triangle, more reminiscent of a harpoon. The cornice between the "niches" and the side windows became single. The central arch is double, wide, and the lower contour is slightly shifted to the left. Due to the wide central arch, the side windows have become narrow, they have two vertical lines. A gap appeared between the base of the Spasskaya Tower and the enamel ribbon. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Option 5).
. Option 6 (time 12:10 or 13:59). The divisions of the dial are presented in the form of dashes. On the dial of the Spasskaya Tower, the clock shows 12:10 (or 13:59, since it is difficult to determine where the hour hand is and where the minute hand is). Approximate number intervals for this option are from 365 thousand to 391 thousand. Known numbers are 365070, 366702, 367824, 372096, 373032, 388763, 391105.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 6
In addition to the time on the clock of the Spasskaya Tower, in comparison with the previous version, the “niches” have also changed. Instead of a solid triangle and a "harpoon", contour triangles appeared in them. The central arch merged with the cornice, in the previous version it was separated from it. An additional horizontal line has appeared in the lower focus of the central arch, slightly not reaching the contours of the arch. The dial is slightly flattened between 12-14 o'clock. All signs of this variant known to us have thin letters USSR on the reverse. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse Option 6.
. Option 7 (time 15:02). The clock on the Spasskaya Tower shows the time 15:02. The minimum known order number is 349784, the maximum is 421660.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 7
The central arch of the tower, located under the dial, has a triple outline. On the signs of all previous varieties, the arch had a double contour. The arch is heavily undercut by the dial. The inner contour of the arch is a characteristic triangle. The triangles in the "niches" have also changed a bit. They remained contoured, but their inner sides are not straight, but curved. In the side windows on the sides of the central arch, there are still two vertical lines, but another lower horizontal line has appeared, against which these vertical lines abut. The risk at 9 o'clock on the dial is a characteristic triangle, which is only on this version. The dial is slightly flattened around the third quarter, that is, around 10-11 o'clock. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse Option 7.
. Option 8 (time 9:05). The clock on the Spasskaya Tower shows the time 9:05. This version was produced from April-May 1945, almost all presentations took place after the war. The minimum known order number is 367705, the maximum is 625383.
Order of Glory III degree, Option 8
The hands and point divisions of the dial are clearly visible on the watch. The central arch of the tower, located under the dial, has a triple contour, but it is almost not cut by the dial. The inner contour of the arch, unlike the previous version, is rounded at the top. The right outer line of the central arch, running along the side window, is very thin. Because of this, the impression of some "skewness" of the central arch is created. In the left "niche" the triangle is not contoured, but solid, having a small depression in the center. The side windows have two vertical lines. On this version, there was a transition to the thin letters of the USSR on the reverse. Thus, this variant occurs with both thick and thin letters. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Variant 8).
. Option 9 (time 9:00, the number is applied with a engraver). The clock on the Spasskaya Tower shows 9:00. On the early orders, the arrows are well expressed, but as the serial numbers increase, the contours of the arrows become less pronounced and are poorly defined in later numbers. The divisions on the dial are long. The central arch of the tower has a triple outline. With the growth of serial numbers, a gap appears in the middle outline of the arch, which becomes especially pronounced in later numbers. In the "niches" are solid triangles. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Option 9).
Order of Glory III degree, Option 9, Variation 1
Option 10 (time 9:00, the number is applied with a rotating tool). This version has been produced since 1967. The main difference from all previous versions is that the number is engraved with a rotating tool. On the obverse of the order, the clock on the Spasskaya Tower shows 9:00. The arch has a triple contour. In almost all instances of the ninth variant, the middle contour of the arch has a gap at the top. In the "niches" there are solid triangles, in the side windows there are two vertical lines. Below is an enlarged fragment of the obverse (Option 10).
Order of Glory III degree, Option 10, Variation 1
Order of Glory III degree, Option 10, Variation 2
In the families of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, personal belongings of veterans are passed from generation to generation: old black-and-white photographs, military uniform and, of course, awards. During the war years, orders and medals were awarded to both combatants and home front workers. Many awards were given posthumously...
The Order of the Patriotic War occupies a special place among the state awards of the Soviet Union. This award was established on May 20, 1942 by order of himself and served to reward military personnel who distinguished themselves in battles with the Nazis.
The authors of the order project were Soviet artists S. Dmitriev and A. Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov's project was taken as the basis for the future award, but Stalin liked the name invented by Dmitriev more - initially they planned to call the order "For Military Valor".
