What do the colors on the St. George ribbon mean. George ribbon as a symbol
We all know that the "St. George's Ribbon" is an all-Russian campaign for the distribution of symbolic black and orange ribbons, meaning Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The Action Code states that the St. George Ribbon symbolizes respect for war veterans, a tribute to the memory of those who died, and gratitude to those who gave everything for the sake of victory in the war. Ribbons, as a symbol of the unbroken spirit of the people who defeated fascism, began to be distributed since 2005 at the initiative of the Student Community and RIA Novosti. However, few people know why this ribbon is black and orange, and also what exactly these colors mean.
In fact, the name of the action refers us to the St. George ribbon. This is the name of the two-color ribbon for the Order of St. George and some other awards. Since the establishment of the order by Catherine II in 1769, this ribbon has been black and yellow. In the sample of 1913, the yellow color changed to orange. True, both colors from a heraldic point of view are variations of gold. Thus, if we are talking specifically about the St. George ribbon, then it was used with awards presented in the Russian Empire, and has no direct relation to the exploits of soldiers in the Great Patriotic War. In the USSR, imperial awards were canceled, but during the Great Patriotic War in 1942, the Guards Ribbon was established - three black stripes on a golden-orange ribbon. Thus, it is she who symbolizes the exploits of the people of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War, and, according to skeptics and critics, the commemorative ribbons handed out correspond exactly to the Guards, and not to the St. George's ribbon, despite the name of the action. But, by and large, the Guards Ribbon can actually be called the successor of the St. the title of "Guards" or "Guards", in the Order of Glory and in the medal "For the Victory over Germany".
Thus, the St. George Ribbon is an important symbol of Victory, uniting people who remember and honor the feat of their ancestors, the feat of people who, united, were able to save the Motherland and the world from the worst enemy.
The St. George Ribbon has become a symbol of Russian military glory and loyalty to Russia. It is generally accepted that two orange stripes mean flames, and three black stripes - smoke. But there are other versions.
Combat Glory Ribbon
The St. George ribbon was instituted by Catherine II during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 to encourage loyalty, courage and prudence. The ribbon was supplemented with the motto: "For service and courage", as well as a white equilateral cross or a four-pointed gold star. It is traditionally believed that the black color on the St. George ribbon symbolizes smoke, and orange - flame. Count Giulio Renato Litta wrote about this in 1833:
"The immortal legislator, who founded this order, believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire."
But there are other interpretations as well. According to the general of the French army and falerist Serge Andolenko, the colors of the ribbon reproduce the colors of the state emblem (a black eagle on a golden background). There is also a version that the colors symbolize the death and resurrection of St. George the Victorious.
The St. George Ribbon was an integral part of the medals awarded for participation in successful wars or battles with an external enemy: "For courage in Finnish waters", "For the Turkish war of 1828-1829", "For the defense of Sevastopol".
Some awards were issued on combined ribbons: "For the Turkish War of 1877-1878" (Andreevsko-Georgievskaya Ribbon), "In Memory of the Russian-Japanese War" (Alexandrovsko-Georgievskaya Ribbon).
There were also exceptional cases of awarding. So, Lieutenant General Alexander Lukomsky was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir on the St. George Ribbon for the excellent conduct of mobilization activities in 1914. This award was jokingly called "Vladimir Georgievich".
George's bow
Before the revolution, in cases where the award of the order was impossible, the heroes were awarded with a ribbon. At the third award of the Order of St. George, a black and orange bow was attached to the ribbon.
The expression "full bow" also received a second, figurative meaning. That was the name of the person who received all conceivable awards.
Georgievskaya or Guards?
The St. George Ribbon adorns the pads of the medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", established by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 9, 1945. Like George, this medal was awarded exclusively to servicemen who were directly involved in the war fronts.
However, there is an opinion that the St. George ribbon of the war and post-war period was not St. George's, but Guards: both on the Order of Glory and on the medal "For the Victory over Germany". Terminological disputes on this topic continue today.
rolling symbol
During the years of the revolution and the Civil War, the St. George ribbon became one of the main symbols of the White movement. So, during the Yaroslavl rebellion, the rebels distinguished their own by ribbons attached to their clothes. It was convenient - no insignia was required. The officers wore St. George ribbons in buttonholes and caps, as well as a St. George chevron on the left sleeve.
