The history of the origin of the St. George ribbon for children. The meaning and history of the St. George ribbon
Until recently, it was impossible to get a St. George’s ribbon in our city; it was given out somewhere before the Victory Day holiday, but I never got there. Well, my Moscow friends did not forget and regularly supplied it.
Now, wherever you go, there are almost mountains of them everywhere - I don’t want to take them. Of course, this somewhat reduces its weight and significance for a Russian person, but with us it’s always like this - sometimes it’s thick, sometimes it’s empty.
It is worth remembering where and when it came from, what it symbolizes and what it meant for the inhabitants of that huge country that was once called the Russian Empire, then the USSR, and now the Russian Federation. At the same time, we must take into account all those who have not forgotten our common Motherland, even if they ended up in distant or near, as they now say, foreign countries.
It is obvious that the St. George ribbon is associated with the name of one of our most revered saints - St. George the Victorious. Let me briefly remind you who the future saint was. According to his life, he was born in the 3rd century into a Christian family in Cappadocia (or moved there in early childhood from Palestine - it is not known). But it is known that his father was tortured for professing Christianity in Cappadocia.
Already in his youth, George possessed an extraordinary intelligence, courage and physical strength, which allowed him to become one of the thousand officers in Diocletian’s army and the emperor’s favorite. After the death of his mother, he received a large inheritance. It would seem that the man needed everything, but then the persecution of Christians began, he distributed all his wealth to the poor and declared directly to the emperor’s face that he was a Christian. He was arrested and after eight days of severe torture, he was beheaded.
I will not talk now about all the miracles that happened during the torture; those who wish can read all this in the Life of St. George. I will cite only one thing - the wife of Emperor Alexander, amazed by the miracles she saw, was converted to the faith, for which she, too, was beheaded along with Saint George right there in prison.
In Rus', Saint George has always been revered as the patron saint of warriors, farmers and cattle breeders, that is, if you estimate, the overwhelming majority of the country's population. Taking all this into account, when the need arose to celebrate the warriors who most distinguished themselves in battles, Catherine the Great on November 26, 1769, during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, established the St. George Ribbon “to encourage loyalty, courage and prudence for the benefit of the Russian Empire, shown in courageous deeds or wise advice.
In addition, the ribbon was supplemented with the motto “For Service and Bravery,” as well as a white equilateral cross or a four-pointed gold star. At the same time, a rather large life content was attached to it. The ribbon is described as follows: “Silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes.”
In 1913, the status of the ribbon changed slightly: “A ribbon of three black and two orange stripes, worn over the right shoulder.” The colors of the tape were read as follows: black - smoke, orange - flame. Curious in this sense are the notes of Chief Chamberlain Count Litt, who noted that “the immortal legislator who founded this order believed that its ribbon connected the color of gunpowder and the color of fire.”
However, there is an opinion among heraldry experts that both of these colors merely correspond to the colors of the state emblem of the Russian Empire - a black eagle on a golden background. Well, it's up to anyone.
In addition to the ribbon itself and the distinctive sign for it, over the next one hundred and fifty years of the Empire’s existence, other orders, medals and ribbons with its colors were established: the Order of St. George of 4 degrees - as the highest military award in the country, the Insignia of the Military Order - as an award a sign for the lower ranks, and, in fact, the St. George Cross of 4 degrees.
The insignia was established on February 13, 1807 by Alexander I as “a reward for lower military ranks for undaunted courage.” This sign was worn on a ribbon of the same colors as the Order of St. George.
In 1856, four degrees of this sign were introduced. Since 1913, it has turned into a soldier's St. George's Cross. It would probably not be amiss to say that over the 57 years that the Insignia of the Military Order existed, almost 2 thousand people became holders of all four degrees, that is, its full cavaliers.
This figure, like nothing else, is the best proof that Russia had to fight almost non-stop.
So here's a little more about two-color ribbon. It was worn on their cap by all sailors of the crews of ships awarded the St. George flag and received the honorary name - “Guards”.
After the revolution of 1917, the tape was forgotten, and, apparently, an important role in this was played by the fact that the tape continued to be actively used in the White Army.
In the first days of the Great Patriotic War, it would seem that there was no time for awards, but it was during this period that many soldiers and commanders of the Red Army were awarded orders and medals. True, the choice was small - only 3 orders and 3 medals. There is an urgent need for new insignia of military valor.
This is where we first of all remembered the St. George Ribbon. They called it the “Guards Ribbon” and used it to decorate the “Naval Guard” badge, as well as sailor caps. This happened on June 10, 1942. It was one of the first new awards in the Soviet Union and fully corresponded to the pre-revolutionary St. George Ribbon both in appearance and status.
The image of the guards ribbon was also on the banners of the guards units. On November 8, 1943, the Order of Glory of 3 degrees was established, the block of which was made in the form of a guards ribbon. Later it was used in the block of the medal “For Victory over Germany”.
