Dedicated to the 90th birthday Anatoly Vasilyevich Ivankin(1927-1990), famous Soviet writer, military pilot of the 1st class, military adviser in the Republic of Syria, in 1975-1977 the head of the department of tactics of the Kachin Higher Aviation School, and in 1981-1990 the director of the Volgograd Panorama Museum "Battle of Stalingrad".
Before posting the new material of colleague Chechako1, I had to re-read Anatoly Ivankin's book "The Last Kamikaze". The novel shows the events that took place in the history of Japan from 1941 to 1945, when the Soviet troops defeated the Kwantung Army, finally undermining the samurai spirit of the army of the Land of the Rising Sun and, thereby, putting an end to relations with Japan, which began in late XIX century, and in the XX continued by Tsushima and the Russo-Japanese War.
Editor-in-Chief SAMMLUNG / Collection Alexey Sidelnikov
"Let's give Siberia to our divine mikado!" And then came the sobering...
Morimoto
One of the books about the war, read back in Soviet time, became the book of Anatoly Ivankin "The Last Kamikaze".
To be honest, neither before nor after works of art about Japan, about the war with Japan during the Second World War, I did not come across.
And the book became a kind of source of knowledge about this "side of the coin" of the war.
The plot twists like this:
- a certain Japanese taxi driver Takahiro enters the cinema hall for a film about kamikaze pilots, sees on the screen people he personally knows, including the commander of the kamikaze pilot detachment Yasujiro Hattori.
The following is a story about Yasujiro from Nagasaki, about his formation as a pilot, about his mentors, life, participation in the attack on Pearl Harbor, combat episodes, Okinawa, about August 05, 1945, about the fact that his last flight as a kamikaze was not took place “for reasons beyond the control of the victim”, that after passing the last rites before the failed flight, he changed his name, and now the taxi driver Tahakiro is the former Yasujiro Hattori.
In short, it is twisted like in a Brazilian TV series about an unfortunate slave on a Mexican ranch.
But this book also became the first collision with the names of Japanese orders, of which before that I had heard only about the Rising Sun of the captain of the Varyag.
There was no Internet then, therefore, apart from the names, it was really impossible to find out anything.
But if I had the Internet then, I would have learned the following.
“In early December, Yasujiro was discharged from the hospital. He walked without a cane, almost without a limp. But the general state of health remained weak and depressing. The medical commission temporarily did not allow him to fly, giving him a month's leave to visit his family.
Throwing off his dressing gown, which had become disgusting after many months of illness, soaked through with the smells of medicines and disinfection, he put on a new uniform, just brought from the tailor. The old one, with all its possessions, went down with the Akagi. While he was in the hospital, he was given the rank of lieutenant commander, and another award adorned his uniform chest - Order of the Golden Kite - the highest award for flying merit.»
“Yasujiro was stunned by what he heard. From such an angle, he had never looked at his life, service and his ideals. If he had heard these speeches from someone else, he would have thought that it was a communist speaking, an underminer of the foundations of the empire, a corrupter of the consciousness of loyal subjects. But he heard this from sensei, his most authoritative teacher, captain of the 3rd rank, whom the mikado himself noted the highest flying award - the Order of the Golden Kite».
“In front of the formation - a young lieutenant commander with tired eyes of a mature man. Correct facial features, high forehead - a truly noble samurai, Lieutenant Commander Yasujiro Hattori! He has a white scarf on. Chest decorates Order of the Golden Kite - an award for high flying prowess. In his hand is a flask of rice vodka. He approaches the pilot standing on the right flank. The pilot's burial suit makes him stand out from the ranks of officers dressed in regular uniforms. This is Yasujiro Hattori's second-in-command Lieutenant Ichihara, the same Ichihara Hisashi whose masculine face with a suppressive, cruel gaze now towers on the facade of the cinema.
The lieutenant licked his parched lips, looked distantly past the commander, barely managed a smile, and accepted the last cup of sake with a bow.
The order was established by decree of Emperor Mutsuhito on February 18, 1890 as an award solely for military merit.
The name is based on the legend of the golden kite sent by the gods to the first Emperor Jimmu during his unification of Japan.
Legend has it that the first emperor of Japan, seeking to unite the country divided among the princes, was defeated, and then the gods who sympathized with him sent a golden kite to advise the emperor to resume the battle at dawn and attack from the east. The rays of the rising sun and the radiance of the falcon blinded the enemies, and the emperor won.
Its sign (the order had seven degrees) is very complex, multi-colored and full of military paraphernalia.
It is based on ancient banners with a golden kite crowning them.
The creators of the order thought out its symbolism well. The order has become a symbol of Japanese militarism. Many Japanese soldiers and officers were awarded this order for "blinding" the peoples of Korea, China and Southeast Asia with machine gun and cannon fire.
After the end of the Second World War and the occupation of Japan in 1946, payments to holders of the order were canceled, and on May 30, 1947, the award itself was canceled by a decree of the occupying government.
I have only one kite in my drawer - the lowest degree of the period of the Second World War.
The badge of the order as a “pancake with red caviar” is relatively infrequent (non-everyday), simple, flat, and at the same time heaped up and “delicious”.
Well, it goes without saying that the Order of the Golden Kite was not a purely flying award, just as the Order of the Sacred Treasure was not an award for financiers, and the Rising Sun for meteorologists and astronomers.
