WWII awards. What benefits do recipients enjoy for the medal “For Courage”?

The second medal, despite the fact that it was awarded to more than 5 million people, was not as popular as the first. If the medal “For Courage” was awarded only for personal courage, then “For Military Merit” could be given for success in combat and political training, as well as for other merits. At the front, this award used to be called “For sexual services,” hinting that it often went to the commander’s mistresses. However, occasionally incidents happened with another award. Thus, the medal “For Courage” was organized by General Vlasov for his field wife Agnes Podmazenko.

The first to receive the medal “For Courage” were: border guards V. Abramkin, N. Gulyaev And B. Grigoriev- for battles with the Japanese at Lake Khasan. Before the Great Patriotic War, 26 thousand such medals were awarded, during the war - more than 4.5 million. Some received “Courage” 5 times - intelligence officer Pavel Gribkov, medical instructor Vera Ippolitova... By the way, for one medal the nurse had to carry 15 wounded with weapons from the battlefield! The actors received two “Courage” awards. I. Smoktunovsky And E. Vesnik, one - Yu. Nikulin.

The Medal “For Courage” was almost the only award given to penalty prisoners. For example, in the 64th Army during the battles near Stalingrad, out of 152 people released in connection with government awards, 134 received it.

This medal provided an invaluable service to Smersh counterintelligence. When sending agents to our rear, the Germans often stamped “For Courage” from copper and slightly silvered. When checking, it was enough to rub the fake - yellowness appeared. And a real Soviet medal was made from 27.9 g of pure silver!

"Courage" for courage

What is what

On the medal “For Courage”, Mint artist S. Dmitriev depicted the miracle weapon of the Red Army of the 30s. - I-16 fighter and T-35 heavy breakthrough tank.

It was the only serial heavy five-turret tank in the world. Armed with 3 cannons and 6 machine guns. He fought in the Soviet-Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars. In the summer of 1941, almost all T-35s were lost.

The world's first production fighter with retractable landing gear. Developed by aircraft designer Polikarpov, it was the main fighter of the Soviet Air Force for a long time. Participated in the Spanish Civil War, the conflicts in Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, and the Great Patriotic War.

From the USSR to Russia

The Medal “For Courage” is one of the few Soviet awards that has passed on to modern Russia. Only the inscription “USSR” under the tank disappeared from the obverse of the medal. The first recipients of the Russian medal were servicemen of the GRU special forces brigade - for carrying out combat missions on the territory of Tajikistan in 1993. From 1992 to 1995, the medal was minted from a copper-nickel alloy for reasons of economy. Later, fortunately, they returned to silver.

Five "Courage" of one mortarman

Stepan Mikhailovich Zolnikov born in 1919 in the village of Staraya Goryasha, Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Before the war he worked as a teacher, then was drafted into the Red Army, participated in the Soviet-Finnish War, and then in the Great Patriotic War. He received his first medal “For Courage” for the battles near Leningrad in the Sinyavinsky swamps. Then junior sergeant Zolnikov’s crew destroyed the enemy’s firing point and cleared the way for the advancing battalion.

For a similar feat in January 1944 in the Pulkovo Heights area, now Sergeant Major Zolnikov received a second medal.

He received the third medal “For Courage” during fierce battles near Vyborg. On June 20, 1944, thanks to his decisive actions, an important enemy stronghold was captured.

Stepan Zolnikov received his fourth award for the courage and courage shown during the crossing of the river and the capture of the city of Narva. Finally, he was awarded the fifth medal for battles on the outskirts of Riga - his mortar “covered” a German machine-gun point that was hindering the advance of the infantry.

After the war, Zolnikov, who was repeatedly wounded, became a doctor. He received his last wound in peacetime. This happened in 1962 in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet hospital, where the operation was going on at that moment, was fired upon by saboteurs who were opponents of F. Castro, and Stepan Mikhailovich was wounded in the arm.

Soldier's "Egory"

Until the beginning of the 19th century. in the award system of the Russian Empire for lower ranks - soldiers and non-commissioned officers - there were no “universal” awards. Awarded medals such as “For the capture of Paris” or “For the conquest of Chechnya and Dagestan” were dedicated to specific campaigns. However, in February 1807, the insignia of the military Order of St. George was established for soldiers (the order itself was awarded only to officers). The first "Egory" was given to a non-commissioned officer Egor Mityukhin, who distinguished himself in the battles of the Prussian campaign. There is a known case of General Miloradovich being awarded a soldier’s medal for an attack in an infantry formation near Leipzig. In 1913, the award was renamed the St. George Cross; during the First World War, more than 1.5 million people received it.

The USSR state award system played a particularly important role in the formation and development of the country. She encouraged and stimulated Soviet people of various professions and labor to achieve the best, and sometimes impossible, results for the benefit of the Fatherland. About 20 orders and 51 medals were established in the Soviet Union. Insignia were awarded in all areas: for achievements in science and technology, for merits in construction and economics, for excellence in social and government activities, for the strengthening and defense of the state.

Of course, each medal and order is worthy of special attention, but in this article we will talk about the USSR Medal “For Courage,” established shortly before the start of World War II. She was one of those medals that counted in the millions.

Status of the medal "For Courage"

The special medal was approved on October 17, 1938 by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. And according to the established Regulations on the medal, sailors, soldiers, sergeants, officers of the army, border troops and navy were nominated for the award. The reason for the award was the demonstrated personal courage, perseverance and bravery of an individual in the fight against the enemies of the Soviet Union, with saboteurs and enemy spies, as well as special combat distinctions in protecting state borders and performing special missions.

The Medal “For Courage” was highly revered by military personnel almost from the first days of their education. And during the Second World War its value increased even more. Those awarded the military medal “For Courage” were supposed to set an example of courage and be a worthy example to be followed by other compatriots. And one more important detail: the medal could be awarded to persons who were not citizens of the USSR.

As a result of the decision of the Presidium of the Armed Forces in 1941, the insignia after the death of the awarded soldier returned back to the Presidium of the Council. But the certificate for the medal could be left in the family as a keepsake for future generations.

Description of the sign

The first issued medal “For Courage” was a regular circle with a diameter of 37 mm. The surface of its sides was glossy, 925 silver was used with a minimum amount of impurities. The weight of the medal was between 25-27 grams. On the front side of the sign there was the main image (message), on the reverse side the serial number of the award was minted. Through a special eyelet and a silver ring, the medal was attached to a plate covered with a red moire ribbon.

All figures and inscriptions on the award badge were highlighted in relief. On the obverse at the top there are three aircraft hovering one after another, heading forward. Presumably this is I-16. Below them, in pressed large letters, is clearly written in two lines the inscription: “For courage.” Next following it is an image of the T-35 tank, the width of its image is 10 mm and the length is 6 mm. And at the very bottom of the sign, along the edge, there is the inscription “USSR”.

The image of the tank was not chosen by chance. Before the war, it was considered the most powerful military equipment and was used only in special cases. On the medal, it was recognized as symbolizing the power and invincibility of the Soviet people. Although it was later recognized as ineffective, they did not change the design. In general, the entire design on the medal demonstrates a serious offensive character.

A little later, in 1943, some changes were made to the Regulations and description of the medal “For Courage”. The medal was now attached to a pentagonal block covered with a gray moire ribbon with two blue stripes along the edges.

For display of courage and bravery

Since the mid-1930s, the international situation has noticeably deteriorated. Increased armament of Germany, military actions of Italy in Ethiopia, civil war in Spain, clashes between Japan and China - the world is mired in political contradictions. The current situation prompted the Soviet government to take a number of measures to strengthen the country's defense capability. This could not but affect the state awards system. At the beginning of 1938, the first Soviet medal was approved - “20 years of the Red Army”. And a little later, two more medals were established, “For Courage” and “For Military Merit.”

At that turbulent time, fighters of the border troops, and not only those of the USSR, already had some military clashes. Some even took part in the Spanish Civil War. Military personnel were killed and injured. The heroism demonstrated in defending the Motherland and its interests needed to be marked with an appropriate award badge. Honoring exploits and courage in a proper manner later played an important role in the fight against fascism.

First recipients

The very first medal "For Courage" was awarded to junior lieutenant V. Abramkin in accordance with the adopted Decree of the Presidium of October 19, 1938. In the same decree, in alphabetical order, following Abramkin, 62 more names were listed. Among them are senior lieutenant F. Alekseev, security lieutenant B. Almaev, senior political instructor I. Bochkarev and others.

