Symbols of victory in the Second World War. What does the St. George Ribbon Mean?

Very soon we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of that great day when one of the most bloody wars for our country ended. Today, everyone knows the symbols of Victory, but far from everyone knows what they mean, how and by whom they were invented. In addition, modern trends bring their innovations, and it turns out that some of the familiar symbols of childhood appear in a different incarnation.

History of St. George's ribbon

There are symbols that tell us about this or that event. For several years now the St. George ribbon has been used as such a symbol of Victory. It is distributed on the streets of Russian cities before the holiday, it is tied to car antennas and handbags. But why exactly this ribbon began to tell us and our children about the war? What does the St. George ribbon mean?

The St. George ribbon is made in two colors - orange and black. Its history begins with the soldier's order of St. George the Victorious, which was founded by Empress Catherine II on November 26, 1769. This tape was later introduced into the award system of the USSR under the name "Guards Ribbon". They gave it to the soldiers as a sign of a special difference. The ribbon was covered with the Order of Glory.

What do the colors mean?

St. George's ribbon is a symbol of Victory, the colors of which indicate the following: black is smoke, and orange is flame. The Order itself was given to soldiers for certain combat feats during the war, and it was considered an exceptional military award. The St. George Order was presented in four classes:

1. The Order of the first degree consisted of a cross, a star and a ribbon in black and orange designs, this order was worn through the right shoulder under the uniform.
2. The Order of the second degree assumed the presence of a star and a large cross. He was adorned with a thin ribbon and worn around his neck.
3. The third degree is the order with a small cross on the neck.
4. The fourth degree is a small cross worn in the buttonhole of the uniform.

What does the St. George ribbon mean in terms of color besides smoke and flame? Black and orange colors today embody military valor, glory. This award was given not only to people, but also to insignia, which were given out to military units. For example, silver pipes or banners.

St. George's Banners

In 1806, the Russian army introduced award-winning St. George's banners, which were crowned with a cross of St. George and tied with a black and orange ribbon with banners almost 4.5 cm long. In 1878, Emperor Alexander II issued a decree establishing a new insignia: now the St. George's ribbons were issued As awards for military feats of the whole regiment.

Traditions of the Russian army passed down from generation to generation, and the Order of Glory remained unchanged. During the Second World War he was three degrees, in a yellow-black coloring of the ribbon, which reminded of St. George's Cross. And the ribbon itself continued to serve as a symbol of military valor.

Tape today

Modern symbols of Victory originate in the ancient Russian traditions. Today young people on the eve of the holiday tie ribbons on clothes, distribute them to motorists and just passers-by to remind everyone about the feat of our people and express their solidarity. By the way, the idea of holding such an action, as it turned out, belongs to the staff of IA "Ria Novosti". As the employees themselves say, the task of this action is to create a symbol of the holiday, which will be a tribute to the veterans who have stood and will remind once again of those who fell on the battlefield. The scale of the action is really impressive: every year the number of common ribbons increases.

What other symbols?

Probably, in each city there is Victory Park, which is dedicated to this glorious feat of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Very often, different events are timed to this event, for example, "Plant a tree". The Victory symbol may look and be interpreted in different ways, but the most important thing is to show your involvement in this important event. In addition, it is important to educate the feeling of love and respect for the Motherland from our children, and this is what such important actions help in this. So, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, the "Lilac of Victory" action was launched, in the framework of which whole alleys from these beautiful flowering plants will be planted in Russian hero cities.

The History of the Victory Banner

Many of us have seen the Banner of Victory in pictures and movies. In fact, it is the assault flag of the 150th Order of Kutuzov II of the Idritskaya Rifle Division, and it was he who was hoisted on the roof of the Reichstag in Berlin on May 1, 1945. Soldiers of the Red Army Alexei Berest, Mikhail Egorov and Meliton Kantaria did it . Russian legislation established the Victory Banner of 1945 as the official symbol of the victory of the Soviet people and the Armed Forces over the Nazis in 1941-1945.

Externally, the Banner is an improvised and created in the military field the flag of the USSR, which was attached to a pole and was created from a single-layered red cloth in the size of 82 by 188 cm. The front surface features a silver sickle, a hammer and a five-pointed star, and on the rest of the canvas Division.

How to Use the Banner

Victory symbols are various elements that are popular from year to year. And the Banner of Victory in the series of these elements and symbols plays the most important role. Recall that in late April 1945, fierce fighting took place in the Reichstag area. The building was repeatedly subjected to assaults, one after another, and only the third assault gave its results. On April 30, 1945, on the radio, which broadcasted around the world, a message was transmitted that at 14:25 the Victory Banner was hoisted over the Reichstag. And at that time the building was not yet captured, only a few groups were able to penetrate inside. The third assault on the Reichstag took a long time, and it was crowned with success: the building was captured by Soviet troops, several banners were planted at once - from divisional ones to self-made ones.

The symbols of the Victory, the Great Patriotic War, the heroism of Soviet soldiers, namely the banner and ribbons, are still used in various processions and events timed to the celebration on May 9. The Victory Banner was carried across the Red Square during the Victory Day parade in 1945, and for this purpose, specially trained flagmen and their assistants. The main political administration of the Soviet Army decree of July 10, 1945, the Victory Banner handed over to the Central Museum of the USSR Armed Forces in Moscow, where it was to be kept forever.

The History of the Banner after 1945

After 1945, the Banner was again born in 1965 to the 20th anniversary of the Victory. And until 1965 it was stored in the museum in its original form. Already a little later it was replaced by a copy, which exactly repeated the original version. It is noteworthy, but the Banner was prescribed to be stored only horizontally: the satin from which it was created was too fragile material. That's why until 2011, the Banner was covered with special paper and only developed horizontally.

On May 8, 2011, in the "Banner of Victory" hall in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, an original flag was displayed for public inspection, and it was exhibited on special equipment: the banner was placed in a large glass cube supported by metal constructions in the form of rails. In this form - genuine - this and other symbols of victory in the Second World War could be seen by many visitors to the museum.

A noteworthy fact: the Banner (the present one who mounted the Reichstag) lacked a strip 73 cm long and 3 cm wide. There were a lot of rumors about this and continued to go about it. On the one hand, they say that one of those soldiers who took part in the capture of the Reichstag took a piece of the canvas. On the other hand, it is believed that the Banner was kept in the 150th Infantry Division, where women also served. And they decided to leave a souvenir for themselves: they cut a piece of cloth and divided it among themselves. By the way, according to the museum staff, in the 70s one of these women came to the museum and showed her scrap from the Banner, who approached him in size.

Banner of Victory today

To date, the most important flag telling us about the Victory over Nazi Germany is a must-have attribute during the celebrations on Red Square on May 9. True, a copy is used. Other copies as symbols of Victory in the Second World War can be hung on other buildings. The main thing is that the copies correspond to the original appearance of the Banner of Victory.

Why carnations?

Probably, everyone remembers from the time of their childhood demonstrations, dedicated to the celebration of 9 May. And most often we put the carnations to the monuments. Why them? First, this flower is male and is a symbol of courage and courage. And this meaning flower received in the third century BC, when the carnation was called the flower of Zeus. Today, carnation is a symbol of Victory, which in classic heraldry is a sign of passion, impulse. And already from Ancient Rome, carnations were considered flowers for the winners.

The following historical fact attracts attention. Carnation was imported to Europe during the time of the Crusades and was used to treat wounds. And since the flower appeared along with the soldiers, it began to be perceived as a symbol of victory, courage and talisman from wounds. According to other versions, the flower was brought by German knights from Tunisia to Germany. Today for us, carnation is a symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. And many of us put bouquets out of these flowers to the foot of memorials.

Already since the French Revolution of 1793 the carnation became a symbol of fighters who died for the idea and became the embodiment of revolutionary passion and devotion. Victims of terror who went to death, necessarily fastened to clothes a red carnation as a symbol of confrontation. Modern floral compositions based on carnations symbolize the blood that was shed by our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, fathers during the Great Patriotic War. These flowers not only look beautiful, but also retain a decorative look in a cut shape for a long time.

Popular Victory flowers are the tulips of a rich red color. They are also associated with the scarlet blood of Soviet soldiers shed for their homeland, as well as our love for their country.

Contemporary Victory Symbols

The holiday of May 9 is widely celebrated throughout the post-Soviet space every year. And every year the symbols of Victory change, supplemented by new elements, in the development of which many specialists take part. To the 70th anniversary of the Victory the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation issued a whole collection of symbols that are recommended for graphic and font design of various documents, presentations, handouts and souvenirs. As the organizers say, such symbols are an opportunity to remind everyone once again of the great feat of the people, which was able to defeat the absolute evil.

The Ministry of Culture recommends using selected symbols as a basis for the design of almost all communication formats for holidays. The main logo that was specially created this year is a composition depicting a white pigeon on a blue background, a St. George ribbon and inscriptions made in the colors of a Russian tricolor.

conclusions

The symbols of Victory are seemingly simple elements, but they carry a profound meaning. And it would not hurt to know the meaning of these symbols to every inhabitant of our country who is proud of his Motherland and his ancestors who gave us life and gave us the opportunity to live in relatively peaceful conditions. And the ribbon of St. George, which is almost the main symbol of the Victory, will soon appear on all the cars of the country and the items of the wardrobe of Russian citizens. The main thing is that people understand what exactly this symbol means. We remember, we are proud of the feat of our soldiers!