For the entire period Russian history There were many different awards and medals. One of the most honored are the St. George Crosses. This award was the most massive in the days of Tsarist Russia. The soldier's St. George's Cross was carefully kept in the family of the soldier who received it, and the full cavalier of the St. George's Cross was revered by the people on a par with epic heroes fairy tales. This award was especially popular because it was awarded to the lower ranks of the Tsarist army, that is, ordinary soldiers and non-commissioned officers.
This award was equivalent to the Order of St. George, which was established by Catherine the Great in the 18th century. The George Cross was divided into 4 degrees:
They received this award only for the incredible valor that they showed on the battlefield. First they gave out the St. George Cross of the 4th degree, then the 3rd, 2nd and 1st degrees. Thus, the one who was awarded the St. George Cross of the first degree became a full cavalier of the St. George Cross. Performing 4 feats on the battlefield and staying alive at the same time was a manifestation of incredible military skill and luck, so it is not surprising that such people were treated like heroes.
George Crosses were awarded to soldiers for over 100 years, they appeared shortly before Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and were abolished after the First World War, during which several million people received this royal award, although few were awarded the George Cross of the first degree.
With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the St. George crosses were canceled, although even before the start of the Great Patriotic War the medal "For Courage" was introduced, which somehow copied the St. George Cross. Convinced that the medal "For Courage" enjoys great respect among the military, the Soviet command decided to establish the Order of Glory of three degrees, which almost completely copied the Royal St. George's Cross.
Although most of the tsarist awards in Soviet Russia were very unpopular, and wearing them was equated almost with treason, the bosses often looked “through their fingers” at the wearing of the St. George's crosses by the old front-line soldiers. The following famous Soviet military leaders had St. George's crosses:
One of the most legendary wartime partisan commanders, Sidor Kovpak, also had the St. George Cross of two degrees.
In Tsarist Russia, all those awarded the St. George Cross received a cash bonus, and they were also paid a lifetime pension, the amount of which varied depending on the degree of the cross. Such an award as the George Cross gave its owner numerous unspoken benefits in civilian life and popular respect.
Many modern sources do not share such awards as the Order of St. George and the George Cross, although these are completely different awards. The Order of George was established in the 18th century, and the George Cross in the 19th century.
In 1807, Emperor Alexander I received a proposal to establish some kind of award for soldiers and non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves in the performance of combat missions. Allegedly, this will help to strengthen the courage of Russian soldiers who, in the hope of receiving the desired reward (which includes monetary rewards and a lifetime pension), will fight without sparing their lives. The emperor considered this proposal quite reasonable, especially since news of the battle of Preussisch-Eylau reached him, in which Russian soldiers showed miracles of courage and endurance.
At that time there was one a big problem: a Russian soldier who was a serf could not be awarded an order, since the order emphasized the status of its owner, was, in fact, a knightly insignia. Nevertheless, the courage of the Russian soldier had to be somehow encouraged, so the Russian emperor introduced a special "insignia of the order", which in the future became the St. George soldier's cross.
"Soldier George", as he was called by the people, could only receive the lower ranks of the Russian army, who showed selfless courage on the battlefield. Moreover, this award was not handed out at the request of the command, the soldiers themselves determined which of them was worthy of receiving the St. George Cross. The George Cross was issued for the following merits:
At the same time, wounds or contusions on the battlefield did not give absolutely no right to a reward, unless they were received in the process of carrying out heroic activity.
According to the then existing rules, it was necessary to wear the St. George's Cross on a specially St. George's ribbon, which was threaded into the buttonhole. The first soldier who became a knight of the Order of St. George was non-commissioned officer Mitrokhin, who received it in the battle of Friedland in 1807.
Initially, the George Cross did not have any degrees and was issued an unlimited number of times (this is in theory). In practice, the George Cross was issued only once, and the next presentation was purely formal, although at the same time the soldier's salary increased by a third. The undoubted advantage of a soldier awarded this distinction was the complete absence of corporal punishment, which was widely used at that time.
In 1833, the St. George Cross was included in the statute of the Order of St. George, in addition, at the same time, they entrusted the procedure for awarding soldiers to the commanders of armies and corps, which significantly accelerated the process of awarding, since it used to happen that the hero did not live up to the solemn award.
In 1844, a special George Cross was developed for soldiers who profess the Muslim faith. Instead of St. George, who is an Orthodox saint, a double-headed eagle was depicted on the cross.
In 1856, the George Cross was divided into 4 degrees, while its degree was indicated on the cross. How difficult it was to get the St. George Cross of the 1st degree is evidenced by impartial statistics. According to her, there were about 2,000 full knights of the St. George Order in its entire history.
In 1913, the award officially became known as the St. George Cross, in addition, the St. George Medal for Bravery appeared, also having 4 degrees. Unlike a soldier's award, the St. George medal could be awarded to civilians and military personnel in peacetime. After 1913, the George Cross began to be issued posthumously. In this case, the award was passed on to the relatives of the deceased and kept as a family heirloom.
During the First World War, about 1,500,000 people received St. George's Crosses. Of particular note is the first Knight of St. George of this war, Kozma Kryuchkov, who received his first cross for the destruction of 11 German cavalrymen in battle. By the way, until the end of the war, this Cossack became a full Knight of St. George.
For the first time in the history of the George Cross, it began to be awarded to women and foreigners. Due to the difficult situation of the Russian economy during the war, the awards began to be made from low-quality gold (1st and 2nd degrees) and they significantly lost weight (3rd and 4th degrees).
Judging by the fact that during the First World War more than 1,200,000 George Crosses were issued, the heroism of the Russian army was simply at the highest level.