Servicemen of the border troops F. Grigoriev and N. Gulyaev received medals “For Courage”. While on night patrol, they were near Lake Khasan, where they spotted a sabotage detachment that was trying to cross the border of the Soviet Union. The border guards managed to stop them by opening fire to kill, but they themselves received combat wounds. A few days later, the defenders of the Motherland again had to defend the borders near the same lake. As a result, 1,322 soldiers received the medal "For Courage".

Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, military personnel who took part in military clashes in the area of the Khalkin-Gol River were presented with the award. Also, in battles with the White Finns, for breaking through the Mannerheim Line and several fortified structures, many fighters were awarded medals. Of course, the nature of the war itself was very controversial, but the readiness for self-sacrifice of Soviet soldiers could not go unnoticed. Until June 1941, 26 thousand people received the insignia.

The medal was also remarkable in that everyone could apply for the award, from the common soldier to the fighters of the penal units, although they were deprived of their well-deserved titles and awards during the punishment. It honored personal bravery demonstrated on the battlefield.

Presentation

In the pre-war years, the presentation of insignia took place in the Kremlin, the presentation was carried out by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and his deputies. During the first days of the war, the award procedure was still maintained for some time, but gradually the number of recipients increased significantly, and coming to the capital became difficult due to the general military situation. Then, by decree of August 19, 1941, awards began to be presented on behalf of the Supreme Council.

The presentation of the state award of the medal “For Courage” and other military insignia began to take place at the place of service. The right to award awards was granted to commanding officers: commanders of regiments, divisions and brigades. In partisan detachments, the awards were carried out by the commanders of these formations themselves. For the most part, the presentation of medals was carried out in full combat conditions, which only emphasized the significance of the feats accomplished and raised the general morale in the fight against enemy invaders.

If for some reason the recipients changed their place of service or ended up in hospitals and were evacuated, then the awards in any case overtook their heroes and the awarding was carried out by the commanders of the military districts where they ended up. It is known that some medals still find their owners. This is explained by the fact that some orders were lost or incorrect information was entered into them, or even the awarded soldiers were considered dead.

In 1953, a new decree “On the procedure for presenting orders and medals to those awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR” came into force. Now the ceremonial awarding of medals and orders to military personnel was carried out in military units, commissariats and other military institutions.

WWII period

The peaceful life of Soviet citizens was interrupted by a sudden attack by Nazi Germany in 1941. Bloody battles took place from the Black Sea to the Barents Sea. The treacherous interventionists, having superiority in many respects, managed to seize part of the territories of the Soviet Union in the first period of the war. But they failed to carry out their initial plans - the lightning defeat of the Red Army.

The demonstrated courage and heroism of the Soviet people in the most difficult battles with the Nazi occupiers became widespread. The heroic confrontation and defense of cities such as Sevastopol, Moscow, Stalingrad, Kyiv, and the defense of blockaded Leningrad, on the edge of human capabilities, will forever go down in history. Of course, special attention was paid to the issues of rewarding USSR military personnel.

The medal “For Courage” was held in special esteem by front-line soldiers, because each of them had its own feat and its own story. It was impossible to get it just like that, sitting somewhere on the sidelines or in a warm place. To receive this highest award, one had to properly “sniff gunpowder.” And people “sniffed” it, some more than once: ordinary privates, nurses, partisans, scouts, penal battalion soldiers.

The winner of the medal rose high in the eyes of those around him and his family could rightfully be proud of him. The number of medals “For Courage” in the Second World War amounted to over 4 million symbols. And it is fair to note that without the brave heroes of the Soviet people, victory would have been impossible.

Recipients of medals

As history tells, some fighters managed to earn the medal “For Courage” 3-4 times. We can highlight such names as V. Babich, K. Buketov, N. Gromyko, I. Kratko, M. Marchenko, M. Osipov, A. Rudenko and many others. But some have gone even further.

The recipients of 5 medals were:

P. Gribkov - intelligence officer.
M. Zakharov - artillery sergeant.
S. Zolnikov - senior sergeant.
V. Ippolitova is a medical instructor who carried hundreds of soldiers from the battlefields.

S. Gretsov, a sergeant in the medical service, distinguished himself most of all; he won six medals “For Courage.” The story of his heroic deeds deserves due recognition. A simple man from a collective farm, risking his life, carried the enemy out of the battlefield under open fire and provided assistance to his wounded comrades. After his death, the awards were given to the Stary Oskol Local History Museum.

In the post-war period, mainly border service personnel continued to be recognized with this insignia.