The St. George's Ribbon campaign began in 2005. The ribbon is distributed to everyone for free. It is attached to clothes, bags and car antennas as a sign of memory and respect for the feat of the victorious Soviet people.
The organizers of this action note that its main goal was “the desire at all costs not to let new generations forget who and at what cost won the victory in the most terrible war of the last century, whose heirs we remain, what and who we should be proud of, about whom remember".
The motto of the action is “I remember, I am proud.” The ribbon is currently distributed in more than 30 countries, with over 50 million ribbons distributed this year.
St. George's ribbon - a ribbon with three black and two orange stripes, is a symbol of heroism, military valor and glory of the defenders of Russia. This is one of the most popular symbols in modern Russia.
St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of awards for heroism
"St. George's Ribbon" is a symbol, not a reward. The first medals on the St. George Ribbon were awarded in August 1787. Medals on the St. George Ribbon were awarded only to those who showed the greatest personal courage and heroism. Black and orange ribbons were laid in the design of military awards awarded for personal courage and heroism.
St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of Victory Day
The St. George ribbon in appearance and color combination corresponds to the ribbon that covers the order block for the medal “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.” This medal has become the most popular medal, the block of which is covered with a silk moire ribbon of longitudinal alternating stripes - three black and two orange. The medal was awarded to approximately 14,933,000 people, which was approximately 10% of the total population of the USSR. Therefore, it is not surprising that the black and orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens became a real symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany.
St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of anti-fascism
The St. George ribbon is a symbol of victory over fascism, which is why neo-fascists hate it so much. This is a symbol of the unbroken spirit of the people who fought and defeated Nazism in the Great Patriotic War.
The traditional interpretation of the colors of the St. George's Ribbon states that black means smoke, orange means flame and are considered a sign of a soldier's personal valor on the battlefield.
The stripes on the ribbon symbolize the death and resurrection of St. George: according to legend, he passed through death three times and was resurrected twice (three black stripes and two orange).
St. George's Ribbon - a two-color ribbon for the Order of St. George, the St. George's Cross, the St. George's Medal. Also, St. George's ribbons on the cap were worn by the sailors of the guards crew of the ship awarded the St. George's flag.
The history of the emergence of the St. George's ribbon
In 1769, Empress Catherine the 2nd established an award for officers of the Russian Army, awarded for personal courage shown on the battlefields - Order of Saint George.
The establishment of the Order of George was solemnly celebrated in St. Petersburg on November 26, 1769. It was supposed to be worn on a “silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes”; subsequently, the name St. George’s Ribbon was assigned to it. According to the statute, the Order of St. George was intended to reward military ranks "for courage, zeal and zeal for military service and for encouragement in the art of war" and came in importance immediately after the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
“neither high birth, nor previous merits, nor wounds received in battles are accepted as respect when awarded the Order of St. George for military exploits; “The only one who is awarded it is the one who not only fulfilled his duty in everything according to oath, honor and duty, but on top of this marked himself for the benefit and glory of Russian weapons with a special distinction.”
Four degrees of the Order of George
Badge of the Order of St. George, 1st degree. 1850s
Cross, star and ribbon.
cross golden, covered on both sides with white enamel, with a gold border around the edges. In the central circle, filled with red enamel, there is an image of St. George on a white horse, slaying a dragon with a spear. On the reverse side, in a white circle, is the monogram of St. George (intertwined letters SG).
Star of the Order- golden quadrangular (diamond-shaped), formed by 32 golden (solar) rays emanating from the center. In the middle of it, on a gold background, there is a similar monogram of St. George, and on a black hoop around it, the motto of the Military Order “For Service and Bravery” is written in gold letters. On the back side (reverse): there is a monogram of two letters “C” and “G” (St. George) in such a way that, intertwined, it makes up the third letter - “P” (Victorious).
Ribbon. The cross was worn on a 10-11 cm wide moire ribbon with three black and two orange stripes, which was worn over the right shoulder.
Badge of the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. 1850s
Cross, star and narrow ribbon.
Golden cross and golden star, similar to the first degree. The cross was worn around the neck on a narrower medal ribbon.
Badge of the Order of St. George, 3rd degree. 1850s
Golden cross, similar to the senior degrees, but smaller in size. Worn around the neck on an order ribbon.
Order of George 4th class
Badge of the Order of St. George, 4th degree. 1850s
Cross and narrow ribbon.
The golden cross is slightly smaller in size than the third degree sign. Worn in a buttonhole or on the left side of the chest on a narrow order ribbon.
By decree of 1833 a warrior who accomplished several feats received the right to bow with ribbon. The wearing of the cross was prescribed on a ribbon, the colors of which corresponded to the colors of the Order of St. George.
It was from this period that the popularity of the St. George Ribbon became nationwide, since the common Russian people saw such awards much more often than golden orders of officers of the Russian Army. This sign later became known as the soldier’s Cross of St. George or “soldier Egoriy” (George), as it was popularly called. In total, during the reign of Emperor Alexander I, 46,527 people were awarded the soldier's St. George Badge of Distinction.