An interesting case of receiving the St. George Cross by the future Soviet Marshal Zhukov. He received it (one of several of his crosses) for shell shock, although this award was issued only for well-defined feats, clearly indicated in the statute. Apparently, acquaintances among the military authorities in those days could easily solve such problems.
After the February Revolution, officers could also receive the St. George Cross, if the soldiers' meetings approved it. During civil war White Guards were still awarded St. George's crosses, although many soldiers considered it a shame to wear orders received for the murders of their compatriots.
The George Cross is called a "cross" precisely because of its shape. This is a characteristic cross, the blades of which widen at the ends. In the center of the cross there is a medallion depicting St. George slaying a snake with a spear. FROM reverse side on the medallion there are letters "C" and "G", made in the form of a monogram.
The cross was worn on the St. George ribbon (which has nothing to do with the modern St. George ribbon). The colors of the St. George ribbon are black and orange, symbolizing smoke and flame.
During the existence of the St. George Cross, more than 3,500,000 people were awarded it, although the last 1.5-2 million are quite controversial, since they were often issued in the First World War not on merit. Many holders of the St. George Orders became famous not only for receiving this award, but are also historical figures:
Despite the mass character, it is quite difficult to find St. George's crosses now. This is due to the fact that they were minted from gold (1 and 2 degrees) and silver (3 and 4 degrees). In February, the provisional government intensively collected awards "for the needs of the revolution." During the Soviet period, when there was a famine or a blockade, many exchanged their rewards for flour or bread.
The memory of the George Cross was revived in 1943, when the Order of Glory was established. At present, everyone is familiar with the St. George's Ribbon, with which people who celebrate Victory Day adorn themselves. At the same time, not everyone knows that although the ribbon symbolizes the Order of Glory, its roots go much deeper.
Among all military awards in Russian history, the St. George Cross occupies a special place. This sign of military prowess is the most famous award of pre-revolutionary Russia. The Soldier's George Cross can be called the most massive award of the Russian Empire, because it marked the lower ranks (soldiers and non-commissioned officers).
Officially, this award was equated with the Order of St. George, established by Catherine the Great in the 18th century. The George Cross had four degrees, according to the statute of the award, it was possible to receive this military distinction only for courage on the battlefield.
This insignia lasted just over a hundred years: it was established during the Napoleonic Wars, shortly before the French invasion of Russia. The last conflict in which the St. George Crosses different degrees received several million people, became the First World War.
The Bolsheviks canceled this award, and the St. George Cross insignia was restored only after the collapse of the USSR. In the Soviet period, the attitude towards the St. George Cross was ambiguous, although a huge number of St. George Knights fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War - and fought well. Among the holders of the St. George Cross are Marshal of Victory Georgy Zhukov, Konstantin Rokossovsky and Rodion Malinovsky. Full Knights of St. George were the Soviet Marshal Budyonny, military leaders Tyulenev and Eremenko.
The legendary partisan commander Sidor Kovpak was awarded the cross twice.
Cavaliers of the George Cross received monetary incentives, they were paid a pension. Naturally, the largest amount was paid for the first (highest) degree of the award.
The insignia of the order was a cross with blades expanding towards the end. In the center of the cross was a medallion round shape, on the front side which depicted Saint George slaying a snake. On the reverse side of the medallion, the letters C and G were applied in the form of a monogram.
The crossbars of the cross on the front side remained clean, and the serial number of the award was applied on the reverse. It was necessary to wear a cross on a black and orange St. George ribbon (“colors of smoke and flame”).
The George Cross was highly respected in the military environment: the lower ranks, even having received officer rank, proudly wore it among officer awards.
In 1856, this award badge was divided into four degrees: the first and second were made of gold, the third and fourth were made of silver. The degree of the award was indicated on its reverse. The distinction was awarded sequentially: from the fourth to the first degree.
The Order of St. George has existed in Russia since the 18th century, but this order should not be confused with the soldier's St. George's Cross - these are different awards.
In 1807, the Russian Emperor Alexander I was presented with a note with a proposal to establish an award for the lower ranks who distinguished themselves on the battlefield. The emperor considered the proposal quite reasonable. Just the day before it happened bloody battle at Preisisch-Eylau, where the Russian soldiers demonstrated remarkable courage.
However, there was one problem: it was impossible to award the lower ranks with orders. At that time, they were given only to representatives of the nobility, the order was not just a “piece of iron” on the chest, but also a symbol social status, he emphasized the "knightly" position of its owner.
Therefore, Alexander I went to the trick: he ordered that the lower ranks be awarded not with an order, but with the "insignia of the order." And so the award appeared, which later became the St. George Cross. According to the emperor's manifesto, only the lower ranks who showed "dauntless courage" on the battlefield could receive the George Cross. By status, a reward could be received, for example, for capturing an enemy banner, for capturing an enemy officer, or for skillful actions during a battle. A concussion or injury did not give the right to a reward if it was not associated with a feat.
The cross had to be worn on the St. George ribbon, threading it into a buttonhole.
Non-commissioned officer Mitrokhin, who distinguished himself in the battle of Friedland in the same 1807, became the first cavalier of soldier George.
Initially, the George Cross did not have degrees and could be issued an unlimited number of times. True, the badge itself was not issued again, but the salary of a serviceman increased by a third. It was impossible to apply corporal punishment to the holders of the George Cross.
In 1833, the insignia of the Military Order was incorporated into the statute of the Order of St. George. There were also some other innovations: commanders of armies and corps could now award crosses. This greatly simplified the process and reduced bureaucratic red tape.
In 1844, the George Cross for Muslims was designed, in which Saint George was replaced by a double-headed eagle.
In 1856, the George Cross was divided into four degrees. The reverse of the badge indicated the degree of the award. Each degree had its own numbering.