Benefits of the Medal "For Courage"

All holders of awards and medals were expected to receive appropriate benefits from the state. In the regulations on benefits (1938), a monthly payment of 10 rubles was established for the medal “For Courage”. In addition, the recipients had the right to free travel on public transport. The document confirming the possibility of obtaining privileges was a special certificate. But on January 1, 1948, a new decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Court came into force on the abolition of preferential payments to holders of award badges.

In 1955, the USSR Minister of Defense G. Zhukov petitioned for the partial restoration of cash benefits to those awarded for military exploits. Along with other awards, he offered to pay 3 rubles to those who received the medal “For Courage”. The Presidium of the Central Committee several times considered this issue on the agenda, but in the end sent it for revision to the Ministry of Defense. A year later, G. Zhukov again turned to the CPSU Central Committee with a new proposal for cash payments for awarded front-line soldiers. But the final decision was postponed indefinitely, which literally meant a refusal.

"For Courage" in Afghanistan

Starting from 1979 and almost until February 1989, Soviet troops took part in armed battles in the DRA. Fulfilling their international duty, they supported the Afghan army in resolving the country's internal problems. But the real state of affairs did not immediately become clear. The Soviet Union found itself drawn into a real war, the losses of which amounted to 15 thousand Soviet soldiers.

The Afghan war once again showed that Soviet soldiers worthily took over the baton of courage and military honor from their grandfathers and fathers. It was a time of tough battles and daring exploits. The defeat of the Mujahideen base in the province of Jawzjan, the defeat of opposition forces in the Nijrab gorge, the battle near the village of Shaest, the unequal battle and death of the Soviet battalion near the Khazar River, the tragic death of the Maravar company, operations “Magistral” and “Typhoon”.

The Afghan Award “For Courage” was founded by the Decree of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council in 1980. This award was given to military personnel who showed courage and bravery in the fight against the enemies of the DRA. In addition, this award badge could be received by both foreigners and civilians. It was about foreign specialists of various profiles who contributed to the development of the state.

State award of Russia

The highest military medal of the USSR did not sink into oblivion and did not cease to be relevant after the collapse of the Union. Unlike other military awards of the Soviet period, this insignia is still awarded today to individuals who have shown their heroism in the performance of state special tasks, official duties, and in protecting the borders and interests of the Russian Federation.

The first recipients of the Russian medal “For Courage” were participants in technical work on the sunken nuclear submarine “Komsomolets”. Awards were presented for the successful completion of assigned tasks and for courage shown in conditions of increased danger.

With the new date of establishment of the medal “For Courage” (by Presidential Decree of 1994), in the system of state awards of the Russian Federation, the appearance of the badge has remained virtually unchanged.

Kravchenko Dmitry Yakovlevich born 1913, Rank: ml. Lieutenant GB in the Red Army since 1938 Place of service: 5th Guards. sd 33 A ZapF

In the dead by OBD Memorial not listed.
Who doesn't know - “For Courage” is the highest medal in the USSR award system. What did they give it for?
This medal is considered more honorable than all others. It was received mainly by privates, foremen and sergeants, although the statute does not prohibit it from being awarded to officers. It just so happened that, unlike other medals, which could be obtained simply by taking part in some large-scale front-line operation, this one was given for very specific heroic actions, which, in the opinion of the command of the military unit, for some reason were before the order “ didn't make it." There will be a short story for the reader’s attention about why the medal “For Courage” was given and what the history of this government award is.

New award, 1938

At the end of the thirties, Soviet Red Army soldiers already had to fight with various opponents. Some of them managed to take part in the Spanish Civil War, meeting the fascists for the first time. It fell to the lot of others to fight the Japanese militarists who were trying to dislodge the position of the Soviet country in the Far East. It was restless on the outer borders - groups of saboteurs and spies tried to infiltrate there. Border guards often died and were injured while performing their military duty. There is a need for a new award, prestigious enough to recognize the outstanding courageous actions of the Red Army and Navy. In the fall of 1938, a sketch of a medal was approved with a motto written on its front side, eloquently (the letters are large and really red) saying what exactly it would be awarded for. There are other details in the image, but the main thing is the inscription. It was designed so that descendants would not have questions about why the medal “For Courage” was given. To understand, just read.