According to the historian Alexei Karevsky, the rebels even fought under the banner of St. George and the tricolor Russian flag.
St. George ribbons were also awarded to collaborators from the ROA and KONR. Many soldiers of the Vlasov army were Knights of St. George.
St. George's regalia
It is interesting that the St. George ribbon was also assigned to some insignia awarded to military units - St. George's silver trumpets, banners and standards.
In 1806, award St. George banners were introduced in the Russian army. The St. George's Cross was placed at the top of the banner, and a black-orange St. George ribbon with banner tassels 1 inch wide (4.44 cm) was tied under the top.
The first St. George Banners were issued to the Kiev Grenadier, Chernigov Dragoon, Pavlograd Hussar and two Don Cossack regiments for distinction in the 1805 campaign.
In Russia, the St. George Ribbon campaign has started, distributing the main symbol of Victory Day until May 9. But many treat it carelessly and wear it incorrectly - in our material we will tell you how to tie it beautifully and wear it with dignity.
History of the black and orange ribbon
For the first time, a black and yellow ribbon in the system of Russian awards appeared during the reign of Empress Catherine II, it began to be attached to the Order of St. George the Victorious. The Order of St. George became the highest award in the Russian Empire: they were awarded for distinction in military exploits. The order had four degrees, it was issued to officers and soldiers (the soldier's order was called the "Insignia of the Military Order"). Later, the yellow color in the ribbon was changed to orange.
In 1913, another medal appeared in Russia that used a black and orange ribbon - the St. George medal. She was awarded to the lower ranks for courage and courage shown in peacetime or wartime.
After the October Revolution of 1917, the Order of St. George the Victorious, like other awards of the empire, was canceled. However, on the fronts of the civil war, both former generals and the heads of the Red Army continued to award soldiers for distinction in battle with the Order of St. George and the St. George Medal.
The black and orange ribbon reappeared in 1941. Then, for the courage and courage of the personnel, such ribbons began to be given to units, formations and ships. The tape was called "Guards".
Later, already during the Second World War in 1943, the Order of Glory was established, to which the "guards ribbon" was attached.
The St. George Ribbon became a real symbol of Victory in 1945, when the medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War in 1941-1945" was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. This award was received by 15 million people - front-line soldiers and home front workers. The St. George ribbon was also attached to the medal.
Medal "For the victory over Germany" In 1992, the former Order of St. George was revived in the Russian Federation. So the order and the ribbon became a symbol of the continuity of generations and traditions of Russia.
In 2005, RIA Novosti news agency and ROOSPM Student Community, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Victory, announced the St. George Ribbon campaign - volunteers throughout Russia handed out thousands of ribbons to honor the memory of war heroes. The action has become annual and this year will be held for the 13th time in a row.
What do the colors of the St. George ribbon symbolize?
Count Litta in 1833 wrote about the introduction of the ribbon by Catherine II: "The immortal legislator, who established this order, believed that his ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire." Therefore, it is generally accepted that orange means flame, and black means smoke.
There is another version of the symbolism of the colors of the ribbon: black is the eagle on the coat of arms of Russia, and orange is the golden background (in heraldry, gold can be conveyed in yellow or orange colors). Thus, the ribbon reproduces the colors of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire.
How to wear a St. George ribbon?
The St. George ribbon is not an ornament that can be tied anywhere: you should not wear it on your head, below your waist, on a bag, or tie it on a bicycle or car. It is necessary to wear it near the heart, attaching it to clothes (for example, it is convenient to use the lapel of a jacket).
There are many ways to tie a ribbon, in this video you will learn about ten of them:
We also remind you that in our newspaper passes. Send us materials about your heroes, and we will place them on the main page.
,It seems that not so long ago the St. George ribbon became an attribute of Victory Day. Meanwhile, twelve years have passed. Recall that the tradition was laid down by Moscow journalists and it was picked up almost immediately throughout the country, as well as abroad. Picked up so quickly because the symbol has a long and glorious history. And Alexander Semenenko, Candidate of Historical Sciences, reminded us of her on the eve of the next Victory Day.
