Lenin Prize. Prizes without debate

"were established by a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated December 20, 1939. It indicated that 16 Stalin Prizes were being established (in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each), which would be awarded annually to scientists and artists for outstanding work in the following fields of science: physics and mathematics, technical, chemical, biological, agricultural, medical, philosophical , economic, historical-philological, legal, as well as for achievements in music, painting, sculpture, architecture, theatrical art and cinematography.

The same decree established the Stalin Prizes, which were to be awarded annually for the best invention: ten first prizes in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each, twenty second prizes in the amount of 50 thousand rubles each, and thirty third prizes in the amount of 25 thousand rubles each. The Stalin Prize was also established for outstanding achievements in the field of military knowledge: three first prizes of 100 thousand rubles each, five second prizes of 50 thousand rubles each, and ten third prizes of 25 thousand rubles each.

In addition to this document, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, a month and a half later, decided to establish four more Stalin Prizes (100 thousand rubles each), which will be awarded for outstanding works in the field of literature - one prize each in poetry, prose, drama and literary criticism.

All works in the field of various sciences, military knowledge, etc., nominated for the Stalin Prize, as well as descriptions of inventions with the attachment of all necessary drawings and documents, were submitted to the Stalin Prize Committees, which were created under the Council of People's Commissars, no later than October 15 of the current of the year. After discussing and evaluating the submitted works, the Committees submitted their proposals for awarding Stalin Prizes to the Council of People's Commissars before December 1 of the current year.

According to the regulations for the Stalin Prizes, only new works or inventions completed in the year the prizes were awarded were submitted. Works or inventions completed between October 15 and December 1 of the current year were eligible for the Stalin Prize next year. Scientific societies, research institutes, higher education institutions and public organizations could present their works.

Works in the fields of science and military knowledge, as well as descriptions of inventions, were submitted in any language in triplicate, printed on typewriters or by typography. Literary and musical works, as well as architectural projects, were presented in one copy, other works of art - in the original. The evaluation and awarding of prizes in the field of theatrical art and cinematography were carried out both on the basis of the submitted materials (plays, scripts, etc.) and on the basis of the films and theatrical productions that took place.

The Committee for Awarding Stalin Prizes for work in the field of science, military knowledge and inventions was entrusted with a preliminary examination of the works, selecting the most outstanding ones and presenting them with its conclusion to the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. For a more complete and comprehensive assessment of these works, the Committee could organize sections from among its members with the participation of scientists in relevant specialties, as well as create expert commissions of leading scientists and practitioners. Research institutes, scientific societies and institutions could take part in the consideration of individual works on behalf of the Committee, which then presented their conclusions to the Committee. Where necessary, representatives of research institutes, scientific institutions and organizations, as well as individuals were invited to the meetings of the Committee to participate in discussions and give opinions on the work nominated for the Stalin Prize. Committee decisions were made by a simple majority of votes by closed ballot.

If the Stalin Prize was received by a group of authors of two people, then it was divided in half between them; with a team of three people, the leader was given half the money, and the rest was divided equally between the other two members of the team; if the team of authors consisted of four or more people, then the director received a third of the bonus, and two-thirds were divided among the remaining members of the team.

In the first year, the procedure for awarding the Stalin Prizes was slightly changed, and it was decided to present awards not only for works of 1940, but also for works of the last 6 years, starting in 1935. One of the first to receive the Stalin Prize of the first degree in the field of physical and mathematical sciences was P.L. Kapitsa, full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, for the scientific work “Turboexpander for obtaining low temperatures and its use for air liquefaction.” Major General of Artillery P.A. Gelvikh was awarded the Stalin Prize for a number of works: “On dispersion, the probability of a hit and the mathematical expectation of the number of hits,” “Theoretical foundations for the development of shooting rules” and “Shooting at fast-moving targets.”

The Stalin Prize of the first degree was awarded to Academician N.N. Burdenko for scientific work on surgery of the central and peripheral nervous system. Academician V.V. Obruchev was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree for his three-volume scientific work “Geology of Siberia”.

High awards were also given during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. The terrible military situation not only did not stop the work of the creative intelligentsia, but, on the contrary, led to an unprecedented patriotic impulse and the scope of creative initiative of Soviet scientists, inventors and production innovators. Everyone understood perfectly well that their activities during war years were needed even more than in peacetime. And 1941 showed major achievements of Soviet scientists in all fields of knowledge.

Rebuilding the industry on a war footing, it was necessary to expand its raw material resources, increase production capacity, etc. In this regard, the work awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree, carried out by a group of academicians and scientists under the leadership of V.L., is of great interest. Komarov - President of the USSR Academy of Sciences. They researched and developed issues of development of the national economy of the Urals, as well as economic measures in the field of ferrous metallurgy, building materials, energy, etc. As a result of these studies, specific work was planned to expand the production of the Ural industry.

Among the laureates of the Stalin Prize of the first degree is the name of the famous chemist N.D. Zelinsky, who was awarded a high award for his work on the catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons and defense chemistry.

For aircraft manufacturing, the works of Professor M.V. were of great importance. Keldysh and Candidate of Technical Sciences E.P. Grossman, awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. These scientists developed the theory of elastic vibrations of aircraft parts and presented a method for calculating aircraft for flutter.

The composer D. Shostakovich spent the first months of the war in besieged Leningrad, where he conceived the idea of ​​the “Seventh Symphony,” dedicated to the heroic defenders of the city. Three movements of the symphony were written in Leningrad; the composer completed the final work on this work in Kuibyshev. Soon this work went around the whole world, affirming the all-conquering humanism of the Soviet people. The writer A. Tolstoy wrote that “The Seventh Symphony arose from the conscience of the Russian people, who without hesitation accepted a mortal battle with the black forces. Written in Leningrad, it has grown to the size of great world art, understandable at all latitudes and meridians, because it tells the truth about man in an unprecedented time of his misfortunes and trials.”

In 1942, for the Seventh Symphony, D. Shostakovich was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree. In the same year he was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.” In 1946, the composer’s new work, a trio for violin, cello and piano, was awarded the Stalin Prize, and a year later the outstanding composer was awarded the title “People’s Artist of the RSFSR.”

In 1947, D. Shostakovich performed the seven-part oratorio “Song of the Forests,” written for soloists, choir and orchestra to a text by the poet E. Dolmatovsky. For this work, as well as for the music for the film “The Fall of Berlin” in 1950, the composer was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. A new significant achievement of D. Shostakovich was the suite for choir “a capella” (unaccompanied) he created in 1951 - “Ten Poems” based on texts by revolutionary poets of the period from 1905 to the October Revolution. In 1952, this work was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree.

All recipients received the title “Laureate of the Stalin Prize.” The honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was worn on the right side of the chest next to orders and medals of the USSR. It was made of silver and was a convex oval, covered with white enamel and bordered at the bottom with gold laurel wreaths.