Over the entire history of the St. George Cross with four degrees, more than two thousand people have become its full gentlemen.
Another significant change in the statute of the Insignia of the military order took place on the eve of the First World War, in 1913. Award received official name"St. George's Cross", the St. George Medal (numbered medal for bravery) was also established. The St. George medal also had four degrees and was issued to the lower ranks, military personnel of irregular troops and border guards. This medal (unlike the George Cross) could be awarded to civilians, as well as military personnel in peacetime.
According to the new statute of the insignia, now the St. George Cross could serve as a posthumous award, which was transferred to the relatives of the hero. The numbering of the award from 1913 again began anew.
In 1914, the First World War began, millions were drafted into the army. Russian citizens. During the three years of the war, more than 1.5 million St. George's crosses of various degrees were awarded.
The first Knight of St. George of this war was the Don Cossack Kozma Kryuchkov, who (according to the official version) destroyed more than ten German cavalrymen in an unequal battle. Kryuchkov was awarded "George" of the fourth degree. During the war, Kryuchkov became a full Knight of St. George.
During the First World War, women were repeatedly awarded the St. George Cross; foreigners fighting in Russian army.
The appearance of the award also changed: in difficult wartime, the highest degrees of the cross (first and second) began to be made of low-grade gold, and the third and fourth degrees of the award significantly lost weight.
The Statute of 1913 significantly expanded the list of acts for which the St. George Cross was awarded. This largely negated the value of this insignia. During the First World War, more than 1.2 million people became cavaliers of Egoriy. Judging by the number of awardees, there was simply mass heroism in the Russian army. Then it is not clear why these millions of heroes soon disgracefully fled home.
According to the statute, the cross should have been issued only for feats on the battlefield, but this principle was not always followed. Georgy Zhukov received one of his St. George's Crosses for shell shock. Apparently, the future Soviet marshal already in those years knew how to find mutual language with his superiors.
After the February Revolution, the status of the St. George Cross was again changed, now it could also be awarded to officers after the corresponding decision of the soldiers' meetings. In addition, this combat insignia began to be favored for purely political reasons. For example, the cross was awarded to Timofey Kirpichnikov, who killed an officer and led a rebellion in his regiment. Prime Minister Kerensky became a cavalier of two degrees of the cross at once, for "tearing off the banner of tsarism" in Russia.
There are cases when entire military units or warships were awarded the St. George Cross. Among others, this sign was granted to the crews of the Varyag cruiser and the Korean gunboat.
During the Civil War, in the units of the White Army, soldiers and non-commissioned officers continued to be awarded St. George's Crosses. True, the attitude towards awards among the White movement was ambiguous: many considered it shameful to receive awards for participating in a fratricidal war.
On the territory of the Donskoy army, George the Victorious on the cross turned into a Cossack: he was wearing a Cossack uniform, a hat with a hood, from under which a forelock protruded.
The Bolsheviks canceled all the awards of the Russian Empire, including the St. George Cross. However, after the start of World War II, the attitude towards the award changed. "George" was not allowed, as many historians claim, but the authorities looked "through their fingers" at wearing this sign.
Among the Soviet awards, the Order of Glory had an ideology similar to that of a soldier.
St. George's crosses were also awarded to collaborators who served in the Russian Corps. The last award took place in 1941.
Over the entire existence of this award, about 3.5 million St. George's crosses of various degrees have been issued. Among the holders of this insignia there are many famous people which can safely be called historical.
Shortly after the appearance of the award, the famous “cavalry girl” Durova received it, the cross was granted to her for saving the life of an officer.
St. George's Crosses were awarded to the former Decembrists Muravyov-Apostol and Yakushkin - they fought at Borodino in the rank of ensigns.
General Miloradovich also received this soldier's award for his personal participation in the battle of Leipzig. The cross was handed to him personally by Emperor Alexander, who witnessed this episode.
A very famous character for his era was Kozma Kryuchkov - the first cavalier of "George" of the First World War.
The famous commander of the Civil War, Vasily Chapaev, was awarded three crosses at once and the St. George medal.
The holder of the St. George Cross was Maria Bochkareva, the commander of the women's "death battalion", created in 1917.
Despite the huge number of crosses issued over the entire period of the existence of this award, today this insignia is a rarity. It is especially difficult to buy the St. George Cross of the first and second degrees. Where did they go?
After the February Revolution, the Provisional Government issued a call to hand over its awards to the "needs of the revolution." So Georgy Zhukov lost his crosses. Many awards were sold or melted down during the famine (there were several during the Soviet period). Then a cross made of silver or gold could be exchanged for several kilograms of flour or even a couple of loaves of bread.
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The insignia "St. George's Cross" has always been one of the most revered domestic military awards. Originally existed from 1807 to 1917, it was used as an award badge for the Order of St. George for the lower ranks. The award was given to soldiers and non-commissioned officers for outstanding bravery shown in battles with the enemy. Many Soviet military leaders were Knights of St. George. For example, G.K. Zhukov was a holder of the St. George Crosses of the third and fourth degrees. In 1992, it was decided to restore this insignia in the Russian award system.
On the basis of the Decree of the Presidium of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1992, it was attributed to restore the Russian military order of St. George and the sign "St. George's Cross". However, the work on drawing up the regulations and statute of the awards dragged on until 2000. The regulation on these awards and their description was adopted only on August 8, 2000 on the basis of a decree of the President of the Russian Federation.
Initially, it was planned that this award would be issued only for feats of arms shown in battles with an external enemy in the defense of the Fatherland. However, after the events of early August 2008, changes were promptly made to the statute and position of the award. In particular, since then, the award could be awarded for feats during military operations on the territory of other countries while maintaining or restoring international peace and security. Currently, St. George's Crosses can be awarded to privates (soldiers and sailors), sergeants and foremen, midshipmen, warrant officers and junior officers Russian Army. The basis for the award is the courage, bravery and dedication shown in the performance of military duty.
