Historical significance of the St. George ribbon. Symbol of victory. Where did the St. George ribbon come from and why is it needed?
On the day of the celebration of the Victory Day holiday 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 bearing such colors were considered exclusively a military award.
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.
Currently used as an element of the combat banners of guards units in the Russian Federation.
Story
Russian empire
In the 1730s, black (enamel of the eagle), yellow (enamel of the golden field of the state coat of arms), later orange, and white (white was given the silver figure of St. George in the shield on the chest of the eagle) began to be considered the state colors of the Russian Empire.
The St. George Ribbon was established when the Order of St. George was established by Catherine the Second on November 26, 1769 during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 to encourage loyalty, courage and prudence for the benefit of the Russian Empire, demonstrated in courageous deeds or wise advice. The film received its name from the name of St. George the Victorious. The ribbon was supplemented with the motto: “For service and courage,” as well as a white equilateral cross or a four-pointed gold star. The ribbon was worn depending on the class of the gentleman: either in the buttonhole, or around the neck, or over the right shoulder. The ribbon came with a lifelong salary. After the death of the owner, it was inherited, but due to the commission of a shameful offense it could be confiscated from the owner. The Order Statute of 1769 contained the following description of the ribbon:
“Silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes" .
However, as the images show, in practice, not so much yellow as orange was initially used in practice (from a heraldic point of view, both orange and yellow are just variants of displaying gold). The 1913 statute stated:
“A tape about three blacks and two orange stripes, worn over the right shoulder" .
The traditional interpretation of the colors of the St. George's Ribbon states that black means smoke, orange means flame. Chief Chamberlain Count Litta wrote in 1833: “the immortal legislator who founded this order believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire.” However, a prominent specialist in Russian faleristics, Serge Andolenko, points out that black and yellow colors, in fact, only reproduce the colors of the state emblem: a black double-headed eagle on a golden background.
In some cases, the St. George Ribbon was used as an analogue of the corresponding award - the Order of St. George, the Insignia of the Military Order and the Cross of St. George. In those cases when holders of the Insignia of the Military Order could not receive the Insignia itself (for example, during the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855), they wore the St. George Ribbon on their uniform. During the First World War, the St. George Knights also wore the St. George Ribbon in winter over the side of their greatcoat.
In addition, this is the only time that the St. George Ribbon acquired the status of an independent award. This happened in 1914, when for his services in carrying out mobilization, Lieutenant General A. S. Lukomsky was awarded the St. George Ribbon to the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree, which he already had (the Order of St. George for mobilization itself could not be given due to its status ). Thus, he became the owner of a unique award - the Order of St. Vladimir on the St. George Ribbon. The award was jokingly called “Vladimir Georgievich”. 
White movement
After the Bolsheviks abolished the old award system, the St. George's Ribbon continued to be used in the award systems of the White Armies. In particular, it was used on the honorary award of the Volunteer Army - the badge “For the Ice March” and the award of the Eastern Front, the badge “For the Great Siberian Campaign”. 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. At the end of 1918, Ataman Annenkov gave “the right to wear the St. George’s ribbon” to veterans of his unit “to distinguish them from newcomers.” During World War II, fighters of the Russian Corps who acted against Yugoslav partisans were awarded the Cross of St. George.
The ribbon of the Order of St. George was used in the symbolism of Russian emigrant organizations, such as the Russian All-Military Union. The symbol of the collaborationist “Union of Struggle against Bolshevism” created in 1944 in Bobruisk was the “St. George Banner with the St. George Cross embroidered in silver in the middle,” the leaders of the organization wore armbands of St. George’s flowers on their sleeves.
USSR
Since the autumn of 1941, units, formations and ships, for the courage and heroism of their personnel that they showed in defending the Fatherland, were awarded the honorary title “Guards”, “Guards”. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 21, 1942, the “Guard” badge was established for guardsmen. Despite the fact that the “Guards” badge was established as a single one, the USSR Navy decided to establish its own guards badge (popular name - “Sea Guard”). Thus, the head of the organizational and combat department of the NK of the Navy, captain 2nd rank B. M. Khomich, proposed using a rectangular (used in the Russian army and navy) plate covered with black and orange tape, and also using the latter on sailors’ visors. The People's Commissar of the Navy, Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov, by his order No. 142 of June 10, 1942, approved these insignia. On May 5, 1943, he also approved the publication of “An Illustrated Description of the Insignia of Personnel of the USSR Navy,” which depicts the Guards Ribbon.