Other design elements

The front side reflects the general aesthetics of the time when the award sample was adopted. The T-35 tank was considered the most powerful Soviet ground weapon, it was multi-turreted and very heavy, so it found its place on the obverse. It was used quite rarely during the Winter Campaign on the Karelian Isthmus, was not used at all at Khalkhin Gol and proved its ineffectiveness in the first months of the Great Patriotic War, but even after that it was not changed to the “thirty-four”, IS or KV.

Three planes are also visible above, similar in silhouette to the I-16. These vehicles also left the Red Army aviation in 1941, but managed to fight for some time. Viktor Talalikhin made the ram that made him famous on this one.

At the bottom of the award, the nationality of the insignia is indicated: USSR, and in the center, in large ruby-red enamel letters, it is written what the medal was given for. For courage. That is, for selfless courage.

Only the copy number is stamped on the smooth reverse side.

Material of manufacture

The medal is cast from highly purified silver, corresponding to 925 standard. This means that the proportion of impurities in the alloy is only seven and a half percent. The weight of the award varied, depending on the year of production, from 27.9 to 25.8 grams. The permissible deviation from the norm when casting the workpiece also changed (from one and a half to 1.3 grams). The medal is quite large, its diameter is 37 mm. The recesses of the inscriptions “For Courage” and “USSR” were filled with enamel, which hardened after firing. On many copies it peeled off due to mechanical stress; the soldiers wore the awards for many years, they were covered with scratches and other damage. It happened that they saved a soldier’s life. The shot that deflected the fatal bullet explained without any words why the medal “For Courage” was given.

Execution options

The initial sketch implied a rectangular shape of a pendant block of small dimensions (25 x 15 mm), to which the medal was attached with a ring threaded into the eye, also quadrangular. Silk ribbon, moire, red. It was fixed on clothing using a round nut on a threaded pin.

The medal “For Courage” of 1943 and later years of issue was brought into line with the traditions and standards of state awards that had developed in the USSR. The eyelet became round, and the last was pentagonal; it was equipped with a pin. The color of the ribbon was also changed (to gray with two blue stripes) to make it easier to distinguish on the order bars.

The first gentlemen

The list of those awarded the medal “For Courage” since its establishment has long exceeded four million. And this despite the fact that there was an unspoken rule in relation to her - to honor only desperate daredevils who had truly accomplished something special. And the border guards were the first to receive it, there were two of them.

History is silent about who received the first medal “For Courage” - F. Grigoriev or N. Gulyaev, although this can be found out by finding copies of award sheets in the archive. But this, in essence, does not matter, because both of them became heroes at the same time, detaining a sabotage group in the area of Lake Khasan that was trying to enter the country from adjacent territory.

Pre-war period

Then there was the Finnish Winter War, during which the Red Army had a very difficult time. One can assess her character differently from a political point of view, but heroism and the ability to self-sacrifice were undoubtedly demonstrated by Soviet soldiers. In the conditions of the Arctic winter, terrible frosts and polar night, the Red Army stormed the super-fortified defensive line of Mannerheim, breaking through several echelons of fortifications. The list of those awarded the medal “For Courage” in the so-called “pre-war” period reached 26 thousand soldiers who proudly wore it on the left side of their chest.

War

There was no test in the history of our country more severe than the Great Patriotic War. In its first months, few awards were given out. But soon heroism assumed such a widespread character that it required visible official recognition. One of the most common was the medal “For Courage”. The year 1941 went down in history as the date of the victory near Moscow and many other difficult and bloody battles that did not always lead to success. The medal was awarded to many then - soldiers, nurses, snipers, intelligence officers, men and women, and even fighters of penal battalions, who, in order to do this, had to do something for which others were entitled to the high title of Hero. It did not go to those who settled in “non-dusty” positions, even if they had very good relations with their superiors. Such a person could receive another medal, also a very serious one, for example “For Military Merit” (“services” - real front-line soldiers insultingly teased in such cases). Recipients of the medal “For Courage” looked like real heroes in the eyes of their relatives and citizens they simply met on the street. The prestige of the award was not in doubt.

Sometimes a fighter was awarded it multiple times. It is difficult to explain this, because there are other awards - orders, for example. Most likely, there was the usual front-line confusion.

Nowadays

There were plenty of reasons to show courage during the Afghan War and other regional conflicts of the late 20th century in which our soldiers took part.

