Or rather, the truth about her. In short, we are raking up the mess that the liars and demagogues have littered.
The other day, a man who considers himself a communist reproached me: “You replaced the symbols of Victory with your ribbon, and now you want your neighbors to swear allegiance to this fake,” it was said about.
And he cited as evidence an exemplary performance by Nevzorov, which can be considered the quintessence of all the lies about this. Below is an excerpt from the recording and the text, and you can read and watch the full version:
“The definition of the ribbon that people tie on themselves on May 9 as "Colorado" , according to the color of the coloring of the Colorado potato beetle, I really once gave on the air of Channel Five. Naturally, I have nothing against May 9th. But if you take it so seriously, if it is extremely important for you, then you should be extremely accurate and serious, including in symbolism .Now let's disassemble this nonsense. By the way, Alexander Glebovich can say “thank you” for summing up almost all the main distortions, omissions and outright lies about the St. George ribbon so briefly and sensibly.St. George ribbon, was not known in the Soviet Army . The Order of Glory was established only in 43, not very popular, not even famous at the front , the award must have a certain historical path for it to become popular and famous, and just the opposite, General Shkuro, General Vlasov, many the highest ranks of the SS supported the cult of the St. George ribbon . It was a tape and Vlasov, and the highest ranks of the SS.
Understand, no matter how we treat the Soviet state, but the color of victory, and we must treat this calmly and courageously, the color of victory is red . The red color has been raised banner over the Reichstag , under the red banners people went into the Patriotic War, not under any others. And the one who treats this holiday attentively and with pain, probably, should be accurate in observing this symbolism too.
And I know, of course, that in the Soviet system of awards and signs there was no concept of "St. George's Ribbon".
But do we want to plunge into the wilds of faleristics every time like: “the ribbon is a golden-orange silk rep moire ribbon with three longitudinal black stripes applied on it with a 1 mm wide edging”?
Therefore, for simplicity of presentation, let's conditionally call it the "St. George's Ribbon" - after all, everyone understands what we are talking about? So…
Symbol of victory
Question: when did your St. George ribbon become a symbol of Victory?
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
It looked like this:
and like this:
Soviet naval guards at the Victory Parade
Guards ribbon on a postage stamp of the USSR ( 1973 !!!)
and, for example, like this:
Guards ribbon on the Guards naval flag of the destroyer "Gremyashchiy"
Order of Glory
A. NEVZOROV:And further:
My friend Minaev, don't forget about my former profession. I was once a reporter, after all. That is, I must be absolutely shameless and unprincipled.
S. MINAEV:And finally, to dot all the "i" - one more quote:
Look, it's amazing because you are completely cynical in answering questions around which usually everyone starts picking their fingertips and saying that it was just such a time.A. NEVZOROV:
Yes, there was no such time. We all sat in one way or another on gold chains from various oligarchs, they boasted about us, they bought us out. We tried to leave, taking with us, if possible, the golden chain.
“That Berendey hut, which was built on the ruins of my homeland, is not a shrine for me”Therefore, listening to arguments about orders, about glory, about war and exploits, about Colorado beetles and “a serious attitude to symbolism” - do not forget (just for the sake of objectivity) WHO EXACTLY talks about all this.
"Vlasov Ribbon"
Like many inspired liars, Nevzorov, looking for figures to confirm his speculations, forgot about common sense.
He himself said that the Order of Glory was established in 1943. And the guards ribbon - and even earlier, in the summer of the 42nd. And the so-called "Russian Liberation Army" was only officially established six months later, and operated mainly in the years 43-44, while officially submitting to the Third Reich.
Tell me, can you imagine that the official military orders and insignia of the Wehrmacht coincide with the awards of the enemy army? For German generals to create military units and officially fix the use of insignia of the Soviet army in them?
It is authentically known that the "Russian Liberation Army" fought under the tricolor, and used a kind of parody of the St. Andrew's flag as symbols.
The land fleet in the steppes of Ukraine turned out to be, as you can see, not a joke at all ... :)
And it looked like this:
And that is all. They received awards from the German Wehrmacht in accordance with the regulations established by it.
Order of the Patriotic War
During the war, this order were awarded 1.276 million people , including about 350 thousand - the order of the 1st degree.
Think about it: also more than a million! It is not surprising that he has become one of the most popular and recognizable symbols of the Victory. It was this order - along with the Order of Glory and the medal "For Victory" that was almost always seen on front-line soldiers returning from the war.
It was with him that they returned (for the first time during the Soviet era!) Orders of various degrees: the Order of the Patriotic War (I and II degrees) and later the Order of Glory (I, II and III degrees), which has already been discussed.
Order "Victory"
The title is speaking. And why he became one of the symbols of victory later, after the 45th year, is also understandable. One of the three main characters.
His ribbon combines the colors of 6 other Soviet orders, separated by white gaps half a millimeter wide:
- Orange with black in the middle - Order of Glory (along the edges of the tape; the same colors hated by Nevzorov and some modern "communists")
- Blue - Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky
- Dark red (Bordeaux) - Order of Alexander Nevsky
- Dark blue - Order of Kutuzov
- Green - Order of Suvorov
- Red (central section), 15 mm wide - Order of Lenin (the highest award in the Soviet Union, if anyone does not remember)
Today, when people like to rewrite history, it will not hurt to remember with what respect these orders, which were awarded to the allies, are kept abroad:
- Eisenhower's award is in the Memorial Library of the 34th President of the United States in his hometown of Abilene (Kansas);
- Marshal Tito's award is on display at the May 25 Museum in Belgrade (Serbia);
- Field Marshal Montgomery's decoration is on display at the Imperial War Museum in London;
"The Order of Victory, as the highest military order, is awarded to senior officers of the Red Army for the successful conduct of such military operations on the scale of several or one front, as a result of which the situation radically changes in favor of the Red Army."Symbols of victory
And now let's make simple as three pennies and obvious conclusions.
Tens of millions of soldiers are returning home from the front. There is a certain percentage of senior officers, a little more of junior officers, but mostly privates and sergeants.
The medal "For Victory" in general for everyone. Many have Orders of Glory, and some also have 2-3 degrees. It is clear that full cavaliers are especially honored, it is their portraits in the press and at meetings, concerts and other public events - they are also there with all their orders.
The Navy Guards, too, naturally wear their insignia with pride. Like, not a bast of shields - the guard!
So what, pray tell, is it surprising that three symbols become the main, most popular and recognizable: the Order of Victory, the Order of the Patriotic War and the St. George Ribbon?
Who is not satisfied with the St. George ribbon on today's posters? Well, let's all come here, we'll watch the Soviet ones. Let's see how they "changed history."
"Arrived!"
One of the most famous posters. Drawn shortly after the Victory. And it already contains the symbolism of this Victory. There was a little backstory.
In 1944, Leonid Golovanov on his poster "Let's get to Berlin!" depicted a laughing warrior. The prototype of the smiling hero on the march was a real hero - the sniper Golosov, whose front-line portraits formed the basis of the famous sheet.
And in 1945, the already legendary “Glory to the Red Army!” appeared, in the upper left corner of which the previous work of the artist is quoted:
So, here they are - the true symbols of Victory. On the legendary poster.
On the right side of the chest of the Red Army soldier is the Order of the Patriotic War.
On the left - the Order of Glory ("unpopular", yeah), the medal "For Victory" (with the same St. George ribbon on the block) and the medal "For the Capture of Berlin".