Also, a silk moire ribbon with five longitudinal alternating stripes of equal width - three black and two orange, with edges bordered by narrow orange stripes, was attached to various Soviet awards: the most massive Medal “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945” .”, To the Order of Glory of all degrees.
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Notes
Literature
- A. V. Viskovatov “Description of uniforms and weapons of the Russian army”, city;
- G. S. Gabaev “A brief outline of the development of the pattern of Russian banners and standards in the 19th century”, St. Petersburg, g.;
- V.V. Zvegintsov “Banners and Standards of the Russian Army”, T.2., Paris, gg.;
- T. N. Shevyakov, O. N. Parkhaev “Banners and Standards of the Russian Imperial Army of the late XIX - early XX centuries”;
- A. Polevoy. .
An excerpt characterizing the St. George Ribbon
“Look, prince,” said the other, who really wanted to take another pie, but was ashamed, and who therefore pretended that he was looking around the area, “look, our infantry have already climbed there.” Over there, in the meadow outside the village, three people are dragging something. “They will break through this palace,” he said with visible approval.“Both,” said Nesvitsky. “No, but what I would like,” he added, chewing the pie in his beautiful, moist mouth, “is to climb up there.”
He pointed to a monastery with towers visible on the mountain. He smiled, his eyes narrowed and lit up.
- But that would be good, gentlemen!
The officers laughed.
- At least scare these nuns. Italians, they say, are young. Really, I would give five years of my life!
“They’re bored,” said the bolder officer, laughing.
Meanwhile, the retinue officer standing in front was pointing something out to the general; the general looked through the telescope.
“Well, so it is, so it is,” the general said angrily, lowering the receiver from his eyes and shrugging his shoulders, “and so it is, they will attack the crossing.” And why are they hanging around there?
On the other side, the enemy and his battery were visible to the naked eye, from which milky white smoke appeared. Following the smoke, a distant shot was heard, and it was clear how our troops hurried to the crossing.
Nesvitsky, puffing, stood up and, smiling, approached the general.
- Would your Excellency like to have a snack? - he said.
“It’s not good,” said the general, without answering him, “our people hesitated.”
– Shouldn’t we go, Your Excellency? - said Nesvitsky.
“Yes, please go,” said the general, repeating what had already been ordered in detail, “and tell the hussars to be the last to cross and light the bridge, as I ordered, and to inspect the flammable materials on the bridge.”
“Very good,” answered Nesvitsky.
He called to the Cossack with the horse, ordered him to remove his purse and flask, and easily threw his heavy body onto the saddle.
“Really, I’ll go see the nuns,” he said to the officers, who looked at him with a smile, and drove along the winding path down the mountain.
- Come on, where will it go, captain, stop it! - said the general, turning to the artilleryman. - Have fun with boredom.
- Servant to the guns! - the officer commanded.
And a minute later the artillerymen ran out cheerfully from the fires and loaded.
- First! - a command was heard.
Number 1 bounced smartly. The gun rang metallic, deafening, and a grenade flew whistling over the heads of all our people under the mountain and, not reaching the enemy, showed with smoke the place of its fall and burst.
The faces of the soldiers and officers brightened at this sound; everyone got up and began observing the visible movements of our troops below and in front of us - the movements of the approaching enemy. At that very moment the sun completely came out from behind the clouds, and this beautiful sound of a single shot and the shine of the bright sun merged into one cheerful and cheerful impression.
Two enemy cannonballs had already flown over the bridge, and there was a crush on the bridge. In the middle of the bridge, having dismounted from his horse, pressed with his thick body against the railing, stood Prince Nesvitsky.
He, laughing, looked back at his Cossack, who, with two horses in the lead, stood a few steps behind him.
As soon as Prince Nesvitsky wanted to move forward, the soldiers and carts again pressed on him and again pressed him against the railing, and he had no choice but to smile.
- What are you, my brother! - the Cossack said to the Furshtat soldier with the cart, who was pressing on the infantry crowded with the very wheels and horses, - what are you! No, to wait: you see, the general has to pass.
But furshtat, not paying attention to the name of the general, shouted at the soldiers blocking his way: “Hey!” fellow countrymen! keep left, wait! “But the fellow countrymen, crowding shoulder to shoulder, clinging with bayonets and without interruption, moved along the bridge in one continuous mass. Looking down over the railing, Prince Nesvitsky saw the fast, noisy, low waves of Ens, which, merging, rippling and bending around the bridge piles, overtook one another. Looking at the bridge, he saw equally monotonous living waves of soldiers, coats, shakos with covers, backpacks, bayonets, long guns and, from under the shakos, faces with wide cheekbones, sunken cheeks and carefree tired expressions, and moving legs along the sticky mud dragged onto the boards of the bridge . Sometimes, between the monotonous waves of soldiers, like a splash of white foam in the waves of Ens, an officer in a raincoat, with his own physiognomy different from the soldiers, squeezed between the soldiers; sometimes, like a chip winding through a river, a foot hussar, an orderly or a resident was carried across the bridge by waves of infantry; sometimes, like a log floating along the river, surrounded on all sides, a company or officer's cart, piled to the top and covered with leather, floated across the bridge.
“Look, they’ve burst like a dam,” the Cossack said, stopping hopelessly. -Are there many of you still there?
– Melion without one! - a cheerful soldier walking nearby in a torn overcoat said winking and disappeared; another, old soldier walked behind him.
“When he (he is the enemy) begins to fry the taperich on the bridge,” the old soldier said gloomily, turning to his comrade, “you will forget to itch.”
And the soldier passed by. Behind him another soldier rode on a cart.
“Where the hell did you stuff the tucks?” - said the orderly, running after the cart and rummaging in the back.
And this one came with a cart. This was followed by cheerful and apparently drunk soldiers.
“How can he, dear man, blaze with the butt right in the teeth…” one soldier in a high-tucked greatcoat said joyfully, waving his hand widely.
- This is it, sweet ham is that. - answered the other with laughter.
And they passed, so Nesvitsky did not know who was hit in the teeth and what the ham was.
“They’re in such a hurry that he let out a cold one, so you think they’ll kill everyone.” - the non-commissioned officer said angrily and reproachfully.
“As soon as it flies past me, uncle, that cannonball,” said the young soldier, barely restraining laughter, with a huge mouth, “I froze.” Really, by God, I was so scared, it’s a disaster! - said this soldier, as if boasting that he was scared. And this one passed. Following him was a carriage, unlike any that had passed so far. It was a German steam-powered forshpan, loaded, it seemed, with a whole house; tied behind the forshpan that the German was carrying was a beautiful, motley cow with a huge udder. On the feather beds sat a woman with a baby, an old woman and a young, purple-red, healthy German girl. Apparently, these evicted residents were allowed through with special permission. The eyes of all the soldiers turned to the women, and while the cart passed, moving step by step, all the soldiers' comments related only to two women. Almost the same smile of lewd thoughts about this woman was on all their faces.
- Look, the sausage is also removed!
“Sell mother,” another soldier said, emphasizing the last syllable, turning to the German, who, with his eyes downcast, walked angrily and fearfully with wide steps.
- How did you clean up! Damn it!
“If only you could stand with them, Fedotov.”
- You saw it, brother!
- Where are you going? - asked the infantry officer who was eating an apple, also half-smiling and looking at the beautiful girl.
The German, closing his eyes, showed that he did not understand.
“If you want, take it for yourself,” the officer said, handing the girl an apple. The girl smiled and took it. Nesvitsky, like everyone else on the bridge, did not take his eyes off the women until they passed. When they passed, the same soldiers walked again, with the same conversations, and finally everyone stopped. As often happens, at the exit of the bridge the horses in the company cart hesitated, and the entire crowd had to wait.
- And what do they become? There is no order! - said the soldiers. -Where are you going? Damn! There's no need to wait. Even worse, he will set the bridge on fire. “Look, the officer was locked in too,” the stopped crowds said from different sides, looking at each other, and still huddled forward towards the exit.
Looking under the bridge at the waters of Ens, Nesvitsky suddenly heard a sound that was still new to him, quickly approaching... something big and something plopping into the water.
- Look where it's going! – the soldier standing close said sternly, looking back at the sound.
“He’s encouraging them to pass quickly,” said another restlessly.
The crowd moved again. Nesvitsky realized that it was the core.
- Hey, Cossack, give me the horse! - he said. - Well you! stay away! step aside! way!
With great effort he reached the horse. Still screaming, he moved forward. The soldiers squeezed to give him way, but again they pressed on him again so that they crushed his leg, and those closest were not to blame, because they were pressed even harder.
- Nesvitsky! Nesvitsky! You, madam!” a hoarse voice was heard from behind.
Nesvitsky looked around and saw, fifteen paces away, separated from him by a living mass of moving infantry, red, black, shaggy, with a cap on the back of his head and a brave mantle draped over his shoulder, Vaska Denisov.
“Tell them what to give to the devils,” he shouted. Denisov, apparently in a fit of ardor, shining and moving his coal-black eyes with inflamed whites and waving his unsheathed saber, which he held with a bare little hand as red as his face.
- Eh! Vasya! – Nesvitsky answered joyfully. - What are you talking about?
“Eskadg “onu pg” you can’t go,” shouted Vaska Denisov, angrily opening his white teeth, spurring his beautiful black, bloody Bedouin, who, blinking his ears from the bayonets he bumped into, snorting, spraying foam from the mouthpiece around him, ringing, he beat his hooves on the boards of the bridge and seemed ready to jump over the railings of the bridge if the rider would allow him. - What is this? like bugs! exactly like bugs! Pg "och... give dog" ogu!... Stay there! you're a wagon, chog"t! I'll kill you with a saber! - he shouted, actually taking out his saber and starting to wave it.
The soldiers with frightened faces pressed against each other, and Denisov joined Nesvitsky.
- Why aren’t you drunk today? - Nesvitsky said to Denisov when he drove up to him.
“And they won’t let you get drunk!” answered Vaska Denisov. “They’ve been dragging the regiment here and there all day long. It’s like that, it’s like that. Otherwise, who knows what it is!”
- What a dandy you are today! – Nesvitsky said, looking at his new mantle and saddle pad.
Denisov smiled, took out a handkerchief from his bag, which smelled of perfume, and stuck it in Nesvitsky’s nose.
- I can’t, I’m going to work! I got out, brushed my teeth and put on perfume.
The dignified figure of Nesvitsky, accompanied by a Cossack, and the determination of Denisov, waving his saber and shouting desperately, had such an effect that they squeezed onto the other side of the bridge and stopped the infantry. Nesvitsky found a colonel at the exit, to whom he needed to convey the order, and, having fulfilled his instructions, went back.
Having cleared the road, Denisov stopped at the entrance to the bridge. Casually holding back the stallion rushing towards his own and kicking, he looked at the squadron moving towards him.
Transparent sounds of hooves were heard along the boards of the bridge, as if several horses were galloping, and the squadron, with officers in front, four in a row, stretched out along the bridge and began to emerge on the other side.
The stopped infantry soldiers, crowding in the trampled mud near the bridge, looked at the clean, dapper hussars marching orderly past them with that special unfriendly feeling of alienation and ridicule that is usually encountered with various branches of the military.
- Smart guys! If only it were on Podnovinskoe!
- What good are they? They only drive for show! - said another.
- Infantry, don't dust! - the hussar joked, under which the horse, playing, splashed mud at the infantryman.
“If I had driven you through two marches with your backpack, the laces would have been worn out,” the infantryman said, wiping the dirt from his face with his sleeve; - otherwise it’s not a person, but a bird sitting!
“If only I could put you on a horse, Zikin, if you were agile,” the corporal joked about the thin soldier, bent over from the weight of his backpack.
“Take the club between your legs, and you’ll have a horse,” responded the hussar.
The rest of the infantry hurried across the bridge, forming a funnel at the entrance. Finally, all the carts passed, the crush became less, and the last battalion entered the bridge. Only the hussars of Denisov's squadron remained on the other side of the bridge against the enemy. The enemy, visible in the distance from the opposite mountain, from below, from the bridge, was not yet visible, since from the hollow along which the river flowed, the horizon ended at the opposite elevation no more than half a mile away. Ahead there was a desert, along which here and there groups of our traveling Cossacks were moving. Suddenly, on the opposite hill of the road, troops in blue hoods and artillery appeared. These were the French. The Cossack patrol trotted away downhill. All the officers and men of Denisov’s squadron, although they tried to talk about outsiders and look around, did not stop thinking only about what was there on the mountain, and constantly peered at the spots on the horizon, which they recognized as enemy troops. The weather cleared again in the afternoon, the sun set brightly over the Danube and the dark mountains surrounding it. It was quiet, and from that mountain the sounds of horns and screams of the enemy could occasionally be heard. There was no one between the squadron and the enemies, except for small patrols. An empty space, three hundred fathoms, separated them from him. The enemy stopped shooting, and the more clearly one felt that strict, menacing, impregnable and elusive line that separates the two enemy troops.
In 1769, Empress Catherine 2 established an award for officers of the Russian Army, awarded for personal courage shown on the battlefields - the Order of St. George, it was supposed to be worn on a “silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes”, subsequently the name was assigned to it - St. George Ribbon.What do black and yellow mean? In Russia, they were the imperial, state colors, corresponding to the black double-headed eagle and the yellow field of the state coat of arms. It was precisely this symbolism that Empress Catherine II apparently adhered to when approving the colors of the ribbon. But, since the order was named in honor of St. George the Victorious, the colors of the ribbon perhaps symbolize St. George himself and indicate his martyrdom - three black stripes, and his miraculous resurrection - two orange stripes. It is these colors that are now called when designating colors St. George Ribbon. In addition, a new award was awarded exclusively for military exploits. And the colors of war are the color of flame, that is, orange, and smoke, black.
Some of the first holders of the Order of St. George were participants in the naval battle in Chesme Bay, which took place in June 1770. In this battle, the Russian squadron, under the overall command of Count A.G. Orlov, completely defeated the superior Turkish fleet. For this battle, Count Orlov was awarded the Order of St. George, first degree, and received the honorary prefix “Chesmensky” to his surname.
First medals St. George's ribbon were awarded in August 1787, when a small detachment under the command of Suvorov repelled an attack by a superior Turkish landing force trying to capture the Kinburn fortress. Suvorov, who was in the forefront of the fighting and inspired them by personal example, was wounded twice in this battle; the courage of the Russian soldiers allowed them to defeat the Turkish landing. For the first time in Russian history, the medal was not awarded to everyone who took part in the battle; it was awarded only to those who showed the greatest personal courage and heroism. Moreover, it was up to the soldiers who took direct part in the hostilities to decide who was more worthy of the award. Among the twenty awarded for this battle was the grenadier of the Shlisselburg regiment Stepan Novikov, who personally saved Suvorov from the Janissaries who attacked him. Black and orange ribbons were also used for other medals of this war, which were awarded to participants in the heroic assault on Ochakov and those who distinguished themselves during the capture of Izmail.
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Award trumpet . |
The ribbon of the Order of St. George is beginning to occupy a particularly revered position in the collective awards of various military units of the Russian Army. These include the so-called St. George's pipes, introduced in 1805. These pipes were made of silver; the image of the St. George's Cross and an inscription indicating why this distinction was given were applied to the body. In addition, a lanyard made of black and orange ribbon was attached to the pipe. There were two types of pipes - cavalry and infantry. The differences between them were in their shape. The infantry one was curved, and the cavalry one was straight.
Since 1806, St. George's Banners have appeared among collective incentives. At the top of these banners there was a white order cross, and under the top a St. George ribbon with banner tassels was tied. 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.”
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Civil Code 3 tbsp. with a bow. |
Since 1855, officers who received the golden weapon “For Bravery” were ordered to wear lanyards from the St. George ribbon for a more visible distinction.
Also in 1855, the medal “For the Defense of Sevastopol” was established. 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.
Military distinctions and clergy were not spared. Back in 1790, a special decree was issued to reward military priests for their exploits while participating in military battles. At the same time, the award golden pectoral cross on the St. George ribbon was established. Many of the regimental priests of the Russian Army took direct part in the combat operations of the Russian troops and earned this high distinction with their heroic deeds. One of the first to be awarded the pectoral cross was regimental priest Trofim Kutsinsky. During the storming of the Izmail fortress, the battalion commander, in which Father Trofim was a priest, died. The soldiers stopped in confusion, not knowing what to do next. Father Trofim, unarmed, with a cross in his hands, was the first to rush at the enemy, dragging the soldiers along with him and supporting their fighting spirit. In total, during the period from the establishment of the golden pectoral cross to the Russo-Japanese War, one hundred and eleven people were awarded it. And behind each such award there was a specific feat of the regimental priests of the Russian Army.Approved back in 1807, the medal “For Bravery”, also worn on a black and orange ribbon, was assigned to the Order of St. George in 1913 and became, along with the Cross of St. George, the most popular soldier’s medal awarded for personal bravery.
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. Thus, in the award system of Russia, a whole system of military rewards was formed, among which the St. George Ribbon was a kind of connecting link of them all into a single whole, representing a symbol of military valor and glory.
The day of the establishment of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George on November 26, 1769 in the history of Russia was considered the Day of the Knights of St. George. This day was celebrated annually. On this day, not only in the capital of the empire, but also in almost all corners of the Russian land, holders of St. George's honors were honored. Everyone was honored, regardless of rank and title, since the feats that these people accomplished were performed not in the name of awards, but in the name of their Fatherland.
Recently, videos have appeared on the Internet reflecting the psychosis reigning in the American puppy colony in relation to the St. George tape. Moreover, the virus of madness and hatred for this attribute of the celebration of the Great Victory, which became a symbol of the glory and heroism of our fathers and grandfathers during the Great Patriotic War, struck many representatives of the liberal public, from whom one can often hear reproaches about someone wearing a St. George ribbon on their chest in days of the relevant promotion, as well as during various types of commemorative and festive events.
For Russian liberals, as well as for the possessed admirers of Bandera in Ukraine, the St. George ribbon is a symbol of Russia’s non-existent aggression in the Donbass. actions that plunged Ukraine into civil war, chaos, chaos and poverty. Well, in the most amazing country, nothing that happens in it can no longer be surprising:
St. George Ribbon: history and meaning
The St. George Ribbon is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russian reality in recent years. This black and orange ribbon is one of the main attributes of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) - one of the most respected holidays in our country. Unfortunately, few of those who tie the St. George Ribbon on their clothes or attach it to their car know what it really means.
The St. George ribbon is a ribbon consisting of two colors (orange and black), which in pre-revolutionary Russia was attached to several awards dedicated to St. George the Victorious. These included: the St. George Cross, the St. George Medal and the Order of St. George.
In addition, starting around the 18th century, the St. George ribbon is actively used in Russian heraldry: the ribbon was used as an element of the St. George banners (standards), it was worn on the uniforms of military personnel of particularly distinguished units, the St. George ribbon was on the caps of the sailors of the Guards crew and sailors of ships awarded St. George's banners.
History of the St. George Ribbon
Already at the beginning of the 18th century, black, orange (yellow) and white began to be considered the state colors of Russia. It was this color scheme that was present on the state emblem of the Russian state. The sovereign eagle was black, the field of the coat of arms was gold or orange, and the white color meant the figure of St. George the Victorious depicted on the shield of the coat of arms.
In the middle of the 18th century, Empress Catherine the Great established a new award - the Order of St. George, which was awarded to officers and generals for their merits in the military field (however, the first recipient was the Empress herself). This order was accompanied by a ribbon, which was named St. George's in honor of the order.
The statute of the order stated that the St. George Ribbon should have three black and two yellow stripes. However, it was not yellow that was initially used, but rather orange.
In addition to matching the colors of the state emblem of Russia, this color scheme had another meaning: orange and black are symbols of “fire and gunpowder.”
At the beginning of the 19th century (1807), another award was established dedicated to St. George the Victorious - an insignia of the Military Order, which was unofficially called the Cross of St. George. This award was given to lower ranks for exploits performed on the battlefield. In 1913, the St. George Medal appeared, which was also awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers for courage shown in the face of the enemy.
All of the above awards were worn along with the St. George Ribbon. In some cases, the ribbon could be an analogue of an award (if the gentleman for some reason could not receive it). During the First World War, holders of the St. George Cross in winter wore a ribbon on their overcoat instead of an insignia.
At the beginning of the 19th century, St. George's banners (standards) appeared in Russia; in 1813, the Marine Guards crew was awarded them, after which the St. George's ribbon appeared on the caps of its sailors. Emperor Alexander II decided to award ribbons for merit to entire military units. The St. George's cross was placed at the top of the banner, and the St. George's ribbon was tied under the pommel.
The St. George ribbon was actively used in Russia until the October Revolution of 1917: after it, the Bolsheviks abolished all tsarist awards. However, even after this, the St. George Ribbon remained part of the award system of the White movement. The White Guards used this attribute in their insignia, which appeared already during the Civil War.
In the White Army there were two particularly respected insignia: “For the Ice Campaign” and “For the Great Siberian Campaign”, both of them had bows from the St. George’s ribbon. In addition, the St. George Ribbon was actively used in the White movement: it was worn on headdresses, tied on uniforms, and attached to battle flags.
After the end of the Civil War, the St. George Ribbon was one of the most common symbols of emigrant White Guard organizations.
The St. George's Ribbon was very widely used by various organizations of collaborators who fought on the side of Hitler's Germany during the Second World War. The Russian Liberation Movement (ROD) included more than ten large military units, including several SS divisions, which were staffed by Russians.
Guards ribbon
After the devastating defeats of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the USSR 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.
Back in the fall of 1941, the honorary title “Guards” was adopted into the USSR award system. The following year, the “Guard” badge was established for the army, and the Soviet Navy adopted its own similar badge, the “Naval Guard.”
At the end of 1943, a new award was established in the USSR - the Order of Glory. It had three degrees and was issued to soldiers and junior officers. In fact, the concept of this award largely repeated the royal Cross of St. George. The block of the Order of Glory was covered with a Guards ribbon.
The same ribbon was used in the medal “For Victory over Germany,” which was awarded to almost all military personnel who fought on the Western fronts. After the victory in World War II, about 15 million people were awarded this medal, which was approximately 10% of the entire population of the USSR.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the black and orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens became a real symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany. In addition, after the end of the Second World War, the Guards Ribbon was actively used in a wide variety of visual propaganda related to the theme of war.
Modern Russia
In modern Russia, Victory Day is one of the most popular holidays. For state propaganda, the theme of World War II is one of the main tools for raising the patriotism of the population.
In 2005, in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the victory over Germany, an action was launched at the state level to promote the St. George Ribbon as the main national symbol of the Great Patriotic War.
On the eve of the May holidays, St. George's ribbons began to be distributed free of charge directly on the streets of Russian cities, in shops and government institutions. People hang them on clothes, bags, car antennas. Private companies began to often (sometimes even too often) use the tape to advertise their products.
The motto of the action was the slogan “I remember, I am proud.” In recent years, events related to the St. George Ribbon have begun to take place abroad. At first, the tape was distributed in neighboring countries; in the last year, promotions were held in Europe and the USA.
Russian society received this symbol very favorably, and the St. George Ribbon received a rebirth. Unfortunately, people who wear it usually have little knowledge of the history and meaning of this sign.
The first thing that should be said: the St. George Ribbon has nothing to do with the award system of the Red Army and the USSR in general. This is the insignia of pre-revolutionary Russia. If we talk about the period of the Second World War, the St. George’s Ribbon is most likely associated with the collaborators who fought on the side of Hitler’s Germany.
In 1992, by decree of the Russian President, the St. George Cross was restored to the country's award system. The current St. George's ribbon, in its color scheme and arrangement of stripes, completely coincides with the royal insignia, as well as with the ribbon worn by Krasnov and Vlasov.
However, this is not a big problem. The St. George Ribbon is truly a real symbol of Russia, with which the Russian army has gone through dozens of wars and battles. Disputes about Victory Day being celebrated with the wrong ribbon are stupid and insignificant. The differences between the Guards and St. George ribbons are so small that only historians and heraldry specialists can understand them. It is much worse that this sign of military valor is actively used by politicians and, as usual, not always for good purposes.
St. George's ribbon and politics
Over the past few years, this insignia has been actively used in politics, and this is done both within Russia and abroad. This trend became especially acute in 2014, after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in the Donbass. Moreover, the St. George Ribbon became one of the main distinctive signs of those forces that were directly involved in these events.
The St. George ribbon is very actively used by supporters of the DPR and LPR. Russian propaganda is trying to draw a parallel between the fighters of the separatist formations in eastern Ukraine with the Red Army soldiers who fought the Nazis during World War II. Russian media usually portray the modern Ukrainian government as Nazis.
Therefore, in the last few years, the St. George Ribbon has turned from a symbol of the Great War into a propaganda tool. This sign is increasingly perceived as a symbol of support for the current government. And this is very wrong. And the St. George’s ribbon on vodka, toys or the hoods of Mercedes looks like a complete insult. After all, both the St. George Cross and the Order of Glory could only be earned on the battlefield.
The Great Patriotic War is such a grandiose and tragic event that May 9 should become a day of remembrance for the millions of victims, whose remains are still scattered throughout our forests.
St. George ribbons occupy the most honorable place among the numerous collective awards (distinctions) of units of the Russian army.
The Order of George was established in 1769. According to its status, it was given only for specific feats in wartime “to those who ... distinguished themselves by a particularly courageous act or gave wise and useful advice for our military service.” This was an exceptional military award.
The Order of St. George was divided into four classes. The first degree of the order had three signs: a cross, a star and a ribbon consisting of three black and two orange stripes, which was worn over the right shoulder under the uniform. The second degree of the order also had a star and a large cross, which was worn around the neck on a narrower ribbon. The third degree is a small cross on the neck, the fourth is a small cross in the buttonhole.
The black and orange colors of the St. George Ribbon have become a symbol of military valor and glory in Russia.
There are different opinions about the symbolism of the St. George ribbon. For example, Count Litta wrote in 1833: “The immortal legislator who founded this order believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire...”.
However, Serge Andolenko, a Russian officer who later became a general in the French army and compiled the most complete collection of drawings and descriptions of regimental badges of the Russian army, does not agree with this explanation: “In fact, the colors of the order have been the state colors since the time when the double-headed eagle on a golden background became the Russian national emblem. This is how the Russian coat of arms was described under Catherine II: “The eagle is black, on the heads there is a crown, and at the top in the middle there is a large Imperial crown - gold, in the middle of the same eagle is George, on a white horse, defeating the serpent, the epancha and the spear are yellow, the crown is yellow, the serpent is black.” Thus, the Russian military order, both in its name and in its colors, had deep roots in Russian history.".
Since the establishment of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George on November 26, 1769 by Empress Catherine the Great, this day began to be considered the festive Day of the Knights of St. George, which was to be celebrated annually both at the Highest Court and “in all those places where the Knight of the Grand Cross happens” . Since the time of Catherine II, the Winter Palace has become the venue for the main ceremonies associated with the order. Meetings of the Duma of the Order of St. George met in St. George's Hall. Every year, ceremonial receptions were held on the occasion of the Order's holiday; the St. George's porcelain service, created by order of Catherine II (Gardner factory, 1777-1778), was used for ceremonial dinners. The last time the St. George's Knights celebrated their Order's holiday was on November 26, 1916.
In addition to the St. George Hall in the Winter Palace, there is the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, construction began in 1838 in the Moscow Kremlin according to the design of the architect K. A. Ton. On April 11, 1849, a decision was made to perpetuate the names of St. George's cavaliers and military units on marble plaques between the twisted columns of the hall. Today they contain over 11 thousand names of officers awarded various degrees of the order from 1769 to 1885.
The St. George ribbon was also assigned to some insignia awarded to military units - St. George's silver trumpets, banners, standards, etc. many military awards were worn on the St. George ribbon, or it formed part of the ribbon.
In 1806, the award St. George banners were introduced into the Russian army. At the top of the banner was placed the St. George's Cross; under the top was tied a black and orange St. George's ribbon with banner tassels 1 inch wide (4.44 cm).
In 1855, during the Crimean War, lanyards of St. George's colors appeared on officer's award weapons. Golden weapons as a type of award were no less honorable for a Russian officer than the Order of George.
After the end of the Russian-Turkish War (1877 - 1878), Emperor Alexander II ordered the commander-in-chief of the Danube and Caucasian armies to prepare presentations for awarding the most distinguished units and units. Information from commanders about the feats performed by their units was collected and submitted to the Cavalry Duma of the Order of St. George.
The Duma report, in particular, said that the most brilliant feats during the war were performed by the Nizhny Novgorod and Seversky dragoon regiments, which already have all the established awards: St. George's standards, St. George's trumpets, double buttonholes "for military distinction" on the uniforms of headquarters and chief officers , St. George's buttonholes on uniforms of lower ranks, insignia on headdresses.
A personal decree on April 11, 1878 established a new insignia, the description of which was announced by order of the Military Department on October 31 of the same year. The decree, in particular, stated: “The Emperor, bearing in mind that some regiments already have all the insignia established as a reward for military exploits, has deigned to establish a new highest distinction: St. George ribbons on banners and standards with inscriptions of distinctions for which the ribbons were awarded, according to the attached description and design, these ribbons, being part of the banners and standards, are under no circumstances removed from them.".
Until the end of the existence of the Russian Imperial Army, this award with wide St. George ribbons remained the only one.
During the Great Patriotic War, continuing the military traditions of the Russian army, on November 8, 1943, the Order of Glory of three degrees was established. Its statute, as well as the yellow and black coloring of the ribbon, were reminiscent of the St. George Cross. Then the St. George ribbon, confirming the traditional colors of Russian military valor, adorned many soldier and modern Russian award medals and badges.
On March 2, 1992, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR "On State Awards of the Russian Federation", a decision was made to restore the Russian military Order of St. George and the insignia "St. George's Cross".
The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated March 2, 1994 states: "The military order of St. George and the insignia - "St. George's Cross" are preserved in the system of state awards..
Thus, the Russian military order, both in its name and in its colors, had deep roots in Russian history."
Comparison with the St. George Ribbon.
The ribbon, which is called the “St. George” ribbon and is distributed as part of the Victory Day campaign, is more correctly called the Guards ribbon, since it is orange.
H black and golden colors, the colors of the ribbon for the Order of St. George, in Russian heraldry had nothing to do with St. George the Victorious. On the ancient coat of arms of Moscow he is depicted in a blue cloak, on a white horse and on a red field. The Russian tricolor is the heraldic colors of St. George. Based on materials:
