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Military Decorations of the USSR.
Before the outbreak of the war on June 22,1941 only a few decorations could be bestowed by the government to reward services and achievements:
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Order of Lenin Order of Red Banner Order of Labor Red Banner Order of Red Star. |
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Many new decorations were created during the war.
The Order of Patriotic War (I and II degree) was created in 1942 to award persons, who distinguished himself or herself in action combat. Around 1500000 nominations were made during the war.
For the outstanding commanding skills in combat officers were afforded membership in the Order of Suvorov (I,II,III) - 7200 nominations;
Kutuzov |
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Order of Kutuzov (I,II,III) - 7300 nominations;
Order of Alexander Nevski - 42000+ nominations;
Suvorov and Kutuzov were famous Russian military leaders of XVIII-XIX centuries.
As the war rolled on back to the West, the new order, Order of Bogdan Khmelnizkij, was created in 1943. The order was awarded to the people for playing the big role in the liberation of the Soviet soil from occupants (Nazis).
More than 8400 nominations were made, including combat officers, guerillas/partisans, etc.
There is some irony in this Order as the bulk of people from the ex-occupied lands were automatically suspected of co-operation with occupants (treason) with the consequences of being shot or enprisoned for 10 years.
Soldiers and sergeants could be awarded with membership in Order of Glory . The Order of Glory created on Nov.8, 1943 had three degrees. The person could be awarded only consequently with the third, second and the first degree. The person having all three was called the full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory ( 2583 persons, incl. 4 women). 980000 persons were awarded with Glory of the third degree.
The Fleet had own Orders of Nakhimov and Ushakov (I,II,III degree).
The membership in Order could be afforded to the unit, ship of factory.
The separately staying from all is The Order of Victory. The membership in the Order was afforded only to the top military leaders (with bias to the fact that the Party chieftains had also military assignments) for performing big scale operations (Stalingrad battle, for example).
The Order was created on April 8, 1943 and was decorated with diamonds. The membership was chronologically afforded to:
Zhukov (twice), Vasilevkij (twice), Stalin (twice), Rokossovskij, Konev, Malinovskij, Tolbukhin, Govorov, Timoshenko, Antonov, Merezkov.