Well, about sake, about the ritual of drinking - the Japanese army and navy have a beautiful tradition of award and commemorative sakeshnitsa.
I also bought two of these army cups. They belong to the service in the 19th and 35th infantry formations.
“A few days after this conversation, an unfamiliar sailor of the 1st article with Rising Sun medal attached to a hospital gown. He was shell-shocked: his head and hands were shaking, and tears of resentment rolled from his eyes. Stuttering strongly, the sailor first told what he had received the award for. Their guard was sunk by an American destroyer about thirty miles from Truk Island. When the Yankees began to pick up the sailors, he did not want, like some cowards, to climb onto the deck of an enemy ship. He preferred death to capture and sailed away from the destroyer. Those Japanese sailors who refused to surrender were shot by the Americans. He escaped only because he was alone and far from the group holding on to the rubble.
“When I was talking in the ward about my feat,” he said, sniffling, “non-commissioned officer Gozen said that, apparently, I used to be just a nerd, and now, after a shell shock, I have become an idiot with a medal.
Yasujiro almost smiled. This Gozen knew how to give a precise definition.
- He condemned my feat, Mr. Senior Lieutenant, saying that clever man I would give up in my place. In general, this Godzen is carrying out red propaganda. Yesterday he said that war brings ordinary people only grief is that war invalids, whatever heroes they may be, are not needed by either the family or the state. And he called the Japanese people obedient cattle, which generals and admirals drive into battle.
- Well, - Yasujiro stopped him, - I will deal with him today and punish him. Thank you for your vigilance and honesty. You acted like a true patriot. And now I ask you not to tell anyone about our conversation. This is a military secret.
The flattered sailor of the 1st article froze at attention, as if Yasujiro was about to pin another medal on his washed-out robe.
To be honest, when I re-read this episode, "Schweik" is not what smelled. Schweik's "newspaper convoy stories" are pathetically intertwined with this story.
Yes, the Order of the Rising Sun is the most famous of the Japanese orders. And its two lowest degrees - the seventh and eighth, the awarding of which has been discontinued since 2003, are called medals in some sources.
In April 1875, one of the most famous and beautiful modern orders, the Order of the Rising Sun, was officially approved. It already embodies all the principles of the Japanese order system, the entire schedule of subsequent awards, taking into account both national traditions and the simplicity and sophistication of Japanese applied art.
The sign of the Order of the Rising Sun, which has eight degrees, symbolizes the Japanese coat of arms and flag. The center of the order, the sign of which repeats the star established for the two highest degrees, is a sparkling red sun. This effect is achieved in an unusual way - the cent is a concave mirror covered with a lens of red glass - a cabochon. Thirty-two white-enamelled golden rays of various lengths emanate from the center. The sign is attached to a green pendant depicting the leaves and flowers of the sacred tokwa tree - paulownia. And the two lowest degrees of the order are an enlarged pendant, which is worn separately, like a medal. The ribbon of the order is white with red stripes along the edges.
Japanese phaleristics is a secondary interest for me, but I acquired the lower degrees of the order - 8th, 7th and 6th degree.
The eighth and seventh degrees are simple and beautiful.
The sixth is something Martian. Rarely, when the idea of the culture of the country can be illustrated in the minds of its orders.
The European "crossing", in principle, is the same, monotonous - a cross, a crown, swords.
Japan is just the case when its own, unique. Memorable immediately. Simplicity, uniqueness, nationality.
Here I photograph and admire how it shimmers.
“I wonder how he will be celebrated for an unprecedented raid on Hawaii? Of the highest Japanese orders, he did not have only Order of the Chrysanthemum, but they were awarded only to members of the imperial dynasty and crowned persons. Maybe they will give him another rank and make him a member of the imperial council - Genro?
I don't have the Order of the Chrysanthemum and never will.
The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Jap. 菊花章, kikkasho :) is the oldest of the Japanese orders.
The badge of the order on a large ribbon was established by Emperor Meiji in 1876; the degree of the order with the order chain was added on January 4, 1888. Although formally it has only one degree, there are two types of the order: the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a chain and the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a large ribbon. Unlike European orders, posthumous awards are also possible for Japanese orders.
The chain of the order is awarded to subjects of Japan only posthumously. An exception is made for the heads of foreign states, to whom the chain of the order is awarded as a sign of special honor.
The Grand Ribbon is the highest distinction that can be awarded to a Japanese citizen during his lifetime. Apart from members of the imperial family and foreign heads of state, the Great Ribbon was awarded to only three living Japanese subjects and eleven posthumously.
The badge of the order is a four-pointed gilded badge with rays of white enamel, in the center of which is a disk of the sun of red enamel. Between the rays is a yellow enamel chrysanthemum flower with green enameled leaves.
With the help of a pendant in the form of a yellow enamel chrysanthemum flower, the badge is suspended from the order chain or the Grand Ribbon rosette.
The star of the order is similar to a badge, but without a pendant. Worn on the left side of the chest.
The large ribbon is a red shoulder ribbon with dark blue stripes along the edges. Worn over the right shoulder.
Well, indirectly, according to the events of the history of the 20th century with the participation of Japan, reflected in Japanese phaleristics.
The quote is great, but that's what the topic is to read, right?
The main one is highlighted in bold.
“Kenji Takashi poured the remnants of Smirnovskaya into glasses.