The whole country knew this poster! He is still recognized today. More popular than him, perhaps, only "Motherland is calling!" Irakli Toidze.
Now someone will say: "It's easy to draw a poster, but it wasn't like that in real life." Okay, here you go"in life"
Ivanov, Viktor Sergeevich. Photo taken in 1945.
Here is another poster. What is the edge of the star?
Okay, this is the end of the 70s, someone will say that it’s not true. Let's take something from the Stalin years:
Well? "Vlasov Ribbon", Yes? Under Stalin? Seriously?!!
How did Nevzorov lie there? "The ribbon was not known in the Soviet Army."
Well, we see how she "was not known." Already under Stalin, it became both a symbol of the Red Army and a symbol of the Victory.
And here is a poster from the Brezhnev era:
What's on the fighter's chest? One only “an unpopular and even little known order”, as far as I can see. And nothing more. By the way, this emphasizes that the fighter is a private. There is no cult of "commanders", it was a feat of the people.
(By the way, most of the posters are clickable).
And here is another one, for the 25th anniversary of the Victory. The year 1970 is written on the poster:
And the glorious date is written "a ribbon not known in the Soviet army", which"is not a symbol of victory."
You look what's going on! What is our current government? And she reached out until 1945, and in the 60s her "Fakes" slipped, and in the 70s!
And here they are again for their own! Again "their" ribbon:
“Postcard of the USSR on May 9
"May 9 - Victory Day"
Publishing house "Planet". Photo by E. Savalov, 1974
.
Order of the Patriotic War II degree"
And here is another one again:
Today, the St. George ribbon is perceived more as a modern fashion accessory on certain May days, which does not stand up to criticism. But few people know the history of the symbol of Victory and courage, bravery and stamina. Even less familiar is the history of the origin of the color of the ribbon. And why is the ribbon called St. George's?
What you need to know about the St. George Ribbon - we offer you a selection of 10 most important facts.
No. 1. Slogan
About the St. George ribbon, as a symbol of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, they started talking in the mid-2000s.
In 2005, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Victory, a non-political action was launched under the well-known slogans:
“Grandfather’s victory is my Victory”, “Tie it. If you remember!”, “I remember! I am proud!”, “We are the heirs of the Great Victory!”, “Thank you grandfather for the victory!”
No. 2. Idea author
The idea of the action belongs to a group of journalists from the Russian Agency for International Information "RIA Novosti".
No. 3. Code of the action "George Ribbon"
The St. George Ribbon Code consists of 10 points:
- Action "George Ribbon" - not commercial or political.
- The purpose of the action is creating a symbol of the holiday - Victory Day .
- This symbol is an expression of our respect for the veterans, a tribute to the memory of those who fell on the battlefield, gratitude to the people who gave everything for the front. To all those thanks to whom we won in 1945.
- "George Ribbon" not a heraldic symbol . This is a symbolic ribbon, a replica of the traditional bicolor St. George ribbon.
- It is not allowed to use original award St. George or Guards ribbons in the promotion. "George's Ribbon" is a symbol, not a reward.
- "George Ribbon" cannot be sold .
- "George Ribbon" cannot serve to promote goods and services. It is not allowed to use the tape as an accompanying product or as an element of product packaging.
- "George Ribbon" distributed free of charge. It is not allowed to issue a ribbon to a visitor of a trading establishment in exchange for a purchase.
- Not allowed usage"George Ribbon" for political purposes any parties or movements.
- "St. George Ribbon" has one or two inscriptions: the name of the city / state where the ribbon was produced. Other inscriptions on the ribbon are not allowed.
- This is a symbol of the unbroken spirit of the people who fought and defeated Nazism in the Great Patriotic War.
Naturally, like any code in the Russian Federation, it is also not observed by every citizen. From 2005 to 2017, paragraph 7 of the code is considered the most violated. On the eve of the holiday, enterprising merchants get away with whatever they can: manicures, vodka, beer, dogs, wet wipes, ice cream, mayonnaise, and even toilets- madness in all its glory:
Here is such a speculation on the topic of war and victory ... Petty, low, vile, disgusting ...
No. 4. On banknotes
The St. George Ribbon is depicted on the commemorative banknotes of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic issued by the Central Bank of Pridnestrovie to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
No. 5. Conformity
St. George's Ribbon in appearance and color combination corresponds to the ribbon, which is covered with the order block for the medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945."
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" became the most massive medal. As of January 1, 1995, approximately 14,933,000 people have been awarded the medal.
Among the awarded were 120,000 servicemen of the Bulgarian army who took part in the fighting against the German army and its allies.
No. 6. "Georgievskaya" or "Guards"
The ribbons distributed as part of this action are called St. George's, although critics argue that in fact they correspond to the guards, as they mean a symbol of victory in the Great Patriotic War and have orange stripes, not yellow. The fact is that since the autumn of 1941, units, formations and ships, for the courage and heroism of their personnel, which they showed in the defense of the Fatherland, were awarded the honorary title "Guards", "Guards", and not "George" or "George".
In fact, everything is simple - the guards ribbon is typical for the Soviet era of government, while the St. George ribbon is for the royal one. And they differed slightly - the color and width of the stripes. The Bolsheviks, who abolished the award system in 1917, in 1941 only copied the royal award, changing quite a bit the shade of color.
Guards ribbon in the USSR. Postcard. By the way, according to the widespread version, the term "guard" appeared in Italy in the 12th century and meant a select detachment for the protection of the state banner. In Russia, the first detachments of the guard were created in 1565 by decree of Ivan the Terrible - they were all part of his personal guard. Today they are called bodyguards, and in the time of Ivan the Terrible - guardsmen. The basis of the personal guard of the king was the “best” representatives of the most noble families and descendants of the specific princes ... Oprichniki had to stand out from the crowd, and like monks, who were easy to distinguish by black robes, special black clothes were invented for the royal guard. This fact, by the way, explains the color of the clothes of modern bodyguards ...
Paradoxically, the Bolsheviks, hating everything tsarist, overthrew the term "Georgievsky", returned in 1941 another tsarist term "Guards", but called it their own, Soviet ...
No. 7. When it first appeared
St. George ribbon appeared on November 26 (December 7) 1769. under Catherine II, along with the Order of St. George - the highest military award of the Russian Empire. The motto of the order was: "For service and courage."
Catherine II with the Order of St. George 1st degree. F. Rokotov, 1770 The Empress herself became the first holder of the order - on the occasion of its establishment ... And "For Service and Courage" - Fedor Ivanovich Fabritsian - Russian general, hero of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774.
Under his command, a special detachment of chasseur battalions and part of the 1st Grenadier Regiment, numbering 1,600 people, utterly defeated a Turkish detachment of 7,000 people and occupied the city of Galati. For this feat, on December 8, 1769, Fabrizian was the first in history to be awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd degree.
And the first full holder of the Order of St. George was the outstanding Russian commander, commander-in-chief of the Russian army during the Patriotic War of 1812, student and ally of A.V. Suvorov - Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov.
The last lifetime portrait of M. I. Kutuzov, R. M. Volkov, 1813. In the portrait, the Sign of the Order of St. George 1st degree (cross) on the St. George ribbon (behind the hilt of the sword) and its quadrangular star (2nd from the top) . No. 8. Tape color
The ribbon was worn depending on the class of the gentleman: either in the buttonhole, or around the neck, or over the right shoulder. The tape was supposed to be a lifetime salary. After the death of the owner, it was inherited, but due to the commission of a shameful offense, it could be withdrawn from the owner. The order's statute of 1769 contained the following description of the ribbon: Silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes.