In total, more than two million people were awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, more than six million citizens received the Order of the 2nd degree. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, awarding this order has ceased, but it has forever remained a symbol of the feat of the Soviet people in the fight against fascism.
An excursion into the history of one of the main characters Great Victory for the portal "History.RF" was held by the chief specialist of the scientific sector of the Russian Military Historical Society (RVIO) Nikolai Kopylov.
Reward left in the family
Nikolai Aleksandrovich, why was a special award for merit during the Great Patriotic War introduced? What place is assigned to her in the Soviet award system?
By this time we had only three orders: the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Red Star. And the Order of the Patriotic War was precisely the first order that was developed during the war years. According to the regulations, he was awarded, first of all, to commanders for distinction in the performance of a combat mission. The order was awarded to both middle commanders, as they were then called, and junior commanders, that is, sergeants. A Red Army soldier could also be awarded such an order, but only of the second degree. The order of the first degree could be awarded when there were no other options for the award. For example, a person has already received all the possible rewards that are, but he needs to be rewarded with something. In such cases, they gave the first degree of the Order of the Patriotic War. In addition, the first degree of the order could be given for a feat equivalent to an already accomplished one. That is, if the hero already had a second degree, then for such a feat he was also awarded the first.
- Who was the first knight of this order?
The first award took place in mid-1942. Captain Ivan Krykliy was awarded for repelling an attack of 200 German tanks! This is the very first case of awarding the Order of the Patriotic War. One of the features of this award was that this order, according to the rules of war and post-war times, remained in the family of the gentleman after his death. If the hero was awarded posthumously, the order was awarded through the military enlistment office to the family of the deceased.
Captain Ivan Krykliy
Foreign heroes and cavalier cities
I read that in rare cases, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree was awarded to all participants in a single military operation. Are there really such examples of mass awards?
This applies as early as 1944. But basically, of course, the second degree of the order was awarded. And the first degree was massively awarded in 1985, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Victory. That year, all veterans received the first degree of this order. This was the last mass awarding of the Order of the Patriotic War, because on the 50th anniversary of the Victory we already had Russian Federation. In addition, like any other orders, this order was assigned to military units. Awarded to both individuals and military units. And after the war, when cities began to be awarded the title of hero cities (this began in 1965, on the 20th anniversary of the Victory), the Order of the Patriotic War was also awarded to settlements.
And could they award the Order of the Patriotic War, for example, to home front workers? And were only Soviet citizens receiving such an award - foreigners were not supposed to?
No, for those who worked in the rear, there was a medal "For Labor Valour". Also, home front workers were awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, the Red Banner and the Order of the Badge of Honor. These were civil orders that were in the award system of the USSR even before the war. Foreigners could also be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War. Foreign soldiers who served in the ranks of the Red Army - meaning Polish, Czech, French units - were awarded, among other things, our orders and medals. This was common.
Is it true that initially they wanted to call the award the Order “For Military Valor”, but Stalin did not like this option?
Yes, because by that time there were already medals "For Courage", "For Military Merit" - that is, awards with specific names. And this was precisely the first order established during the Great Patriotic War, and this needed to be emphasized. Therefore, he received such a name, and his sketch was, of course, approved by Stalin as the Supreme Commander. The Order of the Patriotic War is the first degree order in the Soviet award system. Although this award was not considered the most honorable, it had great importance. In addition, for some, it could even be the only award for the entire Great Patriotic War. And yet, unlike all other awards, it was worn on the right side of the chest. By the way, at the same time, in 1942, the Order of the Red Star was transferred to the right side, and these two orders, according to the rules, began to be worn on the right side.
The Order of the Patriotic War - became the first award created during the Second World War, as well as the first Soviet order that had a division into degrees.
History of the Order of the Patriotic War
By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the award system of the USSR included 6 awards, but in fierce battles with the enemy, feats and other heroic deeds were performed en masse. In addition, the charter of the existing awards was very vague, and did not give clear explanations for what specific actions in a combat situation to reward fighters and commanders.
In April 1942, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin instructed the head of the Main Directorate of Logistics of the Red Army, General Khrulev, to develop a draft order for soldiers who had particularly distinguished themselves in the fight against fascist invaders. Work on the project, with the working title of the Order "For Military Valor", was carried out by artists Sergey Dmitriev and Alexander Kuznetsov. After the presentation of the first projects of awards, it was decided to rename the order, and it received its final name "Order of the Patriotic War".