- Let's drink Russian vodka for Japanese Siberia, We must conquer it for the empire!
- Banzai! Yasujiro and Hoyuro shouted.
- For the new Tsushima! For the new Port Arthur!
Morimoto put down his glass without taking a sip. His thick brows furrowed. Not a trace of recent gaiety remained. He realized that the time had come to tell the truth to these fledgling chicks who imagined themselves to be eagles, for arrogance and underestimation of the enemy always led to sad results.
- I see that I will have to tell what I didn’t want to talk about today ... Listening to you, I, as a commander, are pleased that you are striving for exploits in the name of the empire. But doesn't it seem to you that you expect to defeat the Russians too easily?.. When I was younger, I thought the same way as you. Yes, I'm not the only one. We rushed headlong into battle like fighting cocks, completely unwilling to reckon with the enemy. In China and Manchuria, we got away with it. Having achieved major successes, we thought that everything would continue to go the same way. We were ready to break without looking back through Mongolia to the Urals. "Let's give Siberia to our divine mikado!" And then came the sobering ... In the summer of thirty-ninth, we flew from Manchuria to the devil knows what wilderness. Desert. The trashy town of Khalun-Arshan. The rest of the world is connected by one line of the railway. Our detachment was thrown into the August fighting over the Khalkhin Gol river. At first we were lucky. The Russians flew old I-15 fighters. Our I-97s surpassed them both in speed and in armament. I remember one battle ... Twenty I-97s went to attack the ground troops. We were attacked by a dozen Russian I-15s. We got out of the fight, climbed to the side, and then fell on them from above. We had a qualitative and quantitative advantage on our side. We shot down all ten Russian fighters, but also lost seven of our own. The Russians fought heroically, they died, but not a single one left the battle, although from the very beginning it was clear that they lost this battle. Our assault on the Russian troops did not take place that day.
And then Stalin sent the latest I-15.3 and I-16 aircraft with cannon armament to Khalkhin Gol. And the pilots who returned from Spain flew on them. In the air began pitch hell. Every day, every sortie increased the account of our losses. On the twenty-eighth of August, my venerable older brother, Shojiro Morimoto, died before my very eyes. And he was a brave pilot with great experience. The day after the funeral, I flew out with the idea of avenging my brother's death. On this flight, I met with some Russian devil and almost followed Shojiro. I don’t know which of the aces piloted the fighter chasing me, Gritsevets or Kravchenko, but he did it superbly. Morimoto was silent for a moment, as if tripping over difficult names. I broke my I-97 until my nose bled, but I could not shake the enemy off the tail. The facial marks that Yasujiro asked about are from that fight. The plane caught fire, I left it and opened the parachute. The Russian slowed down and passed a few meters from me, and I, burned, bloody, hung on a silk rag between heaven and earth. It didn't cost anything for a Russian to slash at me with a burst from a machine gun or to chop with a wing along the lines of a parachute. But he didn't, and that's why I'm sitting with you, drinking cognac. Morimoto paused, looking at the smoke from his cigarette. - The devil understands them, Russians! They are either fierce in battle, like tigers, or generous to the defeated enemy. They don't look like us at all. But the Russians are a strong and brave people, and Siberia, where they live, is immense, impassable and brutally cold,
- My father left his leg there in the twentieth year, and he does not even want to hear about this Siberia, - Hoyuro, who was completely intoxicated, spoke out quite soberly. Morimoto approved:
“I don't want to face the Russians in combat anymore either. There are many other nations that can be pushed aside to give the empire more space. And the Russians? If I were a high strategist, I would leave them alone with their Siberia and polar bears.
Yasujiro listened to his commander anxiously. Is it really from him, Morimoto, invincible in sports and flying, imperturbable, bravest samurai, he heard these words?
In this passage, almost the entire military history of Japan in the twentieth century.
1. Tsushima and Port Arthur. The war known to us as the Russo-Japanese 1904-1905.
Medal "Russian-Japanese War 1904-1905"
The medal for the war with Russia was established by Imperial Edict No. 51 of March 31, 1906. It has a diameter of 30 mm and is made of light gilded bronze. On the obverse there are crossed flags of the army and naval forces of Japan, above them the imperial coat of arms - a chrysanthemum, under the flags in the lower part of the medal there is a coat of arms - paulownia. The back shows a traditional stylized Japanese shield, on which the inscription "Meiji 37-38 Military Campaign" (1904-1905) ("Meiji 37-38 nen sen'eki") is vertically inscribed in hieroglyphs.
The Japanese shield is framed by branches: on the left - palm, on the right - laurel. By the time the medal was established, palm and laurel as traditional symbols were characteristic of the award systems of Western countries and were not previously used by the Japanese.
The pendant is of the usual articulated type, with an attached bar, on which there is an inscription "Military medal". The ribbon has a width of 37 mm, made of moire silk. Its coloring follows the colors of previous military medals: green with 3 mm white edges, but with the addition of a 9 mm blue stripe in the center, symbolizing military victories at sea.
The military conflict between Japan and Russia was largely predetermined by the presence of deep contradictions in the imperialist interests of the two countries, although for a long time it did not seem inevitable to the tsarist government.
Having decided to begin preparations for war with Russia, Tokyo spent most of the indemnity received from Beijing under the Shimonoseki peace treaty on the modernization of the army and navy. It is curious that a loan to cover the costs of paying indemnities was provided to China by Russian banks, which actually financed military preparations against their own country in this way.