However, as the images show, in practice, not so much yellow as orange was initially used in practice (from a heraldic point of view, both orange and yellow are just options for displaying gold).
The traditional interpretation of the colors of the St. George ribbon states that black means smoke, orange means flame . The Chief Chamberlain Count Litta wrote in 1833: “The immortal legislator who established this order believed that the ribbon connected it the color of gunpowder and the color of fire ».
However, a prominent specialist in Russian faleristics, Serge Andolenko, points out that black and yellow colors, in fact, only reproduce the colors of the state emblem: a black double-headed eagle on a golden background.
The image of George both on the state emblem and on the cross (award) itself had the same colors: on a white horse, white George in a yellow cloak killing a black snake with a spear, respectively, a white cross with a yellow-black ribbon.
“The Miracle of George about the Serpent” (icon, late 14th century) No. 9. Why is it named after George the Victorious
This saint has become extraordinarily popular since the days of early Christianity. In the Roman Empire, starting from the 4th century, churches dedicated to George began to appear, first in Syria and Palestine, then throughout the East. In the West of the empire, Saint George was considered the patron saint of chivalry, participants in the crusades; he is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. In Russia since ancient times, St. George was revered under the name of Yuri or Egor.
According to one version, the cult of St. George, as often happened with Christian saints, was promoted in opposition to the pagan cult of Dionysus , temples were built on the site of the former sanctuaries of Dionysus, and holidays were celebrated in honor of him on the days of Dionysius.
The name George comes from the Greek. γεωργός - farmer. coexist in the popular mind two images of the saint: one of them is close to the church cult of St. George - a snake fighter and a Christ-loving warrior, another, very different from the first, to the cult of a cattle breeder and tiller, owner of the land, patron of cattle, opening spring field work
St. George, together with the Mother of God, is considered the heavenly patron of Georgia and is the most revered saint among Georgians. According to local legends, George was a relative of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, the Enlightener of Georgia. And the George Cross is present on the flag of the Georgian church. For the first time he appeared on the Georgian banners under Queen Tamara.
It is interesting:
It is well known that the St. George ribbon appeared along with the St. George Order. So, since St. George was considered a Christian saint, how to reward Muslim defenders? So, for the Gentiles, a variant of the order was provided, in which instead of St. George the coat of arms of Russia, a double-headed eagle, was depicted. The model of the order with an eagle was approved by Nicholas I on August 29, 1844 during the Caucasian War, and Major Dzhamov-bek Kaytagsky was the first to receive a new badge. In this regard, in memoirs and fiction there are moments when officers, immigrants from the Caucasus, are perplexed:
“why did they give me a cross with a bird, and not with a horseman?”
Badge of the order of the 3rd class. for officers of non-Christian faith, from 1844 No. 10. Restoration of the Order of St. George
The Order of St. George, once abolished by the Bolsheviks, has now been restored, and by Decree of the President of Russia No. 1463 of August 8, 2000, it acts as the highest military award in Russia. The restored Order of St. George has the same external features as in tsarist times. Unlike the previous order, the order of awarding has been slightly changed: not only the 3rd and 4th degrees, but all degrees are given sequentially. An annual pension is not provided for the holders of the order, while under Catherine II a pension was provided - it was received throughout life. After the death of the gentleman, his widow received a pension for him for another year.
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St. George's ribbon - a ribbon with three black and two orange stripes, is a symbol of heroism, military prowess and glory of the defenders of Russia. This is one of the most popular symbols in modern Russia.
St. George ribbon - a symbol of awards for heroism
"George's Ribbon" is a symbol, not a reward. The first medals on the St. George ribbon were awarded in August 1787. Only those who showed the greatest personal courage and heroism were awarded medals on the St. George ribbon. Black and orange ribbons were laid in the design of military awards for personal bravery and heroism.
St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of Victory Day
St. George's Ribbon in appearance and color combination corresponds to the ribbon, which is covered with the order block for the medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." This medal has become the most massive medal, the block of which is covered with a silk moire ribbon of longitudinal alternating stripes - three black and two orange. The medal was awarded to approximately 14,933,000 people, which was approximately 10% of the entire population of the USSR. Therefore, it is not surprising that the black and orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens has become a real a symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany.
St. George's ribbon - a symbol of anti-fascism
The St. George ribbon is a symbol of victory over fascism, which is why neo-fascists hate it so much. This is a symbol of the unbroken spirit of the people who fought and defeated Nazism in the Great Patriotic War.
The traditional interpretation of the colors of the St. George's Ribbon states that black means smoke, orange means flame and are considered a sign of the soldier's personal prowess on the battlefield.
The stripes on the ribbon symbolize the death and resurrection of St. George: according to legend, he went through death three times and was resurrected twice (three black stripes and two orange ones).
St. George's Ribbon - a two-color ribbon for the Order of St. George, St. George's Cross, St. George's Medal. Also, St. George ribbons on a peakless cap were worn by the sailors of the guards crew of the ship, awarded the St. George flag.
The history of the emergence of the St. George's ribbon
In 1769, Empress Catherine the 2nd established an award for officers of the Russian Army, awarded for personal bravery shown on the battlefields - Order of Saint George.
The establishment of the Order of George was solemnly celebrated in St. Petersburg on November 26, 1769. It was supposed to be worn on a “silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes”, subsequently the name St. George's Ribbon was assigned to it. According to the statute, the Order of St. George was intended to reward military ranks "for courage, zeal and zeal for military service and for encouragement in the art of war" and went in importance immediately after the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
“neither a high family, nor previous merits, nor wounds received in battles are accepted in respect when honoring the Order of St. George for military exploits; it is awarded only to the one who not only fulfilled his duty in everything by oath, honor and duty, but on top of this marked himself for the benefit and glory of Russian weapons with a special distinction.
Four degrees of the Order of George
Badge of the Order of St. George 1st degree. 1850s
Cross, star and ribbon.
cross golden, covered on both sides with white enamel, with a gold border around the edges. In the central circle, filled with red enamel, there is an image of St. George on a white horse slaying a dragon with a spear. On the reverse side, in a white circle, the monogram of St. George (in interlaced letters SG).
Star of the Order- golden quadrangular (diamond-shaped), formed by 32 golden (solar) rays emanating from the center. In the middle of it, on a gold background, there is a similar monogram of St. George, and on a black hoop around it, the motto of the Military Order "For Service and Courage" is inscribed in gold letters. On the reverse side (reverse): a monogram of two letters "C" and "G" (Saint George) is applied in such a way that, when intertwined, it makes up the third letter - "P" (Victorious).
ribbon. The cross was worn on a moire ribbon 10-11 cm wide with three black and two orange stripes, which was put on and worn over the right shoulder.
Badge of the Order of St. George 2nd class. 1850s
Cross, star and narrow sash.
Golden cross and golden star, similar to the first degree. The cross was worn around the neck on a narrower sash.
Badge of the Order of St. George 3rd class. 1850s
A golden cross, similar to the senior degrees, but smaller. Worn around the neck on a sash.
Order of George 4th class
Badge of the Order of St. George 4th degree. 1850s
Cross and narrow sash.