On May 20, 1942, the Order of the Patriotic War was established in its final form - a five-pointed star, covered with red and white enamel, against the background of diverging rays. Under the star there is a crossed rifle with an attached bayonet and a saber, in the middle of the star there is a golden image of a sickle and a hammer, in a circle the inscription "Patriotic War". Initially, the order was attached with a ring to a rectangular block covered with a red silk moiré ribbon, and after the decree of June 19, 1943, it received a screw on the reverse, with which it was attached to clothes. In addition, in 1943, a sash was developed for the order, to be worn on the bar. Silk ribbon, moire, burgundy color, with 1 single red stripe 5mm wide in the center for the 1st degree, and two red stripes 3mm wide along the edges for the second degree. The material of manufacture for the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree was chosen gold, the 2nd - silver.
Also, a statute was developed for the order, specifying the feats and combat situations for which it was awarded, for the Order of the I degree there were 30 such combat situations, II - 28. The combat situations were identical, the main difference was in numbers. So, for example, for three destroyed enemy batteries, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree relied, for five destroyed batteries - the first degree, or “The one who evacuated 2 tanks from the battlefield under enemy fire” received the Order of the second degree, for three evacuated tanks they were awarded already the Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree.
In order to timely reward fighters and commanders who distinguished themselves in battle, the right to present the Order of the Patriotic War was transferred to the military command - from front and fleet commanders to corps commanders inclusive. Awarding orders often took place in a combat situation immediately after the accomplishment of a feat.
Knights of the Order of the Patriotic War
The first awards took place in May 1942. Artillerymen of the thirty-second regiment, who fought in the Kharkov direction, were awarded. The calculation of Captain Ivan Ilyich Krikliy in two days of continuous battle was able to completely destroy 32 enemy tanks, when part of the calculation was killed or seriously wounded, senior sergeant Smirnov continued firing even after he lost his arm. For their courage and heroism, as well as for the implementation of the statute, Krikliy and Smirnov were awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree, the rest of the fighters of the crew received the Order of the second degree.
The Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree under No. 1 was received by the family of the posthumously awarded Konyukhov Vasily Pavlovich, senior political officer, deputy head of the political department of the 52nd Infantry Division, for his courage and bravery in the battles near Rzhev in 1942.
The Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class, No. 1, was posthumously awarded to Razhkin Pavel Alekseevich, senior lieutenant, deputy chief of staff for reconnaissance of the 155th tank brigade, who personally supervised operations many times, sometimes conducting reconnaissance in battle on tanks.
There were cases when the order of the first degree was awarded to all the soldiers who participated in the military operation, for the first time such an honor was awarded to the sailors of the submarine K21, for the attack on the flagship battleship of the German fleet Kirpitz.
Many Soviet soldiers and officers were awarded the Order of the Patriotic War more than once. The maximum known number of awards of one person with this order, for exploits during the war years, is five times. This cavalier Fedorov Ivan Evgrafovich, four orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree (3 military and 1 jubilee) and one military order of the 2nd degree.
Also, many orders of the Patriotic War were awarded to foreigners, mainly fought in the ranks of the Polish army, the French air regiment "Normandy-Neman", the Czechoslovak corps, the crews of Lend-Lease ships.
After the war, the Order of the Patriotic War was awarded to tens of thousands of wounded soldiers who, for some reason, did not receive the awards to which they were presented during the battles.
In 1985, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory over fascism, all war veterans living at that time were awarded the Order of the Patriotic War.
In total, approximately 344,000 awards were made: the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree - 344,000, the 2nd degree - 1,028,000.
Description of other awards of the Second World War of the USSR: The Order of Glory is the only order created exclusively for rewarding privates and sergeants, as well as the Badge of Excellent Miner for the ability to quickly and efficiently install minefields and track enemy minefields ..
Order of the Patriotic War in the award system of the USSR
Price of the Order of the Patriotic War
The cost of the Order of the Patriotic War depends on its degree, type, safety and availability of documents. To date, the price of the order in collectible condition with documents starts from:
Order of the Patriotic War 1st class
1942-43 Type 1 "Suspended" qty ≈23100 pcs. - 64000 rub.
1943-91 Type 2 "Screw" number ≈320000 pcs. - 13000 rub.