2. Siberian campaign in Russia.
For participation in the military campaign of 1914-1920.
On April 4, 1918, two Japanese employees of a commercial company were murdered in Vladivostok. On April 5, the Japanese, under the pretext of protecting Japanese subjects, landed troops in the city. Following the Japanese, troops of other countries also landed in Vladivostok. On June 29, 1918, with the help of rebellious Czech prisoners of war, Soviet authority. The military operations of the allied forces were led by the Japanese General Otani.
The number of the Japanese contingent in the fall of 1918 reached 72 thousand people (the American expeditionary force numbered 10 thousand people, the troops of other countries - 28 thousand). Under the auspices of Japan, the USA, France and England, the White Guard detachments of Semyonov, Kalmykov and Orlov were formed in Manchuria, and the detachment of Baron Ungern was formed in Dauria.
By October 1918, Japanese troops occupied Primorye, the Amur region and Transbaikalia. By the summer of 1922, 15 capitalist states de jure or de facto recognized the Soviet state. Dissatisfaction with the intervention in Japan, the threat of a military defeat of the Japanese army by units of the People's Revolutionary Army and partisans advancing on Vladivostok forced the Japanese command to sign an agreement on the withdrawal of their troops from the Far East.
October 25, 1922 Vladivostok was liberated. Japanese troops remained only in Northern Sakhalin, until the signing of the Soviet-Japanese Convention of 1925 on the establishment of diplomatic relations. During the occupation, Japan increased its gold and foreign exchange reserves by misappropriating a significant part of Russian gold.
The medal was established by Imperial Decree No. 41 of February 1920 to reward the Japanese who participated in the battles of the World War in 1917-1918 in the Mediterranean, the intervention in Siberia in 1917 and the occupation of Vladivostok until 1922 with the wording "for participation in the military campaign of 1914-1914- 1920" There are ten hieroglyphs on the reverse - "For the military campaign of 3-9 years of the Taisho era" (Taisho sannen naishi kyunen sen'eki) (1914-1920).
3. “In China and Manchuria, we got away with it. Having achieved great success, we thought that everything would continue to go the same way.”
September 18, 1931, accusing the Chinese of "sabotage" on railway, Japanese troops began to capture Chinese cities on the Southern Moscow Railway and the disarmament of the Chinese garrisons. Within five days they occupied all the most important settlements Manchu provinces of Mukden and Jilin. In the next three months Kwantung Army took complete control of three provinces in Northeast China. This war of conquest was called the "Manchurian Incident" in Japan.
On September 21, the Council of the League of Nations began to consider the complaint of the Chinese government in connection with the armed invasion of Japan. After a three-month discussion, at the suggestion of the Japanese representative, an international commission was formed, headed by the British Lord V.R. Litton. She began to get acquainted with the situation in Northeast China in the spring of 1932. However, the Japanese, having decided to present the commission with a fait accompli, inspired the proclamation of the puppet state of Manchukuo there on March 1, 1932.
October 2, 1932. The Lytton Commission published a report recognizing Japan's act of aggression against China, and also confirming that Manchuria was integral part the last one. The resolution of the Assembly of the League of Nations of February 24, 1933 on the said report contained a demand for the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Northeast China, although it also recognized Japan's "special" interests in this area. Tokyo responded to the resolution by withdrawing from the League of Nations and expanding its aggression. On the day this document was adopted, Japanese troops invaded the province of Rehe and soon occupied it. Then began their advance into Heibei Province. By the end of May 1933, the Japanese units approached Beijing and Tianjin.
On May 31, 1933, the Chinese representatives were forced to sign an armistice agreement with the Japanese command, according to which Beijing recognized the Japanese control over Northeast and part of North China.
This medal, established by Imperial Edict No. 255, was made of bronze and has a width of 30 mm. On a hinged pendant there is an ornament symbolizing a growth of moss. There is a metal bar with the traditional inscription: "Medal for the military campaign". On the top of the obverse is the imperial coat of arms (chrysanthemum), under which is depicted a kite sitting on a traditional Japanese shield. Behind the kite, beams of light diverge. The reverse features images of army and navy helmets against a backdrop of cherry blossoms. There is an inscription of ten characters: "The incident of the period from the 6th to the 9th year of Showa" (1931 - 1934).
The ribbon of the medal is 37 mm wide, made of moire silk. There are stripes along the tape from left to right: 2.5 mm - dark brown, 6 mm - light brown, 5 mm - pink, 1.5 mm - gold, 7 mm - dark brown, 1.5 mm - gold, 5 mm - pink, b mm - light brown, 2.5 mm - dark brown. Cardboard box for the medal - black, on top - the name of the medal, filled with gilded hieroglyphs.
4. Chinese incident (including the events at Khalkhin Gol).
Medal "For participation in the Chinese incident" (Japanese-Chinese war 1937-1945)
Ribbon 37 mm wide, made of moire silk, has longitudinal stripes: 3 mm blue (symbolizing the sea and naval forces), 3 mm light blue (sky and air Force), 7.5 mm yellowish brown (yellow soil of China and, accordingly, ground forces), 3.5mm dark pink (the land of China watered with blood) and 2mm bright red (blood and loyalty). The slat ribbon had pink stripes fading to brown, but it was never used as a ribbon for the actual medal. The award box is made of black cardboard, on which its name is applied in silver hieroglyphs.