The Medal "For Courage" is one of the most honorable Soviet soldier's awards and is a state award of the USSR, the Russian Federation and Belarus. One of the few medals that, even after the collapse of the Soviet Union (with minor corrections), was again approved in the system of government awards of the Russian Federation and Belarus. The Medal "For Courage" was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in October 1938. According to the statute of the award, the medal could be awarded to military personnel of the Red Army, Navy, internal and border troops for demonstrated personal courage and bravery in defending the country and performing military duty. This combat medal could also be awarded to persons who were not citizens of the USSR.

From the very moment of its appearance, the medal “For Courage” was especially popular and highly valued among front-line soldiers, since this medal was awarded exclusively for personal courage that was demonstrated during combat operations. This was the main difference between this award and some other Soviet orders and medals, which were often awarded “for participation.” Most of the medals “For Courage” were issued to privates and sergeants of the Red Army, but there were also cases of awarding them to officers (mainly junior ranks).

The author of the drawing of the medal “For Courage” was the Soviet artist S.I. Dmitriev. The first award of the new military award took place on October 19, 1939. According to the signed decree, 62 people were nominated for the medal. Among the first recipients was Lieutenant Abramkin Vasily Ivanovich. Also on October 22, 1938, border guards N. E. Gulyaev and B. F. Grigoriev were among the first awarded. On November 14, another 118 people were nominated for the medal. The next time the medal was awarded en masse was already in 1939; it was mainly awarded to soldiers and officers who distinguished themselves in battles against the Japanese at Khalkhin Gol. For the entire 1939, 9,234 people were nominated for this award.

The medal "For Courage" was the largest among Soviet medals, with the exception of the medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR". It was round, the diameter of the medal was 37 mm. On the front side of the medal “For Courage” there was an image of three aircraft flying one after another, the wingspan of the first aircraft was 7 mm, the second was 4 mm, and the third was 3 mm. Directly below the flying planes was the inscription “For Courage”, which was located in two lines. Red enamel was applied to the letters. Under the inscription “For Courage” there was an image of a T-28 tank; the width of the tank was 10 mm, length - 6 mm. Under the T-28, along the lower edge of the award, the inscription “USSR” was made; these letters were also covered with red enamel.

Along the circumferential front side of the medal there was a slightly protruding rim, 0.75 mm wide and 0.25 mm high. Using a ring and an eyelet, the medal “For Courage” was connected to a pentagonal block, which was covered with a gray silk moiré ribbon; there were two blue stripes along the edges of the ribbon. The total width of the tape is 24 mm, the width of the strips is 2 mm. Using this pentagonal block, the medal could be attached to a uniform or other clothing.

The medal “For Courage” was the second most established military medal of the USSR after the medal “XX Years of the Red Army”. At the same time, it was the highest medal of the USSR and, when worn, was strictly in front of the other medals (by analogy with the Order of Lenin in the system of orders of the USSR). Since the medal was mainly awarded for performing a personal feat, it was mainly awarded to private and non-commissioned personnel of units and subunits, rarely to junior officers. Senior officers, and even more so generals, were practically not awarded this medal.

After 1939, the next mass awarding of the medal “For Courage” took place during the Soviet-Finnish War. In total, until June 22, 1941, approximately 26 thousand military personnel were awarded this medal. During the Great Patriotic War, the awarding of the medal “For Courage” became widespread and very large in scope. In total, 4 million 230 thousand medals were awarded for the feats that were accomplished during the Second World War. Many Soviet soldiers were awarded several times.

Among those awarded the medal “For Courage” there were many Soviet women. There are cases when representatives of the fair sex were nominated for the medal “For Courage” several times. For example, Moiseeva Larisa Petrovna (maiden name Vishnyakova) began the Great Patriotic War as a paramedic and ended as a telephonist. She served in the 824th separate reconnaissance artillery battalion. During the war years, Larisa Moiseeva was awarded three medals “For Courage”; in addition, she had the Order of the Red Star.

The youngest cavalier ever awarded this award was a student of the 142nd Guards Rifle Regiment, Sergei Aleshkov, who was only 6 years old! Soldiers of the 47th Guards Division picked up the boy in the summer of 1942; they found him in the forest. Sergei's brother and mother were brutally tortured by the Nazis. As a result, the soldiers kept him in their unit, and he became the son of the regiment. In November 1942, he and the regiment entered Stalingrad. He, of course, could not fight, but he tried to help the fighters as much as possible: he brought water, bread, ammunition, and sang songs and read poetry in between battles.