1985 Type 3 "Jubilee" number ≈2500000 pcs. - 640 rubles.
Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class
Type 1 "Suspended" 1942-43 quantity ≈32200 pcs. - 32000 rub.
Type 2 "Screw" 1943-91 quantity ≈900000 pcs. - 3200 rub.
Type 3 "Anniversary" 1985 quantity ≈5500000 pcs. - 510 rubles.
Price updated as of 01/25/2020
Varieties of the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class
Type 1 "Suspended"
Numbers: 1-23920
Weight without block: 32.5 ± 1.5 g. Width - 48.0-51.1 mm. Shoe dimensions 32*18 or 32*21.5 mm.
The first type of the Order of the Patriotic War was suspended, on a rectangular block, covered with a red moire ribbon, and was made from the moment of its establishment, on May 20, 1942.
All signs of the first type were made at the Krasnokamsk Mint (KMD). The order consisted of four parts:
1) an outer, five-pointed silver star with a circle in the center, covered with red and white enamel and the inscription "Patriotic War" around, was made of 925 sterling silver;
2) an internal golden star, made of gold 583, in the form of diverging rays, with a crossed saber and rifle;
3) a golden sickle and hammer, superimposed on the central part of the order;
4) a rectangular block covered with a red tape with a threaded pin and a nut on the reverse side.
On the reverse, near the inner golden star, there is a round hole in the center, 16.5 mm in diameter, through which two rivets are visible, fastening the golden hammer and sickle to the outer star. In addition, in the early versions of the order, a vertical pin can be soldered on the reverse of the golden star, for additional attachment to clothing, in later versions, the pin is absent. The number of the order is hand-engraved with a engraver, on the inner star at 7 o'clock on the dial. The fastening of the badge of the order to the block can be either direct, through the ring in the upper part of the badge and the lower part of the block, or with the use of an additional ring between them.
Type 2 "Screw"
Numbers: 23970-327100
Weight 32.0 ± 1.5 g. Gold star weight - 14.5 ± 0.5 g. Width - 48.0-51.2 mm. height - 50.4-51.9 mm.
The appearance of the second type of the order is associated with a decree of June 19, 1943, requiring all star-shaped orders to be worn on the right side of the chest, on a rifled screw. As a result, the Order of the Patriotic War lost its block and the ring on the upper ray of the star. On the reverse of the outer star, in the center, a threaded screw appeared, which was threaded through the inner star, and with the help of a small nut, connected the two parts together.
The inner golden star, in the central hole, received three jumpers, connected in the center around the screw. In addition, in the upper part of the inner star, the stamp “MINT” appeared, in one or two lines. The variants that occur without a hallmark are rather an exception caused by failures in the technological process in the manufacture of orders. The number of the order moved to the lower beam of the golden star, and was applied with a engraver.
Type 3 "Anniversary"
Numbers: 451000- 2627900
Weight - 27.0 ± 1.5 g. Width - 43.5-45.0 mm. height - 45.0-46.9 mm.
The appearance of the third type of the order is connected with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 11, 1985, according to which, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory over fascism, all war veterans living at that time were awarded the Order of the Patriotic War.
The third type of the order was completely made of 925 silver, in the form of a solid structure, without overhead parts, with a gilded inner star, hammer and sickle. Unlike the second type, one of the gilded rays of the inner star comes under the hilt of the checker. The reverse of the award was flat, with roughness, a threaded screw and a nut with a diameter of 33 mm. The stamp "MINET" is located in the upper part of the order and is made in raised letters. The order number is engraved with a typewriter or engraver, has an underline and is located below the threaded screw.
The production of Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree of the third type was carried out by the Moscow and Leningrad Mints, the Russian Gems Production Association, the Moscow, Bronnitsky and Tallinn Jewelry Plants.
Varieties of the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class
Type 1 "Suspended"
Numbers: 1- 61450
Weight without shoe: 28.05 ± 1.5 g. Width - 43.5-45.0 mm. Shoe dimensions 32*18 or 32*21.5 mm.
Similarly to the 1st degree of the order, the 1st type was made of four parts: an outer star; inner star; golden sickle and hammer: pads. The manufacturers were the Krasnokamsk Mint (KMD) and the Moscow Mint (MMD).
The difference from the 1st degree was that the inner star was made not of gold, but of 925 silver. Most often, the inner and outer stars are connected by soldering, although there are variants of MMD where the inner and outer star can be connected with rivets. Early versions of the order have a vertical pin on the reverse for additional attachment to clothing. In addition, the first versions of the order were attached directly to the block, through the ring extending from the upper beam, in later versions, an additional ring was inserted between the block and the order.
Type 2 "Screw"
Numbers: 34787- 985700
Weight - 24.6-28.1 g. Width - 43.4-45.0 mm, height 45.2-46.7 mm.
The second type of the Order of the Patriotic War appeared after the decree of June 19, 1943, according to which this award was now worn on the right side of the chest, on a screw mount. The badge lost its block and lug on the upper beam, and also received a threaded screw on the reverse.
Signs of the second type were made of two parts, the sign itself, made of silver, in which now the inner and outer stars were made as a single whole, and a golden hammer and sickle, fastened with two rivets.
The manufacture of orders of the second type was carried out by: Krasnokamsk Mint (KMD); Leningrad Mint (LMD); Moscow Mint (MMD) and Moscow plant "Platinapribor" (MZPP). As a result, orders from different manufacturers and different years, have dozens of minor differences, according to the options for the execution of the reverse of the award, the application of the hallmarks of the mint and the number of the order.
Type 3 "Anniversary"
Numbers: 985701- 6715100
Weight: 26.5-27.5 g. width 44.4-45.0 mm, height 46.2-46.9 mm.
The third type of order appeared in connection with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 11, 1985, which, in connection with the 40th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, provided for the awarding of the order to all veterans living at that time.
The third type of the order was made entirely of silver, without overlays, with a gilded sickle and hammer. The reverse of the award is flat, with roughness, without rivets. The stamp is convex, located above the threaded screw, in two lines. The order number is located below the screw, engraved with a typewriter or engraver and underlined with one stripe.
The award was made at the following factories: Moscow Mint; Leningrad Mint; Tallinn Jewelry Factory; Moscow Jewelry Factory; Sverdlovsk jewelry factory; Riga jewelry factory; Bronnitsky jewelry factory; Mstersky factory "Yuvelir"; Leningrad Production Association "Russian Gems" and Kaliningrad Amber Plant.
Statute of the Order of the Patriotic War
The Order of the Patriotic War 1st class is awarded to
- Who accurately hit and destroyed a particularly important object behind enemy lines;
- Who courageously performed their duties in the crew of the aircraft when performing a combat mission, for which the navigator or pilot was awarded the Order of Lenin;
heavy bomber aviation - 4 aircraft;
long-range bomber aviation - 5 aircraft;
short-range bomber aviation - 7 aircraft;
attack aircraft - 3 aircraft;
fighter aircraft - 3 aircraft.
heavy bomber aviation - 20th successful combat flight;
long-range bomber aviation - the 25th successful combat sortie;
short-range bomber aviation - 30th successful combat sortie;
assault aviation - 25th successful combat sortie;
fighter aircraft - 60th successful sortie;
long-range reconnaissance aviation - the 25th successful combat sortie;
short-range reconnaissance aviation - the 30th successful combat sortie;
corrective aviation - 15th successful sortie;
communications aviation - the 60th successful combat sortie with a landing on its territory and the 30th successful combat sortie with a landing in the area where friendly troops are located on the territory occupied by the enemy;
transport aviation - the 60th successful combat sortie with a landing on its territory and the 15th successful combat sortie with a landing in the area where friendly troops are located on the territory occupied by the enemy.- Who organized a clear and continuous management of aviation units;
- Who organized the clear and systematic work of the headquarters;
- Who managed to restore the damaged aircraft, which made an emergency landing on enemy territory, and release it into the air;
- Who managed to restore at least 10 aircraft at the forward airfield under enemy fire;
- Who, under enemy fire, managed to take out all the supplies from the airfield and, having mined it, did not allow the enemy to land planes on it;
- Who personally destroyed 2 heavy or medium, or 3 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy, or as part of a gun crew - 3 heavy or medium, or 5 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy;
- Who suppressed at least 5 enemy batteries with artillery fire;
- Who destroyed at least 3 enemy aircraft with artillery fire;
- Who, being in the crew of a tank, successfully completed 3 combat missions to destroy enemy firepower and manpower or destroyed at least 4 enemy tanks or 4 guns in battles;
- Who, under enemy fire, evacuated from the battlefield at least 3 tanks knocked out by the enemy;
- Who, despising the danger, was the first to break into the bunker (bunker, trench or dugout) of the enemy, decisively destroyed his garrison and gave our troops the opportunity to quickly capture this line;
- Who, under enemy fire, built a bridge, corrected the crossing, destroyed by the enemy; who, under enemy fire, on behalf of the command, personally blew up a bridge or crossing in order to delay the movement of the enemy;
- Who, under enemy fire, established a technical or personal connection, corrected technical means communications destroyed by the enemy, and thereby ensured the continuity of command and control of the combat operations of our troops;
- Who during the battle, on a personal initiative, threw a gun (battery) into an open position and shot the advancing enemy and his equipment point-blank;
- Who, commanding a unit or subdivision, destroyed the superior forces of the enemy;
- Who, participating in a cavalry raid, cut into the enemy group and destroyed it;
- Who captured the enemy's artillery battery with a fight;
- Who, as a result of personal reconnaissance, established the weak points of the enemy’s defense and brought our troops to the rear of the enemy;
- Who, being a member of the crew of a ship, aircraft or combat crew coastal battery, drowned a warship or two enemy transports;
- Who organized and successfully landed an amphibious assault on enemy territory;
- Who, under enemy fire, took his damaged ship out of the battle;
- Who captured and brought the enemy warship to their base;
- Who successfully carried out the setting of a minefield on the approaches to enemy bases;
- Who by repeated trawling successfully ensured the combat activity of the fleet;
- Who successfully eliminated damage in battle ensured the restoration of the ship's combat capability or the return of the damaged ship to the base;
- Who perfectly organized the logistics of the operation of our troops, which contributed to the defeat of the enemy.
The Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class is awarded to
- Who courageously performed their duties in the crew of the aircraft when performing a combat mission, for which the navigator or pilot was awarded the Order of the Red Banner;
- Who shot down in an air battle, being part of the crew:
heavy bomber aviation - 3 aircraft;
long-range bomber aviation - 4 aircraft;
short-range bomber aviation - 6 aircraft;
attack aircraft - 2 aircraft;
fighter aircraft - 2 aircraft. - Who committed, as part of the crew:
heavy bomber aviation - 15th successful combat flight;
long-range bomber aviation - the 20th successful sortie;
short-range bomber aviation - 25th successful combat sortie;
assault aviation - the 20th successful combat sortie;
fighter aviation - the 50th successful sortie;
long-range reconnaissance aviation - the 20th successful combat sortie;
short-range reconnaissance aviation - 25th successful combat sortie;
corrective aviation - 10th successful sortie;
communications aviation - the 50th successful combat sortie with a landing on its territory and the 20th successful combat sortie with a landing in the area where friendly troops are located on the territory occupied by the enemy;
transport aviation - the 50th successful combat sortie with a landing on its territory and the 10th successful combat sortie with a landing in the area where friendly troops are located on the territory occupied by the enemy. - Who managed to restore, master and use the captured captured aircraft in combat conditions;
- Who managed to restore at least 5 aircraft at the forward airfield under enemy fire;
- Who personally destroyed 1 heavy or medium, or 2 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy with artillery fire, or as part of a gun crew - 2 heavy or medium, or 3 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy;
- Who destroyed the enemy's firepower with artillery or mortar fire, ensuring the successful actions of our troops;
- Who suppressed at least 3 enemy batteries with artillery or mortar fire;
- Who destroyed at least 2 enemy aircraft with artillery fire;
- Who destroyed at least 3 firing points of the enemy with his tank and thereby contributed to the advancement of our advancing infantry;
- Who, being in the crew of a tank, successfully completed 3 combat missions to destroy enemy firepower and manpower or destroyed at least 3 enemy tanks or 3 guns in battles;
- Who, under enemy fire, evacuated from the battlefield 2 tanks knocked out by the enemy;
- Who destroyed an enemy tank on the battlefield or behind enemy lines with grenades, bottles with a combustible mixture or explosives;
- Who, leading a unit or subunit surrounded by the enemy, defeated the enemy, withdrew his unit (subunit) from the encirclement without losing weapons and military equipment;
- Who made his way to the enemy's firing positions and destroyed at least one gun, three mortars or three machine guns of the enemy;
- Who at night removed the guard post (watch, secret) of the enemy or captured him;
- Which of the personal weapons shot down one enemy aircraft;
- Who, fighting with the superior forces of the enemy, did not give up an inch of their positions and inflicted great damage on the enemy;
- Who organized and maintained in difficult combat conditions continuous communication between the command and the troops fighting, and thereby contributed to the success of the operation of our troops;
- Who, being a member of the crew of a ship, aircraft or coastal battery combat crew, disabled or damaged a warship or one enemy transport;
- Who captured and brought enemy transport to their base;
- Who, by timely detection of the enemy, prevented an attack on the ship, the base;
- Who ensured the successful maneuvering of the ship, as a result of which the enemy ship was sunk or damaged;
- Who, with skillful and precise work, ensured the successful combat work of the ship (combat unit);
- Who organized the uninterrupted logistics of the unit, formation, army and thereby contributed to the success of the unit, formation.