On July 7, 1937, the Japanese invasion of North China began with the "Marco Polo Bridge Incident". On this day, Japanese troops, conducting maneuvers, fired at the Chinese garrison. The Chinese also responded with fire. A battle began, which lasted until July 9, after which a truce was concluded. However, the conflict did not end there.
On July 14, the Japanese resumed fighting, and on July 26 they gave the Chinese an ultimatum to withdraw their troops from Beijing within 48 hours. The Chinese authorities rejected this demand, and the next day (July 27, 1937) began, in fact, full-scale military operations that did not stop for 8 years, until the end of World War II. In accordance with the "tradition", they received the name "Chinese Incident" from the Japanese militarists.
On March 30, 1940, a puppet "Central Government of China" was formed in Japanese-occupied Nanjing.
By the end of 1941, Japan captured Chinese territory with a population of about 215 million people. In the hands of the Japanese were the most developed regions of the country, mainly the coastal Chinese provinces, where the most big cities, seaports and industrial enterprises, main railway lines and waterways.
The original Imperial Edict No. 496 of July 27, 1939 was later supplemented by Edict No. 418 of 1944.
The medal was ordered to be awarded to soldiers heading to China until the summer of 1945. This award is quite common.
The medal is 30 mm in diameter and made of bronze. Its articulated suspension and bar are similar to previous military medals. The obverse depicts the mythological creature "brave raven" ("yata-no-karasu"), which sits on crossed army and naval flags. Behind him, rays of light diverge, and on top is the imperial coat of arms of a chrysanthemum. The reverse depicts images of mountains, clouds and sea waves made in the classical Chinese style, symbolizing North China, Central China and the Yellow Sea, respectively. The inscription on the back of the medal: "Chinese Incident".
The puppet state of Manchou commemorated these events with its medal.
Manchukuo. Medal "Military Border Incident" ("Nomon Khan"). 1940. Established by Imperial Edict No. 310 in memory of the battles with the Mongolian and Soviet troops at Khalkhin Gol
Mentioned in the book and the awards of the opposing side - the US Army.
“Fearing the admiral's wrath, even the doctors entered his chamber reluctantly. Hallsey forbade bringing him newspapers full of victorious articles.
Most of the time he lay on the bed, from time to time taking a flask of whiskey, which his adjutant secretly supplied. He was not even pleased with the order of the American Legion of Honor, sent to him by the president for the raid on Tokyo.
The Order of the Legion of Merit is a US military award given to military personnel. armed forces United States, as well as military personnel of friendly states, for exceptional and outstanding services and achievements in service in an emergency.
Proposals for the establishment of an award for merit in emergency situations been doing since 1937. However, only after the US entered the Second World War, this idea was realized. On December 21, 1941, it was proposed to establish the Medal of Merit. On April 3, 1942, this project was submitted to the US Secretary of Defense for consideration, while the original name was changed to the Legion of Honor. On July 20, 1942, the US Congress approved the project. The new award was planned to be awarded to the military personnel of the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth, as well as the military personnel of the allied countries in World War II.
On October 29, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt approved the provision for the award, according to which it should be presented on behalf of the President of the United States. In 1943, the authority to award US military personnel was transferred to the Department of Defense.
The Order of the Legion of Honor for awarding US military personnel is not divided into degrees and exists in a single degree (“legionary”). The award is mainly intended for generals and senior officer ranks, but in special cases it may also be awarded to junior ranks.
Distinguished Flying Cross
"Charles, I'm being serious. This woman, among other things, has something in her bank account.
- My friendly advice - spit on her. Find another, and in a week or two, this gorgeous miss will fade from your memory. And now I will tell you great news: there is a telegram at the headquarters - the president has thrown us a cross for flying merit.
- You're not kidding?
Staff Sergeant Gorris swore he read the telegram with his own eyes. He says that tomorrow it will be announced officially.
- By God, I can’t believe that we were awarded, although I know that crosses will not be given in vain. We honestly deserve them."
“An accidental nail or splinter on the runway disrupted his sortie. But the unfortunate lieutenant was not alone this morning. Soon, the second "lightning" from the Mitchell group, which returned from the route, came in to land. It did not produce fuel from external tanks. The scolding of this young man about the failure of technology was even more outrageous and sophisticated - he was being prepared for three whole days for a top secret responsible flight, for which he hoped to receive at least the Cross for Flying Merit.
The Distinguished Flying Cross was instituted on July 2, 1926. The first recipient was Charles Lindbergh for his flight over the Atlantic in 1927.
From March 1, 1927, awards were made only among military personnel. Currently, awards of the cross are made for heroism and bravery in aerial combat.
Regards Chechako 1
Japan Self-Defense Force medals
| A country | Japan |
| Type | Award medals (slats) |
| Date of establishment | April 1, 1982 |
| First award | 1982 |
| Last award | our days |
| Status | current awards |
| To whom is awarded | Personnel of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces |
| Who is awarded | Japan Self-Defense Command |
| Grounds for awarding | Successful performance of official duties as part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces |
| Options | 36 x 11 mm |
Japan Self-Defense Force medals(jap. 防衛記念章) - departmental awards of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, introduced on April 1, 1982. Actually there are no medals in the traditional sense, the badge of the medal is a bar in the form of a rectangle 36 x 11 mm, covered with a moire fabric of the appropriate color. Initially, there were 15 slats, then their number has changed several times, currently there are 48.