The gold cross is somewhat smaller than that of the badge of the third degree. Worn in a buttonhole or on the left side of the chest on a narrow sash.
By decree of 1833 a warrior who accomplished several feats received the right to ribbon bow. The wearing of the cross was prescribed on a ribbon, the colors of which corresponded to the colors of the Order of St. George.
It was from this period that the popularity of the St. George Ribbon became nationwide, since ordinary Russian people saw such awards much more often than the golden orders of the officers of the Russian Army. This sign was later called the soldier's St. George's cross or "soldier's Egory" (George), as he was called by the people. In total, during the reign of Emperor Alexander I, 46,527 people were awarded the soldier's St. George's Badge of Distinction.
St. George honors of priests
1790. It was the second St. George's award, which appeared after the Order of St. George. Its establishment is associated with the heroic assault on the Turkish fortress of Izmail in 1790. Then, in the midst of the battle, all the officers of the Polotsk infantry regiment died, the attack was on the verge of failure. And then at the head of the column appeared the regimental priest Father Trofim (Kutsinsky), who, with a cross in his hand, led the assault. Encouraged by the sight of their beloved shepherd, the soldiers rushed to the attack. After the capture of Izmail, A.V. Suvorov informed P.A. Potemkin: “Today we will have a thanksgiving service. It will be sung by the Polotsk priest, who was with a cross in front of this brave regiment. Father Trofim became the first Knight of the Golden Pectoral Cross on the St. George Ribbon. The award was not only honorary, but also very rare - until 1903, only 194 army clergy were awarded it.
Collective St. George Awards
In 1805 the first collective St. George's awards appeared - St. George's banners (standards) and St. George's pipes.
St. George Banner of the Izhevsk Rifle Division. 1918
Double-sided panel measuring 115.5 x 105 cm.
The sign of the Order of St. George was installed in the spear of the flagpole, narrow St. George ribbons with lanyards were hung to the pommel, and an inscription was made on the cloth, for which such a distinction was received. The Chernigov Dragoon Regiment, two Don Cossack regiments, the Kiev Grenadier and Pavlograd Hussar regiments were the first to receive such a banner. They were awarded "For exploits at Shengraben on November 4, 1805 in a battle with an enemy consisting of 30 thousand."
St. George's pipes
Georgievsky pipe of the 1st, 3rd and 4th battalions of the Tenginsk regiment. 1879
Silver St. George Trumpet
In 1805 a new type of award trumpets appears - silver St. George's trumpets, which differed from simple silver ones by the overlaid image of the St. George's cross on the bell, which made them a higher award. Inscriptions and silver tassels on St. George's ribbons were on both types of insignia (Differences in form between award pipes given to cavalry and infantry: for the first - pipes are straight, long, for infantry - curly, curved several times.)
In 1807 Emperor Alexander 1 established a special award for the lower ranks of the Russian Army for personal courage in battle, which was called the Insignia of the Military Order.
The Soldier's St. George's Cross is considered the most famous monument to the bravery of warriors.
Silver badge and bow with the St. George ribbon.
February 13, 1807 the Supreme Manifesto was issued, which established the Badge of Distinction of the Military Order (ZOVO), which later will become known as the St. George Cross. The Manifesto stipulated the appearance of the award - silver badge on St. George's ribbon, with the image of George the Victorious in the center. Basis for the award acquired in battle by those who have shown special courage. This sign is still evidence of unparalleled courage.
Medal "For Bravery"
The merit of the medal "For Bravery" was lower than the Insignia of the Military Order, but higher than all other medals.
Medal "For Bravery"
Established in 1807 The medal "For Bravery", was intended to reward soldiers of irregular troops and paramilitary formations (Cossack, militia, horse-irregular, police, police, security, sentry), who do not have officer and class ranks, for differences in combat operations, as well as for feats manifested in fights with violators of public order, both in wartime and in peacetime. From 1850 to 1913, it was included in the list of awards intended for the indigenous inhabitants of the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and other Asian territories of the Russian Empire, who were not in regular troops and did not have officer and class ranks, and were awarded for distinction in battles against the enemy on the side of the Russian army. "For Bravery" also worn on a black and orange (St. George's) ribbon, in 1913 was added to the Order of St. George and became, along with the St. George Cross, the most massive soldier's medal awarded for personal bravery.
Golden weapon "for bravery"
In 1855, during the Crimean War, lanyards of St. George's colors appeared on premium officer weapons. Golden weapons as a kind of award were no less honorable for a Russian officer than the Order of George. Since 1855, officers who received the award gold weapon "For Bravery" were ordered to wear lanyards from the St. George ribbon for a more visible distinction.
Medal of the Crimean War
Medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol" 1855
Medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol"
In the same 1855 The medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol" was established.
The defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 became the main event of the Crimean War, which went down in history as the bloodiest war of the 19th century. For the first time in the history of the Russian Empire, a medal was awarded not for a heroic victory, but for the defense of a Russian city. This medal was silver, intended for both military officials and civilians who participated in the defense of Sevastopol. For generals, officers, soldiers and sailors of the Sevastopol garrison, who served there from September 1854 to August 1855, the medal was awarded on the St. George ribbon.
St. George award buttonholes
St. George award buttonholes of the Votkinsk artillery division
Georgievsky buttonholes
In 1864 St. George buttonholes for the lower ranks were installed. In Transbaikalia, the ranks of the Votkinsk artillery battalion, in commemoration of their feat, were granted St. George buttonholes, and the ranks of the division had the St. George cord on shoulder straps as a distinction. The artillerymen had buttonholes from the St. George ribbon on their overcoats.
Since January 20, 1871 in the Russian imperial army, the St. George's lanyard was defined as a belt folded in the form of a loop with a brush for fixing (tying) covers on banners and standards for distinction in St. George's regalia.
St. George ribbons for military sailors
Peakless cap of the Guards crew of the ship "Derzhava". 1887
St. George's ribbons on peakless caps
In 1878 St. George's ribbons for military sailors were installed (which have survived to this day on peakless caps of sailors of the guards units). St. George ribbons on a peakless cap were worn by sailors of the Guards crew of the Russian Imperial Guard and sailors of ships awarded the St. George flag.
For service at the border
Medal with the inscription "For Bravery" on the St. George's Ribbon.
Medal "For Bravery" for the border guard
In 1878 Emperor Alexander II, in order to reward the lower ranks of the border guards and the units of the army and navy contributing to it for military distinctions in the performance of duties of the border and customs services, established a separate award - a medal with the inscription "For Courage". On the front side of the medal, the profile of the reigning emperor was depicted, on the back - the inscription "For Bravery", the degree of the medal and its number.
Alexander II ordered“to give the lower ranks instead of the Badges of the Military Order, silver medals for courage on the St. George Ribbon, which should be taken as a rule in the future”
This award was equated with the Badge of the Military Order and was higher than all other medals, including Anninsky. Since 1906, the medal with the inscription "For Bravery", established in 1878 for the border guards, was also awarded to the lower ranks of the army, navy, a separate corps of gendarmes, since 1910 - to the police, "for feats of courage" in the fight against armed violators of the order.