The St. George Ribbon is a memory of the two-color ribbon for the Order of St. George, the St. George Cross and the St. George Medal. The award appeared at the height of the Russian-Turkish war, when Empress Catherine II established an order in honor of George the Victorious. “George the Victorious is considered the patron of the Russian army. In addition, he is depicted as a patron on the coat of arms of Moscow. And then there was such a long tradition that George the Victorious is first of all a person, and then a symbol of the inflexibility of the Russian spirit. The introduction of such an order should have contributed to the rise of the soldiers, ”says our interlocutor.
The order, as he notes, is accompanied by a heraldic component, and it found its origins in existing symbols: “Black is the symbol of the eagle, and the eagle is the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. The orange field was originally yellow. I want to note that orange and yellow are considered a kind of golden field. This is the field of the Russian state emblem.
Here is the true meaning of ribbon colors. But today you often hear that gamma means smoke and flame. As an option - gunpowder and flame. Sounds nice, but it's not true. And it also has a long history. In the nineteenth century, as some sources note, some nobles wrote that "the immortal legislator who established this order believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire."
“The conventional wisdom that orange symbolizes fire, and black symbolizes ash or smoke is fundamentally wrong,” Alexander Mikhailovich assures. - There is a classical heraldry. Such comparisons are outside of science. The St. George ribbon is a historical image and it is better to work with explanations of classical heraldry, rather than invent something. I propose to agree with the arguments of Catherine II. Black is the heraldic color of the eagle. The double-headed eagle is now both the Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation and the Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire, which we borrowed in the era of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III, thanks, among other things, to his second wife Zoya, or Sophia Paleolog. And yellow or orange, as we said, is a kind of heraldic understanding of the golden color around the state emblem. George the Victorious himself became a kind of symbol of Russia. Although it is worth noting that George is close to both Muslims and some other religions, so representatives of different faiths come to our Victory Square with pleasure to pay tribute to those who fought for the freedom of our Motherland.”
The image of the St. George ribbon was dear to the people in Soviet times. During the Great Patriotic War, it became clear that national heraldic traditions also needed to be revived. “And when the guards were born in the battle near Moscow, guards ribbons appeared, they were slightly modified, but the St. George component was the basis. Then the Order of Glory appears for soldiers and sergeants, there, too, on the order block we see the St. George ribbon. Well, when the Soviet Union won the war, the medal "For the Victory over Germany" appeared, on the order block there is also a St. George ribbon. And if we look at the anniversary medals of our veterans, the St. George format is reproduced everywhere, ”the historian explains.
The chain of times, according to the interlocutor, closed when in 2005, at the celebration of the next anniversary of the Great Victory, people wanted to find some kind of symbol that would not be invented, but would take into account both Russian and Soviet traditions and would be understandable to modern youth. “The St. George ribbon has become such a symbol. She gained popularity very quickly. Twelve years have passed, and it became clear that this is a good designation of the holiday and participation in it. And, of course, this is a kind of belonging to the Russian world, a sign that you remember the victories of your ancestors, and these are Nevsky, Kutuzov, Bagration, Zhukov, Vasilevsky, ”says Alexander Semenenko.
As you can see, it was not necessary to invent anything in order to get a symbol of a great holiday that is bright and close to millions. “You just need to comprehend the traditions and carefully try to recreate everything. If it had been superficial, artificially imposed, it would probably have been rejected. The ribbon continues to live, and it continues to unite us all - both the fallen, and the living, and those who will come after us, ”concludes the interlocutor.
Black and yellow colors reproduce the colors of the state emblem under Catherine II: a black double-headed eagle on a gold 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. Here is the true meaning of ribbon colors. But today you often hear that gamma means smoke and flame. As an option - gunpowder and flame. Sounds nice, but it's not true.
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's ribbon were awarded in August 1787. Only those who showed the greatest personal courage and heroism were awarded medals on the St. George's 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 Ribbon states that black means smoke, orange means flame and are considered a sign of a 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 overlay 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 - figured, 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, establishing the Badge of Distinction of the Military Order (ZOVO), which would later 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 division, 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 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 service, Emperor Alexander II established a separate award - a medal with the inscription "For Bravery". 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. However, 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, the Guards Naval Flag was installed for the ships of the Navy, the crews of which were awarded the rank of Guards. 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 tape 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, and the ends of the tape remain 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"
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 military 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 "St. George's 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