History of the award
Admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Medals of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces No. 4 and No. 18 and boxes for them.
In accordance with the Potsdam Declaration in 1945, the disarmament and demobilization of the army were carried out in Japan, the military and naval ministry with all subordinate bodies, and military personnel are deprived of the right to a pension.
In the new Constitution of the country, adopted in 1947, article 9 stated that
However, on January 23, 1950, Prime Minister Yoshida declared that Japan was not giving up the right to self-defence.
After the outbreak of the Korean War on July 8, 1950, MacArthur's directive ordered the Japanese government to create a so-called police reserve corps, which can be seen as the beginning of the revival of the Japanese army.
When the Japan Self-Defense Forces (Japanese 自衛隊 Jieitai) and the Japan Naval Self-Defense Forces (Japanese 海上自衛隊 Kaijō: Jieitai) were created in 1954, no awards were given to personnel. On the contrary, they could not be awarded state awards (orders and medals) of Japan. It should be mentioned here that the purely military Order of the Golden Kite was abolished back in 1947. Therefore, the personnel of the Japanese self-defense forces were left without awards. But in the 50-60s, there were still veterans in the ranks of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces Imperial Army and the Navy, who could wear straps (and the awards themselves) received during the Second World War and earlier. But by the early 1980s, they were all either dead or retired. And the Japanese soldiers were left without insignia for their services.
In 1982, it was decided to fill the award vacuum. In the Japan Self-Defense Forces, such types of incentives have been established, such as announcing gratitude, awarding commendation, signs "For Merit in Defense" and "For Diligence", commemorative military medals (jap. 防衛記念章).
The personnel of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are awarded the medals of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces for the successful performance of official duties, for achievements and specific results in the service, for long service. Awards are worn on uniforms, on the left side of the chest. It should be noted that there are no medals in the traditional sense in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, instead they use ribbons (each award has its own colors), which are attached to the slats. Current reward system uniform for all three types of armed forces (land, sea and air). Initially (April 1, 1982) 15 tapes were created. Then the number of ribbons increased - in 2000 it was 32, and in 2013 - 42. In 2017, there were already 48 strips, but 5 medals are no longer awarded.
The idea of "commemorative ribbons" (medals of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces) is completely copied from American straps (Eng. unit awards/unit citations).
Award Statute
Reasons for the award
Military medals are awarded to the following categories of military personnel: awarded with the "gratitude" award; contributed to the collective awarding of the formation (institution); command staff; serving in the central bodies of military command; having long service; performing job responsibilities Abroad; participating in operational and combat training (OBT) activities abroad, in the delivery of Antarctic expeditions, in the international activities of self-defense forces, as well as in state events and sports competitions.
Award criteria and appearance of the medal bars of the Japan Self-Defense Forces
| Image | Award number | Award Criteria |
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Military medal No. 1. | (Daichigo Boei Kinensho) - designed for those who received Special Thanks from the Prime Minister of Japan. |
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Military medal number 2. | For those marked with first-class gratitude on behalf of the head of the Defense Directorate for outstanding results and achievements that have become a model for other military personnel of the unit:
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Military medal number 3. | For those awarded the Second Class Commendation on behalf of the Chiefs of Staff of the Land, Naval and Air Self-Defense Forces for outstanding results and achievements, indicated in the regulations on Medal No. 2. |
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Military medal No. 4. | Gratitude 3rd degree. Participation in the actions of troops (forces), patrols, search and rescue and restoration work, as well as other cases determined by the Minister of Defense. |
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Military medal number 5. | Gratitude 3rd degree. Impeccable service, accident-free flights (5 thousand flight hours) and driving (150 thousand km). |
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Military medal No. 6. | Gratitude 3rd degree. For inventions, rationalization proposals, increasing the level of performance of official duties. |
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Military medal number 7. | Gratitude 3rd degree. Cases different from those stipulated by the regulations for medals number 4-6. Conducting and participation in the events of the EBP. |
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Military medal number 8. | Gratitude 4th degree. Participation in the actions of troops (forces), patrols, search and rescue and restoration work, as well as other cases determined by the Minister of Defense. |
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Military medal number 9. | Gratitude 4th degree. Impeccable service, accident-free flights (3 thousand flight hours) and driving (100 thousand km). |
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Military medal number 10. | Gratitude 4th degree. For inventions, rationalization proposals, increasing the level of performance of official duties. |
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Military medal number 11. | Gratitude 4th degree. Cases different from those stipulated by the regulations for medals number 8-10. Conducting and participating in 0BP events. |
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Military medal number 12. | Gratitude 5 degree. Participation in the actions of troops (forces), patrols, search and rescue and restoration work, as well as other cases determined by the Minister of Defense. |
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Military medal number 13. | Gratitude 5 degree. Gratitude of the 5th degree. Impeccable service, accident-free flights (1.5 thousand flight hours) and driving (20 thousand km). |
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Military medal number 14. | Gratitude 5 degree. For inventions, rationalization proposals, increasing the level of performance of official duties. |
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Military medal number 15. | Gratitude of the 5th degree. Cases different from those stipulated by the regulations for medals number 12-14. Conducting and participation in the events of the EBP. |
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Military medal number 16. | Security merit. Prevention of accidents and disasters, participation in their elimination. |
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Military medal number 17. | Involvement in awarding the unit with a special diploma. |
