One of the common myths about the reforms of Peter I is that before the beginning of his reign there were no awards in Rus'. There were, they say, only gifts - a fur coat from the royal shoulder or a cup of honey from the table. Although in Moscow Rus' there were also award weapon, and prototypes of orders.
5-13 – Award gold medals of the 16-17 centuries
14-16 – Award silver altyns. Late 17th – early 18th centuries
17 – Saber of Prince Pozharsky, reward for the expulsion of the Poles from Moscow
In the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible granted Cossack chieftain Ermak Timofeevich for his trip to Siberia, a saber with a gold hilt and a rich scabbard. This fact was noted in the chronicles and was included in folk songs and legends. There are no words - Ermak was worthy of the award. But is it really possible that during the long reign of the Russian tsars of the Rurik dynasty it was exceptional fact? Most likely, just a mention of the awarding of Ermak was preserved in history, but other examples were not. But the award weapons of the era of the first kings of the young Romanov dynasty have survived to this day.
Golden award medal era of Ivan the Terrible
And now we don’t know exactly how things were with awarding weapons during the times of Kievan Rus. Therefore, let's start with the times of the Muscovite kingdom.
The very first documented award occurred in 1642, when the first Russian Tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, presented an award saber to his steward Bogdan Khitrovo. A corresponding inscription was made on the blade of the saber.
And then the tradition of awarding edged weapons to persons who showed valor and military leadership was continued by the grandson of Mikhail Romanov, Emperor Peter the Great. On July 27, 1720, the Russian galley fleet under the command of Prince Mikhail Golitsyn defeated the Swedish squadron off the island of Grengam. Among other awards, the commander of the Russian fleet received a sword with the words: “As a sign of his military work, a golden sword with rich diamond decoration was sent».
The awarding of swords decorated with diamonds continued during the reign of Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna and during the reign of Catherine the Great. These have already been awards in pure form, that is, the very fact of delivery was confirmed by special certificates. For example, in the letter given by Empress Elizabeth to General Shtofeln for distinction in Russian-Swedish war 1741-1743, the following was written: “Mister Lieutenant General. For your faithful services and diligent labors during the last war with the Swedes, we most favor you with the sword, which we send here. June 24, 1744».
After the victorious end of the war with Turkey and the signing of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace, Catherine the Secondawarded swords decorated with diamonds to the eleven most distinguished military leaders during the war. Among them were the following famous personalities, as generals Pyotr Rumyantsev, Alexey Orlov, Grigory Poteykin and Alexander Suvorov.
Each award was marked with a special rescript addressed to the recipient, and a corresponding entry was made in his service record.
Golden sabers
The Tsarskoye Selo Museum houses a saber, on the blade of which is finely engraved in gold the inscription: “ Sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke of All Rus' Mikhail Fedorovich granted this saber to steward Bogdan Matveev Khitrovo" Experts in the history of bladed weapons date the saber to the 30s of the 17th century. Alas, for what military feat Bogdan Khitrovo was awarded a personalized weapon from Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich is unknown.
In Moscow, in the State Historical Museum, another saber is kept, which dates back to the 50-60s of the 17th century. On it is engraved in gold the inscription: “ By God's Grace Great Sovereign and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All Great, Lesser and White Russia, the Autocrat - Stolnik Peter Petrov, son of Zhadovsky, granted this saber" Again, we don’t know now for what specific feat the steward was awarded by the Tsar.
Personalized weapons were distinguished not only junior officers(stewards), but also military leaders of high rank. At a time when the future “creator of the Russian award system” Petrusha Romanov was still just playing at war with the boys of the “amusing regiments,” his older sister Sophia ruled the kingdom and fought with Crimean Khanate. She sent the Russian army with Zaporozhye and Don Cossacks to Crimean campaigns- knock out Crimean Khan from Izyumsky Shlyakh! Although these campaigns are considered unsuccessful, Princess Sophia granted award weapons to a whole group of military leaders who returned from the Crimea. Alas, the blades donated by Princess Sophia did not survive, so we do not know what text was inscribed on the sabers of princes Golitsyn, Dolgorukov, Shcherbatov, Baryatinsky, Duma General Shepelev and Hetman of Ukraine Ivan Sagaidachny. Logic dictates that it should not be very different from the one that was written during the reign of her father and grandfather.
Lost pride
Peter I established the first order in Russia - St. Andrew the First-Called. There was supposedly nothing like this before. The knightly definition of “order” was indeed brought with him from Europe by Peter I. But in Muscovite Rus', gold and silver medals with portraits of kings minted on them have long been awarded to those who distinguished themselves in battles. Small medals on the caps of privates and junior commanders (insignia on caps were awarded to entire regiments of the Russian Imperial Army up to Russo-Japanese War). Large gold medals on a long ribbon around the neck for commanders of higher rank. Gold medals even larger in size and weight - for commanders. Thus, the latter had the status of an order, although in name and appearance they differed from the “Petrine” ones. In particular, again for the Crimean campaigns, Princess Sophia awarded large gold medals to Princes Golitsyn, Shcherbatov and Duma General Shepelev.
Star and badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, decorated with diamonds
These “Orders of Moscow Rus'” are now kept in the collections of the St. Petersburg Hermitage. Only three examples survived until the beginning of the 19th century. It is clear that they were awarded much more to the elder sister of Peter I larger number military. We just still know about this. The state attributes of Muscovite Rus' before Peter I developed in their own regime historical path. Precious and wide, like a bearskin, Rus' could not possibly be like tiny Scotland or Holland. The Russian tsars established the form and status of awards for their best subjects. And they would be amazed to learn that their descendant on the throne said about the sons of heroes: “ I'm not dealing with people, but with animals that I want to transform into people!"(literal statement of Peter the Great before foreign ambassadors about “his” people). Apparently, after such “revelations”, the award weapons and gold medals - witnesses to the victories of the fathers of the “animals” - were hidden far away...
To each according to rank
Until 1788, award swords decorated with diamonds were awarded only to generals. But later officers began to be awarded knives as well. Only the swords were without precious stones; the inscription “For bravery” was engraved on their gilded hilts. But they began to award such weapons more often - during the 18th century, golden weapons were awarded approximately three hundred times, including more than eighty times they were decorated with diamonds.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, 241 people were awarded golden weapons. Became more generous with rewards Foreign trip Russian army of 1813-1814. Another 685 people were awarded golden weapons. The heroes of that war received swords with diamonds - generals Konovnitsyn, Miloradovich, Dorokhov. Some were awarded golden weapons two or more times. For example, Colonel of the Horse Artillery Alexey Nikitin in 1812 received a gold sword “For Bravery”, and in 1813 and 1814, already as a general, he was twice awarded swords with diamonds.
Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was awarded a unique sword, decorated not only with diamonds, but also with decorations in the form of a wreath of emeralds. The cost of this sword is also interesting - 25,125 rubles - at that time a very substantial amount.
Since the golden weapon and the order were considered awards of the same level, in the year of the centenary of the Order of St. George - in 1869 - by a special decree all persons awarded with golden weapons were ranked among the gentlemen of this order. By this time, the number of officers and generals awarded golden weapons “For Bravery” amounted to 3,384 people, and another 162 people with diamonds.
Award sword “For Bravery” of Major General I. Durnovo, received for distinction in the battle with the French in 1814
For what and what...
By that time, both the procedure for wearing gold award weapons and its appearance. It came with a lanyard (ribbon decoration) St. George flowers. The general, awarded a gold weapon with diamonds, had to make at his own expense a simple gold weapon with a St. George's lanyard to wear in the ranks outside of parades. The Order of St. George should have been attached to the hilt of such a weapon.
Until the mid-19th century, all gold parts of weapons, such as hilts, nuts, rings and scabbard tips, were made by suppliers of the Chapter of the Order of the Saint. George from gold of the 72nd standard (750th metric). The broadsword was supposed to contain 447.3 grams of gold, the cavalry saber - 265 grams, the dragoon saber - 213.5 grams, the naval saber - 367 grams, and the Cossack saber - 277.5 grams. The cost of each type of golden weapon since 1857 has varied from 230 (dragoon saber) to 455 rubles (broadsword).
Gold weapons with diamonds were more expensive - from one thousand rubles and more. Therefore, some generals handed over the received award weapons to the Chapter of the Order and received their value, and for wearing they made cheaper edged weapons not with gold, but with gilded parts.
In 1913, when the statute of the Order of St. George was updated, the golden weapon received a new name - St. George's weapon and St. George's weapon, decorated with diamonds. A miniature white enamel St. George's cross is now placed on all types of these weapons.
On the general's golden weapon, the inscription “For bravery” was now replaced by an indication of the feat for which this weapon was awarded. The hilt of the weapon is now officially gilded rather than gold.
The arms of St. George with diamonds began to be awarded at the personal discretion of the emperor, and simply the arms of St. George - by decision of the Duma, consisting of gentlemen of this order.
For the first time since the existence of this award, they began to regulate the feats for which one could receive this weapon. IN ground forces, for example, the Arms of St. George could be awarded to those “ who will capture or hold until the end of the battle important point enemy disposition, who personal example will bring a unit of at least a company to the point of striking with cold steel, who will save a banner or standard at the risk of life and deliver it from captivity, who will destroy an enemy crossing with obvious danger to life...».
After the February and October revolutions, the awarding of the St. George's weapon ceased following the abolition of the Order of St. George itself.
Keep it as a memory
It's interesting that after October revolution, in February 1918, by order of the Petrograd Military District it was brought to the attention of military patrols that were confiscating firearms and bladed weapons from the population that “ due to requests received former cavaliers St. George's weapon for permission to keep such as a memory of participation in the war, in addition to the Order for the district dated January 15 of this year, I announce that military personnel awarded in past campaigns for combat distinctions St. George's weapon, have the right to keep it as a memory of participation in the war with permission from the district headquarters».
used material from the magazine "Riddles of History"
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The tradition of rewarding Russian soldiers who distinguished themselves in battle with expensive and beautiful weapons goes back to ancient times. And although the award of weapons officially began to be listed among the awards Russian Empire Only since 1807, it is known that even in the 17th century, before the advent of the Romanov dynasty, in Russia particularly distinguished military leaders were rewarded with precious weapons.
True, those were isolated cases. The awarding of weapons has become widespread since the Patriotic War of 1812. This tradition, somewhat modified, survived until the 20th century.
Types of award weapons
In the Russian Empire, it was customary to reward on behalf of the sovereign for military exploits only cold steel (it was also called white). It should be borne in mind that only officers and generals complained about award weapons. The awards included not all types of bladed weapons, but only cutlasses (half sabers), broadswords, military and civilian swords, sabers (infantry, cavalry and naval), checkers and naval dirks.
Award Weapons From Peter I to Alexander III
“WE HAVE GRANTED THIS SABER...”
For the first time, Peter I began to reward officers of regular units of the Russian army with bladed weapons. The Artillery Museum of St. Petersburg houses a broadsword with the inscription on the blade: “For Poltava. Summer 1709". One of the first to receive a gold sword with diamonds was F. M. Apraksin. It was granted to him for the capture of the Vyborg fortress in 1710.
In June 1720, Prince M. M. Golitsyn won a brilliant naval victory at Grenham. He had 29 boats and 61 galleys with 52 guns against the Swedish squadron, which consisted of 14 ships with 156 guns. Four Swedish frigates ran aground, Prince M. M. Golitsyn caught up with the rest of the retreating ships and, after a desperate battle near Grengam Island, captured some of them. The trophies of the Russian sailors were 104 cannons with shells for them, and 37 officers and 500 sailors were taken prisoner. The delighted tsar did not skimp on awards to the winners, the officers were awarded gold medals on the St. Andrew's ribbon, the lower ranks were awarded silver, and Prince M. M. Golitsyn himself received a cane and sword showered with diamonds as a reward “for military labors and a good team.”
The saber of D. M. Pozharsky is a gift from grateful Muscovites for the liberation of the capital in 1612.
The saber of Makar the Persian with a partially erased gold inscription is known: “We are Anna the Empress and Autocrat of All Russia and so on and so forth and so on, we granted this saber of the Volga Army to Ataman Makar Nikitin the Persian for his many and faithful services in St. Petersburg on the 31st day of 1734.” Approximately the same inscription is on the saber of Ataman Fyodor Makarovich, “son of Persia,” granted to him in 1757. Father and son were atamans of Volzhsky Cossack army, founded in 1732. 
Award weapon.
For victories in the Russian-Turkish War (1735-1739) and for its successful completion, Field Marshal B. K. Minikh, commander of the Russian troops in Crimea and Bessarabia, and P. P. Lassi, were awarded gold swords with precious stones. commander of the Don Army...
Empress Elizaveta Petrovna also donated weapons. The daughter of Peter I awarded swords to Russian commanders for Swedish war 1741-1743. A document has been preserved, from which it is clear that this is no longer just a gift, but military award: “Mr. Lieutenant General.
For your faithful services and diligent labors during the last war with the Swedes, we most mercifully reward you with a sword, which we send here. June 24, 1741." IN Seven Years' War(1756-1763) Field Marshal General P. S. Saltykov was awarded with a golden sword decorated with jewelry.
Award weapons were often decorated with precious stones
Catherine I. also celebrated those who faithfully served the throne and the interests of the empire with weapons. An example of this is the saber of Nikifor Nazarov. " by God's grace“We, Catherine II, Empress and Autocrat of All Russia, bestowed this saber,” says the inscription on this blade, “to the troops of the Ural winter village ataman and the army of example-major Nikifor Nazarov for the faithful and diligent services rendered to us in St. Petersburg on February ... day 1779.” The service of Ataman Nikifor Nazarov took place “against the Bashkirs and Kyrgyz and others Asian peoples» in places where six years later it began Pugachev uprising. And the ataman was granted the rank of “exemplary major from the army” on the recommendation of G. A. Potemkin himself. 
Sword by A. S. Menshikov
NOT ONLY FOR GENERALS...
The number of awards with weapons in the Catherine era, when endless wars with Turkey took place, increased noticeably. Until 1788, golden weapons were granted only to generals and field marshals; each such award was accompanied by a rescript from the empress. But already for Ochakov, headquarters and chief officers received golden swords (without diamonds). Starting this year, instead of precious jewelry, the inscription “For Bravery” appears on them. For the first time such an inscription was made on golden swords for heroes sea battle with the Swedes near the island of Gogland (1788) under the leadership of Admiral S. K. Greig.
In the same year, heroes of the battles near Ochakov were also celebrated with golden weapons. Catherine II granted them 8 swords with diamonds for generals and 27 gold swords for officers, on which the inscription was made: “For the courage shown in the battles on the Ochakovsky estuary.” Such lengthy inscriptions on officer's weapons have not been seen for a long time.
Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin for the capture of Ochakov received the long-desired Order of St. George, 1st degree and 100 thousand rubles, and for victories on the Liman - a sword sprinkled with diamonds and decorated with laurels of precious stones worth 20 thousand rubles and with the inscription: “To the Commander of Ekaterinoslav land and by sea power, like a ship builder, crowned with success.” This was not the first golden sword of G. A. Potemkin: upon the conclusion of peace with the Porte, he was awarded on July 10, 1775: “For assistance in achieving this good advice Count's dignity of the Russian Empire; for brave and tireless work with a sword sprinkled with diamonds, and as a sign of the Monarch’s favor for that, a portrait of the Empress to wear on the chest.”
The capture of the Izmail fortress by A.V. Suvorov on December 11, 1790 entailed numerous awards, including golden weapons. The generals were awarded 3 gold swords with diamonds, and the officers were awarded 24 swords with the inscription: “For bravery.” Alexander Vasilyevich himself was not adequately noted for this victory, but by this time he already had two gold swords with diamonds.
He received the first on the occasion of the conclusion of peace between the Russian Empire and Ottoman Porte, and the second in 1789 for the victory over superior Turkish forces near Focsani on the Ramnic River. For this victory, Catherine II awarded A.V. Suvorov with diamond insignia of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called; a sword decorated with diamonds and laurel wreaths, with the inscription: “To the winner of the Supreme Vizier” and after that she forwarded to him a diploma for the count's dignity of the Russian Empire and the name Rymniksky, as well as the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George, 1st degree.”
Catherine the Great awarded her officers and generals hundreds of times with golden weapons for military exploits.
One of the early examples of officer gold weapons “For Bravery”.
Emperor Paul I, who ascended the throne in 1796, opposed his mother in everything, stopped awarding the orders of St. Vladimir, St. George and golden weapons. He replaced it with the so-called Anninsky weapon. A red cross of the Order of St. Anne, 3rd degree, was attached to the hilt of the award edged weapon, and since 1797, the 3rd degree badge for weapons took the form of a circle with a red enamel ring around the edge and the same cross in the middle. This sign was attached to the cup of the sword and was the 3rd, lowest degree of the Order of St. Anne. After the short reign of Paul I, the awarding of gold weapons was resumed, and thus in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century, a tradition was established to reward military merit with two types of bladed weapons - gold and Anninsky.
“LIKE A MONUMENT OF OUR RESPECT FOR THOSE DEVOTS”
Under Emperor Alexander I, this tradition was widely developed, which was facilitated by Patriotic War 1812 with the preceding Napoleonic War and the subsequent foreign campaign of the Russian army, as well as the war with Turkey of 1806-1812 and with Sweden of 1808-1809. An important milestone in the history of Russian award weapons was the highest decree to the Chapter of Russian Orders dated September 28, 1807 “On the placement in the Cavalry List of all those awarded for military exploits with gold swords with inscriptions with and without diamond decorations.” It said: “Golden swords with inscriptions with and without diamond decorations, granted by Us and Our Ancestors for military exploits to the Generals and Headquarters and Chief Officers, as a monument to Our respect for those exploits, are counted among other insignia; for which reason we command all those to whom such golden swords have been awarded to this day and will be awarded, to contribute and contribute to the common with the Cavaliers Russian Orders list".
If this decree placed golden weapons on a par with orders, then Anninsky was already the 3rd degree of the Order of St. Anna. In 1815, by decree of December 28, this order will receive the 4th degree. The cross of the 1st degree began to be worn on a ribbon at the hip, like all higher orders, the cross of the 2nd degree - on the neck, the cross of the 3rd - in the buttonhole (on the chest), and the sign of the 4th degree, in the form of an encircled red enamel circle with a red cross in the center and a gold imperial crown above it - on the weapon. At first XIX century Annin’s weapon did not yet have a lanyard made of an order ribbon or the inscription “For Bravery,” so it differed from the usual one only by this sign.
The gold award weapon for officers at the beginning of the 19th century had the inscription “For bravery” on the hilt. Major generals and rear admirals received weapons decorated with diamonds with the same inscription, and only occasionally on the swords of the high command do we see inscriptions with more extensive text. For example, on both halves of the sword cup of General I.N. Durnovo we see the inscription “For bravery” on top, and on the bottom side there is the following lengthy text: “Received for distinction when five regiments held the outpost of the city of Soissons on December 21, 1814 during an attack on two French corps under the command of Marshal Marmont. The battle lasted 34 hours." It can be assumed that this inscription was made later, but the original one was only the inscription “For bravery.”
Sword with the inscription "For bravery."
At that time, there were no clear rules for awarding gold and Annin weapons, but a comparison of awards with ranks suggests that usually staff officers (from ensign to captain inclusive) received Annin swords as a reward, and chief officers (from major to colonel inclusive) ) were awarded golden weapons, because in many cases they already had Annin’s weapons. Such rules were legalized only in 1859.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, and especially during the foreign campaign, in the battles of Dresden, Kulm and Leipzig, hundreds and hundreds of Russian officers deserved to be awarded weapons. Suffice it to say that during the Patriotic War alone, more than a thousand people were awarded officer gold weapons and 62 generals received gold swords and sabers decorated with diamonds. Anninsky swords complained, naturally, more often.
Field Marshal General Count I.F. Paskevich-Erivansky, already mentioned earlier, was awarded golden weapons three times. In the Persian War of 1827 for brilliant victory over Abbas Mirza, the sovereign awarded him a golden sword decorated with diamonds with the inscription: “For the defeat of the Persians at Elisavetpol.” And for the campaign of 1831, I. F. Paskevich received an expensive sword with diamonds from the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm.
Field Marshal General I. I. Dibich also became the owner of three golden swords. At the Battle of Austerlitz (1805), having been wounded in his right hand, he took the sword in his left and continued to fight. Awarded a gold sword with the inscription “For bravery.” In 1812, for Borodino, he received the rank of colonel and the Order of St. George, 3rd degree, for the battle of Berezina - the Order of St. Anna, 1st degree and a golden sword decorated with diamonds. The King of Prussia honored the Field Marshal with the insignia of the Order of the Black Eagle and a sword richly decorated with diamonds and a monogram.
At the beginning of the 19th century, it became fashionable to wear a small, 5-7 centimeter, gold or gilded saber on the chest with the inscription “For bravery.” The so-called “tailcoat” badges of orders and medals, 12-13 millimeters in size, including the badge of the Order of St. Anne, 4th degree, were hung from it. Officially, neither the dress badges of the order nor the sabre, signifying the award of a golden weapon, were approved. Nevertheless, we see them in many portraits of that time.
On January 27, 1812, Emperor Alexander I gave the commanders-in-chief “the power, during the action itself, to assign swords for bravery for the most important brilliant feats.” Certificates for these awards were approved by the tsar himself, just as the general’s weapons with diamonds and diamonds were complained only to them.
Saber - golden weapon “For bravery”
In the surviving reports about the battles with the accompanying officers’ nominations for awards in the column “what the distinguished person deserves” along with the words “favour”, “rank”, “Anna 3rd class”, “Order of St. Anna 2nd degree”, “ Vladimir with a bow", "Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class." the following representations are often found: “golden sword”, “golden sword” with the inscription “For bravery”, “Anninsky sword”, “Order of St. Anna 4th Art. for bravery."
It is impossible to list the names of everyone who received award weapons during this period of our history. IN Napoleonic Wars until 1812, as well as in the wars with Turkey and Sweden that took place in the same years, according to V.A. Durov, golden weapons were awarded: “In 1806 - 59 (including 16 in 1805), in 1807- m - 240, in 1809 - 47, in 1810 - 92, in 1811 - 19 people.” Among them were ours national heroes, who have become the greatest commanders and the pride of the Fatherland, - P. I. Bagration, A. P. Ermolov, M. I. Platov, D. V. Davydov, D. S. Dokhturov, A. I. Kutaisov and others.
Anninsky weapon "For bravery"
War heroes such as M.A. Miloradovich, P.P. Konovnitsyn, N.V. Ilovaisky, V.V. Orlov-Denisov, A.I. Bistrom and many other generals, whose portraits The Military Gallery of Heroes of 1812 in the Hermitage is decorated.
As already mentioned, sometimes inscriptions were made on the “diamond” swords explaining why they complained. So, on the sword of Lieutenant General I. S. Dorokhov there were the words “For the liberation of Vereya”, and on the sword of General Duke of Württemberg - “For the conquest of Danzig”.
Foreign allies were also awarded Russian weapons. Field Marshal of Prussia G. L. Blucher, English Duke Field Marshal A. K. Wellington, Austrian prince Field Marshal K.F. Schwarzenberg and many others received gold swords with diamonds and the inscription “For bravery” from Emperor Alexander I. Foreigners also awarded Russian generals with weapons. A. H. Benckendorff, for example, received as a reward an expensive sword from the King of the Netherlands with the inscription “Amsterdam and Breda” and a golden saber from the Queen of England.
And finally, our supreme commanders in this war and full gentlemen The Order of St. George M.I. Kutuzov and M.B. Barclay de Tolly were also not spared award weapons. M. B. Barclay de Tolly received a golden sword with diamond laurels and the inscription: “For January 20, 1814” for the battle of Brienne, and M. I. Kutuzov became the owner of probably the most expensive and beautiful sword, decorated with diamonds and wreaths of emeralds. It is known that it cost 25,125 rubles.
Admire these masterpieces:
From time immemorial, in the armies of most countries of the world, soldiers who especially distinguished themselves on the battlefield were awarded weapons. It was a great honor for a true warrior to receive a sword or saber from the hands of a commander or monarch. Indeed, in addition to purely practical benefits, the hero was given weapons of excellent quality as a reward - the very fact of donation increased the status of its owner. However, for the time being, the fact of such an award was not regulated, and soldiers were awarded weapons solely at the request of the donor.
Who was the first?
Now we don’t know exactly how things were with the awarding of weapons during the times of Kievan Rus. Therefore, let's start from the times of the Muscovite kingdom.
The very first documented award occurred in 1642, when the first Russian Tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, awarded a saber to his steward Bogdan Khitrovo. A corresponding inscription was made on the blade of the saber.
And then the tradition of awarding edged weapons to persons who showed valor and military leadership was continued by the grandson of Mikhail Romanov, Emperor Peter the Great. On July 27, 1720, the Russian galley fleet under the command of Prince Mikhail Golitsyn defeated the Swedish squadron off the island of Grengam. Among other awards, the commander of the Russian fleet received a sword with the words: “As a sign of his military work, a golden sword with a rich decoration of diamonds was sent.”
The awarding of swords decorated with diamonds continued during the reign of Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna and during the reign of Catherine the Great. These were already awards in their pure form, that is, the very fact of presentation was confirmed by special certificates. For example, in the letter given by Empress Elizabeth to General Shtofeln for his distinction in the Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743, the following was written: “Mr. Lieutenant General. For your faithful services and diligent labors during the last war with the Swedes, we most mercifully reward you with a sword, which we send here. June 24, 1744."
After the victorious end of the war with Turkey and the signing of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace, Catherine II awarded swords decorated with diamonds to the eleven most distinguished military leaders during the war. Among them were such famous personalities as generals Pyotr Rumyantsev, Alexei Orlov, Grigory Potemkin and Alexander Suvorov.
Each award was marked with a special rescript addressed to the recipient, and a corresponding entry was made in his service record.
To each according to rank
Until 1788, award swords decorated with diamonds were awarded only to generals. But later officers began to be awarded knives as well. Only the swords were without precious stones; the inscription “For bravery” was engraved on their gilded hilts. But they began to award such weapons more often - during the 18th century, golden weapons were awarded approximately three hundred times, including more than eighty times they were decorated with diamonds.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, 241 people were awarded golden weapons. The Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army of 1813-1814 became more generous in rewards. Another 685 people were awarded golden weapons. The heroes of that war received swords with diamonds - generals Konovnitsyn, Miloradovich, Dorokhov. Some were awarded golden weapons two or more times. For example, Colonel of the Horse Artillery Alexey Nikitin in 1812 received a gold sword “For Bravery”, and in 1813 and 1814, already as a general, he was twice awarded swords with diamonds.
Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was awarded a unique sword, decorated not only with diamonds, but also with decorations in the form of a wreath of emeralds. The cost of this sword is also interesting - 25,125 rubles - at that time a very substantial amount.
Since the golden weapon and the order were considered awards of the same level, in the year of the centenary of the Order of St. George - in 1869 - by a special decree all persons awarded with golden weapons were ranked among the gentlemen of this order. By this time, the number of officers and generals awarded golden weapons “For Bravery” amounted to 3,384 people, and another 162 people with diamonds.
For what and what...
By that time, both the procedure for wearing gold award weapons and its appearance were regulated. It was accompanied by a lanyard (decoration made of ribbons) of St. George's flowers. The general, awarded a gold weapon with diamonds, had to make at his own expense also a simple gold weapon with a St. George lanyard to be worn in the ranks outside of parades. The Order of St. George should have been attached to the hilt of such a weapon.
Sword of civil officials mod. 1855 with custom decorated blade, under the princely crown, Russian Empire
Until the mid-19th century, all gold parts of weapons, such as hilts, nuts, rings and scabbard tips, were made by suppliers of the Chapter of the Order of St. George from gold of the 72nd standard (750th metric). The broadsword was supposed to contain 447.3 grams of gold, the cavalry saber - 265 grams, the dragoon saber - 213.5 grams, the naval saber - 367 grams, and the Cossack saber - 277.5 grams. The cost of each type of golden weapon since 1857 has varied from 230 (dragoon saber) to 455 rubles (broadsword).
Dragoon officer's saber mod. 1881, golden weapon "For Bravery" with a custom decorated blade, Russian Empire
Gold weapons with diamonds were more expensive - from one thousand rubles and more. Therefore, some generals handed over the received award weapons to the Chapter of the Order and received their value, and for wearing they made cheaper edged weapons not with gold, but with gilded parts.
Golden St. George Weapon mod. 1909 ( double award) - with the inscription "For Bravery" with a Caucasian blade, Russian Empire
In 1913, when the statute of the Order of St. George was updated, the golden weapons received a new name - St. George's weapon and St. George's weapon, decorated with diamonds. A miniature white enamel St. George's cross is now placed on all types of these weapons. On the general's golden weapon, the inscription “For bravery” was now replaced by an indication of the feat for which this weapon was awarded. The hilt of the weapon is now officially gilded rather than gold.
The arms of St. George with diamonds began to be awarded at the personal discretion of the emperor, and simply the arms of St. George - by decision of the Duma, consisting of gentlemen of this order.
For the first time since the existence of this award, they began to regulate the feats for which one could receive this weapon. In the ground forces, for example, the Arms of St. George could be awarded to the one “who captures or holds until the end of the battle an important point of the enemy’s location, who by personal example brings a unit of at least a company to the point of striking with cold weapons, who saves a banner or standard at the risk of his life, and will deliver him from captivity, who will destroy the enemy crossing with obvious danger to his life...”
After the February and October revolutions, the awarding of the St. George's weapon ceased following the abolition of the Order of St. George itself.
Keep it as a memory
It is curious that after the October Revolution, in February 1918, by order of the Petrograd Military District it was brought to the attention of military patrols that confiscated firearms and bladed weapons from the population that “due to incoming requests from former gentlemen of the St. George’s weapon for permission to store it as a memory of participation in the war, in addition to the Order for the district of January 15 of this year, I declare that military personnel who were awarded the St. George’s weapon in past campaigns for military distinction have the right to keep it as a memory of participation in the war with permission from the district headquarters.”
For every officer of the Russian army, receiving a reward for military valor and the courage of a registered weapon has always been desirable and honorable. And although it did not include exquisite precious jewelry, which was the privilege of the highest military ranks, an officer’s sword with the laconic inscription “For Bravery” was no less worthy of a reward. In the history of Russian premium edged weapons, 1788 is not in vain considered significant. If until that time only representatives of the generals were awarded golden weapons, the end of the 18th century was marked by the appearance of another type of award weapon, intended to be awarded to officers who had especially distinguished themselves in battle, also gold, but without precious decorations.
This was explained primarily by the fact that it was during that period that Russia had to fight on two fronts for quite a long time. In September 1787, a war with Turkey began, and in the summer of 1788, realizing that all the main military forces of the Russian army were concentrated in the south, Sweden decided to take advantage of the situation in order to regain what it had previously lost in the wars with Russia. And although there was no official declaration of war, fighting started by the Swedes northern borders The Russian Empire posed a very serious threat.
The successful actions of the Russian troops, during which massive heroism and unparalleled courage were displayed, required well-deserved awards, not only for senior military ranks, but also for officers. This is how the Golden Officer Swords with the inscription “For Bravery” appeared. And although the type of this inscription did not change over the next 130 years, it was not developed immediately. In any case, after the Russian troops captured the Ochakov fortress, the first Golden officer swords with honorary inscriptions were awarded, on eight of which was inscribed “For courage shown in the battle on June 7, 1788 on the Ochakovsky estuary,” and on the other twelve - the same inscription , but without specifying the date. Quite soon, such lengthy inscriptions were replaced with the laconic “For courage.” At first, these words were applied to the blade, a little later - to the hilt, and after 1790 - to the guard of the weapon. Moreover, the Golden Officer's Weapon was issued to both land and naval officers who distinguished themselves.
At the last stage of the Russian-Turkish War, after the famous storming of Izmail, the Golden Arms were issued to 24 officers. All these swords and sabers had the inscription “For Bravery” on both sides of the hilt. After the conclusion of peace with Sweden in 1791, the Russian army, which had only one enemy left - Turkey, with new strength began to defeat her. In June of the same year, 4 officers were awarded Golden Swords for the storming of Anapa; in the same days, at Machin (on the Danube), the Russian corps under the command of Chief General N.V. Repnin dealt a crushing blow to the 80,000-strong Turkish army. And although, judging by the documents, many officers were awarded for this victory, today the names of only six holders of the Golden Arms for Machin are known: five of them received Golden Sabers “For Bravery” and one artillery major received a Golden Sword with the same inscription. The last battle In the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791, the battle began at Cape Kaliakria, when on July 31, 1791, a Russian squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Ushakov completely defeated the Turkish fleet. For this “naval victory”, which ended with the signing of a peace treaty with Turkey, both representatives of the generals and officers were awarded Golden Arms in accordance with the Decree of Catherine II of September 16, 1792. They received 8 Golden Swords with the inscription “For Bravery.” In total, for the entire 18th century, judging by existing data, about 280 officers became holders of the Golden Arms with the inscription “For Bravery” regular army and the fleet.
The most outstanding period in the history of Russian Golden Weapons were the years of the Patriotic War. In 1812 alone, over 500 units were issued. Moreover, the officers received most of it. Unparalleled mass heroism, which became the norm of life for the Russian army literally from the first days of the war, sharply increased the number of awards issued. On January 27, 1813, the commanders-in-chief of the armies received “the power, during the action itself, to assign swords for bravery for the most brilliant feats.” And although the Certificate for Golden Officer Weapons “For Bravery” was approved by the emperor himself, this step made it possible to significantly speed up the receipt of awards for distinguished officers. Some of them were awarded the Golden Weapon more than once. In total, during the Patriotic War of 1812 and the Foreign Campaign of 1813-1814, golden officer weapons were issued about 1,700 times.
TO early XIX century, the officer's Golden Weapon was one of the most honorable military distinctions, which almost every commander dreamed of receiving. The first battle of this century was the famous Austerlitz. And although the Russian troops suffered crushing defeat, The Golden Weapon “For Bravery” was nevertheless awarded to those officers who, in the difficult situation that developed at that time, managed not only to maintain composure, but also to help in every possible way to reduce the losses of the Russian army.
In addition to the French campaigns of 1805, 1806-1807, Russia, before the Napoleonic invasion, was again forced to wage wars with Turkey (1806-1812) and Sweden (1808-1809). According to far from complete data, over the years, during military operations, about 950 people were awarded the Golden Officer's Arms "For Bravery". Among them: 20-year-old guards officer Ivan Dibich, who during Battle of Austerlitz was wounded in the hand right hand, but never left the battlefield, continuing to fight with his left; on the Turkish front - the then unknown staff captain, and later field marshal general of the Russian army, Ivan Paskevich; in Swedish - future famous commander partisan detachments Denis Davydov and Colonel Yakov Kulnev. The Golden Officer's Weapon was also awarded for distinction in military operations against the mountaineers in the Caucasus.
In the decade following World War II, awards with Golden Arms were sporadic. But from 1826 to 1829, when Russia did not stop military operations both with the mountaineers in the Caucasus and with Persia and Turkey, their number increased significantly. Until 1844, all award Golden weapons were issued from the Emperor’s Cabinet, and from April of the same year they were received the order will henceforth continue to issue golden weapons with diamonds from the Cabinet, and golden officer weapons without decorations - from the Chapter of Orders. And since since 1814, when sending Golden weapons to recipients, 10% was added to all expenditure amounts, which went to the benefit of war invalids, the Chapter was asked to continue this tradition.
The Crimean War of 1853-1856 gave Russia 456 holders of the Golden Arms “For Bravery”. In addition, almost the entire first half of XIX centuries, continuous hostilities continued in the Caucasus. In the period from 1831 to 1849, the Golden Officer Weapon “For Bravery” was issued 176 times, and from 1850 to 1864 - more than 300. And officers who distinguished themselves in military operations Central Asia from 1853 to 1885, there were more than a hundred. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, about 600 officers were awarded the Golden Arms “For Bravery”, and more than 800 were awarded for the war with Japan of 1904-1905.
A special page in the history of Russian award weapons was the appearance of the so-called Anninsky weapons. This variety was associated with the Order of St. Anne, established back in 1735 by Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp in his memory deceased wife Anna, daughter of the first Russian Emperor Peter, and had one degree. After the death of Charles, the throne of the Duchy of Holstein passed to his son Karl Peter Ulrich, who was later destined to become Russian Emperor Peter III. When after the overthrow of Peter III power captured by Catherine II, their young son Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich became the Duke of Holstein. Subsequently, Russia renounced the rights to this duchy, but the Order of St. Anne remained in the country.
After the death of Catherine, on the day of his coronation - April 5, 1797, Paul named the Order of St. Anna among other orders of the Russian Empire. From that time on, it was divided into three degrees, the lowest of them, III, was worn on edged weapons in the form of a small circle topped with an imperial crown, in the red enamel ring of which there was a red enamel cross, exactly the same as in the central medallion of the star of the Order. The sign of the Order was worn not on the inner, but on the outer sword cup, since there was no longer any reason to hide it. The most a large number of awards occurred during the period of the Italian and Swiss campaigns of A.V. Suvorov (1799), and also for a time successful actions Russian squadron under the command of Admiral F.F. Ushakov in the Mediterranean campaign (1798-1800). In total, during the period of his reign, Paul granted Annin weapons to 890 people. The last of them, on February 10, 1801, a few days before the death of the emperor, was Captain P.G. Butkov.
In 1815, Emperor I divided the Order into four degrees, henceforth it III degree was a cross worn on a ribbon on the chest, and IV, again the last, was a weapon. In 1829, the first official Charter of the Order of St. appeared. Anna, according to which on the Anninsky weapon, received for military distinctions, not only the sign of the order was placed, but also the inscription “For bravery.” Unlike other Russian orders, the lowest degree of the Order of St. Anna was not removed from the award even if he received a higher degree. The weapon continued to be worn as a badge of honor received in battle. In the Statute of the Order, dated the same year 1829, it was stipulated that the sign of its IV degree could be worn on all types of edged weapons, that is, not only on sabers and checkers traditional for award weapons, but also on half sabers, broadswords and naval dirks. The new Statute of the Order, adopted in 1845, once again confirming the previous establishments, introduced one important change in its fate. From now on, officers professing a non-Christian religion were awarded orders decorated with the image of the State Russian eagle instead of the cross and the image of St. Anne, Anninsky’s weapon was also attached not to a red cross, but to a black double-headed eagle.
By decree of March 19, 1855, issued during Crimean War 1853-1856, was prescribed for the “more visible distinction” of the Order of St. Anna IV degree, given for military exploits, wear with the Annin weapon “For Bravery” a lanyard made of a red and gold order ribbon with silver tassels. The clarification “for military exploits” is not accidental here - the fact is that until 1859, Anninsky weapons were awarded to officers not only for combat, but also for civic merit. And during the Crimean War of 1853-1856, by a personal imperial decree it was allowed to give the IV degree of the Order of St. Anna to doctors, at risk for own life who saved the wounded on the battlefields, however, with the caveat that the inscription “For bravery” should not be on such award weapons.
It is interesting that the hilt of the Anninsky weapon, unlike the other two types of Golden Award weapons, was always made of base metal. The very badge of the order, placed on the hilt, was made of tombak (an alloy of copper and zinc), while any other badges of Russian orders of all classes without exception were always made of gold. This was explained by the fact that the Annin weapon, being the lowest officer combat award, was awarded much more often than other awards. Over the years of the existence of the Anninsky weapon, it was awarded to hundreds of thousands of officers as a reward. And although in the army it was not considered as honorable as the Order of St. George or the Golden Arms “For Bravery,” every officer dreamed of receiving it.
In 1913, the Order of St. George and the Golden Award Weapon assigned to it, according to the new Statute, received the name St. George, and a small enamel sign of the Order in the form of a cross was placed on it; the hilt of such a weapon became not gold, as before, but gilded, although the recipient was allowed to , however, at your own expense, replace it with gold.
At the outbreak of the First World War, the Golden Arms of St. George became, although honorable, a very common type of award. This was explained primarily by the unprecedented scale of military operations. During the First World War, the St. George Golden Award Weapon was issued much more often than ever before. Judging by the surviving documents, in 1914 it was awarded to 66 officers, in 1915 - 2,377, in 1916 - about 2 thousand, in 1917 - 1,257.
Despite such an impressive number of award weapons, each candidate underwent a mandatory, and very strict, check before receiving it. First, the regiment commander sent a presentation to the division chief, enclosing eyewitness accounts; then the documents were sent to the corps commander, army commander, or minister of war (or his chief of staff). The certificate of presentation was signed by the Chancellor of the Orders.
Unfortunately, most of The Golden Weapon of St. George that has come down to us is nameless, information about its owners is sporadic. IN Historical Museum The St. George saber with a hilt made of pure gold and the inscription “For bravery”, which belonged to Lieutenant General of the Russian Army Iosif Romanovich Dovbor-Musnitsky, is kept.
In the Novocherkassk Museum of History Don Cossacks there is a St. George saber with a bronze gilded hilt, awarded to Lieutenant General Alexei Maksimovich Kaledin. In addition to him, who later became a “white” general, several other active figures earned the St. George’s Golden Arms on the fronts of the First World War White movement- P.N. Krasnov, N.R. Dukhonin, A.P. Kutepov and others.
After February Revolution The procedure for awarding Golden Award weapons has remained virtually unchanged, but the same cannot be said about its appearance. Since February 1917, an order was issued “no longer to make imperial monograms on the hilts and blades of officer’s weapons, leaving a smooth oval in place of the monogram on the hilt.” Until this time, the hilts and blades of officer's weapons were decorated with the monogram of the emperor during whose reign the owner received his first officer rank. In October 17th, a few days before the overthrow of the Provisional Government, it was discovered that the cross of the Order of St. Anne, IV degree, crowned with a crown, was not at all appropriate in connection with the establishment of republican rule. But nevertheless, they did not have time to make new signs corresponding to the republican spirit...
In 1913, in connection with the introduction of a new type of award weapon - the Georgievsky, changes were made to the rules regarding the Anninsky weapon. From that time on, everyone who had a St. George's weapon of any kind had the right, being a holder of the Order of St. Anne, IV degree, to place on it not only the white cross of the sign Order of St. George, but also the badge of the Order of St. Anne. Wherein St. George's sign was always placed on the head of the hilt, and Anninsky - on a special metal plate under the hilt, although other options for its fastening are known.
And in February 1918, after the Bolsheviks came to power, in connection with the confiscation of weapons in the possession of the population in the Petrograd Military District, an order was issued: “Due to incoming requests from former cavaliers of the St. George’s weapon for permission to store it as a memory of participation in the war... I declare that military personnel , awarded the St. George weapon in past campaigns for military distinction, have the right to keep it in their possession... Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces Eremeev.”
At this point, in fact, the institute of Russian award weapons, which had a 300-year history, ceased to exist.
The first reliable award of edged weapons in the Russian regular troops dates back to the era of Peter the Great. On June 27, 1720, the Russian galley fleet under the command of General Prince M. Golitsyn defeated the Swedish squadron off the island of Grengam. The winners were awarded: all officers received gold medals, non-commissioned officers and boatswains received silver medals, soldiers and sailors received money “according to maritime regulations.” M. Golitsyn was “sent a golden sword richly decorated with diamonds as a sign of his military work.”
IN archival materials contains information about dozens of awards with edged weapons with diamonds (diamonds) related to end of the XVIII century. Let us immediately note that we're talking about not about gifts, but about awards, and exclusively military ones, intended only for military personnel. Those marked with weapons were included, as a rule, in general lists awarded “ranks, swords and cavalry” (i.e. orders).
July 10, 1775, when the anniversary of the victorious Kuchuk-Kainardzhi peace was celebrated, which completed Russian-Turkish war, eleven most outstanding military leaders who won decisive victories in this war, were marked with swords decorated with diamonds. Among them were A. Golitsyn, the outstanding Russian commander P. Rumyantsev, generals P. Panin, V. Dolgorukov, A. Orlov, G. Potemkin, lieutenant generals A. Suvorov and A. Prozorovsky and Major General P. Potemkin.
The awards for the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 end the first period in the development of the history of domestic gold weapons. By this time, each receipt of a sword is marked with a special rescript addressed to the recipient, and the distinction is entered into the service record of the recipient. Until 1788, only generals received award swords, and the weapons were always decorated with precious stones. During the hostilities of the late 80s, the right to be awarded this award was extended to officers, with the only difference being that they received swords without expensive decorations. Instead, the inscription “For Bravery” has appeared on the hilt of the officer’s award sword since 1788.
On the Turkish front, military operations continued until the fall of 1791. The main event of the campaign was the storming of the powerful Turkish fortress Ishmael. The assault took place on December 11, 1790, and already on January 8, the first lists of those who distinguished themselves were presented to the Empress.
Along with orders and ranks, generals and officers were presented with award weapons. According to our data, three gold weapons with diamonds and twenty-four without diamonds were issued for the assault on Ishmael. All swords and sabers had the inscription “For bravery” on both sides of the hilt.
The last known case of awarding golden weapons in the 18th century dates back to 1796, when the famous Don commander Matvey Ivanovich Platov, who then had the army rank of brigadier, was awarded a golden saber with diamonds “For Bravery” for the Persian campaign. The campaign was interrupted due to the accession to the throne of Paul I and the change foreign policy Russia and remained “Persian” only in name. In Pavlov’s time, golden weapons “For Bravery” were never issued. During XVIII century golden weapons were issued approximately three hundred times, including more than eighty decorated with diamonds.
Awards with golden weapons resumed with the accession of Alexander I. Many Russian officers and generals earned swords and sabers “For Bravery” during the wars with the French in 1805 and 1806-1807. Their names are the pride of our country military history: P. Bagration, D. Davydov, D. Dokhturov, A. Ermolov... The first of the battles of the 19th century, the distinguished participants of which were given golden weapons, was the Battle of Austerlitz. Golden swords and sabers were awarded to those officers who the most difficult situation They did not lose their cool and, with their skillful and brave actions, reduced the losses of the Russian army.
On September 28, 1807, a decree was signed on classifying officers and generals awarded with golden weapons “For Bravery” as holders of Russian orders. The names of persons who received golden weapons were to be included in the general cavalry list of the Chapter of Orders of the Russian Empire. The decree fixed in fact the previously established position, according to which the awarding of golden weapons became higher than the receipt of certain orders. By this time, the appearance of Russian award weapons was finally determined. Golden weapons for officers had the inscription “For Bravery” on the hilt, general and admiral weapons were decorated with diamonds, and on weapons for major generals (and equal naval ranks) the same inscription “For Bravery” was usually placed, and for lieutenant generals and above - more extensive, explaining the reason for the award.
The Patriotic War began, and hundreds of Russian officers and generals served in its fields honorary award. Among those who received the “general’s” diamond weapon were P. Konovnitsin, M. Miloradovich, N. Ilovaisky, A. Ozharovsky, V. Orlov-Denisov, F. Shteingel, A. Bistrom, N. Depreradovich and many others. Ivan Semenovich Dorokhov, who had the rank of lieutenant general, was awarded a gold sword with diamonds and the inscription “For the liberation of Vereya” for storming the fortifications of Vereya on September 19, 1812. During this period, several more awards are known for weapons decorated with diamonds, with inscriptions explaining the reason for their award.
Some officers and generals were awarded golden weapons more than once. Thus, Alexey Petrovich Nikitin in 1812, being a colonel of the horse artillery, received a gold sword “For Bravery,” and in 1813 and 1814, already having the rank of general, he was twice awarded gold swords with diamonds.
Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov for 1812, among others numerous awards, was celebrated on October 16 with a golden sword with diamonds and additional decorations in the form of emerald laurel wreaths. Formally, the award was given for the Battle of Tarutino on October 6, 1812. But this was only a small reward for wise leadership all armed forces of the state in one of the most difficult periods in his history. The certificate received by Kutuzov on the occasion of being awarded the golden sword said: “Let this warlike sign, worthily acquired by you, precede the glory with which, after the eradication of the common enemy, your fatherland and Europe will crown you.” There is a document certifying that the award sword worth 25,125 rubles was awarded to “his lordship.”
On March 19, 1855, at the height of the Crimean War, a decree “On the establishment of visible distinction for golden weapons and the Order of St. Anne of the fourth degree for military exploits” appeared. This decree prescribed that gold weapons without diamond decorations should be worn with a lanyard from St. George's black and orange ribbon.
In 1913, when the new statute of the Order of St. George appeared, the golden weapons assigned to this order received a new official name— St. George's weapon and St. George's weapon, decorated with diamonds. A small enamel cross of the Order of St. George began to be placed on all types of these weapons, with the only difference being that on weapons with diamonds the cross was also decorated with precious stones. On the general's weapons, the inscription “For Bravery” was replaced by an indication of the feat for which the award was given. From that time on, the hilt of the St. George weapon was officially not gold, but only gilded.
In the history of the First World War, the St. George weapon became one of the honorary insignia and at the same time a widespread type of award. During the year of hostilities from January to December 1916, 2,005 individuals were awarded the St. George's Arms, three of them with arms decorated with diamonds. General Brusilov also received it for his famous “ Brusilov breakthrough” on headed by him Southwestern Front. On the checker there was an inscription: “For defeat Austro-Hungarian armies in Volyn, Bukovina and Galicia May 22-25, 1916.”
A curious order was issued in February 1918 for the Petrograd Military District due to the fact that weapons, both firearms and cold steel, were being confiscated from the population: “Due to incoming requests from former cavaliers of the St. George’s weapon for permission to store such as a memory of participation in the war, in addition Order No. 9 for the district dated January 15 of this year, I announce for information and leadership that military personnel who were awarded the St. George weapon in past campaigns for military distinction have the right to keep it as a memory of participation in the war, with permission from the district headquarters. Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces Eremeev.”
Valery DUROV, bratishka.ru
Photo by Vladimir BOYKO