Golden ascending rays were depicted on white enamel. At the top of the sign, against the background of these rays, was a five-pointed star made of red enamel and bordered with a gold rim. In the middle of the oval there was an inscription in gold capital letters: “TO THE STALIN PRIZE LAUREATE.” The upper part of the oval ended with a corrugated ribbon, covered with blue enamel with a gold edge, with the inscription on it: “USSR”. Using an eyelet and a ring, the honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was connected to a silver plate covered with gold, on which the year of the Stalin Prize was written in blue enamel in Arabic numerals. The resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on awarding the Stalin Prizes was published in the central press on December 21 - the birthday of I.V. Stalin.

Lands and snuff boxes
Rewarding lands and, accordingly, peasants living on them was actively practiced in the 18th century. This award was highly valued. The only problem was that there was not so much suitable land. Don't reward him with hectares of undeveloped Siberian taiga! It was the lack of land that could be awarded for faithful service that became the reason for the confiscation of land from monasteries in the 18th century. This defused the situation, and awards of estates continued until the 19th century.
However, in 1837, the granting of land for perpetual use was prohibited (although, according to a personal decree, this prohibition could still be violated). Instead of eternal use, land was now leased for a period of 4 to 12 years. The terms of such award leases were more than preferential, and in some cases the awardee did not see the land he was renting at all, but only received income from it. In the 19th century, rent was precisely the net income received by the awardee from the land provided to him.
Of course, lands with the peasants inhabiting them were far from the only type of bonus. A common type of prize was royal gifts, usually snuff boxes with a portrait of the king. They were proud of the royal gifts and even included mention of them in their own title. So, for example, Denis Davydov wrote in his memoirs about the major, who signed himself as follows: “To my most gracious sovereign, major, St. Anna of the 1st degree and Annin’s sword, a snuffbox with the monogram image of His Majesty, decorated with diamonds, and a gentleman of a thousand souls.” The snuff box the major mentions complained quite often. Several large workshops specialized in the production of such award snuff boxes with portraits of the Tsar and Grand Dukes.
For some prize winners, the value of the snuff box was in the portrait of the monarch, and for others - in the diamonds that adorned this portrait. Since selling the highest gift was somehow inconvenient, the recipient had the right to refuse the snuffbox and receive its value in money.
The gift was accompanied by the “highest rescript” - a personal message from the emperor. Here, for example, is the message from Nicholas I that accompanied the snuff box presented to the trustee of the Moscow educational district on the occasion of the centenary of Moscow University: “Vladimir Ivanovich! On the occasion of the centenary of Moscow University, I wish to express to you my royal favor for your excellent, zealous and useful works in rank Trustee of the Moscow educational district, attested by the authorities, I most mercifully bestow upon you the snuffbox with My portrait, decorated with diamonds, which is being conveyed to you, being favorably disposed toward you.”

Photo: RGAKFD/ROSINFORM

Caftans and benefits
Only civil servants could be awarded lands and valuable gifts, and not everyone received the honor of serving the state. Meanwhile, situations constantly arose when it was necessary to somehow encourage merchants or rich peasants who played a huge role in the economic life of the country. But don’t give a peasant a snuff box! Therefore, for persons who, due to their humble origins, could not be awarded orders, weapons, lands or awards of official rank, special award caftans began to be made. If the recipient committed a crime, the caftan was taken away and sent to His Majesty's office. This was done even in cases where the caftan was already completely torn, greasy and unsuitable for further use. Caftans were awarded until the Bolshevik Revolution.
In addition to caftans, representatives of the lower classes could be awarded honorary citizens. Honorary citizenship was first established in 1785 by decree of Catherine II. Honorary citizens were not only exempted from corporal punishment, but received the right to ride in a carriage and plant gardens in the city. In addition, they had the right to establish factories and factories. True, this innovation did not take root at that time, and in 1807 the institution of honorary citizenship was abolished, but in 1832 it was restored.
But still, merchants, peasants and ordinary soldiers were very rarely rewarded. Small sums were given to lower army ranks on the emperor's name day. Sometimes soldiers and officers received monetary awards for participating in reviews and parades, which were attended by the emperor himself. Until 1864, money was awarded to Jews who were baptized. For a reward of 60 rubles. one could count on catching a fugitive criminal or pulling a drowning person out of the water. And in addition, a monetary reward was awarded for assistance in catching smugglers or for handing over an accidentally found gold nugget to the state.

In favor of science
The prizes were of greatest importance for scientists and writers, for whom patrons and prominent scientists established many awards. As a rule, it looked like this: a certain amount of money was deposited in the bank, interest on which was paid as a bonus. So, for example, in March 1850, Nicholas I approved the regulations on the Ivanov Prize: “At the request of the late chairman of the Ekaterinoslav Treasury Chamber, actual state councilor Ivanov... the capital left by the testator of 5 thousand rubles should be contributed to the Board of Trustees for an increase in interest, and , when it increases to 40 thousand rubles, provide the Academy of Sciences, separating 10 thousand rubles, use 7 thousand rubles of them as a reward for the best essay “On the wisdom and incomprehensibility of the Creator of the Universe”, and the rest for printing it, then convert 30 thousand rubles into untouchable capital... and use the interest received every 50 years... as a reward for essays on moral and physical matters.” To ensure that the same work does not receive multiple prizes, many competitions specifically stipulate that only those studies for which a competing prize has not been awarded will be considered.
The founders, as a rule, fixed the amounts that were paid to the winners of the competition, but since the bonus fund depended on the size of bank rates, the amounts still had to be periodically revised. New regulations on scientific awards were regularly published. The preface to one of these brochures stated: “As a result of the conversion of 5% of government securities into four percent capital, many awards began to generate income insufficient to issue awards established in the rules for those awards. In view of this, the Imperial Academy of Sciences was forced to begin revising the rules all awards and coordinate the issuance of awards with the funds available to it.”

Sop to bourgeois specialists

Photo: RGAKFD/ROSINFORM

Stakhanov style
The national love for prizes began during the Stakhanov movement. Leading workers who exceeded the norm were literally inundated with bonuses and gifts. At the same time, newspapers enthusiastically listed the consumer goods that front-line workers received. The Stakhanovites loved to tell correspondents about the wonderful things they were rewarded with. “I received a bed, a gramophone and other necessary cultural items as a bonus,” a Stakhanovite collective farmer told the correspondent. “Everything I was wearing, I received as a bonus for good work on the collective farm. In addition to the dress and shoes, I received a sewing machine... For I was rewarded with a silk dress worth 250 rubles." Newspapers talked about how a Leningrad Stakhanovite seamstress received a watch, a vase, an alarm clock, a tablecloth, an electric samovar, an iron, a gramophone, gramophone records, the works of Lenin and Stalin, and 122 more books as a reward for her valiant work.
Such awards were awarded not only to make the Stakhanovites richer, but also to make them more civilized. Gramophones, sewing machines, hunting rifles, bicycles and the works of the classics of Marxism-Leninism were supposed to make the life of the shock workers “cultured”.
The huge bonuses that the Stakhanovites received aroused not only a desire to imitate them, but also envy and hatred. So, at the Krasnaya Zarya garment factory, during a conversation about Stakhanov, Pavlova, a worker in the winding department, submitted an application to switch from 12 bobbins to 16. After the break, worker Smirnova hung a dirty rag on Pavlova’s machine and said: “Here’s a bonus for your activity in the transition.” for hard work." Unlike the authors of newspaper reports, colleagues saw in the Stakhanov movement not so much a desire for a bright future, but rather a desire to receive another handout from the hands of the state.

Thanks to Comrade Stalin...
The country's main prize was established in December 1939, during the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of I.V. Stalin.
Outstanding figures of science, art, inventors and military specialists had a chance to receive a large sum. True, in the first version of the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars there were no writers among the nominees for the Stalin Prize. Such discrimination was most likely explained by the fact that a few months earlier a special literary prize named after Gorky had already been established. It is difficult to say what kind of struggle Soviet writers had to endure, but in early February 1940, a new resolution of the Council of People's Commissars appeared, establishing the Stalin Prize for the literary fraternity - prose writers, poets, playwrights and literary critics. There were three levels of Stalin Prizes. Ten first prizes were given out (100 thousand rubles each), twenty second prizes (50 thousand each) and thirty third prizes (25 thousand each). Over time, the amounts and number of laureates changed, but the division into degrees remained unchanged: the country's main prize was hierarchical, indicating the degree of “royal favor.”
A special resolution of the Council of People's Commissars contained the rules for dividing money. If there were two awardees, then the prize was divided equally; if there were three, then the manager received half, and the performers received 1/4 of the amount. If there were four or more awardees, then the manager received a third of the amount, and the rest was divided equally among the team members. Only those works that were completed in the year the prize was awarded were eligible for competition. Only for the first time they decided to make an exception, rewarding the authors of works completed over the past six years.
Among the first Stalin laureates were the physicist P. L. Kapitsa, mathematician A. N. Kolmogorov, fighter for Michurin biology T. D. Lysenko, physicians A. A. Bogomolets, N. N. Burdenko, V. P. Filatov, geologist V. A. Obruchev, creator of small arms V. A. Degtyarev, aircraft designer S. A. Lavochkin. The prize in the field of fine arts was received by A. M. Gerasimov for the immortal canvas “Stalin and Voroshilov in the Kremlin.” In the field of sculpture, the first degree prize was given to S. D. Merkurov (for the figure of Stalin), and the other to V. I. Mukhin for “The Worker and the Collective Farm Woman.” The prize in the field of architecture went to D. N. Chechulin for the projects of the Kyiv and Komsomolskaya metro stations. Among the writers, the prize was given to A. N. Tolstoy (for the novel “Peter the Great”), M. A. Sholokhov for “Quiet Don” and N. F. Pogodin for the play “The Man with a Gun.”
The Stalin Prize was awarded regularly, and its amount grew: already in 1942, first-degree prize winners received not 100, but 200 thousand rubles. True, after Stalin’s death, the country’s main prize was renamed the state prize. It is characteristic that during his famous report at the 20th Congress, N.S. Khrushchev complained that “even the tsars did not establish such prizes that they would call by their name.” However, the silencing of the Stalin Prizes began even a little earlier. In the 40th volume of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (signed for publication on July 20, 1955), the article “Stalin Prizes” is missing, while in previous volumes there are references to this article.
As a result of the “return to Leninist norms” that was becoming fashionable, the Lenin Prize was restored in 1957, which immediately became the country’s main prize. The Lenin Prize was single and had no degrees. However, it was not possible to get rid of the gradation of the country’s main prizes, and after a short time the country again had three main prizes: Lenin, State and Council of Ministers of the USSR.

Financial incentives
In the 70s, it became fashionable to talk about the importance of material incentives. As a result, bonuses gradually turned into an almost obligatory increase in salary, which, however, could be lost as a punishment for one or another violation. “Deprivation of a bonus” gradually turned into the Soviet equivalent of a production fine.
If you read Soviet books devoted to material incentives under socialism, you will find out that “the current bonuses for workers, aimed at improving quantitative indicators, are made for fulfilling and exceeding production plans, standardized tasks, technically justified production standards, reducing labor intensity, etc. ". This is "etc." was almost endless.
Personalized prizes were gradually revived. For example, the award to them. A. N. Krylova was awarded for the best work in the field of technical sciences, named after. A. F. Ioffe - for work in the field of physics, O. Yu. Schmidt - in the field of geophysics. The size of these bonuses was about 2000 rubles. Similar awards existed for many branches of knowledge. However, unlike pre-revolutionary awards, the source of funding was the same state funds. In the end, every self-respecting organization acquired its own prize, which could be received, for example, for the best literary work about the police or the KGB.
Since it was customary to be proud of awards, official documents and newspaper articles often indicated that Comrade Pupkin was a laureate of the N-city Komsomol Committee award. This looked no less comical than calling oneself “the gentleman of the snuff box with the monogram image of His Imperial Majesty.”
In the post-Soviet period, the previous bonus system collapsed. The budget-financed prizes seemed ridiculously small and could not be compared with the grants and prizes handed out by various foreign foundations and public organizations. And then the state again took this matter into its own hands, as evidenced, in particular, by numerous recent bonus initiatives. The presidential decree “On improving the system of state bonuses in the field of science and technology, education and culture,” signed this summer, suggests that the reformed state award should become not only an honorary award, but also seriously and for a long time solve the financial problems of the laureates.
ALEXANDER MALAKHOV

On December 20, 1939, a government decree establishing the Stalin Prize was published on the front pages of leading Soviet newspapers. According to this document, awards and scholarships were to be awarded for special achievements in the following fields of science: technical, physical and mathematical, biological, medical, agricultural, economic, legal, historical and philological and philosophy. In addition, artists who made an outstanding contribution to the development of musical culture, architecture, sculpture, architecture, cinematography and theater could become laureates.

Amounts of awards and number of laureates

The size of the Stalin Prize, awarded between 1940 and 1953, changed periodically, but at the time of its establishment it was 100 thousand rubles. This was a very significant amount, considering that in the national economy as a whole, the average salary in that period was 339 rubles. Every year, 16 people recognized as the most worthy figures in the above-mentioned fields of science and art became laureates of the Stalin Prize. Their number has not changed over the entire 13 years.

In addition, a government decree of December 20, 1939 provided for the awarding of Stalin Prizes to the authors of the most significant technical inventions. In this nomination, every year 10 people received First Prizes, amounting to 100 thousand rubles each, 20 inventors were awarded Second Prizes of 50 thousand and 30 ─ Third Prizes of 25 thousand rubles.

A month and a half after the publication of this document, another resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR was released, which established, in addition to the above-mentioned prizes, four additional ones in the field of literature ─ one each for prose writers, poets, playwrights and literary critics.

Procedure for reviewing works

The same government documents clearly regulated the procedure for considering works in various fields of science, technology, as well as military knowledge, submitted for the Stalin Prize. According to the established procedure, detailed descriptions of the work, accompanied by relevant drawings and other technical documentation, were to be submitted for consideration to the Committee created under the Council of People's Commissars.

The deadline for submitting documents was also specifically stipulated - no later than October 15 of the current year. Members of the Committee were given one and a half months to review the work and discuss it, after which, no later than December 1, they had to submit their conclusions to the Council of People's Commissars, where final decisions were made.

Distribution of award amounts between laureates

A specially developed provision stated that laureates of the Stalin Prize could be both individuals and entire teams of scientific societies, institutes, higher educational institutions, as well as various public organizations. In this regard, it is interesting to note that in cases where the team of authors consisted of two people, the amount of the prize was divided in half between them.

If it included three people, then the person designated as the project manager received half the money, and the rest was divided equally among his co-authors. When the team consisted of three or more people, a third of the amount was given to the manager, and the rest was divided among his subordinates. At the same time, all project participants received the title of laureate of the USSR Stalin Prize. They were awarded an honorary badge, the image of which is given in the article. It was supposed to be worn on the right side of the chest next to the orders. The shape of this sign has been changed over time.

Submission deadline

It was also stipulated that only those inventions and scientific works, work on which was completed in the current year, were accepted for the prize. If their completion date fell within the period from October 15 to December 1, then they were subject to consideration the following year. However, in 1940, this order was slightly changed, and high awards were given to scientists and cultural figures, as well as to teams that created their works during the period spanning the last six years.

Project funding source

It is important to note this detail, absolutely incredible in modern times: having established a prize named after himself, Stalin (he was, of course, the initiator of this initiative) awarded the laureates not from the state budget, but from his own pocket. Yes Yes exactly. Occupying the posts of Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and Secretary of the Central Committee, for each of them he received monthly accruals (salaries) of 10 thousand rubles, which were almost completely transferred to the reward fund. In addition, his fees, which were based on the publication of numerous printed works both domestically and abroad, were used to finance the Stalin Prizes.

First award winners

The first laureates of the USSR Stalin Prize included many scientists who made a significant contribution to the development of the country's national economy and its defense capability. Among them are the world-famous academician P. L. Kapitsa, who developed a device for obtaining ultra-low temperatures (his portrait is given below) and Major General of Artillery P. A. Gelvikh, who became the author of a number of works in the field of ballistics and shooting theory. Their number included the famous surgeon N. N. Burdenko, as well as the author of works on the geology of Siberia, Academician V. A. Obruchev.

Wartime laureates

During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet scientific and creative intelligentsia not only did not cease its activities, but also became significantly more active, since its representatives understood that in the current situation their work was even more important than in peacetime. Accordingly, the number of laureates of the most honorable award did not decrease during this period.

In particular, the work of a group of scientists carried out under the leadership of Academician V.L. Komarov was highly praised. It was aimed at developing the national economy of the Urals, as well as developing a number of measures that contributed to the further growth of ferrous metallurgy, energy and the production of building materials. The number of laureates in those years included military surgeon, Stalin Prize laureate A.V. Vishnevsky, creator of the famous ointment that saved millions of patients from the development of purulent processes.

In those same years, the works of the famous Soviet chemist N. D. Zelinsky, who became the author of numerous developments related to the country's defense industry, became widespread. For his achievements he was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree. Along with him, two more famous scientists worked during the war years - Professor M.V. Keldysh and his colleague, in those years a candidate of technical sciences, and later an academician - E.P. Grossman. They carried out comprehensive research, which opened a new page in the domestic aircraft industry. For their outstanding achievements, both scientists were also among the laureates of the country’s most honorable and prestigious award.

Workers from various fields of art did not stand aside, also finding support for their creativity at the highest government level. In particular, the beginning of the 1940s was marked by a particularly large number of works submitted for the Stalin Prize in Literature. According to archival data, over the entire 14-year period (1940 ─ 1954), 1,706 Soviet writers became its laureates, for whose encouragement 57.8 million rubles were allocated.

The true classics of Soviet literature were the writers-winners of the Stalin Prize Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov (photo above), Sergei Nikolaevich Sergeev-Tsensky, Alexei Nikolaevich Tolstoy and a number of other masters of the pen. Their work entered the golden fund of Russian culture.

Prizes awarded to other artists

Among other artists who were awarded the Stalin Prize, one cannot help but recall the outstanding Soviet composer Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich, the creator of the famous “Seventh Symphony,” which he wrote in besieged Leningrad. His photo is given below. He won this prestigious award three times. The same number of times was received by the people's favorite, who did not play a single leading role in films, but at the same time became a real star of Russian cinema - Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya. Other artists were also awarded high awards.

Multiple award winners

Among the laureates of the most honorable award were their own record holders. Their leader was the famous aircraft designer Sergei Vladimirovich Ilyushin, who had 7 Stalin Prizes. Prominent Soviet film directors I. A. Pyryev, I. P. Kopalin and Yu. Ya. Raizman received it six times each. Actors N. I. Bogolyubov, N. P. Okhlopkov, writer K. M. Simonov, aircraft designers A. S. Yakovlev, M. I. Gurevich, A. I. Mikoyan and composer S. S. Prokofiev achieved no less success .

Changes made to the procedure for awarding prizes

Brief mention should be made of the changes that were periodically made to the procedure for awarding prizes. For example, at the end of 1940, it was decided to award not one laureate in each category, but three. The reward amounts have also increased. If at the time of the establishment of the award, First Degree laureates received 100 thousand rubles, then two years later this amount was increased three times.

A very significant innovation was the establishment in 1949 of the International Stalin Prize, which was awarded to foreign citizens who had made a significant contribution to the promotion of peace. In order to more thoroughly study the works submitted for prizes, in the mid-40s, two independent departments were created under the Council of People's Commissars. One of them dealt exclusively with prizes awarded in the field of science, and the other considered nominees from literature and art. This allowed us to make more objective assessments.

The changes made also affected the deadlines for submitting works for consideration by the State Prize Award Committee. If in the initial period, as indicated above, only works completed before October 15 of the current year were accepted, then later it was considered advisable to significantly expand the period of their creation. It is known that by the end of the 40s, work completed within the last six years began to be accepted for consideration.

In any case, it was emphasized that the prize is awarded not for the general contribution of any figure or an entire team to the development of science and art, but for a specifically completed project. This created material incentives for subsequent scientific developments and the creation of works of art.

Cancellation of the Stalin Prize and the establishment of the Lenin Prize

Due to the fact that I.V. Stalin died suddenly without leaving a will, it was impossible to continue transferring royalties for the publication of his books to the award fund. In addition, after the death of the leader, it turned out that the savings in his savings book did not exceed 900 rubles, which was an extremely insignificant amount, even compared to the average worker’s salary, which in those years was 700 rubles. Representatives of the country’s top leadership did not yet have accounts in foreign banks.

Thus, financial revenues to the award fund were interrupted. In addition, a campaign initiated by N. S. Khrushchev to expose Stalin’s personality cult soon followed, during which the very name of the award he once established was withdrawn from use. All laureates awarded the Stalin Prize received new certificates and badges, where the name that had fallen into disgrace was replaced by a new one - laureate of the State Prize. Similar changes were made to scientific and reference literature, in which Stalin's name was kept silent.