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Military medal number 18. | Involvement in awarding the unit with a diploma of the 1st degree. |
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Military medal No. 19. | Command staff with the ranks of lieutenant general, vice admiral (commanders of the armies of the ground forces, the fleet of the Navy, the combat aviation command of the Air Force). |
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Military medal number 20. | Command staff in the ranks of major general, rear admiral (commanders of ground forces, air wings, flotillas). |
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Military medal number 21. | Command staff with the ranks of colonel, captain of the 1st rank (commanders of regiments, divisions of ships, aviation groups). |
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Military medal number 22. | Command staff in the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel, captain 3rd, 2nd rank (commanders of battalions, companies, ships, aviation squadrons). |
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Military medal number 23. | Command staff in the ranks of junior officers (unit commanders). |
| Military medal number 24. | Command staff in the ranks of lieutenant general, vice admiral (deputy commanders or chiefs of staff of the armies of the ground forces, the fleet of the Navy, the combat aviation command of the Air Force). Introduced June 1, 2017. | |
| Military medal number 25. | Command staff with the ranks of major general, rear admiral (deputy commanders or chiefs of staff of ground forces, air wings, flotillas). Introduced June 1, 2017. | |
| Military medal number 26. | Command staff with the ranks of colonel, captain of the 1st rank (deputy commanders or chiefs of staff of regiments, divisions of ships, aviation groups). Introduced June 1, 2017. | |
| Military medal number 27. | Command staff in the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel, captain 3rd, 2nd rank (deputy commanders or chiefs of staff of battalions, companies, ships, aviation squadrons). Introduced June 1, 2017. | |
| Military medal number 28. | Command staff in the ranks of junior officers (deputy unit commanders). Introduced June 1, 2017. | |
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Military medal number 29. | Service in the central office of the Ministry of Defense. |
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Military medal number 30. | Service in the joint headquarters (excluding the command and staff college of the OSh). |
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Military medal number 31. | Service in the headquarters of the type of self-defense forces. |
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Military medal number 32. | Service in the Secretariat of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Awarded until March 26, 2006. |
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Military medal number 33. | Service in the intelligence department of the Moscow Region (excluding electronic intelligence centers). |
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Military medal number 34. | Service in a research and technical center (excluding research institutes and training grounds). Established in June 2009. In October 2015, it was abolished due to the creation of the Defense Supply Agency. Replaced by Military Medal No. 37. |
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Military medal number 35. | Service in the Department of Military Supplies. Established in June 2009. In October 2015, it was abolished due to the creation of the Defense Supply Agency. Replaced by Military Medal No. 37. |
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Military medal number 36. | Service in the inspection department. |
| Military medal number 37. | For employees of institutions of the Defense Department Supply Agency. Introduced in October 2015. | |
| Military medal number 38. | For employees who worked in the administrative institutions of the country. Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers. Cabinet of Ministers, etc. | |
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Military medal number 39. | For 25 years of service. |
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Military medal number 40. | For 10 years of service. |
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Military medal number 41. | Service abroad. |
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Military medal No. 42. | Participation in actions to combat maritime piracy. |
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Military medal No. 43. | Participation in the elimination of large-scale disasters in Japan. |
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Military medal number 44. | Contribution to the international activities. Participation in peacekeeping operations. |
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Military medal No. 45. | Contribution to international activities. Fulfillment of tasks in accordance with the law "On Special Measures to Combat Terrorism". No longer awarded. |
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Military medal No. 46. | Contribution to international activities. Fulfillment of tasks under the Law on Special Measures for Assistance in the Reconstruction of Iraq. No longer awarded. |
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Military medal No. 47. | For military personnel of units who took part in important state events (parades, international sports competitions, mourning ceremonies in connection with the death of the emperor, etc.). |
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Military medal No. 48. | Participation in OBP events outside of Japan (for participation in exercises and maneuvers abroad). |
Wearing order
Wearing the Japanese Self-Defense Forces medal bars.
Planks are worn on the front and everyday form on the left side of the chest.
Place in the hierarchy of awards
The Japan Self-Defense Force medals are one of the few awards that a modern Japanese soldier can receive. In accordance with the practice established in Japan, military personnel are not awarded state awards (six types of orders and medals each) during their service. At the same time, the presentation of state awards is possible after the dismissal of servicemen from the self-defense forces.
Japan awards. Orders, medals, badges World War II with photos and description.
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The reward system in the Japanese Empire began to take shape in the Meiji era. At the beginning of March 1873, a commission was organized to study foreign systems awards. At the beginning of March 1873, a commission was formed to analyze foreign materials related to the award system.
The ambassador to France, Mukaiyama, having ascertained how great the prestige of the orders in the diplomatic circles of Paris, reported in March 1866 that in Western European states they award orders and medals not only for military, but also for merits in the civilian field. Awards, wrote Mukaiyama, are made using gold, silver, precious stones. Orders and medals are awarded not only to citizens of their own country, but also to rulers and subjects of foreign countries, the Japanese ambassador pointed out. Being a symbol of recognition of merit, they are highly valued in society, more than the promotion of a large amount of money.