The modern George Cross, like its predecessor, has 4 degrees, of which the first degree is the highest. Rewarding is carried out only sequentially: from the lowest degree to the highest.
The sign "St. George's Cross" is made in the form of a straight equilateral cross with rays expanding towards the ends. Its rays, slightly convex on the front side, are bordered by a narrow edging along the edges. In the center of the award is a round medallion, which contains a relief image of St. George, who strikes a snake with a spear. On the reverse side, at the ends of the cross, the number of the award is applied, and in the center of the medallion there is a relief monogram in the form of the letters “C” and “G” intertwined. At the same time, an appropriate inscription is made on the lower beam of the cross, depending on the degree. At the end of the upper beam of the cross there is an eye designed to fasten the badge through a ring to a standard pentagonal block. She is covered with a moire silk ribbon. orange color, on which there are 3 longitudinal stripes of black color - the well-known St. George ribbon.
The award is made of pure silver, while the signs of the second and first degree are gilded. The size of the award is determined strictly by the distance between the ends of the rays and is 34 mm for all four degrees of the St. George Cross. The pads of all degrees also have the same dimensions, the width of the tapes on them is 24 mm. But there are also some peculiarities, so the pads for the signs of the first and third degrees of the St. George Cross also have a bow with the flowers of the Order of St. George.
Dmitry Medvedev during the presentation of state awards. Vladikavkaz August 18, 2008
The first awards with St. George's Crosses in modern Russia took place in August 2008. This insignia was awarded to junior military personnel who showed courage and heroism during the events of August 2008 in South Ossetia and Georgia. On August 15, on the basis of a presidential decree, the first 11 soldiers and sergeants of the Russian army received St. George's crosses of the IV degree. In total, 263 Russian servicemen were awarded the St. George Crosses for the distinctions shown during the peacekeeping operation to force Georgia to peace.
Based on materials from open sources.
May 2018 is approaching and the next anniversary of the Victory - a great holiday "with tears in our eyes." Military parade, the passage of members of the "Immortal Regiment" and the distribution of St. George's ribbons. This process, which began in 2005 at the initiative of RIA Novosti, will once again be accompanied by a clash of two extremes. On the one hand, there are enthusiastic reports about the distribution of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of ribbons to the citizens of the country. On the other hand, malice and condemnation of the ongoing action with elements of yet another shift of history in a convenient direction.
The army of opponents of the ribbon is very motley. From A. G. Nevzorov, an ardent fighter against privileges in the era of perestroika, to irreconcilable supporters of the cause of Lenin and Stalin. From half-educated representatives of the "Pepsi generation" to terry nationalists from some of the former Soviet republics. Surprisingly, sometimes saying opposite things, they come to the same conclusion that the St. George ribbon is evil.
One of the main arguments of the opponents of the ribbon is that this is not our symbol, these are not our colors, our grandfathers and fathers did not go into battle with them.
The Order of St. George was established by the Decree of Catherine II of November 26, 1769. The motto of the Order "For Service and Bravery" needs no comment.
Tape, appeared later, but in this color scheme- three black and two orange (yellow, gold) stripes. This order was awarded (it had 4 degrees) only to officers and generals.
Since the order for military merit, it personified smoke and flame, of which there were plenty in the war of those times.
The recipient received various benefits and privileges.
In 1807 the lower ranks were established. He also had 4 degrees. The St. George Knights also included officers who were awarded the "Golden" St. George weapons. In 1805, the St. George standards appeared in the Russian army, which were awarded to the best units and formations.
The Knight of St. George enjoyed special respect in society.
In the forefront of those awarded, and more than once, our great commanders - A.V. Suvorov, M.I. Kutuzov, M.B. Barclay de Tolly, I.I. Dibich. Someone considers it unworthy to dress St. George ribbon and, at least purely symbolically, to join the greatness of the country?
Unfortunately, the negative assessment of the role of the White movement in the civil war, cultivated for many years, pushes us to the wrong conclusion about the significance of the attributes of the Order of St. George for the country and the army. The strict formula proposed for officers and generals was incorrect: either-or.
Faced with such a choice and remaining faithful to their oath, they did not become worse or better than those who joined the Red Army.
And of course they had full right to keep and use army traditions.
And their attitude towards the USSR is well illustrated by the positions of two tsarist generals, two leaders of the White movement, two Knights of St. George - P.N. Krasnov and A.I. Denikin.
If the first enthusiastically met Hitler's attack on the USSR, turned to Russian emigrants with an appeal to support the war against Stalin and actively cooperated with the occupiers, then the second refused all offers to work with the Germans, called on his compatriots to support Russia, and at his own expense sent a wagon of medicines to the Red Army . What, was it that a war veteran or his great-grandson was presented with a St. George ribbon from Krasnov's stocks?
An amazing situation. Orthodox Stalinists refuse to recognize any symbolism of the Victory, except for the red banner (as if someone is arguing with this). And the fighters for liberal values, with their loyal attitude towards the Vlasovites, attribute the St. George ribbon to the symbols of the ROA.
As a result, both of them misinform people.
Firstly, on buttonholes, chevrons, shoulder straps, armbands, flags of the Vlasov army, a tricolor was used - white-blue-red. No comment. And secondly, on the banners that were handed over to the guards units and formations, it was attached to the pole, tied with a bow, and very similar to St. George's. Both in terms of status and color scheme.
Unknown and unpopular...
Common opinion among war history revisionists. It's them about the ribbon and again they are cunning. What kind of popularity of “attributes of the past power” could be discussed in a country that has abandoned a significant part of its history?
