05/06/2017 05/08/2017 by Mnogoto4ka
Since 1965, on May 9, Russia has celebrated Great Victory Day. From April 24 to May 12, as part of a campaign called “St. George’s Ribbon,” symbols of Victory—St. George’s ribbons—are distributed free of charge to everyone. The meaning of the action itself is simple: in honor of the holiday, the issued ribbons must be hung on bags, on sleeves, on car windshields... Alas, many do this without understanding the meaning and without knowing the history of the St. George ribbon.
The St. George Ribbon is an attribute of many military awards of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and modern Russia, characterized as a special insignia.
The St. George Ribbon originally appeared with the Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, the highest military award of the Russian Empire. This order was established by Empress Catherine II in 1769 to honor officers for their services on the battlefield. He had four degrees of distinction.
It is interesting that the color scheme of the insignia we are considering has given rise to a lot of controversy. According to the RIA Novosti project “OUR VICTORY” (9may.ru), Count Litta wrote in 1833: “the immortal legislator who founded this order believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire...”. According to the same website, Serge Andolenko, a Russian officer, did not agree with this explanation: “In reality, the colors of the order have been the state colors since the time when the double-headed eagle on a golden background became the Russian national emblem...” According to other publicly available information, the black-orange color scheme should be understood as the color of smoke and fire. In any case, the symbol, which appeared in Tsarist Russia, has become firmly entrenched in history and has now become the traditional color of the May 9 holiday.
Two historical anecdotes are associated with the introduction of the Order of St. George: the first case of self-awarding occurred literally immediately after the creation of the insignia. Catherine II awarded herself the Order of the 1st degree for introducing the Order of St. George. Alexander II went even further and awarded himself it on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Order. But if we return to the symbolism, the Order of St. George was given for specific feats on the battlefield or for giving the right advice useful for military service.
In Soviet times, the St. George Ribbon did not fall into oblivion, but took an honorable place among military insignia. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 8, 1943, she became part of the Order of Glory of three degrees. It was thanks to this event that it became possible to use it as a sign of respect to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War.
There is an exact list of feats for which the Order of Glory was given. Among others, in the list you can find such items as “In a moment of danger, he saved the banner of his unit from being captured by the enemy”, “Despising danger, he was the first to break into the enemy bunker (pillbox, trench or dugout), and with decisive actions destroyed his garrison”, “Disregarding personal danger, captured the enemy’s banner in battle,” “Risking his life, under enemy fire, he provided assistance to the wounded during a number of battles,” and so on. Of course, heroes who received the Order of Glory were promoted.
The St. George ribbon adorns the blocks of the “Order of Glory” - a military order of the USSR, established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1943.
- The Order of Glory has three degrees, of which the highest I degree is gold, and II and III are silver.
- These orders were issued for personal feat on the battlefield, were issued in strict order - from lowest to highest degree.
The St. George ribbon adorns the medal blocks “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945,” established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 9, 1945. The medal was awarded to military personnel who took direct participation on the war fronts.
The St. George Ribbon is part of the “Order of St. George” - the highest military award of the Russian Federation, which awarded to senior and senior officers for conducting combat operations during an attack by an external enemy.
In addition, the St. George Ribbon is also present on other military orders, medals, standards and banners.
The colors of the ribbon - black and orange - mean “smoke and flame” and are a sign of the soldier’s personal valor shown in battle.
“St. George’s Ribbon” is one of the most interesting projects for creating symbols in our country. Having appeared in the year of the sixtieth anniversary of the Victory (2005), it managed to become a tradition in 4 years. The action is recognized as the largest patriotic event in Russia. Well, this is a good result. The St. George Ribbon has a glorious history and deserves to have its colors symbolize the Great Victory.
Today, many people take part in the action, happily attaching ribbons to bags and clothes. Despite the fact that the organizers of the action and government officials approve of the appearance of a new patriotic symbol, many Russian residents, on the contrary, are protesting against the action. Their protest has a logical basis: the Order of St. George is an important award given for heroic actions during hostilities. The participants of the action, most likely, did not perform any feats, and therefore cannot have the right to wear a ribbon. The moral aspect of this dilemma is extremely complex, and each person decides for himself: either the ribbon is a tribute of respect, the personification of our gratitude, or the unlawful use of part of a military award.
Very soon we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of that great day when one of the bloodiest wars for our country ended. Today everyone is familiar with the symbols of Victory, but not everyone knows what they mean, how and by whom they were invented. In addition, modern trends bring their own innovations, and it turns out that some symbols familiar from childhood appear in a different embodiment.
History of the St. George Ribbon
There are symbols that tell us about a particular event. For several years in a row, the St. George ribbon has been used as such a symbol of Victory. It is distributed on the streets of Russian cities before the holiday; it is tied to car antennas and handbags. But why did such a ribbon begin to tell us and our children about the war? What does St. George's ribbon mean?
The St. George ribbon is made in two colors - orange and black. Its history begins with the soldier's Order of St. George the Victorious, which was established by Empress Catherine II on November 26, 1769. This ribbon was later included in the USSR award system under the name “Guards Ribbon”. They gave it to soldiers as a sign of special distinction. The ribbon covered the Order of Glory.
What do the colors mean?
The St. George Ribbon is a symbol of Victory, the colors of which represent the following: black is smoke, and orange is flame. The Order itself was given to soldiers for certain military exploits during the war, and it was considered an exceptional military award. The Order of St. George was presented in four classes:
- The order of the first degree consisted of a cross, a star and a ribbon in black and orange, and was worn over the right shoulder under the uniform.
- The order of the second degree required the presence of a star and a large cross. It was decorated with a thin ribbon and worn around the neck.
- The third degree is an order with a small cross on the neck.
- The fourth degree is a small cross, which was worn in the buttonhole of a uniform.
What does the St. George ribbon mean in terms of color besides smoke and flame? Black and orange colors today embody military valor and glory. This award was given not only to people, but also to insignia that were issued to military units. For example, silver trumpets or banners.
St. George's Banners
In 1806, the Russian army introduced award St. George banners, which were crowned with the St. George cross and tied with a black and orange ribbon with banner tassels almost 4.5 cm long. In 1878, Emperor Alexander II issued a decree establishing a new insignia: now St. George ribbons were issued as rewards for the military exploits of an entire regiment.
The traditions of the Russian army were passed down from generation to generation, and the Order of Glory did not change. During the Second World War, it was of three degrees, with yellow and black ribbon colors, which were reminiscent of the St. George Cross. And the ribbon itself continued to serve as a symbol of military valor.
Feed today
Modern symbols of Victory originate in ancient Russian traditions. Today, on the eve of the holiday, young people tie ribbons on their clothes, hand them out to motorists and passersby to remind everyone of the feat of our people and express their solidarity. By the way, the idea of holding such an action, as it turned out, belonged to the employees of the Ria Novosti news agency. As the employees themselves say, the goal of this action is to create a holiday symbol that will become a tribute to surviving veterans and once again remind of those who fell on the battlefield. The scale of the campaign is actually impressive: every year the number of distributed ribbons increases.
What other symbols?
Probably every city has a Victory Park, which is dedicated to this glorious feat of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Very often, various promotions are timed to coincide with this event, for example, “Plant a tree.” The Victory symbol can look and be interpreted in different ways, but the most important thing is to show your involvement in this important event. In addition, it is important to cultivate a sense of love and respect for the Motherland in our children, and such important actions help in this. Thus, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, the “Victory Lilac” campaign was launched, within the framework of which entire alleys of these beautiful flowering plants will be planted in Russian hero cities.
History of the Victory Banner
Many of us have seen the Victory Banner in pictures and movies. In fact, it is the assault flag of the 150th II degree Idritsa Rifle Division, and it was this flag that was hoisted on the roof of the Reichstag in Berlin on May 1, 1945. This was done by Red Army soldiers Alexei Berest, Mikhail Egorov, and Russian legislation established the 1945 Victory Banner as the official symbol of the victory of the Soviet people and the country's Armed Forces over the Nazis in 1941-1945.
Externally, the Banner is an improvised flag of the USSR created in military field conditions, which was attached to the pole and was created from a single-layer red cloth measuring 82 by 188 cm. A silver sickle, hammer and five-pointed star are depicted on the front surface, and the name is written on the rest of the cloth divisions.
How the Banner was hoisted
Victory symbols are various elements that are popular from year to year. And the Victory Banner plays the most important role among these elements and symbols. Let us recall that at the end of April 1945 there were fierce battles in the Reichstag area. The building was stormed several times, one after another, and only the third assault yielded results. On April 30, 1945, a message was broadcast on the radio that broadcast throughout the world that at 14:25 the Victory Banner was hoisted over the Reichstag. Moreover, at that time the building had not yet been captured; only a few groups were able to get inside. The third assault on the Reichstag took a long time, and it was crowned with success: the building was captured by Soviet troops, several banners were hoisted on it at once - from divisional ones to homemade ones.
Symbols of Victory, the Great Patriotic War, the heroism of Soviet soldiers, namely the banner and ribbons, are still used in various processions and events dedicated to the celebration of May 9. carried across Red Square during the Victory Parade in 1945, and flag bearers and their assistants were specially trained for this purpose. By decree of July 10, 1945, the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet Army transferred the Victory Banner to the Central Museum of the USSR Armed Forces in Moscow, where it was to be kept forever.
History of the Banner after 1945
After 1945, the Banner was carried out again in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of the Victory. And until 1965 it was kept in the museum in its original form. A little later it was replaced with a copy that exactly repeated the original version. It is noteworthy that the Banner was ordered to be stored only horizontally: the satin from which it was created was too fragile a material. That is why, until 2011, the Banner was covered with special paper and folded only horizontally.
On May 8, 2011, in the “Victory Banner” hall at the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the original flag was put on public display, and it was displayed on special equipment: the banner was placed in a large glass cube, which was supported by metal structures in the form of rails. In this original form, many museum visitors could see this and other symbols of victory in the Second World War.
A remarkable fact: the Banner (the real one that was hoisted on the Reichstag) was missing a strip 73 cm long and 3 cm wide. There were and continue to be many rumors about this. On the one hand, they say that a piece of canvas was taken as a souvenir by one of those soldiers who participated in the capture of the Reichstag. On the other hand, it is believed that the Banner was kept in the 150th Infantry Division, where women also served. And it was they who decided to keep a souvenir for themselves: they cut off a piece of fabric and divided it among themselves. By the way, according to museum employees, in the 70s one of these women came to the museum and showed her scrap of the Banner, which was the right size for it.
Victory Banner today
To this day, the most important flag, which tells us about the Victory over Nazi Germany, is a mandatory attribute when holding festive events on Red Square on May 9. True, a copy is used. Other copies as symbols of Victory in the Second World War can be hung on other buildings. The main thing is that the copies correspond to the original appearance of the Victory Banner.
Why carnations?
Probably everyone remembers from their childhood the demonstrations dedicated to the celebration of May 9th. And most often we lay carnations at monuments. Why them? Firstly, this one is a symbol of courage and bravery. Moreover, the flower received this meaning back in the third century when the carnation was called the flower of Zeus. Today, the carnation is a symbol of Victory, which in classical heraldry is a sign of passion and impulse. And already since Ancient Rome, carnations were considered flowers for winners.
The following historical fact attracts attention. Cloves were brought to Europe during the Crusades and were used to treat wounds. And since the flower appeared along with the warriors, it began to be perceived as a symbol of victory, courage and a talisman against wounds. According to other versions, the flower was brought by German knights from Tunisia to Germany. Today, for us, the carnation is a symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. And many of us lay bouquets of these flowers at the foot of the memorials.
Since the French Revolution of 1793, the carnation has become a symbol of fighters who died for the idea and became the personification of revolutionary passion and devotion. Victims of terror who went to their deaths always attached a red carnation to their clothes as a symbol of confrontation. Modern flower arrangements based on carnations symbolize the blood that our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and fathers shed during the Great Patriotic War. These flowers not only look beautiful, but also retain their decorative appearance for a long time when cut.
Popular flowers-symbols of Victory are tulips of rich red color. They are also associated with the red blood of Soviet soldiers shed for their Motherland, as well as our love for our country.
Modern symbols of Victory
The holiday of May 9 is widely celebrated throughout the post-Soviet space every year. And every year the symbols of Victory change and are supplemented with new elements, in the development of which many specialists take part. For the 70th anniversary of the Victory, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation has released a whole selection of symbols that are recommended to be used for graphic and font design of various documents, presentations, and souvenirs. As the organizers say, such symbols are an opportunity to once again remind everyone of the great feat of the people who were able to defeat absolute evil.
The Ministry of Culture recommends using selected symbols as a basis for designing almost all communication formats for holidays. The main logo, which was specially created this year, is a composition depicting a white dove on a blue background, a St. George ribbon and inscriptions made in the colors of the Russian tricolor.
conclusions
Symbols of Victory are seemingly simple elements, but they carry a deep meaning. And it would not hurt to know the meaning of these symbols for every resident of our country who is proud of their Motherland and their ancestors, who gave us life and gave us the opportunity to live in relatively peaceful conditions. And the St. George's ribbon, which is almost the main symbol of Victory, will soon appear on all cars in the country and on wardrobe items of Russian citizens. The main thing is that people understand what exactly this symbol means. We remember, we are proud of the feat of our soldiers!
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 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 attach it to their car know what it really means.
The St. George Ribbon is painted in two colors (orange and black); in pre-revolutionary Russia it was attached to several awards dedicated to St. George the Victorious. These included: the St. George Cross, the St. George Medal and the Order of St. George.
In addition, starting around the 18th century, the St. George ribbon is actively used in Russian heraldry: as an element of the St. George banners (standards), it was worn on the uniforms of military personnel of particularly 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 gold 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 merits in the military field (though Catherine herself became its first holder). The order was accompanied by a ribbon, which was named St. George's in honor of him.
The statute of the order stated that the St. George Ribbon should have three black and two yellow stripes. However, initially it was not yellow, but rather orange, that was used.
In addition to matching the colors of the state emblem of Russia, this color scheme also had one more meaning: the orange color symbolizes fire, and the black color symbolizes gunpowder (according to other sources, the battlefield, the Russian land scorched by the 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 Cross of St. George. He was bestowed upon the lower ranks for his exploits performed 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 an award (if the gentleman for some reason could not receive it). During the First World War, holders of the St. George Cross in winter wore such a ribbon on their overcoat instead of an insignia.
At the beginning of the 19th century, St. George's banners (standards) appeared in Russia; in 1813, the Marine Guards crew was awarded this insignia, after which the St. George's 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 tsarist awards. However, even after this, 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 particularly 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 hats, tied on uniforms, and attached to battle flags.
After the end of the Civil War, the St. George Ribbon was one of the most common symbols of emigrant White Guard organizations.
The St. George's Ribbon was widely used by various organizations of collaborators who fought on the side of Hitler's Germany during the Second World War. The Russian Liberation Movement (ROD) included more than ten large military units, including several SS divisions, which were staffed 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 soldiers. In the Red Army at that time there were relatively few military awards and insignia of military valor. This is where the St. George Ribbon came in handy again.
The USSR did not completely repeat its design and name. The Soviet ribbon was called the “Guards” ribbon, and its appearance was slightly changed.
Back in the fall of 1941, the honorary title “Guards” was adopted into the USSR award system. The following year, the “Guard” badge was established for the army, and the Soviet Navy adopted its own similar badge, the “Naval Guard.”
At the end of 1943, a new award was established in the USSR - the Order of Glory. It had three degrees and was awarded to soldiers and junior officers. In fact, the concept of this award largely repeated the royal Cross of St. George. The block of the Order of Glory was covered with a Guards ribbon.
The same ribbon was used in the medal “For Victory over Germany,” which was awarded to almost all military personnel who fought on the Western fronts. After the victory in World War II, 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 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 a wide variety of visual propaganda related to the theme of 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 unity not only of Russians, but also of 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, a campaign to promote the St. George Ribbon as the main national symbol of the Great Patriotic War was launched at the state level.
On the eve of the May holidays, St. George's ribbons began to be distributed free of charge directly 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 to advertise their products.
The motto of the action was the slogan “I remember, I am proud.” In recent years, events related to the St. George Ribbon have begun to take place abroad. At first, the tape was distributed in neighboring countries; in the last year, promotions were held in Europe and the USA.
Russian society received this symbol very favorably, and the St. George Ribbon received a rebirth. Unfortunately, people who wear it usually have little 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 the USSR in general. This is the insignia of pre-revolutionary Russia. If we talk about the period of the Second World War, the St. George’s Ribbon is most likely associated with the collaborators who fought on the side of Hitler’s Germany. But if we judge from the point of view of the life of this symbol in popular memory solely as a sign of Russian military valor, 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's 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 truly a genuine symbol of Russia, with which the Russian army has gone through dozens of wars and battles. Disputes about Victory Day being 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 heraldry specialists can understand them. It is much worse that this sign of military valor is actively used by politicians and businessmen, and often not for the best purposes.
St. George's ribbon and politics with commerce
Over the past few years, this insignia has been actively used in politics, and this is done both within Russia and abroad. The trend especially worsened in 2014 after the return of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in the Donbass. Moreover, the St. George Ribbon became one of the main distinctive signs of the forces that took a direct part in those events on the side of the self-proclaimed republics.
Therefore, for supporters of the Kyiv regime in recent years, the St. George Ribbon has turned from a symbol of the Great War into a propaganda tool. Anyone who dares to wear such a symbol in modern Ukraine must be prepared for a conflict situation. And the St. George Ribbon on vodka, toys or the hoods of Mercedes and BMWs looks absolutely offensive. 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 become a day of remembrance for the millions of victims, whose remains are still scattered throughout our forests, but also a day of great optimism, the joy of the descendants of the victors, 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 human history.
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The St. George's ribbon is a symbol of the Second World War. The black and orange ribbon has become the main attribute of modern Victory Day. But as statistics show, unfortunately, not all citizens of the Russian Federation know its history, what it means, and how to wear it.
St. George's Ribbon: what it means, its colors, history
The St. George's ribbon, bicolor orange and black, appeared simultaneously with the soldier's Order of St. George the Victorious, which was established on November 26, 1769 by Empress Catherine II. This award was given only for feats in battle in the form of encouraging loyalty and courage for the benefit of the Russian Empire. Along with it, the recipient received a considerable lifelong allowance.
There are several versions of color decoding. According to the first, black symbolizes smoke or gunpowder, and orange symbolizes fire. According to another version, the colors were taken from the old coat of arms of Russia. Historians also say that black and orange were the imperial and state colors, this is a symbol of a black double-headed eagle and a yellow field.
The first to receive the Order of St. George were the participants in the naval battle in Chesme Bay. Medals on the St. George ribbon were first awarded in August 1787, when Suvorov’s army defeated the Turks.
The ribbon changed slightly and during the Soviet era began to be called the “Guards Ribbon.”
During the Great Patriotic War, the block of the very honorable “soldier’s” Order of Glory was covered with it.
How to wear the St. George's ribbon?
For 13 years in a row, on the eve of May 9, the “St. George Ribbon” campaign has started, during which volunteers hand out ribbons and tell people how to wear it correctly.
Nowadays, there is a tradition of decorating clothes with the St. George Ribbon as a sign of respect, memory and solidarity with Russian soldiers. However, there are currently no official rules for wearing it. It is important to remember that this is not a fashion accessory, but a sign of respect for fallen soldiers. Therefore, the St. George Ribbon must be treated with care and respect.
It is recommended to wear the St. George ribbon on the left side near the heart - as a sign that the feat of the ancestors will forever remain in it. You can attach it in the form of different shapes using a pin. You should not use the ribbon as a decoration on the head, below the waist, on a bag, or on the body of a car (including on the car’s antenna). It would be indecent to use it as shoelaces or lacing for a corset. If the St. George ribbon has deteriorated, it is best to remove it.
There are several ways to tie a St. George's ribbon so that it looks beautiful and meets the bounds of decency. To do this, the main thing is to use your imagination, or use the Internet, where you can find step-by-step instructions.
The standard and easiest way is a loop. To do this, the ribbon is folded crosswise and attached with a pin.
Lightning or zigzag. The tape will need to be folded in the form of the English letter “N”.
A simple bow is most often used to tie a ribbon in kindergartens and schools.
A person with a St. George's ribbon tied in a tie will look elegant. It will need to be wrapped around the neck so that the ends are of different lengths. Afterwards you need to cross them and thread the right one around the left one to make a loop. Next, you need to pull the end out of the loop and thread it through the eyelet.
St. George ribbons occupy the most honorable place among the numerous collective awards (distinctions) of units of the Russian army.
The Order of George was established in 1769. According to its status, it was given only for specific feats in wartime “to those who... distinguished themselves by a particularly courageous act or gave wise and useful advice for our military service.” This was an exceptional military award.
The Order of St. George was divided into four classes. The first degree of the order had three signs: a cross, a star and a ribbon consisting of three black and two orange stripes, which was worn over the right shoulder under the uniform. The second degree of the order also had a star and a large cross, which was worn around the neck on a narrower ribbon. The third degree is a small cross on the neck, the fourth is a small cross in the buttonhole.
The black and orange colors of the St. George Ribbon have become a symbol of military valor and glory in Russia.
There are different opinions about the symbolism of the St. George ribbon. For example, Count Litta wrote in 1833: “The immortal legislator who founded this order believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire...”.
However, Serge Andolenko, a Russian officer who later became a general in the French army and compiled the most complete collection of drawings and descriptions of regimental badges of the Russian army, does not agree with this explanation: “In fact, the colors of the order have been the state colors since the time when the double-headed eagle on a golden background became the Russian national emblem. This is how the Russian coat of arms was described under Catherine II: “The eagle is black, on the heads there is a crown, and at the top in the middle there is a large Imperial crown - gold, in the middle of the same eagle is George, on a white horse, defeating the serpent, the epancha and the spear are yellow, the crown is yellow, the serpent is black.” Thus, the Russian military order, both in its name and in its colors, had deep roots in Russian history.".
Since the establishment of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George on November 26, 1769 by Empress Catherine the Great, this day began to be considered the festive Day of the Knights of St. George, which was to be celebrated annually both at the Highest Court and “in all those places where the Knight of the Grand Cross happens” . Since the time of Catherine II, the Winter Palace has become the venue for the main ceremonies associated with the order. Meetings of the Duma of the Order of St. George met in St. George's Hall. Every year, ceremonial receptions were held on the occasion of the Order's holiday; for ceremonial dinners they used the St. George porcelain service, created by order of Catherine II (Gardner factory, 1777-1778). The last time the St. George Knights celebrated their Order holiday was on November 26, 1916.
In addition to the St. George Hall in the Winter Palace, there is the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, construction began in 1838 in the Moscow Kremlin according to the design of the architect K. A. Ton. On April 11, 1849, a decision was made to perpetuate the names of St. George's cavaliers and military units on marble plaques between the twisted columns of the hall. Today they contain over 11 thousand names of officers awarded various degrees of the order from 1769 to 1885.
The St. George ribbon was also assigned to some insignia awarded to military units - St. George's silver trumpets, banners, standards, etc. many military awards were worn on the St. George ribbon, or it formed part of the ribbon.
In 1806, the award St. George banners were introduced into the Russian army. At the top of the banner was placed the St. George's Cross; under the top was tied a black and orange St. George's ribbon with banner tassels 1 inch wide (4.44 cm).
In 1855, during the Crimean War, lanyards of St. George's colors appeared on officer's award weapons. Golden weapons as a type of award were no less honorable for a Russian officer than the Order of George.
After the end of the Russian-Turkish War (1877 - 1878), Emperor Alexander II ordered the commander-in-chief of the Danube and Caucasian armies to prepare presentations for awarding the most distinguished units and units. Information from commanders about the feats performed by their units was collected and submitted to the Cavalry Duma of the Order of St. George.
The Duma report, in particular, said that the most brilliant feats during the war were performed by the Nizhny Novgorod and Seversky dragoon regiments, which already have all the established awards: St. George's standards, St. George's trumpets, double buttonholes "for military distinction" on the uniforms of headquarters and chief officers , St. George's buttonholes on uniforms of lower ranks, insignia on headdresses.
A personal decree on April 11, 1878 established a new insignia, the description of which was announced by order of the Military Department on October 31 of the same year. The decree, in particular, stated: “The Emperor, bearing in mind that some regiments already have all the insignia established as a reward for military exploits, has deigned to establish a new highest distinction: St. George ribbons on banners and standards with inscriptions of distinctions for which the ribbons were awarded, according to the attached description and design. These ribbons, being part of the banners and standards, are under no circumstances removed from them.".
Until the end of the existence of the Russian Imperial Army, this award with wide St. George ribbons remained the only one.
During the Great Patriotic War, continuing the military traditions of the Russian army, on November 8, 1943, the Order of Glory of three degrees was established. Its statute, as well as the yellow and black coloring of the ribbon, were reminiscent of the St. George Cross. Then the St. George ribbon, confirming the traditional colors of Russian military valor, adorned many soldier and modern Russian award medals and badges.
On March 2, 1992, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR "On State Awards of the Russian Federation", a decision was made to restore the Russian military Order of St. George and the insignia "St. George's Cross".
The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated March 2, 1994 states: "The military order of St. George and the insignia - "St. George's Cross" are preserved in the system of state awards..
Thus, the Russian military order, both in its name and in its colors, had deep roots in Russian history."
Comparison with the St. George Ribbon.
The ribbon, which is called the “St. George” ribbon and is distributed as part of the Victory Day campaign, is more correctly called the Guards ribbon, since it is orange.
H black and golden colors, the colors of the ribbon for the Order of St. George, in Russian heraldry had nothing to do with St. George the Victorious. On the ancient coat of arms of Moscow he is depicted in a blue cloak, on a white horse and on a red field. The Russian tricolor is the heraldic colors of St. George. Based on materials: