Who had four St. George's crosses? Military awards of the Russian Federation

The St. George ribbon, on which a cross with the image of a saint was attached in the 19th - early 20th centuries, has symbolized the victory of our country in the Great Patriotic War for many decades. She is also the link between the heroes of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

Full Knights of St. George in our country enjoyed universal respect even in the twenties and forties, when they wanted to erase from the people's memory everything that happened before the October Revolution. Among them there are those who later became Hero of the Soviet Union, including more than once.

Background

The Order of St. George appeared in the list of awards of the Russian Empire in 1769. It had 4 degrees of distinction and was intended for officers. Full Knights of the Order of St. Only 4 people became George:

M. I. Kutuzov.
M. B. Barclay de Tolly.
I. F. Paskevich-Erivansky.
I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky.

Establishment

At the moment, it is unknown who exactly was the initiator of the establishment of the Insignia of the Military Order or, as it was more often called, the Cross of St. George. According to surviving documents, in 1807 a note was submitted to Alexander the First, which proposed the establishment of a soldier’s award. It was to become a "special branch of the Order of St. George." The idea was approved, and already at the beginning of February 1807 a corresponding manifesto was published.

There are many known cases of confusion due to the fact that the order is confused with the soldier’s “Egory”. For example, if it is stated that Colonel Zorya Lev Ivanovich, who graduated from the cadet school in 1881, is a full Knight of St. George, then one can immediately object that this is a mistake. After all, among the officers there was no one awarded such a cross again, and the last one who had the order of all 4 degrees was I.I. Dibich-Zabaikalsky - died in 1831.

Description

The reward is a cross, the blades of which widen towards the end. In its center is a round medallion. The obverse depicted St. George with a spear slaying a serpent. On the reverse of the medallion there are the letters C and G, connected in the form of a monogram.

The cross was worn on the now well-known “smoke and flame” (black and orange) ribbon.

Since 1856, the award began to have 4 degrees. The first and second were made of gold, and the other two were made of silver. The reverse indicated the degree of the award and its serial number.

There were also special "Muslim" Insignia of the Military Order. Instead of a Christian saint, they depicted the Russian coat of arms. It’s interesting that when people from the North Caucasus were awarded “Yegory,” they demanded that they be given the option “with a horseman,” instead of the required one.

In 1915, due to difficulties caused by the war, crosses of the 1st and 2nd degrees began to be made from an alloy that consisted of 60% gold, 39.5% silver and half a percent copper. At the same time, the signs of the 3rd and 4th degrees were not subject to change.

Awardees

The first St. George Cross was received by non-commissioned officer E. I. Mitrokhin in the summer of 1807. He was decorated for bravery in the battle with the French near Friedland.

There are known cases of rewarding civilians. So, in 1810, the St. George Cross was awarded to the tradesman M. A. Gerasimov. Together with his comrades, this brave man arrested the English military who had seized a Russian merchant ship, and was able to bring the ship to the port of Varde. There the prisoners were interned, and the merchants were given assistance. In addition, for heroism in the Patriotic War of 1812, commanders of partisan detachments from among lower-class civilians received St. George's Crosses without numbers.

Among other interesting facts related to the awarding of the St. George Cross, one can note its presentation to the famous General Miloradovich. This brave commander, in the battle near Leipzig, in front of Alexander the First, stood in line with the soldiers and led them in a bayonet attack, for which he received from the hands of the emperor “Egory,” which was not due to him by status.

Full gentlemen

The four-degree cross existed for 57 years. Over the years, about 2,000 people were included in the full Knights of St. George (list). In addition, about 7,000 were awarded crosses of the second, third and fourth degrees, approximately 25,000 were awarded the 3rd and 4th, and 205,336 were awarded the 4th degree.

At the time of the October Revolution, several hundred full Knights of St. George lived in Russia. Many of them joined the Red Army and rose to the highest military ranks of the USSR. Of these, 7 also became Heroes of the Soviet Union. Among them:

Ageev G.I. (posthumously).
Budyonny S.M.
Kozyr M. E.
Lazarenko I. S.
Meshchryakov M. M.
Nedorubov K. I.
Tyulenev I. V.

S. M. Budyonny

The name of this legendary personality resounded in Russian cavalry units during the First World War, and even earlier in the Russian-Japanese War. For bravery on the Austrian, German and Caucasian fronts, Semyon Mikhailovich was awarded crosses and medals of all 4 degrees.

His first award was received for the capture of a German convoy and the 8 soldiers accompanying it. However, Budyonny was deprived of it because he hit an officer. This did not prevent him from being included in the list of “Full St. George Knights”, since on the Turkish front Semyon Budyonny earned 3 St. George Crosses during the battles for Van and Mendelij, and the last one (first degree) for the capture of 7 enemy soldiers. Thus, he became the person who received 5 awards.

During the Civil War, he initiated the creation and in 1935 he and four other commanders of the USSR were awarded the rank of marshal.

During the Second World War, Semyon Budyonny did not have the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, since he was removed from command of the South-Western direction of the front because of a telegram in which he honestly described the danger that threatened those who were in the so-called Kiev bag.

In the post-war years, the commander was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union three times.

Kuzma Petrovich Trubnikov

This legendary personality took part in three wars. He received many awards for his exploits between 1914 and 1917. In particular, the list of “Full Knights of St. George” also contains his last name. He showed himself no less heroically during the Second World War, organizing the defense of Tula, directing troops during the Battle of Stalingrad, commanding the units entrusted to him during the liberation of Yelnya, etc. At the Victory Parade, Trubnikov, who at that time had already been awarded the rank of colonel general, led box of the consolidated regiment of the 2nd Belorussian Front. For his long service, the military leader was awarded 38 orders and medals from Tsarist Russia, the USSR and a number of other countries.

Ivan Vladimirovich Tyulenev

The future was born into the family of a participant in the Russian-Turkish war. He was drafted into the army at the beginning of the First World War and ended up in a regiment where K.K. Rokossovsky served at that time. Having started the war as a simple soldier, Ivan Vladimirovich Tyulenev rose to the rank of ensign. For heroism shown in battles on Polish territory, he was awarded the St. George Cross four times. In the very first days of the Second World War, Tyulenev was appointed commander of the Southern Front, but in August he was seriously wounded, and after hospitalization he was sent to the Urals to form 20 divisions. In 1942, the military commander was sent to the Caucasus. At his request, the defense of the Main Ridge was strengthened, which in the future made it possible to stop the Nazi offensive aimed at capturing oil fields in the Caspian Sea region.

In 1978, for his services to defending the Motherland and increasing the country’s defense capability, I. V. Tyulenev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and he became one of seven outstanding military men who were awarded the highest award of the USSR, having the title “Full Knight of St. George of the First World War” .

R. Ya. Malinovsky

The future, at the age of 11, ran away from home due to his mother’s marriage and worked as a laborer until he joined the army, giving himself two years. The deception was discovered, but the teenager was able to persuade the command to leave him to bring cartridges to the machine gunners. In 1915, a 17-year-old soldier received his first “Yegory”. He was then sent to France as part of the Expeditionary Force, where he was twice decorated by the government of the Third Republic. In 1919, Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky enlisted in the Foreign Legion, and became a holder of the French Military Cross for his bravery on the German front. In addition, by order of Kolchak’s general D. Shcherbachev, he was awarded the St. George Cross of the third degree.

In 1919, Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky returned to his homeland and became one of the active participants in the Civil War, and in the late 30s he was sent as a military adviser to Spain.

The merits of this commander during the Great Patriotic War are also invaluable. In particular, the troops under his command liberated Odessa, played an important role in the Battle of Stalingrad, expelled the Nazis from Budapest and took Vienna.

After the end of the war in Europe, Malinovsky was sent to the Far East, where the actions of the Trans-Baikal Front, led by him, finally defeated the Japanese group. For the successful completion of this operation, Rodion Yakovlevich received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Gold Star for the second time in 1958.

Other Soviet commanders awarded the St. George Cross for bravery

Before the revolution, other soldiers of the imperial army, who were destined to become famous commanders of the USSR, were also awarded the soldier's "Egory" before the revolution. Among them we can note Sidor Kovpak and Konstantin Rokossovsky, who were awarded two crosses. In addition, the famous hero of the Civil War V. Chapaev received three such awards.

Now you know the details of the biographies of some outstanding military men who can be classified as “Full Knights of St. George”. The list of their exploits is amazing, and they themselves deserve the respect and gratitude of their descendants, who are not indifferent to the fate of their native country.

Insignia of the Military Order at Wikimedia Commons

Insignia of the Military Order- an award assigned to the Order of St. George in the Russian Guard, Army, Navy and so on (Armed Forces of Russia), for lower ranks from 1917.

There was a practice of awarding the insignia of the Military Order to civilians of the lower classes, but without the right to be called a holder of the insignia. One of the first to be awarded in this way was the Kola tradesman Matvey Andreevich Gerasimov. In 1810, the ship on which he was carrying a cargo of flour was captured by an English warship. A prize team of eight English soldiers under the command of an officer was landed on the Russian ship, which had a crew of 9 people. 11 days after the capture, taking advantage of inclement weather on the way to England, Gerasimov and his comrades captured the British, forcing them to officially surrender (give up their sword) and the officer who commanded them, after which he brought the ship to the Norwegian port of Vardo, where the prisoners were interned.

There is a known case of a general being awarded a soldier's award. It became M.A. Miloradovich for the battle with the French in the soldier formation near Leipzig. The silver cross was presented to him by Emperor Alexander I, who was watching the progress of the battle, who allowed Miloradovich his "wear in war", saying - “Wear a soldier’s cross, you are a friend of soldiers” .

In January 1809, cross numbering and name lists were introduced. By this time, about 10 thousand signs had been issued. By the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Mint had produced 16,833 crosses. The statistics of awards by year are indicative:

1812 - 6783 awards;
1813 - 8611 awards;
1814 - 9345 awards;
1815 - 3983 awards;
1816 - 2682 awards;
1817 - 659 awards;
1818 - 328 awards;
1819 - 189 awards.

Until 1820, insignia without numbers were awarded mainly to non-military ranks of the army, as well as to former commanders of partisan detachments from among merchants, peasants and townspeople.

In 1813-1815, the Badge was also awarded to soldiers of armies allied with Russia that acted against Napoleonic France: Prussians (1921), Swedes (200), Austrians (170), representatives of various German states (about 70), British (15).

In total, during the reign of Alexander I (period 1807-1825), 46,527 Badges were granted.

In 1833, the provisions for the insignia of the Military Order were spelled out in the new statute of the Order of St. George. It was then that the wearing of the Insignia of the Military Order “with a bow from the St. George ribbon” was introduced by persons who were honored to receive a full salary of an additional salary for repeated exploits.

In 1839, a commemorative version of the sign was established in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Peace of Paris. Externally, the sign was distinguished by the presence of the monogram of Alexander I on the upper ray of the reverse. This award was given to military personnel of the Prussian army (4,500 crosses were minted, 4,264 were awarded).

On August 19, 1844, Emperor Nicholas I signed a decree establishing a special Cross of St. George for Mohammedans (Muslims) and other persons of non-Christian religion. On such a quest for rewards instead of Christian plot with Saint George slaying the serpent, was depicted black double headed eagle. At the same time, Muslim recipients often insisted on issuing an ordinary cross with St. George, considering it as an award “with a horseman like themselves,” and not “with a bird.”

In total, during the era of Nicholas I (1825-1856), the badge was awarded to 57,706 valiant lower ranks of the Russian army. Most cavaliers appeared after the Russian-Persian War of 1826-1828 and the Russian-Turkish War of 1828-1829. wars (11,993), the suppression of the Polish rebellion (5888) and the Hungarian campaign of 1849 (3222).

From March 19, 1855, the badge was allowed to be worn on the uniform by its owners who were subsequently awarded the Order of St. George.

Four soldiers' St. George's crosses

On March 19, 1856, four degrees of the sign were introduced by imperial decree. The badges were worn on the St. George ribbon on the chest and were made of gold (1st and 2nd art.) and silver (3rd and 4th art.). Externally, the new crosses differed in that the words “4 degrees” and “3 degrees” were now placed on the reverse. etc. The numbering of signs began anew for each degree.

Awards were made sequentially: from junior to senior degrees. However, there were exceptions. So, on September 30, 1877, I. Yu. Popovich-Lipovac was awarded the 4th degree Badge for courage in battle, and on October 23, for another feat, he was awarded the 1st degree.

If all four degrees of the sign were present on the uniform, the 1st and 3rd were worn; if the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees were present, the 2nd and 3rd were worn; if the 3rd and 4th were present, the only 3rd.

In the years 1856-1913, there was also a version of the Military Order Insignia for awarding lower ranks of non-Christian religions. On it, the image of St. George and his monogram were replaced by a double-headed eagle. 19 people became full holders of this award, 269 people received the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees, 821 - 3rd and 4th, and 4619 - 4th. These awards were numbered separately.

In 1913, a new statute for the insignia of the Military Order was approved. It became officially known as St. George's Cross, and the numbering of characters began anew from that time on. Unlike the Insignia of the Military Order, there were no St. George crosses for non-Christians - all crosses since 1913 have depicted St. George. In addition, since 1913, the St. George Cross could be awarded posthumously.

Infrequently, it was practiced to award the same degree of the St. George Cross several times. Thus, ensign of the Life Guards of the 3rd Infantry Regiment G.I. Solomatin was awarded two St. George Crosses of the 4th degree, two of the 3rd degree, one of the 2nd degree and two of the 1st degree.

Awards

The first award of the 4th degree St. George Cross took place on August 1, 1914, when cross No. 5501 was awarded to the clerk of the 3rd Don Cossack Regiment, Kozma Firsovich Kryuchkov, for a brilliant victory over 27 German cavalrymen in an unequal battle on July 30, 1914. Subsequently, K. F. Kryuchkov also earned the other three degrees of the St. George Cross in battles. St. George's Cross No. 1 was left “at the discretion of His Imperial Majesty” and was awarded later, on September 20, 1914, to private 41st Selenginsky Infantry Regiment Pyotr Cherny-Kovalchuk, who captured the Austrian banner in battle.

Women were repeatedly awarded the St. George Cross for bravery in battle. Sister of mercy Nadezhda Plaksina and Cossack Maria Smirnova earned three such awards, and sister of mercy Antonina Palshina and junior non-commissioned officer of the 3rd Kurzeme Latvian Rifle Regiment Lina Chanka-Freidenfeld - two.

Foreigners who served in the Russian army were also awarded the Cross of St. George. The French black Marcel-Plya, who fought on the Ilya Muromets bomber, received 2 crosses, the French pilot Lieutenant Alphonse-Poiret - 4, and the Czech Karel-Vashatka was the owner of 4 degrees of the St. George Cross, the St. George Cross with a laurel branch, St. George medals of 3 classes, the Order of St. George 4th degree and St. George's weapon.

In 1915, due to the difficulties of the war, 1st and 2nd degree badges began to be made of low-grade gold: 60% gold, 39.5% silver and 0.5% copper. The silver content in marks of the 3rd and 4th degrees has not changed (99%). In total, the mint minted St. George's Crosses with a reduced gold content: 1st degree - 26950 (No. 5531 to 32840), 2nd - 52900 (No. 12131 to 65030). On them, in the left corner of the lower ray, below the letter “C” (step), there is a stamp with the image of a head.

From 1914 to 1917 the following were awarded (that is, mainly for exploits in the First World War):

St. George's Crosses, 1st class. - OK. 33 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 2nd Art. - OK. 65 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 3rd Art. - OK. 289 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 4th Art. - OK. 1 million 200 thousand

1st degree “ZhM” - 10,000 (No. 32481 to 42480),
2nd degree “ZhM” - 20,000 (No. 65031 to 85030),
3rd degree “BM” - 49,500 (No. 289151 to 338650),
4th degree “BM” - 89,000 (No. from 1210151 to 1299150).


St. George crosses (front and back) of all degrees, belonging to K. P. Trubnikov, who became a colonel general during the Great Patriotic War. Trubnikov surrendered the St. George Cross, 2nd degree, No. 4034, in favor of the wounded of his regiment. In turn, the soldiers presented him with a bronze cross. On the reverse side is the monogram S.G., that is, St. George.

There are several known cases of awarding the Insignia of the Military Order and the Cross of St. George to entire units:

Statute

The insignia of the Military Order consists of a silver cross, in the circle of which, on one side, is the image of St. George on a horse, and on the other, the monograms of St. George and the number under which the person who has this sign is included in the list of those granted by him.

The insignia of the Military Order is worn in the buttonhole on the St. George ribbon.

This insignia is acquired only on the battlefield, during the siege and defense of fortresses, and on the waters in naval battles. It is given only to those lower ranks who, actually serving in the Land and Naval Forces, distinguish themselves with special courage against the enemy.

It goes without saying that in any case, the right to be awarded the insignia of the Military Order is acquired only by those lower ranks who, when performing feats, combine strict obedience to their superiors with courage.

The insignia of the Military Order is never removed, even if the recipient was promoted to Officer; but if, by promotion to Officer, he is awarded the Knight of the Order of St. George, in this case the insignia should already be removed.

For the cross, a soldier or non-commissioned officer received a salary one third more than usual. For each additional sign, the salary was increased by a third until the salary doubled. The additional salary remained for life after retirement; widows could receive it for another year after the death of the gentleman.
The awarding of the soldier's George also gave the following benefits to the distinguished person: the prohibition of the use of corporal punishment to persons who have the insignia of the order; when transferring cavaliers awarded the St. George Cross of non-commissioned officer rank from army regiments to the guard, their previous rank was preserved, although a guard non-commissioned officer was considered two ranks higher than an army one.
If a cavalier received an insignia in the militia, then he could no longer be sent to military service (“shaved into a soldier”) without his consent. However, the statute did not exclude the forcible transfer of cavaliers to soldiers if they were recognized by the landowners as persons “whose behavior would disturb the general peace and quiet.”
It should be noted that often a certain number of crosses were allocated to a unit that distinguished itself in battle, and then they were awarded to the most distinguished soldiers, taking into account the opinions of their comrades. This order was legalized and called the “company verdict.” Crosses received by “company verdict” were valued among soldiers more than those received on the recommendation of the commander.
In 1913, the new statute of the Order of St. George consolidated the division of the insignia into 4 degrees, introduced in 1856:

Extracts from the Statute of the Order of St. George from 1913:

First highest degree: Golden Cross worn on the chest, on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; in the circle of the Cross on the front side there is an image of St. George, and on the back there is a monogram of St. George; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross is carved the number under which the person who has the Cross of the first degree is included in the list of those awarded this degree, and on the lower end of the Cross the inscription: 1st degree.

Second degree: The same gold Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross there is a number carved under which the person who has the Cross of the second degree is included in the list of those granted this degree, and below is the inscription: 2nd degree.

Third degree: The same silver cross on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side there is a number cut out under which the person who has the Cross of the third degree is included in the list of those awarded this degree, and below is the inscription: 3rd degree.

Fourth degree: The same silver Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross there is a number carved under which the Cross of the fourth degree granted is included in the list of those granted this degree, and below is the inscription: 4th degree.

The new statute also introduced lifelong monetary incentives for holders of the St. George Cross: for the 4th degree - 36 rubles, for the 3rd degree - 60 rubles, for the 2nd degree - 96 rubles and for the 1st degree - 120 rubles per year. Cavaliers of several degrees received an increase or pension only for the highest degree. It was possible to live normally on a pension of 120 rubles; the salary of industrial workers in 1913 was about 200 rubles a year.
A cavalier of the 1st degree also complained of the rank of lieutenant, and a cavalier of the 2nd degree received such a rank only upon transfer to the reserve.

During the Civil War

The virtual absence of a unified command and the territorial disunity of the white armies led to the fact that a common reward system was not created. There was no unified approach to the issue of the admissibility of awarding pre-revolutionary awards.
As for the soldiers' St. George Crosses and medals, they were awarded to ordinary soldiers and Cossacks, volunteers, non-commissioned officers, cadets, volunteers and sisters of mercy in all territories occupied by the White armies. During the campaign of M. G. Drozdovsky’s detachment along the Yassy-Don route, St. George’s crosses, a whole bag of which went to Drozdovsky at the headquarters of the Romanian Front, were also awarded as awards to the officers of the detachment. The first such award took place on March 30, 1918.

Awards in the 1930s-1940s

The last award of the St. George Cross on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army P. N. Wrangel was dated September 20, 1922.
It is known that Vladimir Nikiforovich Degtyarev was awarded the St. George Cross, 4th degree, for several successful reconnaissance missions into the territory of the USSR (order of the head of the EMRO, Lieutenant General E. K. Miller, dated November 10, 1930)
Finally, the St. George Cross of the 4th degree was awarded twice to ranks of the Russian Security Corps - doctor Nikolai Aleksandrovich Golubev and cadet Sergei Vladimirovich Shaub. Both awards took place on December 12, 1941. N. A. Golubev fought in the ROC until the end of the war and on May 12, 1945 he was captured by the British. After being seriously wounded, S.V. Schaub became a doctor, lived in Switzerland since 1951 and died on July 11, 2006 at the age of 82. He was the last Knight of St. George during the Second World War.

Contrary to popular belief, the Cross of St. George was not “legalized” by the Soviet government or officially allowed to be worn by members of the Red Army. After the start of the Great Patriotic War, many older people were mobilized, among whom were participants in the First World War who were awarded the Cross of St. George. Such servicemen wore awards “in person”, in which no one interfered with them, and enjoyed legitimate respect in the army.
After the introduction of the Order of Glory into the system of Soviet awards, which was in many ways similar in ideology to the “soldier’s George,” an opinion arose to legitimize the old award, in particular, a letter is known addressed to the chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars and the State Defense Committee I. V. Stalin from a professor at VGIK, the former member of the first Military Revolutionary Committee for Aviation of the Moscow Military District and Knight of St. George N.D. Anoshchenko with a similar proposal:

...I ask you to consider the issue of equating b. St. George Knights, awarded this order for military exploits committed during the last war with damned Germany in 1914-1919, to the Knights of the Soviet Order of Glory, since the statute of the latter almost completely corresponds to the statute of the b. Order of George and even the colors of their order ribbons and their design are the same.
By this act, the Soviet government will first of all demonstrate the continuity of the military traditions of the glorious Russian army, the high culture of respect for all heroic defenders of our beloved Motherland, the stability of this respect, which will undoubtedly stimulate both the b. St. George's cavaliers, as well as their children and comrades, to perform new feats of arms, for each military award pursues not only the goal of equitably rewarding the hero, but it should also serve as an incentive for other citizens to perform similar feats.
Thus, this event will further strengthen the combat power of our valiant Red Army.
Long live our great Motherland and its invincible, proud and brave people, who have repeatedly defeated the German invaders, and are now successfully defeating them under your wise and firm leadership!
Long live the great Stalin!

Professor Nick. Anoshchenko 22.IV.1944

A similar movement ultimately resulted in a draft resolution of the Council of People's Commissars:

In order to create continuity in the fighting traditions of Russian soldiers and pay due respect to the heroes who defeated the German imperialists in the war of 1914-1917, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decides:

Equate b. cavaliers of St. George, who received the Cross of St. George for military exploits performed in battles against the Germans in the war of 1914-17, to the cavaliers of the Order of Glory with all the ensuing benefits.

Allow b. St. George's cavaliers wear a pad with an order ribbon of the established colors on their chest.

Persons subject to the effect of this resolution are issued an order book of the Order of Glory with the note “b. St. George Knight", which is formalized by the headquarters of military districts or fronts on the basis of the submission of relevant documents to them (genuine orders or service records of that time)

This project never became a real resolution.

Heroes of the Soviet Union - full holders of the St. George Cross

There are seven known heroes:

Ageev, Grigory Antonovich (posthumously)

Budyonny, Semyon Mikhailovich (one of the three three times Heroes of the Soviet Union)

Lazarenko, Ivan Sidorovich (posthumously)

He was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but did not receive it:

Cavaliers

The future Major General Sidor Kovpak had two crosses; during the Great Patriotic War, he was the commander of the Putivl partisan detachment and a formation of partisan detachments of the Sumy region, which later received the status of the First Ukrainian Partisan Division.
Maria Bochkareva became a famous Knight of St. George during the First World War. In 1920, she was shot by the Bolsheviks.
The last Knight of St. George during the Civil War is considered to be 18-year-old sergeant P.V. Zhadan, for saving the headquarters of the 2nd Cavalry Division of General Morozov.

Recovery in the Russian Federation

The insignia "St. George's Cross" was restored in the Russian Federation in 1992. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation dated March 2, 1992 No. 2424-I “On state awards of the Russian Federation”

Insignia of the Military Order- award sign for the Order of St. George for lower ranks from 1917 to 1917 for outstanding courage shown in battle against the enemy. The insignia of the Military Order was the highest award for soldiers and non-commissioned officers.

The first to receive the soldier's George was the non-commissioned officer of the Cavalry Regiment Yegor Ivanovich Mitrokhin for his distinction in the battle with the French near Friedland on June 2, 1807. The first Knight of the Soldier George served from 1793 to 1817 and retired with the lowest officer rank of ensign. However, Mitrokhin's name was first included in the lists only in 1809, when cavaliers from the guards regiments were the first to be included in the compiled lists. Sub-ensign of the 5th Jaeger Regiment Vasily Berezkin received the cross for the battle with the French near Morungen on January 6 () 1807, that is, for a feat accomplished even before the establishment of the award.

When it was established, the Soldier's Cross did not have degrees, and there were also no restrictions on the number of awards one person could receive. Unlike the officer's order, the soldier's award was not covered with enamel and was minted from silver of the 95th standard (modern 990th standard). By decree of July 15, 1808, holders of the insignia of the Military Order were exempted from corporal punishment. The insignia could be confiscated from the recipient only by court and with mandatory notification of the emperor.

There is a known case of a general being awarded a soldier's award. It became M.A. Miloradovich for the battle with the French in the soldier formation near Leipzig. Emperor Alexander I, who observed the battle, presented him with a silver cross.

St. George's Crosses, 1st class. - OK. 33 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 2nd Art. - OK. 65 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 3rd Art. - OK. 289 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 4th Art. - OK. 1 million 200 thousand

To indicate the serial number (“per million”), “1/M” was stamped on the top side of the cross, and the remaining numbers were placed on the sides of the cross. On September 10, 1916, according to the Highest approval of the opinion of the Council of Ministers, gold and silver were removed from the St. George Cross. They began to be stamped from “yellow” and “white” metal. These crosses have the letters “ZhM” and “BM” under their serial numbers. There were crosses of St. George: 1st degree "ZhM" - 10,000 (No. from 32481 to 42480), 2nd degree "ZhM" - 20,000 (No. from 65031 to 85030), 3rd degree "BM" - 49,500 (No. from 289151 to 338650), 4th degree “BM” - 89,000 (No. from 1210151 to 1299150).

Statute

The insignia of the Military Order consists of a silver cross, in the circle of which, on one side, is the image of St. George on a horse, and on the other, the monograms of St. George and the number under which the person who has this sign is included in the list of those granted by him.

The insignia of the Military Order is worn in the buttonhole on the St. George ribbon.

This insignia is acquired only on the battlefield, during the siege and defense of fortresses, and on the waters in naval battles. It is given only to those lower ranks who, actually serving in the Land and Naval Forces, distinguish themselves with special courage against the enemy.

It goes without saying that in any case, the right to be awarded the insignia of the Military Order is acquired only by those lower ranks who, when performing feats, combine strict obedience to their superiors with courage.

The insignia of the Military Order is never removed, even if the recipient was promoted to Officer; but if, by promotion to Officer, he is awarded the Knight of the Order of St. George, in this case the insignia should already be removed.

For the cross, a soldier or non-commissioned officer received a salary one third more than usual. For each additional sign, the salary was increased by a third until the salary doubled. The additional salary remained for life after retirement; widows could receive it for another year after the death of the gentleman.

The awarding of the soldier's George also gave the following benefits to the distinguished person: the prohibition of the use of corporal punishment to persons who have the insignia of the order; when transferring cavaliers awarded the St. George Cross of non-commissioned officer rank from army regiments to the guard, maintaining their previous rank, although a guard non-commissioned officer was considered two ranks higher than an army one.

If a cavalier received an insignia in the militia, then he could no longer be sent to military service (“shaved into a soldier”) without his consent. However, the statute did not exclude the forcible transfer of cavaliers to soldiers if they were recognized by the landowners as persons “whose behavior would disturb the general peace and quiet.”

It should be noted that often a certain number of crosses were allocated to a unit that distinguished itself in battle, and then they were awarded to the most distinguished soldiers, taking into account the opinions of their comrades. This order was legalized and called the “company verdict.” Crosses received by “company verdict” were valued among soldiers more than those received on the recommendation of the commander.

Extracts from the Statute of the Order of St. George from 1913:

St. George's Cross for representatives of non-Christian faiths with an image of an eagle instead of St. George

First highest degree: Golden Cross worn on the chest, on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; in the circle of the Cross on the front side there is an image of St. George, and on the back there is a monogram of St. George; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross is carved the number under which the person who has the Cross of the first degree is included in the list of those awarded this degree, and on the lower end of the Cross the inscription: 1st degree.

Second degree: The same gold Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross there is a number carved under which the person who has the Cross of the second degree is included in the list of those granted this degree, and below is the inscription: 2nd degree.

Third degree: The same silver cross on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side there is a number cut out under which the person who has the Cross of the third degree is included in the list of those awarded this degree, and below is the inscription: 3rd degree.

Fourth degree: The same silver Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross there is a number carved under which the Cross of the fourth degree granted is included in the list of those granted this degree, and below is the inscription: 4th degree.

The new statute also introduced lifelong monetary incentives for holders of the St. George Cross: for the 4th degree - 36 rubles, for the 3rd degree - 60 rubles, for the 2nd degree - 96 rubles and for the 1st degree - 120 rubles per year. Cavaliers of several degrees received an increase or pension only for the highest degree. It was possible to live normally on a pension of 120 rubles; the salary of industrial workers in 1913 was about 200 rubles a year.

A cavalier of the 1st degree also complained of the rank of lieutenant, and a cavalier of the 2nd degree received such a rank only upon transfer to the reserve.

For the fight against the Bolsheviks

Contrary to popular belief, the Cross of St. George was not “legalized” by the Soviet government or officially allowed to be worn by members of the Red Army. After the start of the Great Patriotic War, many older people were mobilized, among whom were participants in the First World War who were awarded the Cross of St. George. Such servicemen wore awards “in person”, in which no one interfered with them, and enjoyed legitimate respect in the army.

After the introduction of the Order of Glory into the system of Soviet awards, which was in many ways similar in ideology to the “soldier’s George”, an opinion arose to legitimize the old award, in particular, a letter addressed to the chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars and the State Defense Committee I.V. Stalin from a professor at VGIK, former member of the first Military Revolutionary Committee for Aviation of the Moscow Military District and Knight of St. George N.D. Anoshchenko with a similar proposal:

...I ask you to consider the issue of equating b. St. George cavaliers, awarded this order for military exploits committed during the last war with the damned Germany in 1914-1919, to the cavaliers of the Soviet Order of Glory, since the statute of the latter almost completely corresponds to the statute of the b. Order of George and even the colors of their order ribbons and their design are the same.

By this act, the Soviet government will first of all demonstrate the continuity of the military traditions of the glorious Russian army, the high culture of respect for all heroic defenders of our beloved Motherland, the stability of this respect, which will undoubtedly stimulate both the b. St. George's cavaliers, as well as their children and comrades, to perform new feats of arms, for each military award pursues not only the goal of equitably rewarding the hero, but it should also serve as an incentive for other citizens to perform similar feats.

Thus, this event will further strengthen the combat power of our valiant Red Army.

Long live our great Motherland and its invincible, proud and brave people, who have repeatedly defeated the German invaders, and are now successfully defeating them under your wise and firm leadership!

Long live the great Stalin!

Professor Nick. ANOSCHENKO 22.IV.1944

A similar movement ultimately resulted in a draft resolution of the Council of People's Commissars:

In order to create continuity in the fighting traditions of Russian soldiers and pay due respect to the heroes who defeated the German imperialists in the war of 1914-1917, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decides:

1. Equate b. cavaliers of St. George, who received the Cross of St. George for military exploits performed in battles against the Germans in the war of 1914-17, to the cavaliers of the Order of Glory with all the ensuing benefits.

2. Allow b. St. George's cavaliers wear a pad with an order ribbon of the established colors on their chest.

3. Persons subject to the effect of this resolution are issued an order book of the Order of Glory marked “b. St. George Knight", which is formalized by the headquarters of military districts or fronts on the basis of the submission of relevant documents to them (genuine orders or service records of that time)

This project never became a real resolution.

List of persons who were full holders of the St. George Cross and bore the title of Hero of the Soviet Union

Five such people are known:

Ageev, Grigory Antonovich (posthumously)
Budyonny, Semyon Mikhailovich (one of the three three times Heroes of the Soviet Union)
Lazarenko, Ivan Sidorovich (posthumously)

The owner of the “full bow” of the soldiers’ Georgiev, K. I. Nedorubov, wore the Gold Star of the Hero for his exploits on the fronts of World War II along with crosses.

Cavaliers

Knights of the St. George's Cross. Photo from 1915

Future marshals each had two crosses - non-commissioned officer Georgy Zhukov, lower rank Rodion Malinovsky and junior non-commissioned officer Konstantin Rokossovsky.

The future Major General Sidor Kovpak, during the Great Patriotic War, was the commander of the Putivl partisan detachment and the formation of partisan detachments of the Sumy region, which later received the status of the First Ukrainian Partisan Division.

Maria Bochkareva became a famous Knight of St. George during the First World War. In October 1917, she was the commander of the famous women's battalion guarding the Winter Palace in Petrograd. In 1920, she was shot by the Bolsheviks.

The last Knight of St. George awarded on Russian soil in 1920 was 18-year-old sergeant P.V. Zhadan, for saving the headquarters of the 2nd Cavalry Division of General Morozov. Zhadan, at the head of a squadron of 160 sabers, scattered the cavalry column of the Red Divisional Commander Zhloba, which was trying to escape from the “bag”, directly towards the division headquarters.

Recovery in the Russian Federation

The insignia "St. George's Cross" was restored in the Russian Federation in 1992. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation dated March 2, 1992 No. 2424-I “On state awards of the Russian Federation” established:

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council No. 2424-I was approved by Decree of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation of March 20, 1992 No. 2557-I “On approval of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation “On state awards of the Russian Federation”.

Notes

The Supreme Manifesto of February 13, 1807
Talanov A.I. Military history magazine, 1991, No. 1
The 84th standard corresponds to coin silver. In the pre-revolutionary system, hallmarking meant the content of 84 spools of pure silver in 96 spools (1 pound) of a product.
Personal decree of July 15, 1808
Kovalevsky N.F. History of the Russian State. Biographies of famous military figures of the 18th - early 20th centuries. M., 1997

Today there is hardly a person who does not know the national hero Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev. But not everyone knows that he was a full Knight of St. George, the owner of four Crosses of St. George - the most honorable soldier's award in the old Russian army. Many remarkable commanders who became famous during the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars were awarded the Cross of St. George.

STATUS OF THE GEORGE SIGN

The insignia of the Order of St. George was awarded to privates and non-commissioned officers for the courage and valor they showed in battle. The badge was established on February 13, 1807 and was a silver cross worn on an order ribbon. Initially it had one degree, but in 1856 it was divided into four: 1st and 2nd - gold crosses, 3rd and 4th - silver crosses. Since 1913, the sign began to be called the “St. George Cross”. Army commanders and commanders of individual corps had the right to award the badge to their subordinates, with subsequent approval of their decision by the emperor.

Recipients of the badge were entitled to a one-third salary increase. In addition, corporal punishment could not be applied to them without trial. When performing a new feat, the recipient was entitled to an increase in salary by another third, and for the next one - a full salary. This additional salary was retained by the holder of the badge until death.

The award criteria were strict. But despite this, many soldiers in the Russian army were awarded the Cross of St. George. During the war with Napoleonic France alone, more than 41 thousand people received crosses, in the Crimean campaign of 1853-1856 - more than 24 thousand, in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 - 87 thousand soldiers and non-commissioned officers.

FIRST CAVALIER

The first of the lower ranks of the Russian army to be awarded the St. George Badge was non-commissioned officer of the cavalry regiment Yegor Ivanovich Mityukhin. He received this award for courage in the battle of Friedland on June 14, 1807.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, Mityukhin distinguished himself in many battles. It is interesting that the first Knight of St. George in our Fatherland was also awarded the highest insignia of Prussia - the Iron Cross, which by that time only a few military personnel in the Prussian army had. Wilhelm III, who observed the Battle of Kulm, was delighted with the heroism of the Russian soldiers and after the battle awarded all those who distinguished themselves. Among them was E.I. Mityukhin.

BRAVE GERASIM KURIN

One of the few Russian peasants awarded the St. George Cross was a native of the village of Pavlovo (now the city of Pavlovsky Posad), the son of a Suvorov soldier, Gerasim Matveevich Kurin. At the beginning of the war with Napoleon, at a gathering of residents of several surrounding villages, he was unanimously elected head of the partisan detachment. The head of the volost Yegor Stulov became his right hand.

Kurin's detachment, numbering more than 5,000 foot and 500 horse villagers, lasted a little more than a week, but all this time it fought with the regular units of the French Marshal Michel Ney. The baptism of fire took place near the village of Bolshoi Dvor. When the French approached the huts, a crowd rushed towards them, shouting, armed with what could be found in a peasant's yard. The French fled, and the peasants had guns abandoned by the enemy.

Thanks to the courage of the volunteer peasants and the ingenuity of their commander, Kurin’s detachment expelled the French from their land, capturing a huge amount of trophies. In May 1813, in Moscow, Gerasim Kurin and Yegor Stulov were awarded the Crosses of St. George.

WOLF SCOUT

Senior non-commissioned officer Avvakum Nikolaevich Volkov is one of the few who was awarded five St. George Crosses. From an early age Avvakum was an orphan. At the age of ten, distant relatives assigned him to the musical team of the Amur Dragoon Regiment.

And three years later, during the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, he received the 4th degree St. George Cross for bravery. Then, when it was necessary to find out the location of the Japanese, bugler Volkov volunteered for reconnaissance. Dressed in Chinese clothes, the young soldier scouted out the location of the enemy troops, but came across a Japanese patrol of twenty horsemen. The Japanese guessed who this unusual Chinese was. Snatching a revolver, the scout killed three, jumped on the horse of one of the dead and was gone. For this feat, the scout was awarded the St. George Cross, 3rd degree.

In one of the battles, the wounded Avvakum was captured by the Japanese. He was sentenced to death. But Volkov made a tunnel at night, dealt with the sentry and went into the taiga. The Japanese did not pursue him - it was clear that he would not survive there. But after ten days of wandering, having traveled many kilometers, the brave man returned to his regiment and was awarded the St. George Cross, 2nd degree.

The war continued, and before the battle of Mukden, Volkov again volunteered to go on reconnaissance. This time he removed the guards from the enemy's powder magazine and blew it up. For this new feat, he received the 1st degree cross and became a full Knight of St. George.

The outbreak of the First World War found Avvakum in Kislovodsk, where he was healing his wounds. And the brave soldier, having signed up as a volunteer, was already on August 16th in reconnaissance. In one of the raids, a small detachment led by Volkov came across an enemy patrol. In that battle, Volkov was wounded in the stomach and was sent for treatment. The brave warrior was awarded another St. George Cross, 1st degree, and promoted to officer rank.

DON COSSACK SEMYON BUDENNY

An outstanding commander, Marshal Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny loved horses since childhood and mastered horseback fighting at a very young age. When he turned 17 years old, the Minister of War, General A.N., came to the village. Kuropatkin, in whose honor a race was held with the cutting of vines and stuffed animals. Semyon became the winner, for which he received a silver ruble from the minister.

In the army he served in a dragoon regiment. And at the beginning of the First World War, non-commissioned officer Budyonny received his first award for successful participation in the battle near Brzeziny - the St. George Cross, 4th degree, which he soon lost.

At the end of 1914, Budyonny was on the Turkish front. The regiment did not participate in hostilities, and some officers led wild lives, wasting soldiers' money. Sergeant Khestanov was especially zealous in this. Budyonny suggested that Khestanov return the money to the soldiers, but he responded with insolence. Budyonny could not stand it and hit the rude man hard. The military court, taking into account his impeccable service, decided to deprive Budyonny of the St. George Cross for assault. But soon the award was returned to him for the courage and ingenuity shown by Semyon in the battle for the city of Van.

Budyonny received the 3rd degree Cross in January 1916 for participating in the battles near Mendelij. And in March of the same year he received the St. George Cross, 2nd degree. Our hero also distinguished himself in the battle near Kermanshah. Having gone on reconnaissance, he captured a tongue and received a 1st degree cross.

After the revolution, Budyonny became the commander of a cavalry detachment, then the commander of the 1st Cavalry Army. With her he participated in the battles of the Civil War. It’s interesting that during the fight against Basmachi in Central Asia, a rumor spread that Budyonny was spellbound - not a single bullet hit him.

Since 1923 SM. Budyonny was in Moscow. During the Great Patriotic War, he was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command and received a high award - the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree. In 1958 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1963 he became a hero for the second time, and five years later for the third time.

OUTSTANDING COMMANDER MARSHAL ZHUKOV

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Marshal of the Soviet Union and four times Hero of the Soviet Union, graduated from a parish school. During the First World War, he, a non-commissioned officer, was awarded two St. George Crosses for capturing a German officer and being seriously wounded while on reconnaissance mission.

During the Civil War, Zhukov was a Red Army soldier, a platoon and squadron commander. Before the Great Patriotic War, commanding a group of Soviet troops in Mongolia, he carried out a successful operation to defeat the Japanese in the area of the Khalkhin Gol River, for which he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He became the commander of the troops of the Kyiv Special Military District, and then the chief of the General Staff.

Zhukov's talent as a commander was revealed especially clearly during the Great Patriotic War. He played an outstanding role during the battle for Moscow. Under his leadership, the troops of the Western Front stopped the numerically superior enemy forces, launched a decisive counteroffensive and threw them back many kilometers from the capital.

In his memoirs, the marshal wrote: “When people ask me what I remember most from the last war, I always answer: the battle for Moscow*. In January 1943, when approving the proposal to award Zhukov the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Stalin said: “Zhukov saved Moscow!”

G.K. Zhukov was always in the most responsible and important sectors of the front. In all operations, he quickly and deeply assessed the situation and made the right decisions. His confidence was transmitted to his subordinates, and they had no doubt in achieving the final goal. During the war he went to the front 225 times.

During the war, Zhukov was awarded the second Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, and after its completion - the third. He became the first recipient of the highest military order of Victory, which he was awarded twice. The marshal received his fourth hero star in 1956.

Valentin DUBIN, reserve major general

The Cross of St. George is an award assigned to the Order of St. George for lower ranks from 1807 to 1917 for military merits and for courage shown against the enemy. The insignia of the Military Order was the highest award for soldiers and non-commissioned officers. From June 24, 1917, it could also be awarded to officers for feats of personal bravery at the presentation of a general meeting of soldiers of a unit or sailors of a ship.

History of the sign

The idea of establishing a soldier's award was expressed in a note submitted on January 6, 1807 addressed to Alexander I (author unknown), which proposed establishing “a 5th class or a special branch of the Military Order of St. George for soldiers and other lower military ranks... which may consist , for example, in a silver cross on the St. George ribbon, threaded into a buttonhole.” The insignia of the Military Order was established on February 13 (25), 1807, by the manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, as a reward for lower military ranks for “undaunted courage.” Article 4 of the manifesto ordered that the insignia of the Military Order be worn on a ribbon of the same colors as the Order of St. George. The badge had to be worn by its owner always and under all circumstances, but if the holder of the badge was awarded the Order of St. George, in 1807-55. the badge was not worn on the uniform.

The first to receive the Soldier's George was the non-commissioned officer of the Cavalry Regiment Yegor Ivanovich Mitrokhin for his distinction in the battle with the French near Friedland on June 2, 1807. The first Knight of the Soldier George served from 1793 to 1817 and retired with the lowest officer rank of ensign. However, Mitrokhin's name was first included in the lists only in 1809, when cavaliers from the guards regiments were the first to be included in the compiled lists. Sub-ensign of the 5th Jaeger Regiment Vasily Berezkin received the cross for the battle with the French near Morungen on January 6 (18), 1807, that is, for a feat accomplished even before the establishment of the award.

Distinguished in the battles of 1807 and awarded the insignia of the Military Order of the Pskov Dragoon Regiment, non-commissioned officer V. Mikhailov (badge No. 2) and private N. Klementyev (badge No. 4), privates of the Ekaterinoslav Dragoon Regiment P. Trekhalov (badge No. 5) and S Rodionov (badge No. 7) were transferred to the cavalry guards.

George of the First Degree

When it was established, the Soldier's Cross did not have degrees, and there were also no restrictions on the number of awards one person could receive. At the same time, a new cross was not issued, but with each award the salary increased by a third, to double the salary. Unlike the officer's order, the soldier's award was not covered with enamel and was minted from silver of the 95th standard (modern 990th standard). By decree of July 15, 1808, holders of the insignia of the Military Order were exempted from corporal punishment. The insignia could be confiscated from the recipient only by court and with mandatory notification of the emperor.

George of the Second degree.

George of the third degree.

George of the Fourth degree.

1812 - 6783 awards;
1813 - 8611 awards;
1814 - 9345 awards;
1815 - 3983 awards;
1816 - 2682 awards;
1817 - 659 awards;
1818 - 328 awards;
1819 - 189 awards.

Until 1820, insignia without numbers were awarded mainly to non-military ranks of the army, as well as to former commanders of partisan detachments from among merchants, peasants and townspeople.

In 1813-15 The badge was also awarded to soldiers of armies allied with Russia that acted against Napoleonic France: the Prussians (1921), the Swedes (200), the Austrians (170), representatives of various German states (about 70), and the British (15).

In total, during the reign of Alexander I (period 1807-25), 46,527 Badges were granted.

In 1833, the provisions for the insignia of the Military Order were spelled out in the new statute of the Order of St. George. It was then that the wearing of the Insignia of the Military Order “with a bow from the St. George’s ribbon” was introduced by persons who were honored to receive a full salary of an additional salary for repeated exploits.

In 1839, a commemorative version of the sign was established in honor of the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of the Peace of Paris. Externally, the sign was distinguished by the presence of the monogram of Alexander I on the upper ray of the reverse. This award was given to military personnel of the Prussian army (4,500 crosses were minted, 4,264 were awarded).

Obverse and reverse of the 1839 St. George Cross for Prussian allied veterans in the fight against Napoleon

On August 19, 1844, a special sign was installed to reward non-Orthodox people: it differed from the usual one in that in the center of the medallion, on both sides, the coat of arms of Russia was depicted - a double-headed eagle. 1,368 soldiers received such badges.

In total, during the era of Nicholas I (1825-56), the badge was awarded to 57,706 valiant lower ranks of the Russian army. Most of the cavaliers appeared after the Russian-Persian 1826-28 and Russian-Turkish 1828-29. wars (11,993), the suppression of the Polish rebellion (5888) and the Hungarian campaign of 1849 (3222).

From March 19, 1855, the badge was allowed to be worn on the uniform by its owners who were subsequently awarded the Order of St. George.

First "gold" degree

First degree of 600 gold.

I. Yu. Popovich-Lipovac

Over the entire 57-year history of the four-degree Badge of Distinction of the Military Order, about 2 thousand people became its full cavaliers (holders of all four degrees), about 7 thousand were awarded the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees, the 3rd and 4th 1st degree - about 25 thousand, 4th degree - 205,336. Most awards were awarded during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. (87,000), Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78. (46,000), Caucasian campaign (25,372) and Central Asian campaigns (23,000).

In 1856-1913. There was also a version of the Military Order Insignia for awarding lower ranks of non-Christian religions. On it, the image of St. George and his monogram were replaced by a double-headed eagle. 19 people became full holders of this award, 269 people received the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees, 821 - 3rd and 4th, and 4619 - 4th. These awards were numbered separately.

In 1913, a new statute for the insignia of the Military Order was approved. It began to be officially called the St. George Cross, and the numbering of signs began anew from that time. Unlike the Insignia of the Military Order, there were no St. George crosses for non-Christians - all crosses since 1913 have depicted St. George. In addition, since 1913, the St. George Cross could be awarded posthumously.

Kozma Kryuchkov

The first award of the St. George Cross of the 4th degree took place on August 1, 1914, when cross No. 5501 was awarded to the commander of the 3rd Don Cossack Regiment, Kozma Firsovich Kryuchkov, for a brilliant victory over 27 German cavalrymen in an unequal battle on July 30, 1914. Subsequently, K.F. Kryuchkov also earned the other three degrees of the St. George Cross in battles. St. George's Cross No. 1 was left “at the discretion of His Imperial Majesty” and was awarded later, on September 20, 1914, to private 41st Selenginsky Infantry Regiment Pyotr Cherny-Kovalchuk, who captured the Austrian banner in battle.

French Negro Marcel Play

Foreigners who served in the Russian army were also awarded the Cross of St. George. The French black Marcel Plea, who fought on the Ilya Muromets bomber, received 2 crosses, the French pilot Lieutenant Alphonse Poiret - 4, and the Czech Karel Vashatka was the owner of 4 degrees of the St. George Cross, the St. George Cross with a laurel branch, St. George medals 3 classes, the Order of St. George 4th degree and St. George's weapon.

From 1914 to 1917 the following were awarded (that is, mainly for exploits in the First World War):
St. George's Crosses, 1st class. - OK. 33 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 2nd Art. - OK. 65 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 3rd Art. - OK. 289 thousand
St. George's Crosses, 4th Art. - OK. 1 million 200 thousand

To indicate the serial number (“per million”), a stamp was stamped on the upper side of the cross. "1M", and the remaining numbers were placed on the sides of the cross. On September 10, 1916, according to the Highest approval of the opinion of the Council of Ministers, gold and silver were removed from the St. George Cross. They began to be stamped from “yellow” and “white” metal. These crosses have letters under their serial numbers "ZhM", "BM". There were crosses of St. George: 1st degree "ZhM" - 10,000 (No. from 32481 to 42480), 2nd degree "ZhM" - 20,000 (No. from 65031 to 85030), 3rd degree "BM" - 49,500 (No. from 289151 to 338650), 4th degree “BM” - 89,000 (No. from 1210151 to 1299150).

Perhaps it was during the First World War that the saying “The chest is in the crosses, or the head is in the bushes” was born.

After the February coup, cases of awarding the St. George Cross for purely political reasons began to occur. Thus, the award was received by non-commissioned officer Timofey Kirpichnikov, who led the rebellion of the Volyn Life Guards Regiment in Petrograd, and Russian Prime Minister A.F. Kerensky was “presented” with crosses of the 4th and 2nd degrees as “the intrepid hero of the Russian Revolution, who tore down the banner of tsarism."

On June 24, 1917, the Provisional Government changed the statute of the Cross of St. George and allowed it to be awarded to officers by decision of soldiers' meetings. In this case, a silver laurel branch was attached to the ribbon of signs of the 4th and 3rd degrees, and a golden laurel branch was attached to the ribbon of signs of the 2nd and 1st degrees. In total, about 2 thousand such awards were presented.

St. George's Cross with a laurel branch, which was awarded by decision of the lower ranks to officers who distinguished themselves in battle after February 1917

There are several known cases of awarding the Insignia of the Military Order and the Cross of St. George to entire units:

1829 - the crew of the legendary brig Mercury, which took on and won an unequal battle with two Turkish battleships;

1865 - Cossacks of the 4th hundred of the 2nd Ural Cossack regiment, who survived an unequal battle with many times superior forces of the Kokands near the village of Ikan;

1904 - the crews of the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets", who died in an unequal battle with the Japanese squadron;

1916 - Cossacks of the 2nd hundred of the 1st Uman Koshevoy Ataman Golovatov Regiment of the Kuban Cossack Army, which, under the command of Captain V.D. Gamaliya, carried out a difficult raid in April 1916 during the Persian campaign.

1917 - fighters of the Kornilov shock regiment for breaking through the Austrian positions near the village of Yamnitsa.

First highest degree: Golden Cross, worn on the chest, on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; in the circle of the Cross on the front side there is an image of St. George, and on the back there is a monogram of St. George; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross is carved the number under which the person who has the Cross of the first degree is included in the list of those awarded this degree, and on the lower end of the Cross the inscription: 1st degree.

Second degree: The same gold Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross there is a number carved under which the person who has the Cross of the second degree is included in the list of those granted this degree, and below is the inscription: 2nd degree.

Third degree: The same silver cross on the St. George ribbon, with a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side there is a number cut out under which the person who has the Cross of the third degree is included in the list of those awarded this degree, and below is the inscription: 3rd degree.

Fourth degree: The same silver Cross, on the St. George ribbon, without a bow; on the transverse ends of the reverse side of the Cross there is a number carved under which the Cross of the fourth degree granted is included in the list of those granted this degree, and below is the inscription: 4th degree.

For the fight against the Bolsheviks

During the Civil War (1917-1922) in the Volunteer Army and in the Armed Forces of the South of Russia, military awards were used extremely reluctantly, especially in the initial period, since they considered it immoral to award military awards to Russian people for exploits in a war with Russian people, but General P. N. Wrangel resumed awards in the Russian Army he created, establishing a special Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, equivalent to the Order of St. George. In the Northern Army and on the Eastern Front, under the direct leadership of Admiral Kolchak, awards took place more actively.

The last awards took place in 1941 in the ranks of the Russian Corps - a Russian collaborationist formation that fought on the side of Nazi Germany in Yugoslavia with the partisan detachments of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia, Marshal of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito.

St. George's Cross in Soviet times

Contrary to popular belief, the Cross of St. George was not “legalized” by the Soviet government or officially allowed to be worn by Red Army soldiers. After the start of the Great Patriotic War, many older people were mobilized, among whom were participants in the First World War who were awarded the Cross of St. George. Such servicemen wore awards “in person”, in which no one interfered with them, and enjoyed legitimate respect in the army.

...I ask you to consider the issue of equating b. St. George cavaliers, awarded this order for military exploits committed during the last war with the damned Germany in 1914-1919, to the cavaliers of the Soviet Order of Glory, since the statute of the latter almost completely corresponds to the statute of the b. Order of George and even the colors of their order ribbons and their design are the same.

By this act, the Soviet government will first of all demonstrate the continuity of the military traditions of the glorious Russian army, the high culture of respect for all heroic defenders of our beloved Motherland, the stability of this respect, which will undoubtedly stimulate both the b. St. George's cavaliers, as well as their children and comrades, to perform new feats of arms, for each military award pursues not only the goal of equitably rewarding the hero, but it should also serve as an incentive for other citizens to perform similar feats.

Thus, this event will further strengthen the combat power of our valiant Red Army.

Long live our great Motherland and its invincible, proud and brave people, who have repeatedly defeated the German invaders, and are now successfully defeating them under your wise and firm leadership!

Long live the great Stalin!

Professor Nick. ANOSCHENKO 22.IV.1944

A similar movement ultimately resulted in a draft resolution of the Council of People's Commissars:

In order to create continuity in the fighting traditions of Russian soldiers and pay due respect to the heroes who defeated the German imperialists in the war of 1914-1917, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decides:

1. Equate b. cavaliers of St. George, who received the Cross of St. George for military exploits performed in battles against the Germans in the war of 1914-17, to the cavaliers of the Order of Glory with all the ensuing benefits.

2. Allow b. St. George's cavaliers wear a pad with an order ribbon of the established colors on their chest.

3. Persons subject to the effect of this resolution are issued an order book of the Order of Glory marked “b. St. George Knight", which is formalized by the headquarters of military districts or fronts on the basis of the submission of relevant documents to them (genuine orders or service records of that time)

This project never became a real resolution...

List of persons who were full holders of the St. George Cross and bore the title of Hero of the Soviet Union

Six such people are known:
Ageev, Grigory Antonovich (posthumously)
Budyonny, Semyon Mikhailovich (one of the three three times Heroes of the Soviet Union)
Lazarenko, Ivan Sidorovich (posthumously)
Meshcheryakov, Mikhail Mikhailovich
Nedorubov, Konstantin Iosifovich
Tyulenev, Ivan Vladimirovich

Monument to Nedorubov in Volgograd

The owner of the “full bow” of the soldiers’ Georgiev, K. I. Nedorubov, wore the Gold Star of the Hero for his exploits on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War along with crosses.

Cavaliers

In the 19th century, the insignia of the Military Order was awarded to:

Durova.

the famous “cavalry maiden” N.A. Durova - No. 5723 in 1807 for saving the life of an officer in the battle near Gutstadt; in the lists of gentlemen she is listed under the name of cornet Alexander Alexandrov.

For the battle of Dennewitz in 1813, another woman named Sophia Dorothea Frederica Kruger, a non-commissioned officer from the Prussian Borstell brigade, received the St. George Cross. Sofia was wounded in the shoulder and leg in the battle; she was also awarded the Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd class.

The future Decembrists M. I. Muravyov-Apostol and I. D. Yakushkin, who fought at Borodino with the rank of ensign, which did not give the right to an officer’s award, received St. George’s Crosses No. 16697 and No. 16698.

Chapaev

Among the most famous cavaliers of the soldier's George are the famous character of the First World War, Cossack Kozma Kryuchkov and the hero of the Civil War Vasily Chapaev - three St. George Crosses (4th Art. No. 463479 - 1915; 3rd Art. No. 49128; 2nd Art. . No. 68047 October 1916) and the St. George Medal (4th degree No. 640150).

Soviet military leaders were full holders of the soldier's St. George Cross: A. I. Eremenko, I. V. Tyulenev, K. P. Trubnikov, S. M. Budyonny. Moreover, Budyonny received the St. George Crosses even 5 times: the first award, the St. George Cross of the 4th degree, Semyon Mikhailovich was deprived by the court for assault on his senior rank, the sergeant. Again he received the 4th degree cross. on the Turkish front, at the end of 1914.

St. George's Cross, 3rd class. was received in January 1916 for participation in the attacks near Mendelij. In March 1916, Budyonny was awarded the 2nd degree cross. In July 1916, Budyonny received the St. George Cross, 1st degree, for leading 7 Turkish soldiers from a sortie behind enemy lines with four comrades.

Future marshals each had two crosses - non-commissioned officer Georgy Zhukov, lower rank Rodion Malinovsky and junior non-commissioned officer Konstantin Rokossovsky.

Kovpak

The future Major General Sidor Kovpak, during the Great Patriotic War, was the commander of the Putivl partisan detachment and a formation of partisan detachments of the Sumy region, which later received the status of the First Ukrainian Partisan Division.

Maria Bochkareva

The last Knight of St. George awarded on Russian soil in 1920 was 18-year-old sergeant P.V. Zhadan, for saving the headquarters of the 2nd Cavalry Division of General Morozov. Zhadan, at the head of a squadron of 160 sabers, scattered the cavalry column of the red division commander Zhloba, who was trying to escape from the “bag”, directly towards the division headquarters