In 1956, a government decree established the Lenin Prize, which in fact did not differ in anything other than the name from the Stalin Prize. Her badge of honor appears at the end of the article. This time it was paid not from the personal funds of the head of state, who at that time was N. S. Khrushchev, but from the state budget, and lasted until 1991. Throughout the history of the USSR, the Lenin and Stalin Prizes were the highest forms of reward for Soviet citizens for their outstanding achievements in the field of science and art.

Prizes and scholarships “in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin” were established by the Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of December 20, 1939.

It indicated that 16 Stalin Prizes were being established (in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each), which would be awarded annually to scientists and artists for outstanding work in the following fields of science: physics and mathematics, technical, chemical, biological, agricultural, medical, philosophical , economic, historical-philological, legal, as well as for achievements in music, painting, sculpture, architecture, theatrical art and cinematography.

Money for the prizes was taken from I.V. Stalin’s fees for publishing his works, including abroad.

The same Resolution established the Stalin Prizes, which were to be awarded annually for the best invention: ten first prizes in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each, twenty second prizes in the amount of 50 thousand rubles each, and thirty third prizes in the amount of 25 thousand rubles each. The Stalin Prize was also established for outstanding achievements in the field of military knowledge: three first prizes of 100 thousand rubles each, five second prizes of 50 thousand rubles each, and ten third prizes of 25 thousand rubles each.

For reference: Stalin in the post-war years received 10 thousand rubles a month, a worker’s salary was 1000 rubles

In addition to this document, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, a month and a half later, decided to establish four more Stalin Prizes (100 thousand rubles each), which will be awarded for outstanding works in the field of literature - one prize each in poetry, prose, drama and literary criticism.

All works in the field of various sciences, military knowledge, etc., nominated for the Stalin Prize, as well as descriptions of inventions with the attachment of all necessary drawings and documents, were submitted to the Stalin Prize Committees, which were created under the Council of People's Commissars, no later than October 15 of the current of the year. After discussing and evaluating the submitted works, the Committees submitted their proposals for awarding Stalin Prizes to the Council of People's Commissars before December 1 of the current year.

According to the regulations for the Stalin Prizes, only new works or inventions completed in the year the prizes were awarded were submitted. Works or inventions completed between October 15 and December 1 of the current year were eligible for the Stalin Prize next year. Scientific societies, research institutes, higher education institutions and public organizations could present their works.

Works in the fields of science and military knowledge, as well as descriptions of inventions, were submitted in any language in triplicate, printed on typewriters or by typography. Literary and musical works, as well as architectural projects, were presented in one copy, other works of art - in the original. The evaluation and awarding of prizes in the field of theatrical art and cinematography were carried out both on the basis of the submitted materials (plays, scripts, etc.) and on the basis of the films and theatrical productions that took place.

The Committee for Awarding Stalin Prizes for work in the field of science, military knowledge and inventions was entrusted with a preliminary examination of the works, selecting the most outstanding ones and presenting them with its conclusion to the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. For a more complete and comprehensive assessment of these works, the Committee could organize sections from among its members with the participation of scientists in relevant specialties, as well as create expert commissions of leading scientists and practitioners. Research institutes, scientific societies and institutions could take part in the consideration of individual works on behalf of the Committee, which then presented their conclusions to the Committee. Where necessary, representatives of research institutes, scientific institutions and organizations, as well as individuals were invited to the meetings of the Committee to participate in discussions and give opinions on the work nominated for the Stalin Prize. Committee decisions were made by a simple majority of votes by closed ballot.

If the Stalin Prize was received by a group of authors of two people, then it was divided in half between them; with a team of three people, the leader was given half the money, and the rest was divided equally between the other two members of the team; if the team of authors consisted of four or more people, then the director received a third of the bonus, and two-thirds were divided among the remaining members of the team.

In the first year, the procedure for awarding the Stalin Prizes was slightly changed, and it was decided to present awards not only for works

1940, but also for the work of the last 6 years, starting from 1935. One of the first to receive the Stalin Prize of the first degree in the field of physical and mathematical sciences was P.L. Kapitsa, full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, for the scientific work “Turboexpander for obtaining low temperatures and its use for air liquefaction.” Major General of Artillery P.A. Gelvikh was awarded the Stalin Prize for a number of works: “On dispersion, the probability of a hit and the mathematical expectation of the number of hits,” “Theoretical foundations for the development of shooting rules” and “Shooting at fast-moving targets.”

The Stalin Prize of the first degree was awarded to Academician N.N. Burdenko for scientific work on surgery of the central and peripheral nervous system. Academician V.V. Obruchev was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree for his three-volume scientific work “Geology of Siberia”.

High awards were also given during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. The terrible military situation not only did not stop the work of the creative intelligentsia, but, on the contrary, led to an unprecedented patriotic impulse and the scope of creative initiative of Soviet scientists, inventors and production innovators. Everyone understood perfectly well that their activities during war years were needed even more than in peacetime. And 1941 showed major achievements of Soviet scientists in all fields of knowledge.

Rebuilding the industry on a war footing, it was necessary to expand its raw material resources, increase production capacity, etc. In this regard, the work awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree, carried out by a group of academicians and scientists under the leadership of V.L., is of great interest. Komarov - President of the USSR Academy of Sciences. They researched and developed issues of development of the national economy of the Urals, as well as economic measures in the field of ferrous metallurgy, building materials, energy, etc. As a result of these studies, specific work was planned to expand the production of the Ural industry.

Among the laureates of the Stalin Prize of the first degree is the name of the famous chemist N.D. Zelinsky, who was awarded a high award for his work on the catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons and defense chemistry.

For aircraft manufacturing, the works of Professor M.V. were of great importance. Keldysh and Candidate of Technical Sciences E.P. Grossman, awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. These scientists developed the theory of elastic vibrations of aircraft parts and presented a method for calculating aircraft for flutter.

The composer D. Shostakovich spent the first months of the war in besieged Leningrad, where he conceived the idea of ​​the “Seventh Symphony,” dedicated to the heroic defenders of the city. Three movements of the symphony were written in Leningrad; the composer completed the final work on this work in Kuibyshev. Soon this work went around the whole world, affirming the all-conquering humanism of the Soviet people. The writer A. Tolstoy wrote that

The Seventh Symphony arose from the conscience of the Russian people, who without hesitation accepted a mortal battle with the black forces. Written in Leningrad, it has grown to the size of great world art, understandable at all latitudes and meridians, because it tells the truth about man in an unprecedented time of his misfortunes and trials.

In 1942, for the Seventh Symphony, D. Shostakovich was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree. In the same year he was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.” In 1946, the composer’s new work, a trio for violin, cello and piano, was awarded the Stalin Prize, and a year later the outstanding composer was awarded the title “People’s Artist of the RSFSR.”

In 1947, D. Shostakovich performed the seven-part oratorio “Song of the Forests,” written for soloists, choir and orchestra to a text by the poet E. Dolmatovsky. For this work, as well as for the music for the film “The Fall of Berlin” in 1950, the composer was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. A new significant achievement of D. Shostakovich was the suite for choir “a capella” (unaccompanied) he created in 1951 - “Ten Poems” based on texts by revolutionary poets of the period from 1905 to the October Revolution. In 1952, this work was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree.

All recipients received the title “Laureate of the Stalin Prize.” The honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was worn on the right side of the chest next to orders and medals of the USSR. It was made of silver and was a convex oval, covered with white enamel and bordered at the bottom with gold laurel wreaths.

Golden ascending rays were depicted on white enamel. At the top of the sign, against the background of these rays, was a five-pointed star made of red enamel and bordered with a gold rim. In the middle of the oval there was an inscription in gold capital letters: STALIN PRIZE LAUREATE. The upper part of the oval ended with a corrugated ribbon, covered with blue enamel with a gold edge, with the inscription on it: USSR. Using an eyelet and a ring, the honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was connected to a silver plate covered with gold, on which the year of the Stalin Prize was written in blue enamel in Arabic numerals. The resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on awarding the Stalin Prizes was published in the central press on December 21 - the birthday of I.V. Stalin."

The absolute record holder for the number of Stalin Prizes awarded was aircraft designer S.V. Ilyushin, who received 7 prizes. Six-time winners were film directors I. A. Pyryev and Yu. Ya. Raizman, documentary film director I. P. Kopalin, actor and director N. P. Okhlopkov, poet and writer K. M. Simonov, composer S. S. Prokofiev, artist N. I. Bogolyubov, aircraft designers A. S. Yakovlev, A. I. Mikoyan, M. I. Gurevich.

In 1942-1943. almost all (or all) of the laureates transferred the money received with the prize to the Defense Fund. Therefore, in 1944-1945. Stalin Prizes were not awarded, since they were intended specifically for material support.

In total, over the years of the existence of “Stalin”, about 5,000 people were awarded it. Lists of awardees were published in central newspapers. There you can meet many famous names: poets Marshak, Tvardovsky, writers Kaverin, Tolstoy, Sholokhov, film director Romm... In 1949, Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov received the Stalin Prize, 1st degree, “for the development of a weapon model.” Such vague formulations were used when talking about inventions for the army, intelligence, and space. Among those awarded the highest Soviet prize was even... an Orthodox saint! True, then, in 1946, the famous physician Valentin Voino-Yasenetsky became a laureate as the author of new surgical treatment methods. But he was also a priest, became a monk under the name of Luke, and received the rank of archbishop. And in 1996 he was canonized as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. Once Voino-Yasenetsky tried to order business cards for himself from a printing house with the inscription: “Archbishop Luka of Simferopol and Crimea is a laureate of the Stalin Prize, 1st degree,” but censor officials categorically forbade him to use such seditious wording.

Prize liquidation

As part of the campaign to eradicate the personality cult of Stalin, which began after the 20th Congress of the CPSU, the Lenin Prize was established in 1956, which actually replaced the Stalin Prize. In 1966, the USSR State Prize was established, to which the Stalin Prize was equated. Diplomas and badges of the laureate of the Stalin Prizes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees were replaced with diplomas and badges of honor of the laureate of the USSR State Prize of the corresponding degrees. In educational and reference literature, the name of the Stalin Prize was methodically replaced with the State Prize, information about it and its laureates was dosed out and mystified. An example is the Brief Literary Encyclopedia, where the article on literary prizes states that by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated December 20, 1939, “the State Prizes of the USSR were established. Until November 1961, they were called Stalin Prizes.” Similar substitution of names is often found in modern publications.

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

USSR USSR

workers of science and art

for outstanding work in the following fields of science: physico-mathematical, technical, chemical, biological, agricultural, medical, philosophical, economic, historical and philological, legal, as well as for achievements in music, painting, sculpture, architecture, theatrical art and cinematography

not awarded

Stalin Prize (Stalin Prize)- a form of encouragement for citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in the field of science and technology, military knowledge, literature and art, radical improvements in production methods in 1954. In 1966, it was equalized with the created USSR State Prize.

Establishment of the Prize

The Stalin Prizes (or, as they were originally called, the Stalin Prizes) were established by two resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR.

The number of prizes awarded and their size subsequently changed several times. This first happened on December 20, 1940, when the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted a resolution “On changes in the procedure for awarding Stalin Prizes in science, inventions, literature and art”, according to which the number of prizes in the field of science and art increased to three first-degree prizes of 100 thousand rubles each. and five second degree prizes of 50 thousand rubles (for each of the four nominations in the field of literature, three prizes of 100 thousand rubles were established).

In addition to the existing ones, the International Stalin Prize “For Strengthening Peace Between Nations” was established in 1949.

Procedure for awarding the prize

The procedure for awarding the Stalin Prizes was determined by a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR “On the procedure for awarding Stalin Prizes for outstanding work in the field of science, military knowledge, invention, literature and art”, approved at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks on March 20, 1940. According to it, prizes were awarded directly by the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. The laureates were nominated by two committees specially created under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR:

• Committee for Stalin Prizes in the field of science, military knowledge and invention;
• Committee for Stalin Prizes in Literature and Art.

According to the resolution, the committees were to complete the acceptance of works nominated for the Stalin Prize by October 15 and no later than December 1 to submit their proposals to the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. It was noted that only new works completed in the year the prizes were awarded should be submitted for prizes. Works or inventions completed between October 15 and December 1 of the current year were eligible for the prize next year. The Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated December 20, 1940 changed this procedure for bonuses for 1940 “as a final one in relation to the achievements of previous years,” allowing awards to be awarded for work not only of the last year, but also of the last 6-7 years, while simultaneously increasing the number of bonuses. The deadline for submissions from the Stalin Prize committees was postponed until January 15, 1941.

Works in the field of science and military knowledge, as well as descriptions of inventions, had to be submitted to the committees in any language in 3 copies, printed on a typewriter or by typography; literary, musical works and designs of architectural structures - in one copy, and other works of art - in the original. The evaluation and award of prizes for works in the field of theatrical art and cinematography, according to the decree of March 30, 1940, were assessed both on the basis of the submitted materials (plays, scripts, models, etc.) and on the basis of screenings of films and theatrical productions.

The Stalin Prizes were awarded annually and were a sign of recognition of the high scientific, cultural, engineering or organizational and technical contribution of the laureate. Particular care was taken in selecting candidates for the laureates of the very first prize, the award of which was announced in 1941. Numerous evidence suggests that I.V. Stalin paid close attention to the selection and approval of candidates for the prize in his name, often practically single-handedly deciding the issue of its award.

History of the award

Money for the prizes was taken from I.V. Stalin’s fees for publishing his works, including abroad.

Perhaps part of the leader’s salary also went towards bonuses - he held two high positions (secretary of the Central Committee and chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars), and for each in the post-war years he was paid 10 thousand rubles a month.

In 1942-1943. almost all (or all) of the laureates transferred the money received with the prize to the Defense Fund. Therefore, in 1944-1945. Stalin Prizes were not awarded, since they were intended specifically for material support. On September 8, 1943, the Honorary Badge of the Stalin Prize Laureate was established.

Sometimes the prize was transferred to charity.

Resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars (CM) of the USSR on the award of Stalin Prizes from 13.03.1941; 14.03.1941; 15.03.1941; 10.04.1942; 11.04.1942; 19.03.1943; 23.03.1943; 26.01.1946; 26.06.1946; 6.06.1947; 1.04.1948; 20.04.1948; 29.05.1948; 2.06.1948; 8.04.1949; 9.04.1949; 3.03.1950; 8.03.1950; 1951; 1952 were published in periodicals indicating their monetary amounts in various areas. The Resolutions of 1951-1952 do not indicate their exact date. The resolutions of 1953-1954 were not published, apparently for reasons of secrecy. Also, some laureates who are mentioned in other sources are not included in the published lists.

Feature of the award

The award was given not for the totality of merit, but for specific work and achievements. Since it was intended specifically as a material incentive, it was awarded mainly to people in middle age or even young people. And as a reward, an order was usually attached to the prize.

Laureates of the Stalin Prize were entitled to certain benefits: free travel, free education for children in universities.

Multiple award winners

The absolute record holder for the number of Stalin Prizes awarded was aircraft designer S.V. Ilyushin, who received 7 prizes. Six-time winners were film directors I. A. Pyryev and Yu. Ya. Raizman, documentary film director I. P. Kopalin, actor and director N. P. Okhlopkov, poet and writer K. M. Simonov, composer S. S. Prokofiev, artist N. I. Bogolyubov, aircraft designers A. S. Yakovlev, A. I. Mikoyan, M. I. Gurevich.

Prize liquidation

Since Stalin died intestate in March 1953, royalties from his publications could no longer be used to pay awards in his name. Therefore, after 1954, Stalin Prizes were not awarded.

As part of the campaign to eradicate the personality cult of Stalin, which began after the 20th Congress of the CPSU, the Lenin Prize was established in 1956, which actually replaced the Stalin Prize. In 1966, the USSR State Prize was established, to which the Stalin Prize was equated. Diplomas and badges of the laureate of the Stalin Prizes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees were replaced with diplomas and badges of honor of the laureate of the USSR State Prize. In educational and reference literature the name Stalin's bonuses were methodically replaced by State, information about it and its laureates was dosed out and mystified. An example is the Brief Literary Encyclopedia, where the article on literary prizes states that by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated December 20, 1939, “the State Prizes of the USSR were established. Until November 1961, they were called Stalin Prizes.” Similar substitution of names is often found in modern publications.

Laureates

Laureates in the field of science (1941-1943)

Laureates in the field of science (1946-1952)

Laureates for outstanding inventions and fundamental improvements in production methods

Laureates in the field of literature and art

Remarkable fact

The title of Stalin Prize laureate was deprived of: Sergo Beria, Lavrentiy Beria, Andrei Sakharov, and a number of other laureates. Among the laureates were N. A. Voznesensky, P. Ya. Meshik, V. L. Zuskin, and others, who were later repressed.

In literature

The Stalin Prize of the third degree was awarded to the character of Vsevolod Kochetov’s story “Zhurbins” - model maker Viktor Zhurbin, for the invention of the “Zhuskiv-1” machine.

see also

• International Stalin Prize "For Strengthening Peace Between Nations"

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Notes

Literature

• “Stalin Prizes: two sides of the same coin”: Sat. documents and artistic and journalistic materials / Comp. V. F. Svinin, K. A. Oseev. - Novosibirsk: Svinin and Sons Publishing House, 2007. - 880 pp. - ISBN 978-5-98502-050-2.

Links

Excerpt characterizing the Stalin Prize

It would seem that in those almost unimaginably difficult conditions of existence in which Russian soldiers found themselves at that time - without warm boots, without sheepskin coats, without a roof over their heads, in the snow at 18° below zero, without even the full amount of provisions, it would not always be possible to keeping up with the army - it seemed that the soldiers should have presented the saddest and most depressing sight.
On the contrary, never, in the best material conditions, has the army presented a more cheerful, lively spectacle. This happened because every day everything that began to despondency or weaken was thrown out of the army. Everything that was physically and morally weak had long been left behind: only one color of the army remained - in terms of strength of spirit and body.
The largest number of people gathered at the 8th company, which bordered the fence. Two sergeants sat down next to them, and their fire burned brighter than others. They demanded an offering of firewood for the right to sit under the fence.
- Hey, Makeev, what are you... disappeared or were you eaten by wolves? “Bring some wood,” shouted one red-haired soldier, squinting and blinking from the smoke, but not moving away from the fire. “Go ahead and carry some wood, crow,” this soldier turned to another. Red was not a non-commissioned officer or a corporal, but he was a healthy soldier, and therefore commanded those who were weaker than him. A thin, small soldier with a sharp nose, who was called a crow, obediently stood up and went to carry out the order, but at that time the thin, beautiful figure of a young soldier carrying a load of firewood entered the light of the fire.
- Come here. That's important!
They broke the firewood, pressed it, blew it with their mouths and overcoat skirts, and the flames hissed and crackled. The soldiers moved closer and lit their pipes. The young, handsome soldier who had brought the firewood leaned his hands on his hips and began to quickly and deftly stamp his chilled feet in place.
“Ah, mamma, the cold dew is good, and like a musketeer...” he chanted, as if hiccupping on every syllable of the song.
- Hey, the soles will fly off! – the red-haired man shouted, noticing that the dancer’s sole was dangling. - What poison to dance!
The dancer stopped, tore off the dangling skin and threw it into the fire.
“And that, brother,” he said; and, sitting down, took a piece of French blue cloth from his knapsack and began to wrap it around his leg. “We’ve had a couple of hours,” he added, stretching his legs towards the fire.
- New ones will be released soon. They say, we'll beat you to the last ounce, then everyone will get double goods.
“And you see, son of a bitch Petrov, he’s fallen behind,” said the sergeant major.
“I’ve noticed him for a long time,” said another.
- Yes, little soldier...
“And in the third company, they said, nine people were missing yesterday.”
- Yes, judge how your feet ache, where will you go?
- Eh, this is empty talk! - said the sergeant major.
“Ali, do you want the same thing?” - said the old soldier, reproachfully turning to the one who said that his legs were chilling.
– What do you think? - suddenly rising from behind the fire, a sharp-nosed soldier, who was called a crow, spoke in a squeaky and trembling voice. - He who is smooth will lose weight, but the skinny will die. At least I would. “I have no urine,” he suddenly said decisively, turning to the sergeant major, “they told me to send him to the hospital, the pain has overcome me; otherwise you will still fall behind...
“Well, yes, yes,” the sergeant major said calmly. The soldier fell silent and the conversation continued.
“Today you never know how many of these Frenchmen they took; and, to put it bluntly, none of them are wearing real boots, just a name,” one of the soldiers began a new conversation.
- All the Cossacks struck. They cleaned the hut for the colonel and took them out. It’s a pity to watch, guys,” said the dancer. - They tore them apart: so the living one, believe it, babbles something in his own way.
“They’re pure people, guys,” said the first. - White, just like a birch is white, and there are brave ones, say, noble ones.
- How do you think? He has recruited from all ranks.
“But they don’t know anything our way,” the dancer said with a smile of bewilderment. “I say to him: “Whose crown?”, and he babbles his own. Wonderful people!
“It’s strange, my brothers,” continued the one who was amazed at their whiteness, “the men near Mozhaisk said how they began to remove the beaten, where the guards were, so after all, he says, theirs lay dead for almost a month.” Well, he says, it lies there, he says, theirs is how the paper is white, clean, and doesn’t smell of gunpowder.
- Well, from the cold, or what? - one asked.
- You're so smart! By cold! It was hot. If only for the cold, ours wouldn’t have gone rotten either. Otherwise, he says, when you come up to ours, he’s all rotten with worms, he says. So, he says, we’ll tie ourselves with scarves, and, turning our muzzle away, we’ll drag him; no urine. And theirs, he says, is as white as paper; There is no smell of gunpowder.
Everyone was silent.
“It must be from the food,” said the sergeant major, “they ate the master’s food.”
Nobody objected.
“This man said, near Mozhaisk, where there was a guard, they were driven away from ten villages, they carried them twenty days, they didn’t bring them all, they were dead. What are these wolves, he says...
“That guard was real,” said the old soldier. - There was only something to remember; and then everything after that... So, it’s just torment for the people.
- And that, uncle. The day before yesterday we came running, so where they won’t let us get to them. They quickly abandoned the guns. On your knees. Sorry, he says. So, just one example. They said that Platov took Polion himself twice. Doesn't know the words. He’ll take it: he’ll pretend to be a bird in his hands, fly away, and fly away. And there is no provision for killing either.
“It’s okay to lie, Kiselev, I’ll look at you.”
- What a lie, the truth is true.
“If it were my custom, I would have caught him and buried him in the ground.” Yes, with an aspen stake. And what he ruined for the people.
“We’ll do it all, he won’t walk,” said the old soldier, yawning.
The conversation fell silent, the soldiers began to pack up.
- See, the stars, passion, are burning! “Tell me, the women have laid out the canvases,” said the soldier, admiring the Milky Way.
- This, guys, is for a good year.
“We’ll still need some wood.”
“You’ll warm your back, but your belly is frozen.” What a miracle.
- Oh my God!
- Why are you pushing, is the fire about you alone, or what? See... it fell apart.
From behind the established silence, the snoring of some who had fallen asleep was heard; the rest turned and warmed themselves, occasionally talking to each other. A friendly, cheerful laugh was heard from the distant fire, about a hundred paces away.
“Look, they’re roaring in the fifth company,” said one soldier. – And what a passion for the people!
One soldier got up and went to the fifth company.
“It’s laughter,” he said, returning. - Two guards have arrived. One is completely frozen, and the other is so courageous, dammit! Songs are playing.
- Oh oh? go have a look... - Several soldiers headed towards the fifth company.

The fifth company stood near the forest itself. A huge fire burned brightly in the middle of the snow, illuminating the tree branches weighed down with frost.
In the middle of the night, soldiers of the fifth company heard footsteps in the snow and the crunching of branches in the forest.
“Guys, it’s a witch,” said one soldier. Everyone raised their heads, listened, and out of the forest, into the bright light of the fire, two strangely dressed human figures stepped out, holding each other.
These were two Frenchmen hiding in the forest. Hoarsely saying something in a language incomprehensible to the soldiers, they approached the fire. One was taller, wearing an officer's hat, and seemed completely weakened. Approaching the fire, he wanted to sit down, but fell to the ground. The other, small, stocky soldier with a scarf tied around his cheeks, was stronger. He raised his comrade and, pointing to his mouth, said something. The soldiers surrounded the French, laid out an overcoat for the sick man, and brought porridge and vodka to both of them.
The weakened French officer was Rambal; tied with a scarf was his orderly Morel.
When Morel drank vodka and finished a pot of porridge, he suddenly became painfully cheerful and began to continuously say something to the soldiers who did not understand him. Rambal refused to eat and silently lay on his elbow by the fire, looking at the Russian soldiers with meaningless red eyes. Occasionally he would let out a long groan and then fall silent again. Morel, pointing to his shoulders, convinced the soldiers that it was an officer and that he needed to be warmed up. The Russian officer, who approached the fire, sent to ask the colonel if he would take the French officer to warm him up; and when they returned and said that the colonel had ordered an officer to be brought, Rambal was told to go. He stood up and wanted to walk, but he staggered and would have fallen if the soldier standing next to him had not supported him.
- What? You will not? – one soldier said with a mocking wink, turning to Rambal.
- Eh, fool! Why are you lying awkwardly! It’s a man, really, a man,” reproaches to the joking soldier were heard from different sides. They surrounded Rambal, lifted him into his arms, grabbed him, and carried him to the hut. Rambal hugged the necks of the soldiers and, when they carried him, spoke plaintively:
- Oh, nies braves, oh, mes bons, mes bons amis! Voila des hommes! oh, mes braves, mes bons amis! [Oh well done! O my good, good friends! Here are the people! O my good friends!] - and, like a child, he leaned his head on the shoulder of one soldier.
Meanwhile, Morel sat in the best place, surrounded by soldiers.
Morel, a small, stocky Frenchman, with bloodshot, watery eyes, tied with a woman's scarf over his cap, was dressed in a woman's fur coat. He, apparently drunk, put his arm around the soldier sitting next to him and sang a French song in a hoarse, intermittent voice. The soldiers held their sides, looking at him.
- Come on, come on, teach me how? I'll take over quickly. How?.. - said the joker songwriter, who was hugged by Morel.
Vive Henri Quatre,
Vive ce roi vaillanti –
[Long live Henry the Fourth!
Long live this brave king!
etc. (French song) ]
sang Morel, winking his eye.
Se diable a quatre…
- Vivarika! Vif seruvaru! sit-down... - the soldier repeated, waving his hand and really catching the tune.
- Look, clever! Go go go go!.. - rough, joyful laughter rose from different sides. Morel, wincing, laughed too.
- Well, go ahead, go ahead!
Qui eut le triple talent,
De boire, de batre,
Et d'etre un vert galant...
[Having triple talent,
drink, fight
and be kind...]
– But it’s also complicated. Well, well, Zaletaev!..
“Kyu...” Zaletaev said with effort. “Kyu yu yu...” he drawled, carefully protruding his lips, “letriptala, de bu de ba and detravagala,” he sang.
- Hey, it’s important! That's it, guardian! oh... go go go! - Well, do you want to eat more?
- Give him some porridge; After all, it won’t be long before he gets enough of hunger.
Again they gave him porridge; and Morel, chuckling, began to work on the third pot. Joyful smiles were on all the faces of the young soldiers looking at Morel. The old soldiers, who considered it indecent to engage in such trifles, lay on the other side of the fire, but occasionally, raising themselves on their elbows, they looked at Morel with a smile.
“People too,” said one of them, dodging into his overcoat. - And wormwood grows on its root.
- Ooh! Lord, Lord! How stellar, passion! Towards the frost... - And everything fell silent.
The stars, as if knowing that now no one would see them, played out in the black sky. Now flaring up, now extinguishing, now shuddering, they busily whispered among themselves about something joyful, but mysterious.