Moscow Kremlin Museums: - Symbols of Glory – decorations of the Soviet military leaders

Symbols of Glory – decorations of the Soviet military leaders

Order of Victory
Established in 1940s, USSR, Moscow.
Platinum, gold, silver, diamonds, synthetic rubies, punching, enamel, gilding
Order of Nakhimov II class
Established in 1944, USSR.
Designed by B. Khomich, A. Diodorov, M. Shipelevsky.
Silver, gold, synthetic rubies, metal, punching, enamel
Order of Alexander Nevsky
Established in 1942, USSR.
Designed by I. Telyatnikov.
Silver, punching, enamel
Order of Kutuzov II class
Established in 1942, USSR.
Designed by N. Moskalyov.
Gold, silver,metal, fabric, punching, enamel
Order of Nakhimov I class
Established in 1944, USSR.
Designed by B. Khomich, A. Diodorov, M. Shipelevsky.
Silver, gold, synthetic rubies, metal, punching, enamel
Order of the Patriotic War I class
Established in 1942, USSR.
Designed by I. Kuznetsov, S. Dmitriev.
Silver, gold, metal, punching, enamel, gilding
Order of the Patriotic War II class
Established in 1942, USSR.
Designed by I. Kuznetsov, S. Dmitriev.
Silver, gold, metal, punching, enamel, gilding
Order of Glory I class
Established in 1944, USSR.
Designed by N. Moskalyov.
Gold, silver, metal, fabric, punching, enamel, gilding
Order of Glory II-III classes
Established in 1944, USSR.
Designed by N. Moskalyov.
Gold, silver, metal, fabric, punching, enamel, gilding

From May, 05, 2010

the Front Hall of the Armoury Chamber

Organized by:: the Moscow Kremlin Museums

01# Order of Victory The exhibition is dedicated to Soviet decorations, instituted in the period of the Great Patriotic War and became the symbols of a great victory gained by the Russian people. Establishment of the Soviet medal system for rewarding military forces and civilians in the period of 1942-1945 has been related to first successful military operations carried out by the Red Army. On display there is the Order the Patriotic War of two Classes, established on May 20, 1942 by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Its statute precisely defined the deeds for which the Order was conferred.

The exhibition presents Orders awarded to army commanders for exceptional direction of combat operations and outstanding leadership. Having been designed to revive heroic events of the past, they were named after the Russian distinguished military leaders: the Order of Suvorov of three Classes, the Order of Kutuzov of three Classes, the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky of three Classes, exposed within the exhibition, was established on October 10, 1943 by the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR and was granted to the Soviet Armed Forces personnel and members of the Ukrainian Front for their exceptional duty in combat operations that led to the liberation of the Soviet Ukraine.

Key items of the exposition are the most distinguished and famous awards of the Soviet post-war period – medals of the Order of Victory and of the Order of Glory of three classes, established on November 08, 1943. The Order of Victory was awarded personally, only to Generals and Marshals for "successful operation within the framework of one or several fronts resulting in a radical change of the situation in favor of the Red Army”. It is still regarded as the highest military decoration in the Soviet Armed Forces and one of the rarest in the world. The Order of Glory, modelled on the Cross of St. George, was awarded to officers and soldiers of the armed forces, as well as junior lieutenants of the air force, for bravery in the face of the enemy. The Orders have become the symbols of national glory.

Many of the Orders, reworked within the Russian Federation medal system, revived to serve the same purpose of rewarding outstanding services.

The exhibition of such a great historical value is worthy of visiting for everyone, who is keen on history of the USSR and of Russian military decorations as well.