The first award ceremony in Japan took place in 1874. For a long time, the appearance of Japanese awards remained practically unchanged, but the text on them could change (for example, since 1936, instead of “Emperor of Japan” - “Emperor of the Great Empire”).
Until the end of the war in 1945, the owners of orders and medals were respected in the Land of the Rising Sun, they were treated like heroes. But in connection with the surrender in the Second World War, not in better side attitude towards military awards has changed. Japan's combat awards appeared in the markets and in second-hand stores. US military personnel traded Japanese orders and medals for cigarettes, food and other trifles, as a kind of "souvenirs". Japanese military awards could be seen hanging from geisha kimono belts, dog collars, etc.
After World War II, Japan's award system underwent dramatic changes. From May 1946, the Japanese cabinet abolished all military awards as "symbols of militarism". The 1947 constitution abolished all privileges and cash payments to those previously awarded. Only in case of death awarded with orders the first degree, an amount was allocated to pay for the burial rite.
Only in 1963 was the possibility of awarding Japanese awards restored (except for the Order of the Golden Kite and some medals). In 1964, the posthumous awarding of the dead combatants, as well as those who died in captivity, resumed. The total number of such awardees in 1988 was 2,049,071 people, about 90% of the awards are the Order of the Rising Sun of the seventh and eighth degrees.
Order of the Chrysanthemum with chain
The Order of the Chrysanthemum with Chain (大勲位菊花章) was established on January 4, 1888 and is considered the highest award in the Japanese award system.
Imperial Edict No. 1, which established the award, ordered to award this order to those who already own the Order of the Chrysanthemum on the Big Ribbon. Awarding the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a chain was provided only for the princes of the imperial family, the highest aristocracy, national heroes and heads of foreign states. At the same time, in the case of state visits to Japan by foreign sovereigns, the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a chain and the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a Grand Ribbon were sometimes awarded simultaneously.
In addition to members of the imperial house, only 13 Japanese subjects were awarded this highest award. The order was allowed to be awarded posthumously. When awarding an order, only its highest degree was worn, i.e. Order of the Chrysanthemum with chain.
Order of the Chrysanthemum with chain
The badge of the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a chain, 60 mm in diameter, is made of gold. In its center is a red-colored Japanese enamel cabochon resembling a ruby in appearance. It is surrounded by 32 white-enamelled double rays of various lengths that form a cross.
The cross is framed with leaves made in green enamel and four symmetrically arranged chrysanthemum flowers covered with yellow enamel. The badge of the order is attached to the chain with a large pendant in the shape of a chrysanthemum, covered with yellow enamel.
The reverse side of the badge repeats the front one, with the exception that the pendant has an inscription in hieroglyphs "Great award for merit", which is applied over the enamel.
The badge of the order and the chain contain 300 grams of 22 carat gold, and the total weight of the award reaches 491.5 g.
Badge of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
The Star relied on the order, which had a convex shape, repeating the order but without gilding and without the upper chrysanthemum. Its diameter is larger than the order, and is 90 mm. In the center is a red enamel cabochon surrounded by 32 gold-plated and white-enamelled double beams.
This composition is superimposed on vertically and horizontally diverging four groups of longer double beams (three beams per group) of silver, covered with white enamel, which form a cross. Between these groups are placed silver chrysanthemums, covered with yellow enamel and framed with silver leaves with green enamel.
On the back there is an inscription in hieroglyphs - "Great award for merit." The star is worn on the left side of the chest.
Obverse and reverse of the Star of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
The chain of the order has a diameter of 290 mm. It has 12 links made of gold. They are openwork images made in the old style of the hieroglyphs "mei" and "ji", meaning the Meiji era. These links are interspersed with gold chains by thirteen medallions with gold chrysanthemums surrounded by green enameled leaves. The lower medallion, to which the sign is attached, has a diameter of 40 mm, the rest - 27 mm.
Those who have been awarded the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a chain may wear a reduced-sized badge of this order around their necks on a small chain with their dress uniform. The specified chain consists of round gold links without ornament, and the sign has a diameter of 45 mm.
Ribbon for an order block
During the existence of the order, only 60 awards were made. Among them, Ryomoto Miyamori Tadashi - a marshal, a member of the imperial family - was awarded for special merits during the Second World War.
Order of the Chrysanthemum on the Grand Ribbon
Ribbon for the medal bar
The Order of the Chrysanthemum on the Great Ribbon (大勲位菊花大綬章) was established on December 27, 1876, and is essentially the second class of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. It was intended to reward the Japanese and foreigners from among members of the imperial and royal families and the highest aristocracy, as well as heads of foreign states.
In accordance with the regulations on the imperial house, it was received by the princes of the imperial family at the age of 7, and other princes at the age of 15.
The badge of the Order of the Chrysanthemum on the Great Ribbon bears the same appearance same as the badge of the Order of the Chrysanthemum with chain, but its diameter is 76 mm and is usually made of gilded silver. The width of the shoulder tape was officially set at 115 mm, but in fact it was 106 mm. The ribbon was made of red moire silk with 18 mm blue-violet edges and had a rosette. Earlier ribbons were made from non-Mara silk and differed in the texture of the fabric.
The ribbon is worn over the right shoulder. The Order of the Chrysanthemum on the Great Ribbon has the same Star as the Order of the Chrysanthemum with a chain. The order was awarded to 93 people, incl. only three living Japanese subjects and eleven posthumously.
