The Order of Alexander Nevsky was established in 1942. This order was awarded to commanders who managed to inflict a major defeat on the fascist invaders with minimal losses for their troops. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 42,000 people received this order. And who was the author of the sketch for the award, and what is depicted on the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
Igor Sergeevich Telyatnikov was a graduate of the Moscow Architectural Institute. It was he who was instructed to develop a sketch of a new order in a day. The architect decided to use images of ancient Russian weapons: a sword, a shield and an ax. Exactly 24 hours later, three draft versions of the new order were put on the table of the head of the Technical Department of the Quartermaster Directorate. One of the projects was approved.
Telyatnikov started developing the final version. For this, he visited the Historical Museum, the order was provided for the image of Alexander Nevsky himself. And here the architect faced unexpected difficulties. The lifetime portrait of the great commander simply did not exist.
The resourceful Telyatnikov went to the Mosfilm film studio for help, where the film Alexander Nevsky was recently shot, in which the main role was played by actor Nikolai Cherkasov. It is the face of this actor that is depicted on the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
On July 29, 1942, the Order of Alexander Nevsky was officially established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The first to receive this high award was Senior Lieutenant N. I. Ruban is the commander of the Marine Corps battalion, which destroyed seven German tanks and more than 200 enemy soldiers and officers in battle, and the architect Telyatnikov later became the developer of the Mother Heroine and Mother Glory awards.