In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol
Medal "In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol" 1905
Medal "In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol"
In 1905 The medal "In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol" was established, which was awarded to all surviving participants in the events. The medal had an eye for fastening to a block or ribbon. The medal should be worn on the chest. Ribbon of the silver version of the medal - Georgievskaya. Diameter 28 mm. On the front side of the medal there is an equilateral cross, in the center of which is written the number of days of the defense of Sevastopol - "349" in an oak wreath. At the top, the cross is overshadowed by the radiance of the All-seeing eye of the Lord. At the bottom of the date: "1855-1905". On the reverse side of the medal, the inscription in Church Slavonic, a quote from the Psalter, means literally “Our fathers trusted in You; trusted, and you delivered them"
St. George ribbons in their original form were present in the Russian Imperial Army until the very end of its existence.
During the existence of the black and orange ribbon of St. George, from the moment of its appearance in 1769 until 1917, it was an indispensable attribute of various awards of the Russian Empire awarded for military courage. Gold officer's crosses, lanyards of gold weapons, insignia, medals, as well as collective ones - silver trumpets, banners, standards.
George Medals of the Provisional Government
Medal "For Bravery"
Medal of the Provisional Government "For Courage"
St. George medal "For bravery"
April 24, 1917 the medal "For Bravery" was introduced by order of the Military and Naval Departments. Its statute, for the most part, was retained as it was. In the period from the February to the October Revolution, instead of the profile of the emperor, on the medals "For Courage" there was an image of St. George the Victorious. This medal "For Bravery" in peacetime, as before, was the main award for the lower military ranks of the army and navy and was issued for the manifestation of personal courage and valor in a combat situation. Quite a lot of silver medals "For Bravery", especially the 4th degree, have been preserved. Most of them are St. George medals from the First World War.
Awards of the RSFSR and the White Army
After the Bolsheviks abolished the old award system, the St. George ribbon continued to be used in the award systems of the White armies. St. George's colors (St. George's bows, chevrons, ribbons on headdresses and banners) were used in various white formations, especially by participants in the Yaroslavl uprising.
Insignia of the Military Order "For the Great Siberian Campaign"
Medal "For the Great Siberian Campaign"
The insignia of the Military Order "For the Great Siberian Campaign" is a military award during the Civil War.
Established February 11, 1920 by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Front of the General Staff, Major General S. N. Voitsekhovsky.
The order for the establishment of the insignia stated: In retribution for the exceptional dangers and labors suffered by the troops of the Eastern Front in an unprecedented campaign from the banks of the Irtysh beyond Lake Baikal, I approve the Insignia of the Military Order "For the Great Siberian Campaign". The insignia of the Military Order complains: 1st degree on the St. George ribbon without a bow, 2nd degree on the Vladimir ribbon without a bow.
The insignia had two degrees. The insignia of the first degree was awarded to all those who were in the ranks and in the operational headquarters of the troops and was worn on the St. George ribbon. The insignia of the second degree was awarded to everyone else, including civilians, and was worn on the Vladimir ribbon.
After the revolution, a course was taken to destroy everything lordly - the award "Badge of the Order of St. George" did not receive official recognition. Nevertheless, they were worn on the chest by elderly fighters who fought against the Nazis, and the owners of St. George were treated with no less respect than the Star of the Hero. Moreover, at least 6 full cavaliers of the award of tsarist Russia and at the same time heroes of the Soviet Union are known.
Nedorubov Konstantin Iosifovich
full St. George Cavalier and Hero of the Soviet Union
Svirin Ivan Mikhailovich
full St. George Cavalier and Knight of the Order of Lenin
Gruslanov Vladimir Nikolaevich
captain, full Georgievsky Cavalier
Serga Andrey Georgievich
St. George Cavalier in 1917 and 1951
Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Book Vasily Ivanovich
Soviet general
The nationality and respect for the sign is also confirmed by the fact that in 1992 the award received a second birth. The modern "George", as well as centuries ago, emphasizes the recognition and gratitude of the living for courage and personal heroism.
Guards Ribbon
After the devastating defeats of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the USSR desperately needed symbols that could unite the people and raise morale at the front. The Red Army had very few military awards and insignia of military prowess. This is where the St. George ribbon came in handy. They did not completely repeat the design and name in the USSR. The Soviet tape was called "Guards", and its appearance was somewhat changed. Paradoxically, the Bolsheviks, hating everything tsarist, overthrew the term "Georgievsky", returned in 1941 another tsarist term "Guards", but called it their own, Soviet. So the St. George's Ribbon, with minor changes, entered the Soviet award system under the name "Guards Ribbon".
Orders and medals of the Great Patriotic War
Order of Glory I, II and III degree.
Order of Glory 1943
November 8, 1943 The Order of Glory was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council. The Order of Glory is awarded to privates and sergeants of the Red Army, and in aviation to persons with the rank of junior lieutenant, who showed glorious feats of courage, courage and fearlessness in battles for the Soviet Motherland. With the help of an eye and a ring, the badge is connected to a pentagonal block covered with a silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. The ribbon has five longitudinal stripes of equal width: three black and two orange. Along the edges of the tape has one narrow orange strip 1 mm wide. The Order of Glory was also awarded to servicemen of the allied armies. So, on the website of the American collector Paul Schmitt, information was found that the Order of Glory III degree was awarded to a US Navy soldier Cecil R. Haycraft. Probably, the American Knight of Glory could be part of one of the sea convoys.
By 1945, the Order of Glory was awarded:
- Order of Glory I degree - about 1500 people
- Order of Glory II - about 17,000 people
- Order of Glory III degree - about 200,000 people
As of 1989, the Order of Glory was awarded to:
- Order of Glory I degree - 2620 people
- Order of Glory II degree - 46473 people
- Order of Glory III degree - 997815 people
Guards ribbon on the Naval ensign
June 19, 1942 By order of the People's Commissar of the Navy of the USSR No. 142 for the ships of the Navy, the crews of which were awarded the Guards rank, the Guards Naval Flag was installed. On November 16, 1950, by a decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, changes were made to the description of the previous flag, and the outlines of the star and hammer and sickle of the Naval flag were also changed. On April 21, 1964, by a decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, this flag was re-established. In this form, the flag existed until July 26, 1992, when it was replaced by the Guards Naval Ensign of Russia.
Guards Naval flag of the USSR - represents the Naval flag of the USSR with the Guards ribbon located on it, tied with a bow, with fluttering ends. The guards ribbon is located above the blue stripe, symmetrically with respect to the middle vertical line of the flag. The length of the guards ribbon in a straight line is 11/12, and the width is 1/20 of the width of the flag.
Ribbon of guard ships on peakless caps
A special ribbon for the peakless caps of Soviet sailors is the ribbon of guards ships, approved together with the guards badge in 1943. The ribbon of the guard ships has the colors of the ribbon of the Order of Glory of alternating stripes of orange and black, which corresponds to the colors of the St. George ribbon (there is an indication of 1769, which says that the colors are given: orange - the color of the flame and black - the color of gunpowder smoke).
The guards ribbon is laid along the band of the Red Navy caps (peakless caps) of the rank and file of the guards ships and units and is fixed at the back seam, with the ends of the ribbon remaining free. On the guards ribbons, in the place at the front of the cap, the name of the ship, unit or formation is superimposed in gold embossing, and on the free ends - anchors.
For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces No. May 9, 1945 The Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" was established. It could be received by all military personnel who took part in the war at the front, as well as those who did not take part in hostilities, but served for a certain time in the system of the People's Commissariat of Defense; workers of the rear evacuation hospitals of the Red Army and the Navy; workers, employees and collective farmers who took part in the fight against the invaders as part of partisan detachments behind enemy lines.
With the help of an eyelet and a ring, the medal is connected to a pentagonal block covered with a silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. There are five longitudinal stripes of equal width on the ribbon - three black and two orange. The edges of the ribbon are bordered with narrow orange stripes.
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" became the most massive medal. Later, more awards were made only with commemorative medals. As of January 1, 1995, the medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." approximately 14,933,000 people were awarded, which was approximately 10% of the entire population of the USSR. Therefore, it is not surprising that the black and orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens became a real symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany. In addition, after the end of the Second World War, the Guards Ribbon was actively used in the most diverse visual propaganda related to the theme of the war.
Medal in honor of the capture of Berlin
Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" 
Medal "For the Capture of Berlin"
Medal "For the Capture of Berlin"
Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces No. June 9, 1945, in honor of the capture of Berlin during the Great Patriotic War, the medal "For the capture of Berlin" was established. It was awarded to "servicemen of the Soviet Army, Navy and NKVD troops - direct participants in the heroic assault and capture of Berlin in the period April 22 - May 2, 1945, as well as organizers and leaders of military operations during the capture of this city."
In the upper part of the medal there is an eyelet, by which the medal is connected with a metal pentagonal block with a pin by means of a ring. The shoe is covered with red silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. In the middle of the ribbon are five lobal stripes - three black and two orange.
In total, over 1,100,000 awards were made with the medal "For the Capture of Berlin".
St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of Victory Day
In the Soviet Union, as today, posters and greeting cards were printed with the image of a black and orange ribbon as a symbol of victory.
1945
1945
1945
1948
1967
1970
"May 9"
1972
1974
"May 9 - Victory Day"
1975
1975
1976
"Glory to the Soviet Armed Forces"
1979
Anniversary awards with the image of a black and orange ribbon as a symbol of victory
1970
1995 2005
60 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War
2010
Restoration of the Order of St. George
The statute of the restored Order of St. George was approved by decree of the President of Russia dated August 8, 2000 No. 1463, but no awards were made until 2008.
Order of Saint George
The restored Order of St. George has the same external features as in tsarist times. The Order of St. George is the highest military award of the Russian Federation. The Order of St. George is awarded to military personnel from among senior and senior officers for conducting combat operations to defend the Fatherland during an attack by an external enemy, culminating in the complete defeat of the enemy, which have become a model of military art, whose exploits serve as an example of valor and courage for all generations of defenders of the Fatherland and who were awarded state awards of the Russian Federation for the distinctions shown in combat operations.
St. George Ribbon or Guards Ribbon
Since 1769, whatever the name of the two-tone black and orange ribbon, she has always been a symbol of soldier's prowess and glory.
Color of St. George and Guards Ribbon
Looking at the St. George ribbons of awards from different times, one notices a difference in shades of orange (even for the same awards). 
For hundreds of years, some old ribbons have faded, others have darkened from dirt and blood in battles, and the technology in those days probably did not allow the production of ribbons of the same orange color in saturation. Over time, the appearance of the St. George ribbon could change somewhat, the shades of the ribbon could change, but it always remained a ribbon of longitudinal alternating stripes - three black and two orange.
The St. George Ribbon in appearance and color combination corresponds to the Guards Ribbon, and no matter how the enemies of Russia and neo-fascists try to change the colors of the stripes (comparing shades of orange) and the width of the stripes (measuring hundredths of a millimeter under a magnifying glass), she always combined stripes of black (the color of gunpowder) and two orange (the color of fire). So all the arguments about the “different color schemes” of the St. George and Guards ribbons are nothing more than lies, manipulations and fantasies.
Vypushka on the St. George and Guards Ribbon
St. George's ribbon does not have a strict description. In the statute of the 1913 award, it was said only that the ribbon consists of 3 black and 2 orange stripes. This is used by the opponents of the "St. George's Ribbon", in disputes about comparing the St. George's and Guards' Ribbons, because if there is no exact description of the St. George's Ribbon, then you can say that the St. George's Ribbon does not have a piping (a thin orange strip along the edges of the ribbon), but the Guards has it. Let's not be unfounded, let's look at the paintings of famous holders of the Order of St. George, and consider what St. George ribbons they wore on their chests.
Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich
The paintings clearly show a narrow strip (Edge) along the edges of the St. George Ribbon. Only those who do not want to, of course, will not notice the orange stripes along the edges of the tape, but they are there. You should also pay attention to the colors of the St. George ribbons, they are all orange, but in different shades, which again confirms that the St. George ribbon does not have a strict description, there was no precisely established color for the St. George ribbon. The only difference between the St. George ribbon is that it should consist of 3 black and 2 orange stripes.
"St. George Ribbon" - a public action for the distribution of symbolic ribbons
The first action "St. George Ribbon" was held in 2005 in the year of the 60th anniversary of the Victory. The initiators of the action chose as a symbol, which was supposed to symbolize the unification of several generations, St. George ribbon. Since then, the action under the motto “I remember! IM proud of!" takes place annually. The St. George Ribbon action is not commercial or political.
Who deserved to wear the St. George Ribbon?
The action "George's Ribbon" is traditionally held every year on the eve of the "Victory Day". "St. George's Ribbon" has never been an award, it is distributed symbolically, that is, it cannot be earned. George Ribbon - it symbol awards and memory. The St. George Ribbon is not allowed to be used as a reward, nor can it be sold. Symbolic "George Ribbons" are distributed free of charge to everyone who wants to express their respect for the veterans, gratitude to the people who gave everything for the front, and honor the memory of those who fell on the battlefield. To all those thanks to whom we defeated fascism in 1945.
"St. George's Ribbon" - a symbol, not a reward
"George's Ribbon" is not a heraldic symbol. This is a symbolic ribbon, a replica of the traditional bicolor St. George ribbon. It is not allowed to use original award St. George or Guards ribbons in the promotion. To wear or not a St. George ribbon - everyone decides for himself. Now it is a symbol of Victory, not an insignia.
St. George's ribbon is one of the most recognizable symbols
The St. George Ribbon, which unites millions of people in many countries of the world, has become one of the most successful and recognizable symbols in just a few years. Almost 90 countries of the world took part in the St. George Ribbon campaign in 2017, more than 10 million ribbons were distributed around the world. The St. George ribbon has become an anti-fascist symbol in many countries of the world.
- St. George ribbon - a symbol of heroism, military prowess and glory of the defenders of Russia
- St. George's ribbon - a symbol of awards for heroism
- St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of Victory Day
- St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of anti-fascism
The history of the St. George Ribbon is inextricably linked with the heroic past of Russia. It is known that it was an integral part of the three awards established in the name of the patron saint of the Russian army, St. George the Victorious - an order, a cross and a medal. In addition, the ribbon adorned the peakless caps of sailors who served as part of the imperial guards crew, and on ships awarded the St. George flag. It also fluttered on the banners of the tsarist army.
What does St George's Ribbon mean? The history of its appearance
During the period of the military campaign of 1768-1774, a special award, the St. George Ribbon, was established to reward those who showed courage, courage and prudence for the good of Russia. Her motto was the following words: "For service and courage." A corresponding award sign appeared - a white equilateral cross or a four-pointed gold star.
Four order degrees are known. Cavaliers were the first to be awarded a cross, a star and a ribbon decorated with black and orange stripes. Heroes awarded the Order of the Second Class also had a star and a separate cross, which they wore around their necks. The next degree gave the right to wear a small cross around the neck, and the fourth - in the buttonhole. Since the establishment of the order, black and yellow colors have become symbols of military prowess and courage. Thus, the history of the appearance of the St. George's ribbon can only be considered in conjunction with the history of the order itself.
What the tape looked like, how it was put on
The ribbon was worn depending on the class of the awarded cavalier. There were three options: in the buttonhole, around the neck or over the shoulder. The history of the St. George Ribbon also includes such a curious fact: those who were awarded it received a lifetime salary from the treasury, and after their death, the heirs became the owners of the award. But the order statute also provided for the deprivation of the award of those who, by some unseemly act, tarnished the honor of the St. George Cavalier.
Initially, the St. George Ribbon was made of silk and decorated with stripes of black and yellow colors - as provided for in the 1769 order statute. But if you look at the samples of those ancient years that have come down to us, you can see that even then the yellow color on them clearly gravitated towards orange, which would be officially approved only in 1913. For a long time there have been discussions about what the St. George ribbon means.
The history of its appearance is connected with the war, so many believe that black means smoke, and orange means flame. This version, of course, has the right to exist, but the one expressed by the well-known specialist in the field of phaleristics S. Andolenko is more likely. He draws attention to the correspondence between the colors of the ribbon and the state emblem of Russia - a black eagle on a golden background.
St. George Ribbon. History, meaning and features
There are many sashes, but only a few of them have an independent status. The history of the St. George Ribbon knows periods when it was used as a full-fledged analogue of an order or a cross. For example, during the Crimean War, the defenders of Sevastopol could not receive award badges and ribbons were awarded to them. Another example is the period of the Imperialist War, when those who were awarded the order pinned a ribbon to the side of their overcoat. But there is also a case when the St. George ribbon was presented without an order and had independent significance.
This happened in 1914. One of the highest ranks of the General Staff was awarded it for being able to mobilize the army in the shortest possible time. Neither the order nor the cross could be awarded, since they were awarded only to combatants. The ribbon was granted to him to the previously existing order, and thus the general received the right to wear it on the St. George ribbon, which was a unique case in the history of Russia.
Two kinds of tapes
During the reign of Emperor Alexander I, it became a tradition to reward units that particularly distinguished themselves in military operations with St. George's banners. These award standards differed from others in that the St. George Cross was placed in their upper parts (pommels), and a black and gold ribbon with banner tassels was attached under it. There were no inscriptions on it. Over time, they began to be called "narrow St. George's ribbons."
In contrast to them, the imperial decree of 1878 also introduced wide ribbons on which it was written for what specific merits the military unit received this award banner. Such a ribbon became an integral part of the standard and was not removed from it under any circumstances. Their history begins with the fact that at the end of the military campaign of 1877-1878, Alexander II wished to reward the most distinguished units and subunits of the Danube and Caucasian armies that took part in the battles.
Unique Rewards for Combat Squads
Army commanders provided information about two regiments that fought under their command. Attached to the report was a detailed list of their exploits. But when the relevant commission began to consider the issue of awarding, it turned out that these regiments already had all the awards that existed at that time. It was for them that the wide St. George ribbon was established with a listing of their merits.
More similar ribbons were not awarded, and these two regiments forever remained the only ones who were awarded this honor. It is known that at the end of the Crimean War, by decree of the emperor, nominal award weapons were introduced, decorated with lanyards of the colors of the St. George ribbon. Such an award was considered no less honorable than an order. Samples of this golden weapon can be seen today in many museums in the country.
Hall of the palace dedicated to the Knights of the Order
In St. Petersburg, in the royal residence at the end of the 18th century, the Great Throne Room was opened. Its consecration took place on November 26, the day of the celebration of the memory of St. George the Victorious. As a result, it was named after him. Since then, all protocol events related to the awards have been held within its walls. The commission also met there, considering the candidacies of the next gentlemen, and receptions were held annually in honor of his gentlemen.
Rewarding with a ribbon in the troops of the White Guard
After seizing power in 1917, the Bolsheviks abolished the former award system, and the black and gold ribbon began to be used only in parts of the White Army. An example is its presentation along with the badge "For the Ice Campaign", which was used in the award system of the Volunteer Army of Kornilov. Also on the Eastern Front, it was attached to the medal "For the Great Siberian Campaign".
In addition, the history of the St. George's Ribbon knows many facts of its use as a patriotic symbol by many White Guard units and formations. Ribbons with black and orange stripes adorned the banners, chevrons and headdresses of soldiers and commanders. This was especially true for the participants in the Yaroslavl uprising. The famous ataman Annenkov ordered the veterans of his movement to wear St. George ribbons to distinguish them from the newly drafted fighters.
Allies of enemies and fighters against Bolshevism
In 1943, the so-called Russian Corps was formed by the German command, consisting of immigrants and former citizens of the USSR who had gone over to the side of the enemy. It was used to suppress the resistance of the Yugoslav partisans, and its most distinguished members were awarded St. George's crosses and ribbons. Unfortunately, not only heroic pages contain the history of St. George's Ribbon. The Vlasovites, who fought in the ranks of the Wehrmacht, also often wore this badge of valor on their chests.
In 1944, a collaborationist organization called the Union of Struggle Against Bolshevism was created in Bobruisk. On his banner, decorated with two-color ribbons, the image of the St. George Cross was embroidered in silver. The same ribbons served as the armbands and badges of its leaders. Among the numerous unions created in the West by Russian immigrants, all kinds of symbols were popular, including the St. George ribbon. One of these organizations was the Russian All-Military Union.
Continuation of the patriotic tradition
The St. George ribbon, the history of which is closely connected with the heroic pages of the Russian-Turkish war, eventually became part of the symbols of the Soviet army. In 1942, at the height of the battles with fascism, the Guards ribbon was established, corresponding in appearance to the well-known St. George's ribbon. This was a continuation of the glorious patriotic tradition.
It was used on the Red Navy caps and as a decoration for the Naval Guard badge. The banners of guards units, formations and ships were decorated with the image of the ribbon. In 1943, a ribbon of the Order of Glory was established by government decree. Its appearance is completely identical to St. George's. It was also used to decorate the block of the medal "For the Victory over Germany".
Revival of Glorious Awards
With the onset of democratic changes in the country, the attitude towards the monuments of our history has changed in many respects. By a government decree of March 2, 1992, the Order of St. George and the insignia "St. George's Cross" were restored. In 2005, in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the victory over fascism, a public action called "St. George's Ribbon" was held. Its initiators were the agency "RIA Novosti" and ROOSPM "Student Community".
From that time on, the Guards Ribbon was again called the St. George's Ribbon, and the actions dedicated to it became annual. Thousands of activists are distributing ribbons these days to everyone who wants to express their gratitude to our veterans in this way. Black and gold ribbons, symbolizing the courage and heroism of Russian soldiers, are attached to clothes, bags and car antennas. The action is held under the motto "I remember, I'm proud." Thus, the history of the St. George's Ribbon, briefly outlined in this article, was continued.
The St. George Ribbon is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russian military glory. This black and orange ribbon has also become one of the main attributes of the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, one of the most respected holidays in our country. Unfortunately, not all of those who tie the St. George ribbon on their clothes or cling it to a car know what it really means.
The St. George ribbon is painted in two colors (orange and black); in pre-revolutionary Russia, it relied on several awards dedicated to St. George the Victorious. These included: the St. George's Cross, the St. George's Medal, and the Order of St. George.
In addition, since about the 18th century, the St. George ribbon has been actively used in Russian heraldry: as an element of the St. George banners (standards), it was worn on uniforms by military personnel of especially distinguished units, the ribbon adorned the uniform of the Guards crew and sailors of ships awarded the St. George banners.
History of the St. George Ribbon
Already at the beginning of the 18th century, black, orange (yellow) and white began to be considered the state colors of Russia. It was this color scheme that was present on the state emblem of the Russian state. The sovereign eagle was black, the field of the coat of arms was golden or orange, and the white color meant the figure of St. George the Victorious depicted on the shield of the coat of arms.
In the second half of the 18th century, Empress Catherine the Great established a new award - the Order of St. George, which was awarded to officers and generals for services in the military field (however, Catherine herself became his first cavalier). A ribbon was attached to the order, in honor of him it received the name of St. George's.
The statute of the order indicated that the St. George ribbon should have three black and two yellow stripes. However, it was not yellow that was originally used, but rather orange.
In addition to matching the colors of the state emblem of Russia, such a color scheme had another meaning: orange symbolizes fire, and black symbolizes gunpowder (according to other sources, the battlefield, the Russian land scorched by war).
At the beginning, in 1807, another award was established dedicated to St. George the Victorious - the insignia of the Military Order, which was unofficially called the George Cross. He was granted to the lower ranks for the feats accomplished on the battlefield. In 1913, the St. George medal appeared, which was also awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers for courage shown in the face of the enemy.
All of the above awards were worn along with the St. George ribbon. In some cases, the ribbon could be an analogue of the award (if the gentleman for some reason could not receive it). During the First World War, the holders of the St. George Cross in winter, instead of the insignia, wore such a ribbon on their overcoat.
At the beginning of the 19th century, St. George banners (standards) appeared in Russia, in 1813 the Naval Guards crew was awarded such a distinction, after which the St. George ribbon appeared on the caps of its sailors. Emperor Alexander II decided to award ribbons for merit to entire military units. The St. George's Cross was placed at the top of the banner, and the St. George's Ribbon was tied under the pommel.
The St. George ribbon was actively used in Russia until the October Revolution of 1917, when the Bolsheviks abolished all royal awards. However, even after that, the St. George Ribbon remained part of the award system of the White movement already during the Civil War.
In the White Army, there were two especially respected insignia: "For the Ice Campaign" and "For the Great Siberian Campaign", both of them had bows from the St. George's ribbon. In addition, the St. George ribbon was worn on headdresses, tied on uniforms, attached to battle banners.
After the end of the Civil War, the St. George Ribbon was one of the most common symbols of the emigrant White Guard organizations.
St. George's Ribbon was widely used by various organizations of collaborators who fought on the side of Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The Russian Liberation Movement (ROD) included more than ten large military units, including several SS divisions, which were manned by Russians.
Guards Ribbon
After the devastating defeats of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the USSR needed symbols that could unite the people and raise the morale of the fighters. In the Red Army at that time there were relatively few military awards and insignia of military prowess. This is where the St. George ribbon came in handy again.
The USSR did not completely repeat its design and name. The Soviet tape was called "Guards", and its appearance was somewhat changed.
Back in the fall of 1941, the honorary title "Guards" was accepted into the award system of the USSR. The following year, the badge "Guard" was established for the army, and the Soviet Navy adopted its own similar badge - "Naval Guard".
At the end of 1943, a new award was established in the USSR - the Order of Glory. He had three degrees and was assigned to soldiers and junior officers. In fact, the concept of this award largely repeated the royal St. George's Cross. The block of the Order of Glory was covered with the Guards Ribbon.
The same ribbon was used in the medal "For the Victory over Germany", which was awarded to almost all military personnel who fought on the Western fronts. After the victory in the Second World War, about 15 million people were awarded this medal, which was approximately 10% of the entire population of the USSR.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the black-and-orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens has become a real symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany. In addition, after the end of the Second World War, the Guards Ribbon was actively used in the most diverse visual propaganda related to the theme of the war.
St. George's ribbon today
In modern Russia, Victory Day is one of the most significant holidays. The memory of the Second World War is one of the main factors of moral cohesion not only for Russians, but also for residents of the CIS and all Russian-speaking people in the world.
In 2005, in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the victory over Germany, an action was launched at the state level to promote the St. George Ribbon as the main national symbol of the Great Patriotic War.
On the eve of the May holidays, St. George ribbons began to be distributed free of charge right on the streets of Russian cities, in shops and government institutions. People hang them on clothes, bags, car antennas. Private companies often (sometimes even too much) use this tape in advertising their products.
The motto of the action was the slogan "I remember, I'm proud." V last years actions related to the St. George ribbon began to take place abroad. At first, the tape was distributed in neighboring countries, in the last year actions were held in Europe and the USA.
Russian society took this symbol very favorably, and the St. George ribbon received a second birth. Unfortunately, people who wear it usually have a poor memory of the history and meaning of this symbol.
There is also such a point of view (obviously controversial): the St. George ribbon has nothing to do with the award system of the Red Army and, in general, with the USSR. This is the insignia of pre-revolutionary Russia. If we talk about the period of the Second World War, then the St. George ribbon is more likely associated with collaborators who fought on the side of Nazi Germany. But if we judge from the point of view of the life of this symbol in the people's memory solely as a sign of Russian military prowess, then the decision of the Soviet leadership to return the ribbon looks like a natural step, not so much propaganda as a return to the main road.
In 1992, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the St. George Cross was restored to the country's award system. The current St. George ribbon, in its color scheme and arrangement of stripes, completely coincides with the royal insignia, as well as with the ribbon worn by Krasnov and Vlasov.
The St. George Ribbon is indeed a genuine symbol of Russia, with which the Russian army went through dozens of wars and battles. Arguments that Victory Day is celebrated with the wrong ribbon are stupid and insignificant. The differences between the Guards and St. George ribbons are so small that only historians and specialists in heraldry can figure them out. It is much worse that this sign of military prowess is actively used by politicians and businessmen, and often not for the best purposes.
St. George ribbon and politics with commerce
In the past few years, this insignia has been actively used in politics, and this is done both inside Russia and abroad. The trend was especially aggravated in 2014 after the return of Crimea and the start of hostilities in the Donbass. Moreover, the St. George ribbon has become one of the main distinguishing signs of the forces that were directly involved in those events on the side of the self-proclaimed republics.
Therefore, for supporters of the Kiev regime, in recent years, the St. George Ribbon has turned from a symbol of the Great War into a propaganda tool. Those who dare to put on such a symbol in modern Ukraine should be ready for a conflict situation. And the St. George ribbon on vodka, toys or the hoods of Mercedes and BMW looks completely insulting. After all, both the St. George Cross and the Order of Glory could only be earned on the battlefield.
The Great Patriotic War is such a grandiose and tragic event that May 9 should be a day of remembrance for the millions of those who died, whose remains are still scattered across our forests, but also a day of great optimism, joy for the descendants of the winners, but most importantly, the day of the Victory of the world over the most dangerous plague of all time - aggression, lies and attempts to revise the results of the most terrible war in the history of mankind.
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