And it's great that from the very first days of the war, the leaders of the state launched work, figuratively speaking, to popularize the St. George ribbon.
After all, this small piece fabric symbolizes a whole range of measures of the Soviet government aimed at glorifying the fight against the enemy and raising the morale of soldiers and officers. Appeal to great history great country, even to the detriment of ideology - one of these areas.
After all, supporters of the revision of the results of the war are not against the ribbon. Anything could have been in its place - a soldier's medallion, which was called mortal, a cap, a three-ruler cartridge, a red carnation, a ribbon with a star.
The fight against the ribbon is a fight against the people's memory, another attempt to denigrate the best that our country had.
The St. George ribbon on the chest of representatives of different generations is great. But the misfortune of our country is campaigning. It can ruin all good undertakings. Already a few days before the holiday, the media will enthusiastically report that more ribbons have been distributed this year than last. Logically, there should be fewer. Where did last year go?
The Internet is replete with ads of the following content: “St. George's ribbons in bulk - 0.91 rubles. Delivery in Moscow or self-delivery. And the distribution of ribbons near metro stations is on a par with advertising leaflets. Has anyone wondered what is the fate of both? Why not organize the sale of ribbons for a nominal fee (1 ruble), for example, at newsstands? And not in bulk, but one by one.
To whom the ribbon is dear - he will go, buy it and not throw it in the trash can. But if not, then it’s not necessary. Let not 100 ... 200 thousand, but much less ribbons be distributed to the residents of the city N-sk. But, these will be people who really keep the memory of the dead and treat living veterans with respect, and do not follow fashion.
In the description of any order there is a rule for wearing it. Of course, the black and orange ribbon is not an order. Accordingly, the rules are unwritten and are advisory in nature:
State flags on administrative buildings and residential buildings hung out a few days before the holiday and a day or two after, removed. You should also treat wearing a ribbon, without waiting for it to turn into a piece of dirty rag.
And finally, quite difficult, especially for men, is the question of creating something non-standard, festive out of the St. George ribbon.
Creative people to the question - how to tie a St. George ribbon, they offer to consider several options under the conditional names: a flower, a tie, a star, a bow, a loop, the letter M, a butterfly, a corner, a rose.
In general, the ribbon decently and beautifully looks in any version. And this fact, and the fact that the ribbon is one of the symbols of our victory, and its role in the current political situation, inspires hope that every normal citizen, having removed the ribbon from his jacket on May 10, will neatly fold it and put it away until next year.
The St. George's Cross is an award for lower ranks from 1807 to 1917, assigned to the Order of St. George, for military merits and for bravery shown against the enemy. The insignia of the Military Order was the highest award for soldiers and non-commissioned officers. From June 24, 1917, it could also be awarded to officers for feats of personal courage by providing a general meeting of soldiers of the unit or sailors of the ship.
Sign history
The idea of establishing a soldier's award was expressed in a note filed on January 6, 1807 in the name of Alexander I (the author is unknown), where it was proposed to establish "the 5th class or a special department of the Military Order of St. George for soldiers and other lower military ranks ... which may consist , for example, in a silver cross on the St. George ribbon, worn in a buttonhole. The insignia of the Military Order was established on February 13 (25), 1807 by the manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, as an award for lower military ranks for "undaunted courage". The 4th article of the manifesto commanded to wear the insignia of the Military Order on a ribbon of the same colors as the Order of St. George. The sign had to be worn by its owner always and under all circumstances, but if the holder of the badge was awarded the Order of St. George, in 1807-55. the badge was not worn.
The first to receive soldier Georgy was the non-commissioned officer of the Cavalier Guard Regiment Yegor Ivanovich Mitrokhin for distinction in the battle with the French near Friedland on June 2, 1807. The first gentleman of the soldier George served from 1793 to 1817 and retired in the lower officer rank of ensign. However, the name of Mitrokhin was the first to be included in the lists only in 1809, when cavaliers from the guards regiments were the first to be included in the compiled lists. Ensign of the 5th Jaeger Regiment Vasily Berezkin received a cross for the battle with the French near Morungen on January 6 (18), 1807, that is, for a feat accomplished even before the establishment of the award.
Non-commissioned officer V. Mikhailov (badge No. 2) and private N. Klementiev (badge No. 4), privates of the Yekaterinoslav Dragoon Regiment P. Trekhalov (badge No. 5) and S Rodionov (sign number 7) were transferred to the cavalry guards.
When established, the soldier's cross did not have degrees, there were also no restrictions on the number of awards for one person. At the same time, a new cross was not issued, but with each award, the salary increased by a third, up to a double salary. Unlike the officer's order, the soldier's award was not covered with enamel, it was minted from silver of the 95th test (modern. 990th test). By decree of July 15, 1808, holders of the insignia of the Military Order were exempted from corporal punishment. The insignia could be withdrawn from the recipient only in court and with the obligatory notification of the emperor.
There was a practice of awarding the insignia of the Military Order to civilians of the lower classes, but without the right to be called a cavalier of the insignia. One of the first in this way was awarded the Kola tradesman Matvey Andreevich Gerasimov. In 1810, the ship on which he was carrying a cargo of flour was captured by an English warship. On the Russian ship, the crew of which was 9 people, a prize team of eight English soldiers under the command of an officer was landed. 11 days after the capture, taking advantage of the inclement weather on the way to England, Gerasimov and his comrades took the British prisoner, forcing them to officially surrender (give up the sword) and the officer in command, after which he brought the ship to the Norwegian port of Varde, where the prisoners were interned.
There is a known case of awarding a general with a soldier's award. They became M. A. Miloradovich for the battle with the French in the soldier's ranks near Leipzig. The silver cross was presented to him by Emperor Alexander I, who watched the battle.