Awarding the Order of the Patriotic War can be repeated for new feats and distinctions.
The Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class, is worn by the awarded on the right side of the chest and is located after the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
The Order of the Patriotic War II degree is worn on the right side of the chest and is located after the Order of the Patriotic War I degree.
The Order of Glory was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of November 8, 1943. Subsequently, the Statute of the Order was partially amended by Decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of February 26 and December 16, 1947 and August 8, 1957.
Until 1974, the Order of Glory was the only order in the USSR, which was received only for personal merit, it was not awarded to military units, enterprises, organizations;
The statute of the order provided for the promotion of cavaliers of all three degrees in rank, which was an exception for the Soviet award system; the colors of the ribbons of the order repeat the colors of the ribbon of the royal order of St. George, which was at least unexpected in Stalin's times; the color and design of the ribbon were the same for all three degrees, which was also typical only for the pre-revolutionary award system, but was never used in the USSR award system.
The Order of Glory is awarded to privates and sergeants of the Red Army, and in aviation to persons with the rank of junior lieutenant, who showed glorious feats of courage, courage and fearlessness in battles for the Soviet Motherland.
The Order of Glory consists of three degrees: I, II and III degrees. The highest degree of the order is the 1st degree. The award is made sequentially: first the third, then the second and, finally, the first degree.
The Order of Glory is awarded for:
- Having burst into the enemy’s location first, with personal courage he contributed to the success of the common cause;
- Being in a tank on fire, he continued to carry out a combat mission;
- In a moment of danger, he saved the banner of his unit from being captured by the enemy;
- From personal weapons, with marksmanship, destroyed from 10 to 50 enemy soldiers and officers;
- In battle, with the fire of an anti-tank rifle, he disabled at least two enemy tanks;
- Destroyed with hand grenades on the battlefield or behind enemy lines from one to three tanks;
- Destroyed at least three enemy aircraft by artillery or machine gun fire;
- Despising the danger, he was the first to break into the bunker (bunker, trench or dugout) of the enemy, with decisive actions destroyed his garrison;
- As a result of personal reconnaissance, he established the weak points of the enemy's defense and withdrew our troops behind enemy lines;
- Personally captured an enemy officer;
- At night, he removed the guard post (watch, secret) of the enemy or captured him;
- Personally, with resourcefulness and courage, having made his way to the position of the enemy, destroyed his machine gun or mortar;
- Being on a night outing, he destroyed the enemy's warehouse with military equipment;
- Risking his life, he saved the commander in battle from the immediate danger that threatened him;
- Neglecting personal danger, in battle captured the enemy banner;
- Being wounded, after bandaging he returned to duty;
- Shot down an enemy aircraft from personal weapons;
- Destroying enemy firepower with artillery or mortar fire, ensured the successful actions of his unit;
- Under enemy fire, he made a passage for the advancing unit in the enemy's barbed wire;
- Risking his life, under enemy fire, he assisted the wounded during a series of battles;
- Being in a wrecked tank, he continued to carry out a combat mission from the tank's weapons;
- Rapidly crashing on his tank into the enemy column, crushed it and continued to carry out the combat mission;
- With his tank, he crushed one or more enemy guns or destroyed at least two machine-gun nests;
- Being in reconnaissance, I obtained valuable information about the enemy;
- A fighter pilot destroyed in an air battle from two to four enemy fighter aircraft or from three to six bomber aircraft;
- As a result of an attack pilot, as a result of an assault raid, he destroyed from two to five enemy tanks or from three to six steam locomotives, or blew up an echelon at a railway station or stage, or destroyed at least two aircraft at an enemy airfield;
- The attack pilot destroyed one or two enemy aircraft as a result of bold initiative actions in an air battle;
- The crew of a day bomber destroyed a railway echelon, blew up a bridge, an ammunition depot, fuel, destroyed the headquarters of any enemy unit, destroyed a railway station or stage, blew up a power plant, blew up a dam, destroyed a warship, transport, boat, destroyed at least two aircraft;
- The crew of a light night bomber blew up an ammunition depot, fuel, destroyed the enemy headquarters, blew up a railway echelon, blew up a bridge;
- The crew of a long-range night bomber destroyed a railway station, blew up an ammunition depot, fuel, destroyed a port facility, destroyed a sea transport or a railway echelon, destroyed or burned down an important plant or factory;
- The crew of a day bomber for a bold action in aerial combat, as a result of which one to two aircraft were shot down;
- Scout crew for successfully completed reconnaissance, as a result of which valuable data on the enemy was obtained.
The Order of Glory is awarded by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Those awarded with the Orders of Glory of all three degrees are awarded the right to confer a military rank:
- privates, corporals and sergeants - foremen;
- having the rank of foreman - junior lieutenant;
- junior lieutenants in aviation - lieutenant.
The Order of Glory is worn on the left side of the chest and, in the presence of other orders of the USSR, is located after the Order of the Badge of Honor in order of seniority.
The right to award the Order of Glory of the 3rd degree was granted to the commanders of formations, the Orders of Glory of the 2nd degree - starting from the commander of the army (flotilla), and only the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces could award the Order of the 1st degree.
On November 13, 1943, the first award of the Order of Glory, 3rd degree, to senior lieutenant V.S. Malyshev, was signed. Orders were sent to different sectors of the front to be awarded at the forefront, so an order issued earlier often had a larger number than an order issued later. The Order of Glory 3rd class No. 1 was later awarded to an armor-piercer of the 2nd Ukrainian front senior sergeant Kharin.
The order to award the Order of Glory, 2nd degree, was first signed on December 10, 1943. Sappers of the 10th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, privates S.I. Varanov and A.G. Vlasov, who received the Order of the 1st degree by the end of the war.
The first Decree on awarding the Order of Glory of the 1st degree was signed on July 22, 1944. The order was awarded to sapper corporal M.T. Pitenin and assistant platoon commander senior sergeant K.K. Shevchenko. Pitenin died before the signing of the Decree, not having time to receive the order. Shevchenko fought until the end of the war, also having the Order of the Red Banner, the Patriotic War and the Red Star, which was a very rare occurrence for a sergeant, and the addition to them in the form of all three degrees of the Order of Glory made him a phenomenon: not every colonel had six orders, and even general.
The awarding of the Order of Glory lasted from November 1943 until the summer of 1945. During this period, 980,000 people became holders of the Order of the 3rd degree. 2nd degree - 46 LLC, and 1st degree, that is, full holders of the order, - 2,562 people. Among the full cavaliers are four Heroes of the Soviet Union: marine foreman P.Kh. Dubinda, attack pilot Lieutenant I.G. Drachenko, artillery senior sergeants A.V. Aleshin and N.I. Kuznetsov.
Four full cavaliers of the Order of Glory - women: sniper foreman N.P. Petrova (killed May 1, 1945), machine gunner Sergeant D.Yu. Staniliene, nurse foreman M.S. Necheporukov. air gunner-radio operator of the guard foreman N.A. Zhurkina-Kiyok.
There was a division in the Red Army, in in full force(except officers) awarded the Order of Glory 3rd degree. - the whole battalion distinguished itself! For the successful assault on the German defenses on the Vistula, the 1st Battalion of the 215th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 69th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, after awarding orders to soldiers and sergeants, received official name"Battalion of Glory". This is the only case of awarding orders to the entire personnel of such a large unit as a battalion.
This order, deeply revered by the people, the only soldier's order of a power that no longer exists, has forever remained a symbol of feat of arms simple Soviet soldier. The actor Alexei Smirnov, who played the role of the drunkard Fedya in the film "Operation Y", aviation equipment ("Only old people go into battle") and many others, was known and loved by the whole country, but even many of his friends did not suspect that he was a full holder of the Order of Glory , a man who went through almost the entire war as a simple soldier.
The Order of Glory was the last of the "land" orders created during the war years: after it, only the "naval" orders of Ushakov and Nakhimov appeared.