St. George's Honors of Priests
1790. This was the second St. George's award, which appeared after the Order of St. George. Its establishment is associated with the heroic assault on the Turkish fortress of Izmail in 1790. Then, in the midst of the battle, all the officers of the Polotsk infantry regiment were killed, and the attack was on the verge of failure. And then at the head of the column the regimental priest Father Trofim (Kutsinsky) appeared, who, with a cross in his hand, led the assault. Inspired by the sight of their beloved shepherd, the soldiers rushed to attack. After the capture of Izmail, A.V. Suvorov informed P.A. Potemkin: “Today we will have a thanksgiving prayer service. It will be sung by the Polotsk priest, who was with the cross in front of this brave regiment.” Father Trofim became the first holder of the Golden Pectoral Cross on the St. George Ribbon. The award was not only honorable, but also very rare - until 1903, only 194 army clergy were awarded it.
Collective St. George's Awards
In 1805 The first collective St. George's awards appeared - St. George's Banners (standards) and St. George's Trumpets.
St. George's Banner of the Izhevsk Rifle Division. 1918
Double-sided panel measuring 115.5 x 105 cm.
The badge of the Order of St. George was installed in the spear of the banner staff, narrow St. George ribbons with lanyards were hung on the top, and an inscription was made on the panel, for which such a distinction was received. The first to receive such a banner were the Chernigov Dragoon Regiment, two Don Cossack regiments, the Kiev Grenadier and Pavlograd Hussar regiments. They were awarded “For their exploits at Shengraben on November 4, 1805 in a battle with an enemy consisting of 30 thousand.”
St. George's pipes
St. George's Trumpet of the 1st, 3rd and 4th battalions of the Tenginsk regiment. 1879
Silver St. George Trumpet
In 1805 A new type of award trumpet appeared - silver St. George's trumpets, which differed from simply silver ones by the applied image of the St. George's Cross on the bell, which made them a higher award. Inscriptions and silver tassels on the St. George ribbons were present on both types of insignia (Differences in shape between the award pipes given to cavalry and infantry: for the first - straight, long pipes, for infantry - figured, several times curved.)
In 1807 Emperor Alexander 1 established a special award for the lower ranks of the Russian Army for personal courage in battle, which was called the Insignia of the Military Order.
The soldier's St. George Cross is considered the most famous monument to the bravery of soldiers.
Silver sign and bow with St. George's ribbon.
February 13, 1807 The Highest Manifesto was issued, establishing the Insignia of the Military Order (ZOVO), which would later become known as the Cross of St. George. The Manifesto stipulated the appearance of the award - silver sign on the St. George ribbon, with the image of St. George the Victorious in the center. Reason for award: acquired in battle by those who have shown particular bravery. This sign is still evidence of unparalleled courage.
Medal "For Bravery"
The merit of the medal "For Bravery" was lower than the Insignia of the Military Order, but higher than all other medals.
Medal "For Bravery"
Established in 1807 The medal “For Bravery” was intended to reward soldiers of irregular troops and paramilitary forces (Cossack, militia, cavalry irregular, police, police, security, guard), who do not have officer and class ranks, for distinction in combat operations, as well as for exploits , manifested in battles with violators of public order, both in war and in peacetime. From 1850 to 1913, it was included in the list of awards intended for the indigenous inhabitants of the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and other Asian territories of the Russian Empire, who were not members of the regular troops and did not have officer or class ranks, and was awarded for distinction in battles against the enemy on the Russian side army. “For Bravery,” also worn on a black and orange (St. George) ribbon, was assigned to the Order of St. George in 1913 and, along with the Cross of St. George, became the most popular soldier’s medal awarded for personal bravery.
Golden weapon "for bravery"
In 1855, during the Crimean War, lanyards of St. George's colors appeared on premium officer weapons. Golden weapons as a kind of award were no less honorable for a Russian officer than the Order of George. Since 1855, officers who received the award gold weapon "For Bravery" were ordered to wear lanyards from the St. George ribbon for a more visible distinction.
Crimean War Medal
Medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol". 1855
Medal "For the Defense of Sevastopol"
In the same 1855 The medal “For the Defense of Sevastopol” was established.
The defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 became the main event of the Crimean War, which went down in history as the bloodiest war of the 19th century. For the first time in the history of the Russian Empire, a medal was awarded not for a heroic victory, but specifically for the defense of a Russian city. This medal was silver, intended for both military officials and civilians who participated in the defense of Sevastopol. For generals, officers, soldiers and sailors of the Sevastopol garrison who served there from September 1854 to August 1855, the medal was awarded on the St. George Ribbon.
St. George's award buttonholes
St. George award buttonholes of the Votkinsk artillery division
St. George's buttonholes
In 1864 St. George's buttonholes were installed for lower ranks. In Transbaikalia, the ranks of the Votkinsk artillery division, in commemoration of their feat, were granted St. George buttonholes, and the ranks of the division had the St. George cord on shoulder straps as a distinction. The artillerymen had buttonholes made from the St. George ribbon on their overcoats.