In January 1809, the numbering of crosses and name lists were introduced. By this time, about 10 thousand signs had been issued. By the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Mint had produced 16,833 crosses. The statistics of awards over the years are indicative:
1812 - 6783 awards;
1813 - 8611 awards;
1814 - 9345 awards;
1815 - 3983 awards;
1816 - 2682 awards;
1817 - 659 awards;
1818 - 328 awards;
1819 - 189 awards.
Insignia without numbers were awarded until 1820, mainly to non-military ranks of the army, as well as former commanders of partisan detachments from among merchants, peasants and bourgeois.
In 1813-15. The badge was also awarded to soldiers of the allied armies of Russia operating against Napoleonic France: Prussians (1921), Swedes (200), Austrians (170), representatives of various German states(about 70), the British (15).
In total, during the reign of Alexander I (period 1807-25), 46,527 Signs were granted.
In 1833, the provisions for the insignia of the Military Order were spelled out in the new statute of the Order of St. George. It was then that the wearing of the Insignia of the Military Order "with a bow from the same St. George's ribbon" was introduced by persons who were honored to receive a full salary of surplus pay for repeated feats.
In 1839, a commemorative version of the sign was established in honor of the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of the Peace of Paris. Outwardly, the sign was distinguished by the presence of the monogram of Alexander I on the upper beam of the reverse. This award was presented to the military personnel of the Prussian army (4500 crosses were minted, 4264 were awarded).
In total, in the era of Nicholas I (1825-56), 57,706 valiant lower ranks of the Russian army were awarded the badge. Most of the gentlemen appeared after the Russian-Persian 1826-28 and Russian-Turkish 1828-29. wars (11,993), the suppression of the Polish rebellion (5888) and the Hungarian campaign of 1849 (3222).
From March 19, 1855, the badge was allowed to be worn on the uniform of those of its owners who later received the Order of St. George.
From March 19, 1856, four degrees of the sign were introduced by imperial decree. The signs were worn on the St. George ribbon on the chest and were made of gold (1st and 2nd grades) and silver (3rd and 4th grades). Outwardly, the new crosses differed in that the words “4th step.”, “3rd step.” were now placed on the reverse. etc. The numbering of signs began anew for each degree.
The awards were made sequentially: from the junior degree to the senior one. However, there were also exceptions. So, on September 30, 1877, I. Yu. Popovich-Lipovats was awarded the Badge of the 4th degree for courage in battle, and already on October 23 for another feat - immediately the 1st degree.
In the presence of all four degrees of the sign on the uniform, the 1st and 3rd were worn; in the presence of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees, the 2nd and 3rd were worn; only 3rd.
Over the entire 57-year history of the four-degree Insignia of the Military Order, about 2 thousand people became its full cavaliers (owners of all four degrees), about 7 thousand were awarded the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees, 3rd and 4th th degrees - about 25 thousand, 4th degree - 205 336. Most of the awards fell on Russo-Japanese War 1904-05 (87,000), Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78. (46,000), the Caucasian campaign (25,372) and the Central Asian campaigns (23,000).
In 1856-1913. there was also a version of the Insignia of the Military Order for rewarding the lower ranks of the non-Christian religion. On it, the image of St. George and his monogram was replaced by a double-headed eagle. 19 people became full holders of such an award, 269 people received the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees, 821 people received the 3rd and 4th and 4619 the 4th. The numbering of these awards was carried out separately.
In 1913, a new statute of the insignia of the Military Order was approved. It began to be officially called the St. George Cross, and the numbering of signs from that time began anew. Unlike the Insignia of the Military Order, St. George's crosses for non-Christians did not exist - since 1913, St. George was depicted on all crosses. In addition, since 1913 the George Cross could be awarded posthumously.
Infrequently, but the presentation of the same degree of the St. George Cross was practiced several times. So, ensign of the Life Guards of the 3rd Infantry Regiment G.I. Solomatin was awarded two St. George's Crosses of the 4th degree, two of the 3rd degree, one of the 2nd degree and two of the 1st degree.
The first awarding of the St. George Cross of the 4th degree took place on August 1, 1914, when the cross No. 5501 was awarded to the order of the 3rd Don Cossack Regiment Kozma Firsovich Kryuchkov for a brilliant victory over 27 German cavalrymen in an unequal battle on July 30, 1914. Subsequently, K. F Kryuchkov also earned the other three degrees of the St. George Cross in battle. George's Cross No. 1 was left "at the discretion of His Imperial Majesty" and presented later, on September 20, 1914, to Pyotr Cherny-Kovalchuk, a private of the 41st Selenga Infantry Regiment, who captured the Austrian banner in battle.
For bravery in battles, the George Cross was repeatedly awarded to women. Sister of Mercy Nadezhda Plaksina and Cossack Maria Smirnova earned three such awards, and sister of mercy Antonina Palshina and junior non-commissioned officer of the 3rd Kurzeme Latvian Rifle Regiment Lina Chanka-Freidenfelde - two.
St. George's Crosses were also awarded to foreigners who served in the Russian army. The French Negro Marcel Pla, who fought on the Ilya Muromets bomber, received 2 crosses, the French pilot Lieutenant Alphonse Poiret - 4, and the Czech Karel Vashatka was the owner of 4 degrees of the St. George Cross, the St. George Cross with a laurel branch, St. George medals of 3 degrees, the Order of St. George of the 4th degree and St. George's weapons.
In 1915, due to the difficulties of the war, signs of the 1st and 2nd degree began to be made from low-grade gold: 60% gold, 39.5% silver and 0.5% copper. The content of silver in the signs of the 3rd and 4th degree has not changed (99%). In total, the mint minted St. George's crosses with a reduced gold content: 1st degree - 26950 (No. from 5531 to 32840), 2nd - 52900 (No. from 12131 to 65030). On them in the left corner of the lower beam, below the letter "C" (step), there is a stamp with the image of a head.
From 1914 to 1917 it was awarded (that is, mainly for exploits in the First World War):
St. George's crosses 1st class. - OK. 33 thousand
St. George's crosses 2nd class. - OK. 65 thousand
St. George's crosses 3rd class. - OK. 289 thousand
St. George's Crosses 4th Art. - OK. 1 million 200 thousand
To indicate the serial number (“per million”), stamped on the upper side of the cross "1M", and the rest of the numbers were placed on the sides of the cross. On September 10, 1916, according to the highest approval of the opinion of the Council of Ministers, gold and silver were removed from the St. George Cross. They began to be stamped from "yellow" and "white" metal. These crosses have letters under serial numbers "ZHM", "BM". St. George's crosses, there were: 1st degree "ZhM" - 10,000 (No. from 32481 to 42480), 2nd degree "ZhM" - 20,000 (No. from 65031 to 85030), 3rd degree "BM" - 49,500 (No. from 289151 to 338650), 4th degree "BM" - 89,000 (No. from 1210151 to 1299150).
Possibly in the first world war the proverb "Chest in crosses, or head in the bushes" was born.
After the February coup, cases of awarding the St. George Cross for purely political reasons began to occur. So, non-commissioned officer Timofey Kirpichnikov, who led the rebellion of the Life Guards of the Volynsky regiment in Petrograd, received the award, and the crosses of the 4th and 2nd degrees were “presented” to the Prime Minister of Russia A.F. Kerensky as “the fearless hero of the Russian Revolution, tore down the banner of tsarism.
On June 24, 1917, the Provisional Government changed the statute of the St. George Cross and allowed them to be awarded to officers by decision of the soldiers' meetings. In this case, a silver laurel branch was strengthened on the ribbon of signs of the 4th and 3rd degrees, and a golden laurel branch was strengthened on the ribbon of signs of the 2nd and 1st degrees. In total, about 2 thousand such awards were presented.
There are several cases of awarding the Insignia of the Military Order and St. George's Crosses of entire units:
1829 - the crew of the legendary brig "Mercury", which accepted and won an unequal battle with two Turkish battleships;
1865 - Cossacks of the 4th hundred of the 2nd Ural Cossack regiment, who survived in an unequal battle with the many times superior forces of the Kokand under the village of Ikan;
1904 - the crews of the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets", who died in an unequal battle with the Japanese squadron;
1916 - Cossacks of the 2nd centurion of the 1st Uman ataman Golovatov regiment of the Kuban Cossack army, which, under the command of Yesaul V.D. Gamalia, made the most difficult raid in April 1916 during the Persian campaign.
1917 - fighters of the Kornilov shock regiment for breaking through the Austrian positions near the village of Yamnitsa.
First highest degree: Golden Cross, worn on the chest, on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; in the circle of the Cross on the front side is the image of St. George, and on the back - the monogram of St. George; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross is carved the number under which the one having the Cross of the first degree is included in the list granted by this degree, and on the lower end of the Cross there is an inscription: 1st step.
Second degree: The same golden Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross, a number is carved, under which a person with a Cross of the second degree is included in the list granted by this degree, and at the bottom there is an inscription: 2nd degree.
Third degree: The same silver cross on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side, a number is carved, under which one having a Cross of the third degree is included in the list of those granted this degree, and at the bottom there is an inscription: 3rd degree.
Fourth degree: The same silver Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross, a number is carved, under which the granted Cross of the fourth degree is included in the list granted by this degree, and at the bottom there is an inscription: 4th step.
For a cross, a soldier or non-commissioned officer received a salary one third more than usual. For each additional sign, the salary was increased by a third, until the salary was doubled. The surplus salary was maintained for life after retirement; widows could receive it for another year after the death of the gentleman.
The awarding of soldier George also gave the following benefits to those who distinguished themselves: the prohibition of the use of corporal punishment to persons with the insignia of the order; when transferring cavaliers awarded the St. George Cross of non-commissioned officer rank from army regiments to the guards, the preservation of their former rank, although the guards non-commissioned officer was considered two ranks higher than the army.
If the gentleman received a distinction in the militia, then he could no longer be given to military service(“shave into soldiers”) without his consent. However, the statute did not rule out the forcible transfer of gentlemen to soldiers if they were recognized by the landowners as persons "whose behavior would violate the general peace and tranquility."
It should be noted that often a certain number of crosses were allocated to a unit that distinguished itself in battle, and then they were awarded to the most distinguished soldiers, moreover, taking into account the opinion of their comrades. This order was legalized and was called the "sentence of the company." The crosses received by the "company's verdict" were valued among the soldiers more than those received on the recommendation of the commander.
For the fight against the Bolsheviks
During the years of the Civil War (1917-1922) in the Volunteer Army and in the Armed Forces of the South of Russia, military awards were used extremely reluctantly, especially in initial period, since they considered it immoral to award military awards to Russian people for feats in the war with Russian people, but General P. N. Wrangel resumed awards in the Russian Army he created, establishing a special order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, equating to St. George. AT northern army and on Eastern Front under the direct supervision of Admiral Kolchak, the awards were more active.
The last awards took place in 1941 in the ranks of the Russian Corps, a Russian collaborationist formation that fought on the side of Nazi Germany in Yugoslavia with the partisan detachments of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia, Marshal of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito.
