During the war against German fascism, hundreds and thousands of Soviet soldiers displayed dedication, courage and heroism. To commemorate the merits of the soldiers, the government of the Soviet Union in the middle of the war instituted a special award - the Order of Glory, which had three degrees. The order became an honorary distinctive sign, testifying to the fearlessness of its owner.
Distinctive features of the Order of Glory
In November 1943, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet issued a decree introducing a new award, called the Order of Glory. Each government award has its own statute, that is, its description, as well as the order of presentation and wearing. In the statute of the Order of Glory, it was said that they can be awarded to both private and non-commissioned officers, and in aviation - those who have the military rank of junior lieutenant.
The Order of Glory was awarded to those soldiers who, in the battles for the Motherland, performed a feat that required courage and fearlessness.
This order had three degrees. The I degree was considered the highest, and the awarding was carried out sequentially - from the third to the first degree. The regulations on the establishment of the award listed in detail those actions for which a fighter could be awarded such an award. The Order of Glory was awarded only for personal military merits, it was not awarded to military units. By the color of the ribbon, the order was very reminiscent of one of the most honorable awards of the former Russia - the St. George Cross ("Orders and Medals of the USSR", GA Kolesnikov, AM Rozhkov, 1983).
In appearance, the Order of Glory is a five-pointed star, slightly convex in front. In the middle of the order there is a circle with a relief image of the Moscow Kremlin and the Spasskaya Tower. Below is a red enamel ribbon with the inscription "Glory". The artist placed a laurel wreath at the edges of the circle. An eyelet with a ring is embedded in the upper beam of the star, by means of which the badge is attached to a metal block covered with an order ribbon.
The recipient had the right to wear instead of the order only an order bar with a ribbon.
Order of Glory - an award for courage
Tens of thousands of soldiers of the Soviet army were awarded the Order of Glory for their courage and decisive actions in battles against the fascist invaders. One of the first to receive this distinctive sign with the St. George ribbon, which had the highest degree, was received by senior sergeant Shevchenko and corporal Pitenin. This happened in July 1944. Four women also became full holders of the order. In general, almost two and a half thousand people, representing the most different types of troops and services, became cavaliers of all three degrees during the war years. In total, more than a million such orders of various denominations were awarded.
Persons awarded the Order of Glory of all three degrees received special rights and privileges. They could be assigned a higher military rank out of turn. One of the privileges is a personal pension. Cavaliers of the Order of Glory could claim priority provision of living space; they and their families received housing benefits. The awardees also received certain advantages when traveling by rail, air or water.
