Exceptional quality copy of the Order of Patriotic War I degree (the second version of this order – screw, introduced in 1943, replacing the original version on the block).
All elements are made of brass stamp and gilded. Cold enamel, in transparency and shade fully repeating the original, rifles blackened.
Applied sickle and hammer in the center of the order is also gilded.
Weight – 34 g.
Diameter of the circumscribed circle – 45 mm. The length of the images of the rifle and checker – also 45 mm. The diameter of the central circle with the inscription – 22 mm.
On the reverse side of the sign has a threaded pin with a nut for attaching the order to clothing.
The diameter of the nut is 32 mm.
To date, this is the best of the existing copies, designed for use in museum expositions, movies, theatrical productions and military-historical events.
Order of the Patriotic War is a military order of the USSR, established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On the Establishment of the Order of Patriotic War I and II degree” of May 20, 1942. Later in the description of the Order were made some changes by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on June 19, 1943, and in the statute of the Order – by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on December 16, 1947.
The Order of the Patriotic War is awarded to the rank and file of the Red Army, Navy, NKVD troops and partisan detachments who have shown bravery, fortitude and courage in the battles for the Soviet Motherland, as well as servicemen who contributed to the success of combat operations of our troops. The Order of the Patriotic War is awarded by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Order of the Patriotic War consists of two degrees: I and II degree. The highest degree of the Order is the I degree. The degree of the Order, which is awarded to the awardee, is determined by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The Order of the Patriotic War is the first award that appeared during the Great Patriotic War. It is also the first Soviet order that had a division into degrees. For 35 years, the Order of the Patriotic War remained the only Soviet order, passed to the family as a memory after the death of the awardee (other orders had to be returned to the state). Only in 1977 the order of remaining in the family extended to the other orders and medals.
April 10, 1942 Stalin instructed the head of the rear of the Red Army, General AV Khruleva to develop and submit a draft order to award military personnel who distinguished themselves in battles with the Nazis. Initially, the order was supposed to be called “For Military Valor”. To work on the project of the order were involved artists Sergei Ivanovich Dmitriev (author of drawings of medals “For Valor”, “For Military Merit” and XX years of the Red Army) and Alexander Ivanovich Kuznetsov. In two days the first sketches appeared, from which several works were selected for the production of test pieces in metal. April 18, 1942 samples were submitted for approval. For the basis of the future award it was decided to take the project of A. I. Kuznetsov. I. Kuznetsov, and the idea of the inscription “Patriotic War” on the sign was taken from the project of S. I. Dmitriev. I. Dmitriev.
In the statute of the Order for the first time in the history of the Soviet award system listed specific feats for which distinguished could be presented to the award.
Order of Patriotic War I degree awarded to
Who aptly hit and destroyed a particularly important object behind enemy lines;
Who courageously performed his duties in the crew of an airplane in the performance of a combat mission, for which the navigator or pilot was awarded the Order of Lenin;
Who shot down in aerial combat, being a member of the crew: heavy bomber aviation – 4 aircraft; long-range bomber aviation – 5 aircraft; short-range bomber aviation – 7 aircraft; attack aviation – 3 aircraft; fighter aviation – 3 aircraft.
Who committed, being part of the crew: heavy-bomber aviation – 20th successful combat sortie; long-range bomber aviation – 25th successful combat sortie; short-range bomber aviation – 30th successful combat sortie; attack aviation – 25th successful combat sortie; fighter aviation – 60th successful combat sortie; long-range reconnaissance aviation – 25th successful combat sortie; short-range reconnaissance aviation – 30th successful combat sortie; adjustment aviation – 15th successful combat sortie; communication aviation – 60th successful combat sortie with landing on its own territory and 30th successful combat sortie with landing in the area of its troops’ location on the territory occupied by the enemy; transport aviation – 60th successful combat sortie with landing on its own territory and 15th successful combat sortie with landing in the area of its troops’ location on the territory occupied by the enemy.
Who organized clear and continuous control of aviation units;
Who organized clear and systematic work of the headquarters;
Who managed to recover a damaged airplane that had made an emergency landing in enemy territory and put it into the air;
Who managed to recover at least 10 airplanes at a forward airfield under enemy fire;
Who, under enemy fire, managed to remove all supplies from the airfield and, having mined it, prevented the enemy from landing airplanes on it;
Who personally destroyed 2 heavy or medium tanks or 3 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy, or as part of a gun crew – 3 heavy or medium tanks or 5 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy;
Who suppressed by artillery fire at least 5 enemy batteries;
Who destroyed at least 3 enemy airplanes by artillery fire;
Who, as a tank crew member, successfully completed 3 combat missions to destroy enemy firepower and manpower or destroyed at least 4 enemy tanks or 4 guns in combat;
Who, under enemy fire, evacuated from the battlefield at least 3 tanks knocked out by the enemy;
Who, despising danger, was the first to break into the enemy bunker (trench, trench or dugout), destroyed his garrison with decisive actions and gave our troops the opportunity to quickly capture this line;
Who, under enemy fire, built a bridge, repaired the crossing destroyed by the enemy; who, under enemy fire, on instructions from the command, personally blew up a bridge or crossing in order to delay the enemy’s movement;
Who, under enemy fire, established a technical or personal connection, corrected technical means of communication destroyed by the enemy, and thereby ensured the continuity of control of the combat operations of our troops;
Who, during a battle, personally threw a gun (battery) into an open position and shot at point-blank range the advancing enemy and his equipment;
Who, commanding a unit or unit, destroyed an enemy of superior strength;
Who, participating in a cavalry raid, cut into an enemy group and destroyed it;
Who captured an enemy artillery battery in battle;
Who, as a result of personal reconnaissance, identified the weak points of the enemy’s defenses and led our troops behind enemy lines;
Who, as part of the crew of a ship, aircraft or combat crew of a coastal battery, sank a warship or two enemy transports;
Who organized and successfully landed an amphibious assault on enemy territory;
Who, under enemy fire, withdrew his damaged ship from the battle;
Who captured and brought an enemy warship to his base;
Who successfully laid a minefield on the approaches to enemy bases;
Who successfully ensured the combat activity of the fleet by repeated trawling;
Who, by successfully eliminating damage in battle, ensured the restoration of the ship’s combat capability or the return of the damaged ship to the base;
Who perfectly organized the logistical support for the operation of our troops, which contributed to the defeat of the enemy.
The Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, is awarded to
Who courageously performed their duties as an aircraft crew during a combat mission, for which the navigator or pilot was awarded the Order of the Red Banner;
Who shot down in an air battle, being part of the crew of: heavy bomber aircraft – 3 aircraft; long-range bomber aviation – 4 aircraft; short-range bomber aviation – 6 aircraft; attack aircraft – 2 aircraft; fighter aviation – 2 aircraft.
Who made, as a member of the crew: heavy bomber aviation – the 15th successful combat mission; long-range bomber aviation – 20th successful combat mission; short-range bomber aviation – 25th successful combat mission; attack aviation – 20th successful combat mission; fighter aviation – 50th successful combat mission; long-range reconnaissance aviation – 20th successful combat mission; short-range reconnaissance aviation – 25th successful combat mission; spotter aviation – 10th successful combat mission; communications aviation – the 50th successful combat sortie with a landing on its territory and the 20th successful combat sortie with a landing in the area where friendly troops are located on territory occupied by the enemy; transport aviation – the 50th successful combat sortie with a landing on its territory and the 10th successful combat sortie with a landing in the area where friendly troops are located on territory occupied by the enemy.
Who managed to restore, master and use a captured captured aircraft in combat conditions;
Who managed to restore at least 5 aircraft at a forward airfield under enemy fire;
Who personally destroyed 1 heavy or medium, or 2 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy with artillery fire, or as part of a gun crew – 2 heavy or medium, or 3 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy;
Who destroyed enemy fire weapons with artillery or mortar fire, ensuring the successful actions of our troops;
Who suppressed at least 3 enemy batteries with artillery or mortar fire;
Who destroyed at least 2 enemy aircraft with artillery fire;
Who destroyed at least 3 enemy firing points with his tank and thereby contributed to the advancement of our advancing infantry;
Who, being a member of a tank crew, successfully completed 3 combat missions to destroy enemy fire weapons and manpower or destroyed at least 3 enemy tanks or 3 guns in battles;
Who, under enemy fire, evacuated 2 tanks that had been knocked out by the enemy from the battlefield;
Who destroyed an enemy tank on the battlefield or behind enemy lines with grenades, bottles with a flammable mixture or explosive packages;
Who, while leading a unit or unit surrounded by the enemy, defeated the enemy, led his unit (unit) out of the encirclement without losing weapons and military equipment;
Who made his way to enemy firing positions and destroyed at least one enemy gun, three mortars or three machine guns;
Who removed the enemy’s outpost (watch, secret) at night or captured it;
Who shot down one enemy plane using personal weapons;
Who, fighting against superior enemy forces, did not give up an inch of his positions and caused great damage to the enemy;
Who organized and maintained, in difficult combat conditions, continuous communication between the command and the troops leading the battle, and thereby contributed to the success of the operation of our troops;
Who, as part of the crew of a ship, aircraft or combat crew of a coastal battery, disabled or damaged a warship or one enemy transport;
Who captured and brought enemy transport to their base;
Who, by timely detection of the enemy, prevented an attack on a ship or base;
Who ensured the successful maneuvering of the ship, as a result of which the enemy ship was sunk or damaged;
Who, with skillful and precise work, ensured the successful combat operation of the ship (combat unit);
Who organized uninterrupted logistics support for the unit, formation, army and thereby contributed to the success of the unit, formation.
The awarding of the Order of the Patriotic War may be repeated for new feats and honors.
The Order of Patriotic War of the First Degree is worn by the awardee on the right side of the chest and is placed after the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
The Order of Patriotic War II degree is worn on the right side of the chest and is placed after the Order of Patriotic War I degree.
Awards in honor of the 40th anniversary of Victory (1985)
In 1985, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the great victory over fascism, the Order of the Patriotic War was revived as a commemorative award for veterans. The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 11, 1985 stated that it was necessary “to award the Order of Patriotic War I degree:
– Heroes of the Soviet Union – participants of the Great Patriotic War;
– persons awarded the Order of Glory of three degrees;
– Marshals, generals and admirals who directly participated in the Great Patriotic War as part of the active army, partisan formations or in the underground, regardless of their military rank during the Great Patriotic War;
– persons who took direct part in the Great Patriotic War as part of the active army, partisan formations or in the underground, who were wounded in combat, who were awarded during the Great Patriotic War with orders of the USSR or medals “For Bravery”, “Ushakov”, “For Combat Merit”, “Nakhimov”, “Partisan of the Patriotic War”;
– Invalids of the Great Patriotic War who were wounded in battles.
Order of the Patriotic War of the II degree:
– Persons who directly participated in the Great Patriotic War as part of the active army, partisan formations or in the underground, if they are not to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the First Class in accordance with this Decree.” In fact, the Order was awarded to all veterans of the war who were alive at that time. The action of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR extended to the participants of the war with Japan.
The badge of the Order of the Patriotic War of the First Degree is an image of a convex five-pointed star covered with ruby-red enamel on a background of golden rays, diverging in the form of a five-pointed polished star, the ends of which are placed between the ends of the red star. In the middle of the red star is a golden image of a sickle and hammer on a ruby-red round plate, bordered by a white enamel sash, with the inscription “DIVINE WAR” and with a golden star at the bottom of the sash. The red star and the white sash have gold rims. Against the background of the rays of the gold star are the ends of a rifle and a checker crossed behind the red star. The butt of the rifle is facing downward to the right, the hilt of the checker is facing downward to the left. The images of the rifle and the checker are oxidized.
The badge of the Order of the Patriotic War of the II degree, unlike the Order of the I degree, is made of silver. The lower radiant star is polished. The image of the rifle and checker is oxidized. Other parts of the Order, not covered with enamel, are gilded.
The badge of the Order of the Patriotic War of the First Degree is made of gold (583) and silver. The gold content in the Order of the First Degree is 8.329±0.379 g, silver content – 16.754±0.977 g. The total weight of the Order of the First Degree is 32.34±1.65 g.
The badge of the order of the II degree is made of silver. Gold content in the order of the second degree – 0,325 g, silver – 24,85±1,352 g. The total weight of the order of the second degree – 28,05±1,50 g.
Applied sickle and hammer in the center of the Order are made of gold on both degrees of the Order.
The diameter of the circumference (the size of the order between the opposing ends of the red and gold or silver stars) – 45 mm. The length of the images of the rifle and checker is also 45 mm. The diameter of the central circle with the inscription – 22 mm.
On the reverse side of the sign has a threaded pin with a nut for attaching the order to the clothes.
The ribbon to the order of silk, moiré color bordeaux with longitudinal red stripes: for the I degree – with one strip in the middle of the ribbon, width of 5 mm; for the II degree – with two stripes on the edges, width of 3 mm each.
The width of the ribbon is 24 mm.
In order to timely award soldiers and commanders who distinguished themselves in battle, the right to award the Order of the Patriotic War was transferred to military commanders – from front and fleet commanders to corps commanders inclusive. The awarding of orders often took place in a combat situation immediately after the feat. The first holders of the Order of the Patriotic War were Soviet artillerymen.
The statute of the Order stated that the first degree of the Order was awarded to the one who by artillery fire personally destroyed 1 heavy (or medium) or 2 light tanks (armored vehicles), or as part of a gun crew 2 heavy (or medium) tanks or 3 light tanks (armored vehicles) of the enemy. But the artillerymen of the 32nd Guards Regiment, covering the flank of the 42nd Guards Rifle Regiment in the battles in the Kharkov direction, under the command of Captain I. I. Krikliya overlapped the established “norms”.
When in May 1942 200 fascist tanks moved to the Soviet positions, the artillerymen and armored gunners met them with dignity and hit the enemy, inflicting him very appreciable losses. For two days of continuous fighting the artillery division destroyed 32 enemy tanks. Captain I. I. Krikliy personally shot down 5 Nazi vehicles, but he himself was seriously wounded. When several numbers of the combat crew were killed, senior sergeant A. V. Smirnov continued to fire even after a shell shrapnel tore off his hand. Captain I. I. Krikliy became the first recipient of the Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree, the same award was given to senior sergeant AV Smirnov and political officer of the neighboring division of the 776th artillery regiment I. K. Stetsenko. The rest of the soldiers of the artillery calculation – privates N. I. Grigoriev, A. I. Kulinets, I. P. Petrosh and senior sergeants S. T. Zharko, M. G. Nemfira and P. V. Nesterenko – were awarded the Order of the Patriotic War II degree.
In the history of the Order of Patriotic War I degree there are very rare cases when this award was given to all participants in any one military operation. The first to receive this honor were the crew members of the submarine “K-21”, which July 5, 1942 attacked in the Barents Sea, the largest enemy battleship “Tirpitz”.
The Order of the Patriotic War of the First Degree was awarded to all participants of the two-day battle in January 1943 near the Seversky Donets River – 30 soldiers of the assault group commanded by Lieutenant A. Ataev.
The Order of the Patriotic War was awarded to entire military units and formations, military schools and defense plants. The Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree was awarded to many cities – Belgorod, Voronezh, Tiraspol, Kislovodsk, Kursk, Mogilev, Murmansk, Naro-Fominsk, Oryol, Rzhev, Rostov-on-Don, Smolensk, Sochi and others.
After the war, the Order of the Patriotic War was awarded to tens of thousands of wounded soldiers who for some reason did not receive the awards to which they were presented during the battles with the German invaders. In the 1950s-1960s and later, many foreign citizens were also awarded the Order of the Patriotic War.