Since January 20, 1871 in the Russian imperial army, the St. George's lanyard was defined as a belt folded in the form of a loop with a brush for fixing (tying) covers on banners and standards for distinction in St. George's regalia.
St. George ribbons for military sailors
Peak cap of the Guards crew of the ship "Derzhava". 1887
St. George ribbons on caps
In 1878 St. George's ribbons for military sailors were installed (which have survived to this day on peakless caps of sailors of the guards units). St. George ribbons on a peakless cap were worn by sailors of the Guards crew of the Russian Imperial Guard and sailors of ships awarded the St. George flag.
For service on the border
Medal with the inscription “For Bravery” on the St. George Ribbon.
Medal "For Bravery" for the Border Guard
In 1878 Emperor Alexander II, to reward the lower ranks of the border guards and the army and navy units assisting them for military distinction in the performance of the duties of the border and customs service, established a separate award - a medal with the inscription “For Bravery”. On the front side of the medal was the profile of the reigning emperor, on the back - the inscription “For bravery”, the degree of the medal and its number.
Alexander II ordered“to the lower ranks, instead of the Badges of the Military Order, give silver medals for bravery on the St. George Ribbon, which will be accepted as a rule in the future”
This award was equivalent to the Insignia of the Military Order and was higher than all other medals, including Anninsky. Since 1906, the medal with the inscription “For Bravery,” established in 1878 for the border guard, was also awarded to lower ranks of the army, navy, and a separate corps of gendarmes, and from 1910 to the police, “for feats of courage” in the fight against armed troublemakers.
In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol
Medal "In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol." 1905
Medal "In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol"
In 1905 a medal was established “In memory of the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol”, which was awarded to all surviving participants in the events. The medal had an eyelet for attaching to a block or ribbon. The medal should be worn on the chest. The ribbon of the silver version of the medal is St. George. Diameter 28 mm. On the front side of the medal there is an equilateral cross, in the center of which is written the number of days of the defense of Sevastopol - "349" in an oak wreath. At the top, the cross is overshadowed by the radiance of the All-Seeing Eye of the Lord. At the bottom of the date: "1855-1905". On the reverse side of the medal, the inscription in Church Slavonic, a quote from the Psalter, means literally “Our fathers trusted in You; trusted, and you delivered them"
St. George ribbons in their original form were present in the Russian Imperial Army until the very end of its existence.
During the existence of the black and orange ribbon of St. George, from its appearance in 1769 until 1917, it was an indispensable attribute of a variety of awards of the Russian Empire awarded for military courage. Golden officer's crosses, lanyards of golden weapons, insignia, medals, as well as collective - silver trumpets, banners, standards.
St. George medals of the Provisional Government
Medal "For Bravery"
Medal of the Provisional Government "For Bravery"
St. George Medal "For Bravery"
April 24, 1917 The medal "For Bravery" was introduced by order of the Military and Naval Departments. Its statute was basically retained as before. In the period from the February to the October Revolution, instead of the profile of the emperor, on the medals "For Courage" there was an image of St. George the Victorious. This medal "For Bravery" in peacetime, as before, was the main award for the lower military ranks of the army and navy and was issued for the manifestation of personal courage and valor in a combat situation. Quite a lot of silver medals "For Bravery", especially of the 4th degree, have been preserved. Most of them are St. George medals from the First World War.
Awards of the RSFSR and the White Army
After the Bolsheviks abolished the old award system, the St. George ribbon continued to be used in the award systems of the White armies. St. George's colors (St. George's bows, chevrons, ribbons on headdresses and banners) were used in various white formations, especially by participants in the Yaroslavl uprising.
Insignia of the Military Order "For the Great Siberian Campaign"
Medal "For the Great Siberian Campaign"
The insignia of the Military Order “For the Great Siberian Campaign” is a military award from the Civil War.
Established February 11, 1920 by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Front of the General Staff, Major General S. N. Voitsekhovsky.
The order establishing the insignia stated: In recompense for the exceptional dangers and labors suffered by the troops of the Eastern Front in the unprecedented campaign from the banks of the Irtysh beyond Lake Baikal, I affirm the Insignia of the Military Order “For the Great Siberian Campaign.” The Insignia of the Military Order complains: 1st class on the St. George ribbon without a bow, 2nd class on the Vladimir ribbon without a bow.
The insignia had two degrees. The insignia of the first degree was awarded to all those who were in the ranks and at the operational headquarters of the troops and was worn on the St. George ribbon. The second degree insignia was awarded to everyone else, including civilians, and was worn on the Vladimir ribbon.
After the revolution, a course was set to destroy everything lordly - the award “Badge of the Order of St. George” did not receive official recognition. However, they were worn on the chests of elderly soldiers who fought against the Nazis, and the owners of St. George were treated with no less respect than the Hero's Star. Moreover, at least 6 full holders of the award of Tsarist Russia and at the same time heroes of the Soviet Union are known.
Nedorubov Konstantin Iosifovich
full St. George Knight and Hero of the Soviet Union
Svirin Ivan Mikhailovich
full Knight of St. George and Knight of the Order of Lenin
Gruslanov Vladimir Nikolaevich
captain, full St. George Cavalier
Serga Andrey Georgievich
Knight of St. George in 1917 and 1951
Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Book Vasily Ivanovich
Soviet general
The nationality and respect of the sign is confirmed by the fact that in 1992 the award received a rebirth. Modern “George,” just like centuries ago, emphasizes the recognition and gratitude of the living for their courage and personal heroism.
Guards Ribbon
After the devastating defeats of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the USSR desperately needed symbols that could unite the people and raise morale at the front. The Red Army had very few military awards and insignia of military valor. This is where the St. George Ribbon came in handy. The USSR did not completely repeat the design and name. The Soviet ribbon was called “Guards”, and its appearance was slightly changed. Paradoxically, the Bolsheviks, hating everything tsarist, overthrew the term “Georgievsky”, returned in 1941 another tsarist term “Guards”, but called it their own, Soviet. So the St. George Ribbon, with minor changes, entered the Soviet award system under the name “Guards Ribbon”.
Orders and medals of the Great Patriotic War
Order of Glory I, II and III degrees.
Order of Glory 1943
November 8, 1943 The Order of Glory was established by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council. The Order of Glory is awarded to privates and sergeants of the Red Army, and in aviation, to persons with the rank of junior lieutenant, who have demonstrated glorious feats of bravery, courage and fearlessness in battles for the Soviet Motherland. The sign is connected using an eyelet and a ring to a pentagonal block covered with a silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. The tape has five longitudinal alternating stripes of equal width: three black and two orange. Along the edges of the tape there is one narrow orange stripe 1 mm wide. The Order of Glory was also awarded to military personnel of the allied armies. Thus, on the website of the American collector Paul Schmitt, information was found that the Order of Glory, III degree, was awarded to a US Navy serviceman, Cecil R. Haycraft. Probably, the American Cavalier of Glory could have been part of one of the sea convoys.
By 1945, the Order of Glory was awarded to:
- Order of Glory, 1st degree – about 1,500 people
- Order of Glory II - about 17,000 people
- Order of Glory III degree - about 200,000 people
As of 1989, the Order of Glory was awarded to:
- Order of Glory I degree - 2620 people
- Order of Glory II degree - 46473 people
- Order of Glory III degree - 997815 people
Guards ribbon on the Naval ensign
June 19, 1942 By order of the People's Commissar of the USSR Navy No. 142, the Guards Naval Flag was installed for ships of the Navy whose crews were awarded the Guards rank. On November 16, 1950, by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, changes were made to the description of the previous flag, and the designs of the star and hammer and sickle of the Naval Flag were also changed. On April 21, 1964, by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, this flag was re-established. The flag existed in this form until July 26, 1992, when it was replaced by the Russian Guards Naval Flag.
Guards Naval Flag of the USSR - is a Naval flag of the USSR with a Guards ribbon located on it, tied in a bow, with fluttering ends. The guards ribbon is located above the blue stripe, symmetrically relative to the middle vertical line of the flag. The length of the guards ribbon in a straight line is 11/12, and the width is 1/20 of the width of the flag.
Ribbon of guard ships on caps
A special ribbon on the caps of Soviet sailors is the ribbon of Guards ships, approved together with the Guards badge in 1943. The ribbon of the Guards ships has the color of the Order of Glory ribbon of alternating stripes of orange and black, which corresponds to the colors of the St. George ribbon (there is an indication from 1769, which says that the colors are given: orange is the color of flame and black is the color of gunpowder smoke).
The Guards ribbon is laid along the band of the Red Navy caps (peakless caps) of enlisted personnel of Guards ships and units and is secured at the rear seam, with the ends of the ribbon remaining free. On the guards' ribbons, in the place in front of the cap, the name of the ship, unit or formation is stamped in gold, and on the free ends - anchors.
For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
Medal "For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
By Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces dated May 9, 1945 The Medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945” was established. It could be received by all military personnel who took part in the war at the front, as well as those who did not take part in hostilities, but served for a certain time in the system of the People's Commissariat of Defense; workers of rear evacuation hospitals of the Red Army and Navy; workers, employees and collective farmers who took part in the fight against the invaders as part of partisan detachments behind enemy lines.
Using an eyelet and a ring, the medal is connected to a pentagonal block covered with a silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. The tape has five longitudinal alternating stripes of equal width - three black and two orange. The edges of the ribbon are bordered with narrow orange stripes.
Medal "For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" became the most popular medal. Later, a larger number of awards were made only with anniversary medals. As of January 1, 1995, the medal “For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945” approximately 14,933,000 people were awarded, which was approximately 10% of the total population of the USSR. Therefore, it is not surprising that the black and orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens became a real symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany. In addition, after the end of the Second World War, the Guards Ribbon was actively used in a wide variety of visual propaganda related to the theme of war.
Medal in honor of the capture of Berlin
Medal "For the Capture of Berlin"
Medal "For the Capture of Berlin"
By Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces dated June 9, 1945, in honor of the capture of Berlin during the Great Patriotic War, the medal "For the capture of Berlin" was established. It was awarded to "servicemen of the Soviet Army, Navy and NKVD troops - direct participants in the heroic assault and capture of Berlin in the period April 22 - May 2, 1945, as well as organizers and leaders of military operations during the capture of this city."
In the upper part of the medal there is an eyelet, by which the medal is connected with a metal pentagonal block with a pin by means of a ring. The shoe is covered with red silk moiré ribbon 24 mm wide. There are five stripes running down the middle of the ribbon - three black and two orange.
In total, the medal “For the Capture of Berlin” was awarded over 1,100,000 times.
St. George's ribbon - a symbol of Victory Day
In the Soviet Union, as today, posters and greeting cards were printed with the image of a black and orange ribbon as a symbol of victory.
1945
1945
1945
1948
1967
1970
"9th May"
1972
1974
"May 9 - Victory Day"
1975
1975
1976
"Glory to the Soviet Armed Forces"
1979
Anniversary awards with a black and orange ribbon as a symbol of victory
1970
1995 2005
60 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War
2010
Restoration of the Order of St. George
The statute of the restored Order of St. George was approved by decree of the President of Russia from August 8, 2000 No. 1463, but no awards were made until 2008.
Order of St. George
The restored Order of St. George has the same external features as in tsarist times. The Order of St. George is the highest military award of the Russian Federation. The Order of St. George is awarded to military personnel from among senior and senior officers for conducting combat operations to defend the Fatherland during an attack by an external enemy, which ended in the complete defeat of the enemy, becoming an example of military art, whose exploits serve as an example of valor and courage for all generations of defenders of the Fatherland and who were awarded state awards of the Russian Federation for distinction shown in combat operations.
St. George Ribbon or Guards Ribbon
Since 1769, whatever the name of the two-tone black and orange ribbon, she has always been a symbol of soldier's prowess and glory.
Color of St. George and Guards Ribbons
Looking at the St. George ribbons of awards from different times, one notices the difference in shades of orange (even for the same awards). 
Over hundreds of years, some ancient ribbons faded, others darkened from dirt and blood in battles, and the technology in those days probably did not allow the production of ribbons of the same orange color. Over time, the appearance of the St. George Ribbon may have changed somewhat, the shades of the ribbon may have changed, but it always remained a ribbon of longitudinal alternating stripes - three black and two orange.
The St. George Ribbon in appearance and color combination corresponds to the Guards Ribbon, and no matter how the enemies of Russia and neo-fascists try to change the colors of the stripes (comparing shades of orange) and the width of the stripes (measuring hundredths of a millimeter under a magnifying glass), she always combined stripes of black (the color of gunpowder) and two orange (the color of fire). So all the arguments about the “different color schemes” of the St. George and Guards ribbons are nothing more than lies, manipulations and fantasies.
Edging on the St. George and Guards ribbons
St. George's ribbon does not have a strict description. The 1913 award statute stated only that the ribbon consisted of 3 black and 2 orange stripes. This is used by opponents of the “St. George Ribbon” in disputes about comparing the St. George and Guards ribbons, because if there is no accurate description of the St. George ribbon, then one can say that the St. George ribbon does not have edging (a thin orange stripe along the edges of the ribbon), but the Guards one has it. Let’s not be unfounded, let’s look at the paintings of famous holders of the Order of St. George, and consider what St. George ribbons they wore on their chests.
Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich
The paintings clearly show a narrow strip (Embedding) along the edges of the St. George Ribbon. Only those who don’t want to, of course, won’t notice the orange stripes along the edges of the tape, but they are there. You should also pay attention to the colors of the St. George ribbons, they are all orange, but in different shades, which again confirms that the St. George ribbon does not have a strict description, there was no precisely established color for the St. George ribbon. The only difference between the St. George ribbon is that it should consist of 3 black and 2 orange stripes.
"St. George's Ribbon" - a public event for the distribution of symbolic ribbons
The first St. George's Ribbon event took place in 2005, the year of the 60th anniversary of the Victory. The initiators of the action chose as a symbol that was supposed to symbolize the unification of several generations, St. George's ribbon. Since then, the campaign has been under the motto “I remember! I'm proud!" takes place annually. The St. George's Ribbon campaign is neither commercial nor political.
Who deserves to wear the St. George's Ribbon?
The St. George's Ribbon campaign is traditionally held every year on the eve of Victory Day. "St. George's Ribbon" has never been an award, it is distributed symbolically, that is, it cannot be earned. George Ribbon - This symbol awards and memories. The St. George Ribbon is not allowed to be used as a reward, nor can it be sold. Symbolic "St. George's Ribbons" are distributed free of charge to everyone who wants to express their respect for the veterans, gratitude to the people who gave everything for the front, and honor the memory of those who fell on the battlefield. To all those thanks to whom we defeated fascism in 1945.
"St. George's Ribbon" - a symbol, not a reward
The "St. George's Ribbon" is not a heraldic symbol. This is a symbolic ribbon, a replica of the traditional bicolor St. George ribbon. The use of original St. George's or Guards ribbons in the promotion is not allowed. Whether or not to wear the St. George ribbon is up to everyone to decide for themselves. Now this is a symbol of Victory, not an insignia.
St. George's ribbon is one of the most recognizable symbols
The St. George's Ribbon, uniting millions of people in many countries of the world, in just a few years has become one of the most successful and recognizable symbols. Almost 90 countries around the world took part in the “St. George Ribbon” campaign in 2017, and more than 10 million ribbons were distributed around the world. The St. George Ribbon has become an anti-fascist symbol in many countries around the world.
- St. George's ribbon is a symbol of heroism, military valor and glory of the defenders of Russia
- St. George's Ribbon - a symbol of awards for heroism
- St. George's ribbon - a symbol of Victory Day
- St. George's ribbon - a symbol of anti-fascism
On the day of the Victory Day celebration throughout the Russian Federation, citizens tie certain symbols to their outfits. Very often you can see the St. George's ribbon proudly developing on people's chests. Most young people know that such a ribbon is a symbol of the holiday, but few know what is hidden behind the symbolism. Let's figure out what the St. George's ribbon means.
Colors of St. George's ribbon
The St. George Ribbon has always been associated with Victory and here's why. The colors of this ribbon, orange and black, represent the following:
- orange – symbolizes the eternal flame of fire;
- black is the smoke of burnt Russian cities.
Orders with such colors were considered exclusively a military award.
The history of the St. George ribbon
In the 18th century, Catherine II, by her order of November 26, 1769, founded the Order of St. George the Victorious, which was awarded to distinguished soldiers. A ribbon of the same color was attached to this order and because of this it was called St. George’s.
Most likely based on the above, historically it so happened that in the USSR they began to award the military with the “Guards Ribbon”, which was like two peas in a pod similar to the ribbon of the Order of St. George the Victorious. True, the then government of the USSR made its own minor additions.
Such a ribbon was awarded to soldiers who had special distinctions before their homeland.
What does the St. George ribbon mean today
Today, the St. George ribbon is a sign of memory about the feat accomplished by our people. Walking down the street with such a ribbon means expressing your respect and solidarity to the soldiers who laid down their lives for the possibility of ours being born. Before May 9, young people tie such ribbons on items of clothing and hand them out to passers-by on the street. 
How the St. George ribbon became a symbol of victory
In 2005, employees of the Ria Novosti news agency held the St. George's Ribbon campaign. It was then that the newspapers renamed it from “Guards” to “Georgievskaya”. As the workers themselves say, the original purpose of this action was to pay tribute to the veterans who survived the battles, and not to forget about those who died on the battlefield. The brilliant idea was to create symbols that would emphasize the depth of the legacy of the Second World War. The scale of the action has been gaining momentum every year, and the number of ribbons distributed on the eve of the holiday is growing from year to year.
Today the St. George ribbon is distributed to everyone and it means “I remember and I am proud.” 
A completely insignificant element like a ribbon can become a symbol of Victory, but the strength, depth and spiritual energy that it carries can become an asset, and not just an attribute of the holiday.
The meaning of the St. George ribbon should be known to every resident of our native country who is proud of the exploits of their ancestors.
In the Russian Empire, the St. George Ribbon was one of the most important award symbols. It appeared after the decree of Catherine the Second in 1769 and became an addition to the St. George Cross, medal or Order of St. George. It is named after George the Victorious.
To receive such a ribbon, you did not need to have a high military rank or noble origin: they were worn, for example, by sailors on ships that received the St. George flag.
At this point, it becomes clear why some are offended by the massive use of such an important symbol. However, firstly, after the establishment of Soviet power, the St. George Ribbon was completely abolished. And secondly, during the Great Patriotic War, it was proposed in the navy to use a guards ribbon, suspiciously similar to St. George's. It was worn on the caps of sailors whose ships received the title of guards for successful military operations.
What does the St. George ribbon mean?
Now that it is clear where this symbolism came from, we can understand its meaning. The St. George Ribbon was accompanied by the motto “For Service and Bravery,” and it itself distinguished people who committed courageous deeds for the benefit of the Russian Empire.
Initially, black and yellow stripes alternated on the ribbon, then they were replaced by orange ones (and migrated to the Guards). There is no malicious intent or change of symbolism here: both colors are variants of displaying gold and essentially correspond to the colors of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. It was then that the Soviet Navy miscalculated slightly ...
In any case, the use of black and orange ribbons today is not blasphemy: then the navy can also be blamed for it. This symbol was not used separately in the imperial army, but during World War II it was supplemented with the name of the ship and anchors. So it is wrong to say that “young people awarded themselves the Cross of St. George,” and no one is forcing anyone to wear ribbons on their bags.
The St. George Ribbon first appeared in 1769 as part of the highest military award in Russia - the Imperial Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. Catherine II ordered that it be awarded to officers for courage and special merits on the battlefields.
The order had 4 degrees. Along with the St. George Cross of the first degree, the officer was awarded a wide ribbon. It was supposed to be worn on a military uniform, tied over the right shoulder. The same tape was used to cover the blocks of crosses of all degrees.
The St. George ribbon received a specific color: two orange stripes between three black ones. Along the edges there was a narrow orange edging. However, another option is also possible: black stripes are combined with yellow ones. There is no violation of heraldic principles, because both yellow and orange symbolically represent gold. The colors of the St. George's Ribbon are reminiscent of the smoke and flames of war, through which the recipient of the award passed with honor. In addition, they repeat the color scheme of the state emblem of the Russian Empire during the time of Catherine II.
Somewhat later, the St. George Ribbon began to be used in other awards and insignia of military distinction: banners, standards, silver trumpets, hats, officer weapons, etc. They were awarded for personal and collective military exploits.
The ribbon found a second life during the Great Patriotic War: in 1943 it adorned the Order of Glory, and in 1945 – the medal “For Victory over Germany”. Since then, St. George's bicolor has got another name - "Ribbon of the Order of Glory". Historians consider these names to be equivalent, given the high value of both military awards. Calling the black and orange ribbon of the Guards is only permissible when it comes to the symbols of the Navy: flags, pennants, caps, badges.
In 1992, the Order of St. George was returned to the system of state awards of the Russian Federation. In addition to it, the insignia “St. George’s Cross” was introduced. Both awards feature the same black and orange ribbon.
As an integral part of this or that award, St. George's bicolor means the personal courage of a warrior, his devotion to the Fatherland, the courage shown in military operations, the high moral qualities of the hero. A ribbon awarded for personal military merit cannot be transferred to other people.
The ribbons distributed during the action dedicated to the Victory Day have become for the majority of Russians a symbol of national unity, memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, a sign of gratitude to the heroes and grief for the soldiers and officers who fell on the fronts for the freedom of the Motherland.
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- George Ribbon
In 2005, as a result of a spontaneous action, the so-called “St. George’s Ribbon” appeared on the streets of Russian cities. The main goal of the action participants was to restore the memory of the traditions of the Soviet and Russian army. The ribbon, painted orange and black, became an indispensable attribute of ceremonial events dedicated to the victory of the people in the war against Nazi fascism. Why is a two-color ribbon called “St. George’s”?
From the history of the St. George ribbon
In 1769, Russian Empress Catherine II established the Order of St. George. Having four degrees, this distinctive sign served to reward those who demonstrated valor in battle and performed a military feat. The order of the first degree was made in the form of a set of, a star and a special ribbon, which had two orange and three black stripes. Such a ribbon was worn under the uniform over the right shoulder. It received the name “Georgievskaya”.
Since these times, the two colors of the St. George ribbon in Russia began to symbolize glory and valor. Subsequently, this was assigned to the signs that military units had, in particular, banners. State awards were often worn on this ribbon. At the beginning of the 19th century, certain Russian units received award St. George banners, to which a black and orange ribbon and tassels were attached.
Half a century later, during the Crimean War, the colors of the St. George ribbon began to appear on awards belonging to officers. An award of this kind was no less honorable than the Order of St. George. Black and orange ribbons existed as an award attribute in the Russian army until the empire ceased to exist.
St. George's Ribbon: continuation of traditions
During the war with the fascist invaders, the leadership of the Soviet Union decided to partially restore the traditions of the old Russian army. In 1943, the USSR government established the Order of Glory, which had three degrees. It looked like a five-pointed star and had a block covered with a yellow-black ribbon. This combination of colors was reminiscent of the Order of St. George. The two-color ribbon also served as a symbol of courage, military valor and continuity of traditions.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the leadership of the renewed Russia decided to restore the former Russian St. George. The distinctive sign "St. George's Cross" was also put into operation. So in modern Russia it reappeared, which was destined to unite the traditions of different eras, separated from each other by more than two centuries.
Today, many who are patriotically inclined, on public holidays or during significant socio-political events, proudly attach a bright ribbon to their clothes or hang it on their cars. The St. George's ribbon has become a unique symbol of the unity of the nation and a way to express one's patriotic feelings.
On the May holidays, many Russian residents insert St. George ribbons into their buttonholes as a sign of memory and respect for the heroism of soldiers during the Great Patriotic War. These ribbons have become so common in “May” everyday life that many have forgotten that St. George ribbons were introduced long before the establishment of Soviet power and the victory in the Second World War.
Instructions
The Order of St. George was introduced by Catherine II in 1769. He had four classes and was the highest military award in the state. Soldiers and officers who performed outstanding deeds or military exploits in military combat were honored to be awarded this order.