The mention of the Great Patriotic War for every person causes his/her own associations. For someone it is destroyed cities and burned villages, for others − a constant hunger and deprivation or − the loss of loved ones. But there are associations that are common to all, regardless of age. These are the famous "Thirtyfourth", "Katyusha", "flying tank" − IL-2 Sturmovik, 76,2 mm divisional gun ZiS-3, submachine gun PPSh-41and, of course, The Orders of Glory and Victory are traditionally reproduced on many festive postcards and posters. Not without reason the image of the Order of the Victory is placed on the one more award (extraordinary case) − Jubilee Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".
... the highest military order of the Soviet Union − the Order of Victory – was established by the order of state of the Soviet Union from November 8, 1943.
According to the Charter of the Order it was awarded to persons of high command of the Red Army for successfully conducting combat operations involving one or more army groups and resulting in a successful operation within the framework of one or several fronts resulting in a radical change of the situation in favor of the Red Army.
... in 1943, after the historic turning point in the Great Patriotic War, leadership of the country took a decision on the necessity of Higher Military Order establishment, which could represent a particularly prominent generals. Work on the sketch of this award was entrusted to several medalist artists.
One of the first projects of the Order called “for Faithfulness to the Homeland” was made by the officer of the Soviet Army Rear headquarters − colonel N.S.Neyelov, in July 1943. However, his project did not receive support. Among a dozen different variants of the Order preference was given to the sketch of chief artist of the Technical Committee of the Main Quartermaster Directorate of Rear A.I.Kuznyetsov − author of established at that time Order of Patriotic war. The original sample of the new Order was presented to Stalin in 25 October 1943. According to the concept A.I.Kuznyetsov order was the five-pointed star with a central circular medallion, on which were placed bas reliefs profile busts of Stalin and Lenin (as in the Neyelov’s rejected draft). But Stalin did not approve of this version and offered to place at the center of medallion the image of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower. Four days later Kuznetsov presented several new sketches, of which Stalin chose one − with the inscription "Victory". In addition, the artist was offered slightly correct the look of the Order: to enlarge the size of 's Spasskaya Tower and Kremlin wall fragment, to make the background blue, and also change the size of divergent rays between the tops of the red star (so-called shtrals). Herewith Stalin set a condition: badges of the Order must be made only of the domestic natural materials (and this was executed; only diamonds were taken from the royal treasury). And in November 5, 1943 was prepared sample copy of the Order.
Because for making badges of the Order were needed precious metals and stones: platinum, gold, silver, diamonds and rubies, order execution to manufacture Badges of the Order was entrusted to masters of Moscow jewelry-clock factory (all other domestic Orders were made at the Mint). It was supposed to make 30 copies of the Order. Given the possible spoilage and also features of technology to manufacture each badge of the Order were required 180 diamonds and 300 grams of platinum, by order of the Council of People's Commissars by order of the Glavyuvelirtorg Council of People's Commissars was given 5400 diamonds and 9 kilograms of pure platinum. In the process of manufacturing Badges of the order jewelers faced with a serious problem: it turned out that even for one copy of badge was impossible to select natural rubies of identical shade. Then it was decided to use artificial rubies.
Moscow jewelry-clock factory Master of higher qualification I.F.Kazennov remembered: “I actually started the order manufacturing. I made workpieces. At first from the sheet of platinum the main star had to be cut out and the one from which emanate the shtrals. By small homemade hand drill I drilled and then beat slots for diamonds and rubies. Further workpiece went to the grinding. Under every stone grinder prepared a place, made “mirror”. Such "mirrors" polished Y.I.Batyn under diamonds for the Victory. Then the stars came to the fixing, where worked masters A.O.Hosudarevy, P.M.Maksymov, M.I.Filinov. The whole days they pored over machine tools, as if they implanted hundreds and hundreds of stones in metal. In the last turn they put on the contours of the star and shtrals “grizant” – decorations from small the transverse hillocks and deepenings.
Badge of Star of the Order of Victory is a convex pentagonal ruby star edged with diamonds.
In the intervals between ends of the stars are arranged diverging rays, studded with diamonds.
The middle of star is a circle covered with blue enamel and bordered with laurel-oak wreath. In center of the circle is a platinum image of Kremlin wall with Lenin Mausoleum and Spassky Tower in the center. Over the image is a white enamel inscription of the letters "СССР".
At the bottom of the circle on a red enamel ribbon is a white enamel inscription "ПОБЕДА".
Badge of the Order of Victory has a very complex structure and is a unique jewelry masterpiece.
Basis of star and divergent rays are made of platinum. The central rounded medallion made from silver and covered with enamel. The image of Spassky Tower, the Lenin Mausoleum and laurel-oak wreath made of gold.
Also in each badge of the Order used five synthetic rubies in the star rays and 174 diamonds.
In the center of the badge reverse is a rounded silver plate in the center of which is a silver rifled pin. On the edge of the plate are five rivets (1, 4, 6, 8 and 11 o'clock on by the dial). Round terminal nut, diameter of about 16 mm, made of silver. To the nut soldered two rings to facilitate its tightening. Unlike most Soviet orders, in reverse of the Order of Victory is no stamp of the manufacturer (for other orders - Mint) and sequence number of the Order (number was indicated only in award documents).
The star size between opposite tops is 72 mm. Diameter of circle depicting Spassky Tower - 31 mm. The total weight of the order - 78 g (including platinum – 47, gold - 2 g, silver - 19 g, rubies - 25 carats, diamonds - 16 carats).
Unlike all other Soviet orders with pin fastening, the Order of the Victory was worn on the left, but not the right side of the chest, and was located below all other orders and medals. At the same time pin is inherent for orders that were given in 1944-1945; Order awarded to L.I.Brezhnyevu 1978 had a pin fastening.
Description of ribbon to the order of the Victory approved by the Decree of the Presidium of USSR Supreme Soviet on August 18, 1944. Order ribbon is watered silk with width of 46 mm (for all Soviet orders and medals width of the ribbon is 24 mm). In the middle of ribbon is a red stripe with width of 15 mm. On each side, closer to the edges, separated by strip spaces of 0,5 mm white of green, blue, maroon and light blue colors. The ribbon edged with orange and black stripes.
The ribbon colors of the Order of the Victory selected not by chance: they represent the main colors of six other Soviet orders ribbons:
● Red - the Order of Lenin;
● Green - the Order of Suvorov;
● Blue - Order of Kutuzov;
● maroon - Order of Alexander Nevsky;
● light blue - the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky;
● orange with black middle - the Order of Glory.
Plank with a ribbon of the Order of the Victory was worn on the left side of breast in 1 sm above the plank with ribbons of other awards.
During the entire existence of the Order, 20 copies of its badge were presented to 17 cavaliers (three were awarded twice, one devoid of the award posthumously):
- Marshal of Soviet Union Zhukov (April 10, 1944 for the liberation of right-bank Ukraine).
- Marshal of Soviet Union O.M.Vasylevskyy (April 10, 1944 for the liberation of right-bank Ukraine).
- Marshal of Soviet Union I.V.Stalin (April 10, 1944 for the liberation of right-bank Ukraine).
- Marshal of Soviet Union I.S.Konev (March 30, 1945 for the liberation of Poland and forcing Oder).
- Marshal of Soviet Union K.K.Rokosovskyy (March 30, 1945 for the liberation of Poland).
- Marshal of Soviet Union O.M.Vasylevskyy (April 19, 1945 for the capture of Konigsberg and liberation of East Prussia).
- Marshal of Soviet Union R.Y.Malynovskyy (April 26, 1945 for the liberation of Austria and Hungary).
- Marshal of Soviet Union F.I.Tolbuhin (April 26, 1945 for the liberation of Austria and Hungary).
- Marshal of Soviet Union L.O.Govorov (May 31, 1945 for the liberation of Estonia).
- Marshal of Soviet Union G. K. Zhukov (May 31, 1945 for the capture of Berlin).
- Marshal of Soviet Union S.K.Tymoshenko (June 4, 1945 for planning military operations and coordination of fronts).
- Army General O.I.Antonov (June 4, 1945 for planning military operations and coordination of fronts) - the single general among domestic cavaliers of the Order.
- US Army General Dwight Eisenhower (June 5, 1945 for outstanding achievements in conducting large-scale military operations in result of which was achieved the United Nations victory over Nazi Germany).
- Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery in August (June 5, 1945 for outstanding achievements in conducting large-scale military operations in result of which was achieved the United Nations victory over Nazi Germany).
- Generalissimo of of the Soviet Union I.V.Stalin (June 26, 1945 for the victory over Germany).
- Romanian King Mihai IHohenzollern-Sigmaringen (July 6, 1945 for a courageous act of Romanian decisive turn of policy toward a break with Nazi Germany and the alliance with the United Nations at a time when it was not clearly defined the defeat of Germany. The mentioned act consisted in the fact that King Mihai I of Romania August 23, 1944 arrested Romanian government, which collaborated with Nazi Germany).
- Polish Marshal Michal Rola-Zhymerskyy (August 9, 1945 for outstanding achievements in the organization of the armed forces of Poland and for the successful conduct of military operations of the Polish Army in the decisive battle against the common enemy - Nazi Germany).
- Marshal of Soviet Union K.A.Meretskov (September 8, 1945 for the successful management of troops in the war against Japan).
- Marshal Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia (September 9, 1945 for outstanding achievements in conducting large-scale military operations, which contributed to the victory of the United Nations over Nazi Germany).
- General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Chairman of Defense of the USSR Marshal of Soviet Union L.I.Brezhnev (February 20, 1978 for his great contribution to the victory of the Soviet people and its Armed Forces in Great Patriotic War, outstanding achievements in strengthening the country's defense, for the development and a consistent implementation of the Soviet state foreign policy of peace, that reliably ensures the development of the country in peacetime - on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy; September 21, 1989 Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR M.S.Gorbachev signed a decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet of cancellation award "as such that contradicts the statute of the Order"). It is interesting that over eleven years L.I.Brezhnev was the 13th national cavaliers of the Order of the Victory.
In the Grand Kremlin Palace is a memorial plaque with the names of all the cavaliers of the Order of the Victory, and in the hall commander of the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War are bronze busts of Soviet cavaliers of the Orderof the Victory by sculptor Zurab Tsereteli.
The Order of the Victory is definitely most valuable, but not the rarest Soviet Order: the rarest is the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" of I degree (gold content 0,1911 ± 0,032 g and silver 49,859 ± 2,313 g), cavaliers of which were only 13 people.
... Today all instances of badge of this unique in all respects Order, awarded to Soviet military commanders and badge of the Order of Michal Rola-Zhymersky are in the Russian Federation: in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces are stored 5 orders of the Victory: two Zhukov’s and Vasilevsky’s and one Malinovsky’s (in the museum hall of Victory are exhibited copies of orders, orders themselves are in storerooms). Other instances of the Order of the Victory are stored in public repositories (Rokosovsky’s and Rola-Zhymersky’s orders - in Diamond Fund).
The badge of the Order of Josip Broz Tito kept in the museum of "25 May" in Belgrade, Bernard Montgomery’s - at Imperial War Museum in London, and Dwight Eisenhower’s - in the Memorial Library 34th US President in his hometown Abilene (Kansas). And only badge of the Order of the Victory" of single cavalier that is living today - former Romanian King Mihai I - kept in a private collection (he repeatedly reblew, and the last time, according to unconfirmed reports, for 4 million USD).
An interesting fate has Dwight Eisenhower’s badge of the Order. After World War II, Eisenhower became famous politician, but before a vote on the presidency he made it clear that it is unseemly for presidential candidate to have a reward of communist state. Badge of the Order was estimated at $ 100 000 and transferred to the museum, while US experts could not give a definite answer to the question of rubies authenticity attached to the badge.
... Of course, one can think for a long time about the cost of the Order of the victory, but its true value is not in platinum and diamonds, but in grateful memory of mankind saved from the brown plague.