George Cross in Soviet times
Contrary to popular misconception, the George Cross was not "legalized" by the Soviet government or officially allowed to be worn by the Red Army. After the start of the Great Patriotic War, many older people were mobilized, among whom were participants in the First World War who were awarded St. George's Crosses. Such servicemen wore awards "on a whim", in which no one interfered with them, and enjoyed legitimate respect in the army environment.
After the Order of Glory was introduced into the system of Soviet awards, in many respects similar in ideology to the “soldier George”, an opinion arose to legalize the old award, in particular, a letter is known to the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and the State Defense Committee I. V. Stalin from a professor at VGIK, a former member of the first Military Revolutionary Committee for Aviation of the Moscow Military District and Knight of St. George N. D. Anoshchenko with a similar proposal:
... I ask you to consider equating b. St. George knights, awarded this order for military exploits committed during last war with accursed Germany in 1914-1919, to the holders of the Soviet Order of Glory, since the statute of the latter almost completely corresponds to the statute b. the Order of George and even the colors of their sashes and their design are the same.
By this act, the Soviet government will first of all demonstrate the continuity of the military traditions of the glorious Russian army, the high culture of respect for all the heroic defenders of our beloved Motherland, the stability of this respect, which will undoubtedly stimulate both the b. Knights of St. George, and their children and comrades to perform new feats of arms, because each military award pursues not only the goal of rewarding the hero justly, but it should also serve as an incentive for other citizens to perform similar feats.
Thus, this event will further strengthen the combat power of our valiant Red Army.
Long live our great motherland and its invincible, proud and courageous people, who have repeatedly beaten the German invaders, and are now successfully crushing them under your wise and firm leadership!
Long live the great Stalin!
Professor Nick. ANOSHCHENKO 22.IV.1944
A similar movement eventually resulted in a draft resolution of the Council of People's Commissars:
In order to create continuity in the fighting traditions of Russian soldiers and pay due respect to the heroes who smashed the German imperialists in the war of 1914-1917, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decides:
1. Equate b. St. George Cavaliers who received St. George Crosses for military exploits committed in battles against the Germans in the war of 1914-17, to the Knights of the Order of Glory with all the ensuing benefits.
2. Allow b. St. George Cavaliers wearing blocks with a sash of established colors on their chests.
3. Persons subject to the action of this resolution are issued an order book of the Order of Glory marked “b. St. George Cavalier”, which is issued by the headquarters of military districts or fronts on the basis of the submission of relevant documents (original orders or service records of that time)
This project never became a real decision ...
List of persons who were full holders of the St. George Cross and who bore the title of Hero of the Soviet Union
Six such people are known:
Ageev, Grigory Antonovich (posthumously)
Budyonny, Semyon Mikhailovich (one of the three three times Heroes of the Soviet Union)
Lazarenko, Ivan Sidorovich (posthumously)
Meshcheryakov, Mikhail
Nedorubov, Konstantin Iosifovich
Tyulenev, Ivan Vladimirovich
The owner of the "full bow" of the soldiers Georgiev K. I. Nedorubov wore the Gold Star of the Hero for his exploits on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War along with crosses.
Cavaliers
In the 19th century, the insignia of the Military Order was awarded to:
the famous "cavalry girl" N. A. Durova - No. 5723 in 1807 for saving the life of an officer in the battle near Gutstadt; in the lists of gentlemen, she is listed under the name of the cornet Alexander Alexandrov.
For the battle of Dennewitz in 1813, another woman named Sophia Dorothea Frederika Krueger, a non-commissioned officer from the Prussian brigade Borstell, received the George Cross. Sophia was wounded in the battle in the shoulder and leg, she was also awarded the Prussian Iron Cross 2nd class.
The future Decembrists M. I. Muravyov-Apostol and I. D. Yakushkin, who fought at Borodino in the rank of ensign, which did not give the right to an officer award, received St. George's Crosses No. 16697 and No. 16698.
Among the most famous knights of the soldier George are the famous character from the First World War, the Cossack Kozma Kryuchkov and the hero of the Civil War Vasily Chapaev - three St. . No. 68047 October 1916) and the St. George medal (4th degree No. 640150).
Soviet commanders A. I. Eremenko, I. V. Tyulenev, K. P. Trubnikov, S. M. Budyonny were full cavaliers of the soldier's St. George's Cross. Moreover, Budyonny received St. George's crosses even 5 times: the first award, the St. George's Cross of the 4th degree, Semyon Mikhailovich was deprived of the court for assaulting a senior rank, sergeant major. Again he received the cross of the 4th century. on the Turkish front, at the end of 1914.
George Cross 3rd class. was received in January 1916 for participation in the attacks near Mendelage. In March 1916, Budyonny was awarded the 2nd degree cross. In July 1916, Budyonny received the St. George Cross of the 1st degree, for bringing 7 Turkish soldiers from a sortie behind enemy lines with four comrades.
Future marshals had two crosses each - non-commissioned officer Georgy Zhukov, lower rank Rodion Malinovsky and junior non-commissioned officer Konstantin Rokossovsky.
The future Major General Sidor Kovpak had two crosses, during the Great Patriotic War he was the commander of the Putivl partisan detachment and the formation of partisan detachments of the Sumy region, which later received the status of the First Ukrainian Partisan Division.
During World War I, Maria Bochkareva became a famous Cavalier of St. George. In October 1917, she was commander of the famous women's battalion guarding the Winter Palace in Petrograd. In 1920, the Bolsheviks shot her.
The last Cavalier of St. George, awarded on Russian soil in 1920, was the 18-year-old sergeant major P.V. Zhadan, for saving the headquarters of the 2nd Cavalry Division of General Morozov. Zhadan, at the head of a squadron of 160 checkers, scattered the equestrian column of the red commander Zhloba, who was trying to escape from the "bag" directly to the division headquarters