In Stalingrad, Sergei Aleshkov received the medal “For Courage” for saving the regiment commander, Colonel Vorobyov. During the battle, Vorobyov was buried in his dugout, Seryozha tried to dig out the commander himself, tried to clear the rubble, but soon realized that he simply did not have enough strength for this, after which he began to call for help from the unit’s fighters. The soldiers who arrived in time were able to dig the commander out from under the rubble, and he remained alive. In the future, he became the adoptive father of Sergei Aleshkov.

Another son of the regiment, Afanasy Shkuratov, joined the 1191st Infantry Regiment at the age of 12. By the end of the Great Patriotic War, he had two medals “For Courage”. He received his first award during the battles in the Vitebsk region for the city of Surozh. Then he bandaged and delivered Major Starikov, who was seriously wounded in battle, to the medical battalion. He received his second medal for personal courage, which he showed during the fighting on the Mannerheim Line in Karelia.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the medal “For Courage” was awarded much less frequently, since the USSR was not officially at war. Despite this, in 1956, a fairly large group of Soviet soldiers was awarded for the suppression of a “counter-revolutionary rebellion” in Hungary. In the 7th Guards Airborne Division alone, 296 people received awards. The second mass awarding of the medal “For Courage” took place during the Afghan war. Thousands of Soviet soldiers and officers who took part in this conflict were awarded various military awards, including this medal. In total, before the collapse of the USSR, 4,569,893 awards were made.

Information sources:

This medal is considered more honorable than all others. It was received mainly by privates, foremen and sergeants, although the statute does not prohibit it from being awarded to officers. It just so happened that, unlike other medals, which could be obtained simply by taking part in some large-scale front-line operation, this one was given for very specific heroic actions, which, in the opinion of the command of the military unit, for some reason were before the order “ didn't make it." There will be a short story for the reader’s attention about why the medal “For Courage” was given and what the history of this government award is.

New award, 1938

At the end of the thirties, Soviet Red Army soldiers already had to fight with various opponents. Some of them managed to take part in the Spanish Civil War, meeting the fascists for the first time. It fell to the lot of others to fight the Japanese militarists who were trying to dislodge the position of the Soviet country in the Far East. It was restless on the outer borders - groups of saboteurs and spies tried to infiltrate there. Border guards often died and were injured while carrying out their duties. There was a need for a new award, prestigious enough to appreciate the outstanding courageous actions of the Red Army and Navy. In the fall, a sketch of a medal was approved with a motto written on its front side, eloquently (the letters are large and really red) saying what exactly it will be awarded for. There are other details in the image, but the main thing is the inscription. It was designed so that descendants would not have questions about why the medal “For Courage” was given. To understand, just read.

Other design elements

Only the copy number is stamped on the smooth reverse side.

Material of manufacture

Execution options

The first gentlemen

History is silent about who received the first medal “For Courage” - F. Grigoriev or N. Gulyaev, although this can be found out by finding copies of award sheets in the archive. But this, in essence, does not matter, because both of them became heroes at the same time, detaining a sabotage group in the area that was trying to enter the country from adjacent territory.

Pre-war period

Then there was the Finnish Winter War, during which the Red Army had a very difficult time. One can assess her character differently from a political point of view, but heroism and the ability to self-sacrifice were undoubtedly demonstrated by Soviet soldiers. In the conditions of the Arctic winter, terrible frosts and polar night, the Red Army stormed the super-fortified defense, breaking through several echelons of fortifications. The list of those awarded the medal “For Courage” in the so-called “pre-war” period reached 26 thousand soldiers who proudly wore it on the left side of their chest.

War

Sometimes a fighter was awarded it multiple times. It is difficult to explain this, because there are other awards - orders, for example. Most likely, there was the usual front-line confusion.

Nowadays

There were plenty of reasons to show courage during the Afghan War and other regional conflicts of the late 20th century in which our soldiers took part.

This medal became so beloved and respected by the people that they did not want to give it up even after Russia gained independence. In 1992, her rights were restored, although the letters USSR disappeared from the obverse. The recipients of the medal “For Courage,” our contemporaries, received it for the same thing as our glorious ancestors. All explanations are written on it in large red letters. Real brave men who defend their Motherland in the very difficult situation that has developed in the world today do not like to talk about their exploits. In this, as in many other things, they are similar to World War II veterans. Those worn on holidays speak for them.

There is a medal “For Courage” in Belarus. Well, common Victory, and common rewards.