; Knights of St. George; clergy.

According to the Highest orders for the military department until November 12, 1905.
Published in No. 84, 1905, pp. 1-2

Battle of Shahe.

Head of the 3rd Sib. infantry divisions g.-m. Kossovich,
commands 26th artillery brigades g.-m. Yeris-khan-Aliev,
commands 9th sib. Tobolsk Regiment of Regiments. Dushkevich,
5th Sib. Irkutsk regiment regiment. Sheremetov and lieutenant colonel. Likhachev,
8th sib. Tomsk regiment lieutenant colonel. Selyadtsev,
22nd East Sib. shooter regiment lieutenant colonel Gijdeu(and for Aug. 17),
4th East-Sib. shooter shelf: regiments. Kotyuzhinsky and capit. Trikovsky,
1st Sib. artil. brigade: lieutenant colonel. Agapeev And Zdansky,
1st East-Sib. shooter artil. brigade: captain Lomikovsky,
East Sib. frame. once. batteries cap. Pyzhevsky.

Commander of the 55th Infantry. division g.-m. Liming And
commands 2nd Zabayk. Kaz. batteries regiment Folimonov.

Team 2nd brigade of the 5th East Sib. shooter divisions g.-m. Putilov,
19th East Sib. shooter shelf:
commander of a regiment of regiments. Sychevsky, Lieutenant Colonel Tikhomirov, capit. Mukhin And Kochengin, pcs.-cap. Zozulin,
20th East Sib. shooter capital shelf Stupin.

Team 2 batteries of the 5th mortar. regiment lieutenant colonel Fedchenko.

For the battle of Mukden (February 1905).

Chief of the 9th Infantry. divisions g.-l. Gershelman,
Commander of the 148th Inf. Caspian Regiment Lieutenant Colonel. Kordyukov,
gene. PC. lieutenant colonel Kornilov;
220th Inf. Epifansky regiment lieutenant colonel. Ethers,
33rd Inf. Eletsky Regiment unit-cap. Korolkov,
2nd East-Sib. shooter shelf Kedrin,
86th Inf. Vilmanstrand Regiment of Reinforcement. Sprint,
24th East Sib. shooter shelf piece-cap. Giants,
23rd East Sib. shooter shelf Lapinsky,
8th sib. Lieutenant of the Tomsk Regiment Simonenkov,
commands 3rd battery 7th artillery. brigade lieutenant colonel Davydov,
11th East-Sib. mountain battery cap. Levachev,
Lieutenant of the 140th Zaraisky Regiment. Stepanenko,
pack machine gun company 6th East-Sib. shooter division commander Terekhov And
10th East Sib. shooter support shelf Babenko.

4th Ural Kaz. the shelf came up Zheleznov.

5th Ural Kazakh the shelf came up Zelentsov.

In total, the Order of St. Great Martyr George 4th century. 74 persons were awarded, of which 5 were awarded for the battle at Dashichao, 24 at Liaoyang, 22 at Shah and 15 at Mukden.

Reward distribution:

a) by rank of those awarded: generals - 12, officer officers - 31, chief officers - 30 and priest - 1;

b) by type of weapon: in the infantry - 50, in the artillery - 19, in the Cossack. regiments - 2, in the border guards - 1, general. PC. - 1.

B). Port Arthur garrison.

George 3rd Art.

1) Command. 3rd Sib. Arm. housings. g.-l. Stessel,
2) Head of the 4th East-Sib. shooter divisions g.-l. Fock,
3) head of the 7th East Sib. shooter divisions g.-l. Kondratenko († ),
4) chief of artillery of the 3rd Sib. housing g.-l. Nikitin,
5) teams. 2nd brigade of the 4th East Sib. divisions g.-l. Nadein,
6) teams. 4th East-Sib. shooter artil. brigades g.-m. Irman.

George 4th Art.

Headquarters of the 3rd Sib. Arm. housings:
gene. PC. g.-m. Flight, Lieutenant Colonel Iolshin († ),
capital: Stepanov And Golovan;
Adjut. g.-l. Stessel - 9th East Sib. shooter support shelf book Gantimurov.

4th East-Sib. shooter divisions:
13th Regiment Regiment. Gandurin, charge Afanasiev And Yasevich, backup Lentionov
14th Regiment of Commands. g.-m. Savitsky, Lieutenant Colonel Tyshkevich,
15th Regiment of Commands. g.-m. Gryaznov, Lieutenant Colonel Saichuk, piece-cap. Rozhansky And Borzinsky.
16th regiment lieutenant colonel: Lisaevsky And Museus, capit. Verkhovsky, backup Burnevich And Yafimovich.

7th East-Sib. shooter division:
division commander Mr. Kondratenko, commands. 1st brigade g.m. Gorbatovsky.
25th Regiment Lieutenant Colonel. Rezanov, piece-cap. Bulgakov, charge Lyzlov And Florov.
26th Regiment of Commands. fl.-ad. regiments Semenov, capit. Kirilenko And Lavrov,
27th Regiment of Commands. regiments Petrusha, Lieutenant Colonel Budyansky, time Old people,
28th regiment since. Erofeev And Ivashchenko, backup Krumin.

5th East-Sib. Shooter. shelf:
commands g.-m. Tretyakov, pcs.-cap. Sychev And Belozerov, charge Vasiliev.

4th East-Sib. shooter shelf:
lieutenant colonel Golitsinsky;

12th East Sib. shooter shelf:
backup Mühlberg.

4th East-Sib. shooter artil. brigades:
commands brigades g.-m. Irman, Lieutenant Colonel Romanovsky,
capit. Ali-Aga-Shikhlinsky, pcs.-cap. Deshin And Yasensky, charge Glebovich-Polonsky And Yakubovich.

7th East Sib. artil. division:
commands division g.-m. Mekhmandarov, Lieutenant Colonel Dobrov,
captains Skrydlov And Tsvetkov, charge Boye.

Quantum. crepe. artillery:
Chief of Artillery Mr. White, regiments Takhotelov,
cap. Vakhneev And Andreev, backup Sadykov And Kalnin.

Quantum. crepe. glanders. companies:
pcs.-cap. Smirnov, charge Debogoriy-Mokrievich.

Border Guard:
lieutenant colonel Butusov († );

military engineers:
regiment. Grigorenko, Lieutenant Colonel Rashevsky († ), capit. von-Schwartz;

military judicial departments:
capit. Velyaminov.

In total, for the defense of Port Arthur, the following were awarded: George 3 tbsp. - 6 generals, George 4 tbsp. - 9 generals, 17 officers and 40 general officers, a total of 66 people.

Orders awarded by type of weapon. St. great martyr George 4th degree. distributed: in the infantry - 41, in the artillery - 18, in the engineer. troops - 5, in the border. guard - 1 and in the military judicial. department - 1.

In addition, for participation in ground actions, George received 4 Art. four naval officers:
Lieutenant: Maksimov 7th(for Aug. 9) and Podgursky 1st(for 6–10 September),
midshipman Unkovsky 2nd(Nov 13),
Corps of Engineers fur. por. Losev(November 17),
mechanical engineer por. Belov(Sept. 3).

IN). Navy ranks.

George 4th Art.

The entire officer corps of the cruiser "Varyag" and seafarers. gunner. boats "Korean", namely:
on "Varyag":
commands capit. 1st rank Rudnev 2nd,
capit. 2nd rank Stepanov 3rd,
Lieutenant Burling, Zarubaev And Behrens,
Michm. Shilling, Chernilovsky-Sokol, Loboda, Gubonin, Euler And Bulk,
Eng. fur.: Leikov, Soldiers, Zorin, Spiridonov,
doctors: Bravery And Banshchikov;
on the boat "Korean":
capit. 2nd rank Belyaev 2nd,
capit. 2nd rank Zasukhin,
Lieutenant: Stepanov 8th And Levitsky,
midshipman: Boysman, Butlerov And Birilev,
mechanical engineer Franc,
doctor Merkushev;
in total - 23 officers and 3 doctors.

Commander 1st Esq. Pacific Fleet K.-A. Jessen,
commands cruiser "Gromoboy" fl.-ad. capit. 1st r. Dabic,
commands cruiser "Russia" capit. 1st rank Andreev 2nd,
capit. 2nd rank Vinogradsky 1st,
Lieutenant: Ivanov 11th, Rhine, bar. Grevenitz, Vladislavlev, Molas, Dyachkov 2nd,
Lieutenant Ivanov 13th, (commander of the cruiser "Rurik"),
Michm. Shiryaev;
a total of 12 officers.

The commander of the cruiser "Novik" is Capt. 2nd rank von Schultz And
Lieutenant Porebski.

Team cruiser "Almaz" fl.-ad. capit. 2 ranks Chagin,
commands destroyer "Brave" captain. 2nd rank Durnovo And
mechanical engineer charge Berenov.

For distinction in other military engagements.

Team battleship "Retvizan" capit. 1st rank Shchensnovich(February 11, 1904),
commands destroyer "Strong" captain. 2nd rank Krinitsky(March 14th),
commands cruiser "Bayan" capit. 1st rank Viren(March 31),
commands transport "Amur" capital. 2nd rank Ivanov 6th(May 2),
commands boats "Beaver" capit. 2nd rank Shelting(June 1st),
commands destroyer "Storozhevoy" Lieutenant. Nepenin(Dec. 1–2), Lt. Dmitriev 8th, capit. 2nd rank Lazarev, Lieutenant Dmitriev 5th,
commands battleship "Sevastopol" cap. 1st rank von Essen.

Counting the 4 officers who distinguished themselves during the ground defense of Port Arthur,
In total, the navy was awarded the Order of St. George 4th Art. 54 officers and 3 doctors.

Vologda residents - participants in the First World War

Fokin V.V. Mezhdurechensk residents are holders of the St. George Cross: [based on materials from the speech of E.L. Demidova at the Vvedensky readings on the topic “Interfluve – the homeland of the heroes of the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars”]

At the VI Vvedensky local history readings held at the end of April, many were interested in the speech of E.L. Demidova, chief librarian of the rare books sector of the regional library. Her report was on the topic “Interfluve – the homeland of heroes of the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars,” prepared based on materials from the State Archives of the Vologda Region. Elena Leonidovna managed to find information about almost three hundred Gryazovites who were awarded a high military award for military exploits - the St. George Cross of various degrees. Among them are several dozen residents of Mezhdurechensk, natives of the Avnezh and Novo-Nikolsk volosts of the Gryazovets district, whose territory is now included within the borders of the Botanovsky and Staroselsky settlements.

We bring to the attention of readers a list of those awarded the Soldier's Order of St. George the Victorious from among the rank and file and junior commanding officers of the Russian Army at the beginning of the last century.

Full holder of the St. George Cross, awarded the Order of all four degrees

– Mikhail Ivanovich Rigin, born on July 17, 1882, a native of the village of Staroe, Novo-Nikolsk volost, Gryazovets district. Military service began on October 16, 1903 in the 104th Ustyug Regiment of General Prince Bagration.

During the First World War, he served in the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment, junior non-commissioned officer, senior non-commissioned officer. Had several wounds. He was awarded the Cross of St. George, 4th degree, in February 1915, 3rd degree, in July 1915, 2nd degree, date unknown. He was awarded the St. George Cross of the first degree by order of the regiment of March 8, 1916 No. 22, and was later promoted to second lieutenant.

Knights of the St. George's Cross, participants in the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars

– Mikhail Stepanovich Noskov is a native of the village of Kozlovo, Popovo-Pochinkovsky society, Avneg volost. During the Russo-Japanese War he was awarded the Insignia of the Military Order of the 4th degree. During the First World War, a private in the 1st Rostov Infantry Regiment was seriously wounded in the head. St. George's Cross, 4th degree. Children (1915): Peter 12 years old, Pavel 8 years old, Anastasia 5 years old, Claudia 2 years old.

– Sergey Timofeevich (Arsentievich?) Savichev is a native of the village of Oborino, Novo-Nikolsk volost. During the Russian-Japanese War - a sailor of the 15th naval crew, awarded the Insignia of the Military Order of the 4th degree. During the First World War - junior non-commissioned officer. Knight of the St. George Crosses of the 4th, 3rd and 2nd degree.

Cavaliers of the St. George Cross, 4th degree, killed in battle, died from wounds or went missing
(date of death in brackets)

– Pavel Aleksandrovich Gorchakov (03/11/1916) – native of the village of Zhobrovo, Avnegsky volost, private of the 278th Kromsky Infantry Regiment. The pension for him was assigned to his widow on August 1, 1917.

– Mikhail Vasilyevich Krasotin (11/27/1914) – a native of the village of Svatilovo, Avnegsky volost, who served in the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment.

– Ivan Arsenievich Noskov (02/12/1915) – a native of the village of Karpovo, Novo-Nikolsk volost, junior non-commissioned officer of the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment. The St. George Cross was given to his wife Klavdia Noskova.

– Alexander Osokin (1915) – native of the village of Bykovo, Avnegsky volost, corporal of the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment. Awarded the cross on November 14, 1914. He died of wounds, his widow was given a pension.

– Alexey Stepanovich Pavlov (08/08/1916) – a native of the village of Grekhnyovka, Novo-Nikolsk volost, corporal of the 1st Infantry Regiment. His widow Claudia Pavlova received the pension for the cross.

– Konstantin Rogozin (1916) – native of the village of Vasyanka, Avneg volost, junior non-commissioned officer of the 22nd Nizhny Novgorod Infantry Regiment. He went missing and the cross was given to his parents.

– Alexey Alekseevich Svilev (02/07/1915) – a native of the village of Kuzminskoye, Novo-Nikolsk volost, served in the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment.

– Timofey Sukharev (1915) – native of the village of Yesyunino, Novo-Nikolsk volost, corporal of the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment.

– Ivan Efremovich Tonogin (1916) – native of Novo-Nikolsk volost, senior non-commissioned officer of the 146th Tsaritsyn Infantry Regiment. Crosses of the 3rd and 4th degrees were sent to his widow Klavdia Petrovna Tonogina.

Knights of the St. George's Cross who were seriously wounded

– Ivan Pavlovich Tyurin (date of birth 02.23.1890, date of death unknown) – native of the village of Balandino, Novo-Nikolsk volost. In service since October 17, 1911, he was awarded medals in memory of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812 and the 300th anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov. During the First World War - fireworks of the 1st Reserve Artillery Division. Awarded the Cross of St. George: 4th degree - in October 1914, 3rd degree - in March 1915. Dismissed due to illness in September 1917.

– Nikolai Konstantinovich Shirkunov – a native of the village of Popov Pochinok, Avnegsky volost, junior non-commissioned officer of the 9th Finnish Infantry Regiment. After being wounded, he suffered amputation of his left arm and was discharged in September 1915. Awarded Crosses of the 4th and 3rd degrees.

– Alexander Popov – a native of the village of Rogachevo, Avneg volost, junior non-commissioned officer of the 296th Gryazovets Infantry Regiment. Wounded in battle in 1915, written off due to wounds, Cross 4th degree.

– Nikolai Aleksandrovich Trusov (date of birth 10/08/1890, date of death unknown) – native of the village of Zhobrovo, Avneg volost. In service since October 1912, since 1915 - corporal, since 1916 - junior non-commissioned officer of the 148th Caspian Infantry Regiment. Wounded in battle on May 22, 1915.

Cross 4th degree

– Mikhail Filippovich Shirkunov – a native of the village of Popov Pochinok, Avneg volost, in service since July 20, 1914. For battles in the Carpathians in February 1915 he was awarded the Cross of the 4th degree, in April of the same year he was captured wounded in Austria.

Knights of the St. George Cross, 4th degree, information about which is presented without details

– Alexander Makarov – a native of the village of Dor, Avneg volost, junior fireworksman of the 1st Finnish mountain artillery division.

– Alexander Vasilyevich Noskov – a native of the village of Guzarevo, Avnegsky volost, a volunteer bombardier of the 67th artillery brigade.

– Dmitry Palnikov – a native of the village of Lavrentyevo, Avnegsky volost, senior non-commissioned officer.

– Fedor Popov – native of the village of Rogachevo, Avneg volost, private.

– Evgeny Vasilyevich Shekhirev (born in 1890 – died?) – a native of the village of Zakharovo, Shui volost, Totemsky district.

St. George Medal 3rd and 4th degrees

During the First World War, 11 people were awarded, residents of the Avneg and Novo-Nikolsk volosts of the Gryazovets district.

A list of natives of the Shuya volost of the Totemsky district - participants in the First World War is available in the book by Elena Demidova “St. George Knights of the Totemsky District”, published independently in the regional library named after. I. V. Babushkina. We will give it for publication in the regional newspaper a little later.

And now I would like to address the residents of our area, whose relatives are mentioned in the above list of holders of the St. George Cross. Perhaps the families have preserved photographs of former soldiers of the early 20th century. These photographs on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War can become excellent material about the military exploits of our fellow countrymen, a contribution to replenishing information about the heroes of the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars. Finished copies with attributes (that is, a description of the hero or plot of the photograph and its history) or originals for copying will be accepted by the regional museum for storage and use in preparing exhibitions.

Source: Fokin V.V. Mezhdurechensk residents are holders of the St. George Cross: [based on materials from the speech of E.L. Demidova at the Vvedensky readings on the topic “Mezhdurechye - the homeland of the heroes of the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars”] / V. Fokin // Mezhdurechye. – 2013. – July 23. – P. 3.

The St. George ribbon, on which a cross with the image of a saint was attached in the 19th - early 20th centuries, has symbolized the victory of our country in the Great Patriotic War for many decades. She is also the link between the heroes of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

Full Knights of St. George in our country enjoyed universal respect even in the twenties and forties, when they wanted to erase from the people's memory everything that happened before the October Revolution. Among them there are those who later became Hero of the Soviet Union, including more than once.

Background

The Order of St. George appeared in the list of awards of the Russian Empire in 1769. It had 4 degrees of distinction and was intended for officers. Full Knights of the Order of St. Only 4 people became George:

• M. I. Kutuzov.
• M. B. Barclay de Tolly.
• I. F. Paskevich-Erivansky.
• I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky.

Establishment

At the moment, it is unknown who exactly was the initiator of the establishment of the Insignia of the Military Order or, as it was more often called, the Cross of St. George. According to surviving documents, in 1807 a note was submitted to Alexander the First, which proposed the establishment of a soldier's award. It was to become a "special branch of the Order of St. George." The idea was approved, and already at the beginning of February 1807 a corresponding manifesto was published.

There are many known cases of confusion due to the fact that the order is confused with the soldier’s “Egory”. For example, if it is stated that Colonel Zorya Lev Ivanovich, who graduated from the cadet school in 1881, is a full Knight of St. George, then one can immediately object that this is a mistake. After all, among the officers there was no one awarded such a cross again, and the last one who had the order of all 4 degrees was I.I. Dibich-Zabaikalsky - died in 1831.

Description

The reward is a cross, the blades of which widen towards the end. In its center is a round medallion. The obverse depicted St. George with a spear slaying a serpent. On the reverse of the medallion there are the letters C and G, connected in the form of a monogram.

The cross was worn on the now well-known “smoke and flame” (black and orange) ribbon.

Since 1856, the award began to have 4 degrees. The first and second were made of gold, and the other two were made of silver. The reverse indicated the degree of the award and its serial number.

There were also special "Muslim" Insignia of the Military Order. Instead of a Christian saint, they depicted the Russian coat of arms. It’s interesting that when people from the North Caucasus were awarded “Yegory,” they demanded that they be given the option “with a horseman,” instead of the required one.

In 1915, due to difficulties caused by the war, crosses of the 1st and 2nd degrees began to be made from an alloy that consisted of 60% gold, 39.5% silver and half a percent copper. At the same time, the signs of the 3rd and 4th degrees were not subject to change.

Awardees

The first St. George Cross was received by non-commissioned officer E. I. Mitrokhin in the summer of 1807. He was decorated for bravery in the battle with the French near Friedland.

There are known cases of rewarding civilians. So, in 1810, the St. George Cross was awarded to the tradesman M. A. Gerasimov. Together with his comrades, this brave man arrested the English military who had seized a Russian merchant ship, and was able to bring the ship to the port of Varde. There the prisoners were interned, and the merchants were given assistance. In addition, for heroism in the Patriotic War of 1812, commanders of partisan detachments from among lower-class civilians received St. George's Crosses without numbers.

Among other interesting facts related to the awarding of the St. George Cross, one can note its presentation to the famous General Miloradovich. This brave commander, in the battle near Leipzig, in front of Alexander the First, stood in line with the soldiers and led them in a bayonet attack, for which he received from the hands of the emperor “Egory,” which was not due to him by status.

Full gentlemen

The four-degree cross existed for 57 years. Over the years, about 2,000 people were included in the full Knights of St. George (list). In addition, about 7,000 were awarded crosses of the second, third and fourth degrees, approximately 25,000 were awarded the 3rd and 4th, and 205,336 were awarded the 4th degree.

At the time of the October Revolution, several hundred full Knights of St. George lived in Russia. Many of them joined the Red Army and rose to the highest military ranks of the USSR. Of these, 7 also became Heroes of the Soviet Union. Among them:

• Ageev G.I. (posthumously).
• Budyonny S.M.
• Kozyr M. E.
• Lazarenko I. S.
• Meshchryakov M. M.
• Nedorubov K. I.
• Tyulenev I. V.

S. M. Budyonny

The name of this legendary personality resounded in Russian cavalry units during the First World War, and even earlier in the Russian-Japanese War. For bravery on the Austrian, German and Caucasian fronts, Semyon Mikhailovich was awarded crosses and medals of all 4 degrees.

His first award was received for the capture of a German convoy and the 8 soldiers accompanying it. However, Budyonny was deprived of it because he hit an officer. This did not prevent him from being included in the list of “Full St. George Knights”, since on the Turkish front Semyon Budyonny earned 3 St. George Crosses during the battles for Van and Mendelij, and the last one (first degree) for the capture of 7 enemy soldiers. Thus, he became the person who received 5 awards.

During the Civil War, he initiated the creation and in 1935 he and four other commanders of the USSR were awarded the rank of marshal.

During the Second World War, Semyon Budyonny did not have the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, since he was removed from command of the South-Western direction of the front because of a telegram in which he honestly described the danger that threatened those who were in the so-called Kiev bag.

In the post-war years, the commander was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union three times.

Kuzma Petrovich Trubnikov

This legendary personality took part in three wars. He received many awards for his exploits between 1914 and 1917. In particular, the list of “Full Knights of St. George” also contains his last name. He showed himself no less heroically during the Second World War, organizing the defense of Tula, directing troops during the Battle of Stalingrad, commanding the units entrusted to him during the liberation of Yelnya, etc. At the Victory Parade, Trubnikov, who at that time had already been awarded the rank of colonel general, led box of the consolidated regiment of the 2nd Belorussian Front. For his long service, the military leader was awarded 38 orders and medals from Tsarist Russia, the USSR and a number of other countries.

Ivan Vladimirovich Tyulenev

The future was born into the family of a participant in the Russian-Turkish war. He was drafted into the army at the beginning of the First World War and ended up in a regiment where K.K. Rokossovsky served at that time. Having started the war as a simple soldier, Ivan Vladimirovich Tyulenev rose to the rank of ensign. For heroism shown in battles on Polish territory, he was awarded the St. George Cross four times. In the very first days of the Second World War, Tyulenev was appointed commander of the Southern Front, but in August he was seriously wounded, and after hospitalization he was sent to the Urals to form 20 divisions. In 1942, the military commander was sent to the Caucasus. At his request, the defense of the Main Ridge was strengthened, which in the future made it possible to stop the Nazi offensive aimed at capturing oil fields in the Caspian Sea region.

In 1978, for his services in defending the Motherland and increasing the country’s defense capability, I. V. Tyulenev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and he became one of seven outstanding military men who were awarded the highest award of the USSR, having the title “Full Knight of St. George of the First World War” .

R. Ya. Malinovsky

The future, at the age of 11, ran away from home due to his mother’s marriage and worked as a laborer until he joined the army, giving himself two years. The deception was discovered, but the teenager was able to persuade the command to leave him to bring cartridges to the machine gunners. In 1915, a 17-year-old soldier received his first “Yegory”. He was then sent to France as part of the Expeditionary Force, where he was twice decorated by the government of the Third Republic. In 1919, Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky enlisted in the Foreign Legion, and became a holder of the French Military Cross for his bravery on the German front. In addition, by order of Kolchak’s general D. Shcherbachev, he was awarded the St. George Cross of the third degree.

In 1919, Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky returned to his homeland and became one of the active participants in the Civil War, and in the late 30s he was sent as a military adviser to Spain.

The merits of this commander during the Great Patriotic War are also invaluable. In particular, the troops under his command liberated Odessa, played an important role in the Battle of Stalingrad, expelled the Nazis from Budapest and took Vienna.

After the end of the war in Europe, Malinovsky was sent to the Far East, where the actions of the Trans-Baikal Front, led by him, finally defeated the Japanese group. For the successful completion of this operation, Rodion Yakovlevich received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Gold Star for the second time in 1958.

Other Soviet commanders awarded the St. George Cross for bravery

Before the revolution, other soldiers of the imperial army, who were destined to become famous commanders of the USSR, were also awarded the soldier's "Egory" before the revolution. Among them we can note Sidor Kovpak and Konstantin Rokossovsky, who were awarded two crosses. In addition, the famous hero of the Civil War V. Chapaev received three such awards.

Now you know the details of the biographies of some outstanding military men who can be classified as “Full Knights of St. George”. The list of their exploits is amazing, and they themselves deserve the respect and gratitude of their descendants, who are not indifferent to the fate of their native country.

On the night of February 8-9, 1904, the Russian-Japanese War began with a Japanese attack on the Russian squadron near Port Arthur. This was probably one of the biggest failures of the Russian army in history. But this in no way detracts from the exploits of our heroes.

Vsevolod Rudnev, commander of the cruiser "Varyag"

On February 9, 1904, Rudnev received an ultimatum from Japanese Rear Admiral Uriu demanding that he leave the raid before noon, otherwise the Japanese threatened to open fire on Russian ships in a neutral port, which was a gross violation of international law. Vsevolod Rudnev refused and decided to make a breakthrough. Before the formation of officers and sailors of the cruiser, he informed them about the Japanese ultimatum and his decision.

In particular, he said the following: “Of course, we are going for a breakthrough and will engage in battle with the squadron, no matter how strong it is. There can be no questions about surrender - we will not surrender the cruiser or ourselves and will fight to the last opportunity and to the last drop of blood.” The fight was brutal. As a result of the battle, it was decided to transfer the cruiser’s crew to foreign ships and destroy the ships themselves. "Korean" was blown up, and "Varyag" was sunk. In 1905, the Japanese raised the Varyag and introduced it into their fleet under the name Soya. For ten years the cruiser, generously donated by Rudnev, served Japan. Russia bought the Varyag from former enemies only during the First World War, in 1916, along with other captured ships of the First Pacific Squadron

Vasily Zverev, mechanical engineer of the destroyer “Strong”

March 27, 1904 at 2:15 a.m. At night, the Japanese made a second attempt to block the entrance to the inner roadstead, sending 4 large commercial ships, accompanied by 6 destroyers; The patrol destroyer "Strong" rushed to the attack, dealt with the steamers and entered into battle with six Japanese destroyers. Having received a hole in the steam pipeline, the Strong turned into a stationary target for enemy fire. Then Zverev closed the hole with his body and returned the ship to motion, sacrificing his life. The dead were solemnly buried in Port Arthur.

Grigory Khodosevich, commandant of the Port Arthur fortress

On March 30, 1904, the destroyer Strashny entered into an unequal battle with four Japanese ships. In the unequal battle, 49 sailors died. Only five people survived, and Khodosevich was among those rescued. In the bloody confusion of the battle, he managed to get out of the safe and hide between two life jackets the secret package of the commander of the Pacific squadron Makarov and the entire cash amount of the ship's treasury. Grigory received a severe wound in the back. Finding himself in the icy water, he could not feel his legs at all.

Before leaving the sinking ship, Grigory hid a secret package with a reconnaissance mission under a life-saving cork belt, following the order of the watch commander Maleev. Khodosevich knew well what military duty was. Seeing the Japanese boat, with stiff fingers he began to tear the bag to shreds and hastily chewed soggy scraps of paper mixed with seaweed. The Japanese, noticing the Russian, who was hastily destroying, apparently, some important document, hastened to lift Khodosevich and his comrades on board. Japanese sailors, having interrogated Khodosevich to no avail and unsuccessfully examined the remains of the package, sent him to a prisoner of war camp. There he stayed until the end of the war. After the end of the war, Grigory Khodosevich returned to his homeland among 70 thousand Russian prisoners of war.

Avvakum Nikolaevich Volkov, senior non-commissioned officer

During the Russo-Japanese War, Avvakum Nikolaevich Volkov became a full Knight of St. George. He received the first St. George Cross, 4th degree, for bravery at the beginning of the war. Just a few weeks later, when it was necessary to find out the location of the Japanese troops, bugler Volkov volunteered to go on reconnaissance. Dressed in Chinese clothes, the young soldier scouted out the location of two large enemy detachments. But soon he came across a Japanese patrol of 20 dragoons led by an officer. The Japanese guessed who this unusual young Chinese was. Snatching a revolver from his bosom, the scout killed three dragoons with shots at point-blank range. And while the others tried to take him alive, Volkov jumped onto the horse of one of the dead.

A long chase, attempts to bypass and shoot were unsuccessful. Volkov broke away from his pursuers and returned safely to his regiment. For this feat Avvakum Volkov was awarded the St. George Cross, 3rd degree. In one of the battles, the wounded Avvakum is captured by the Japanese. After a short trial, he was sentenced to death. However, that night the soldier managed to escape. After ten days of grueling wandering in the remote taiga, Volkov returned to the regiment and received the St. George Cross, 2nd degree. But the war continued. And before the battle of Mukden, Volkov again volunteered for reconnaissance. This time, the experienced intelligence officer, having completed the task, removed the guards from the enemy powder magazine and blew it up. For his new feat, he received the 1st degree St. George Cross and became a full Knight of St. George.

Vasily Ryabov, private

In the clothes of a Chinese peasant, in a wig with a pigtail, scout Ryabov ran into a Japanese patrol behind enemy lines. During interrogation, he steadfastly kept military secrets and, being sentenced to death, behaved with dignity. Everything happened strictly according to the ritual. They shot from rifles from fifteen paces. The Japanese were delighted with the Russian's courageous behavior and considered it their duty to bring this to the attention of his superiors. The note from the Japanese officer sounds like a presentation for an award: “Our army cannot help but express our sincere wishes to the respected army, so that the latter would educate more such truly wonderful warriors, worthy of full respect.”

Roman Kondratenko, Lieutenant General, military engineer

He headed the defense of Port Arthur, was involved in improving defensive positions, and personally led the defense in the most difficult and dangerous areas. Roman Kondratenko knew how to raise the spirit of soldiers in the most difficult moments of the siege of the city, which could several times repel the Japanese assault. He died on December 15, 1904 from a direct hit in the fort casemate by a howitzer shell. Eight other officers died along with him. After the end of the Russian-Japanese War, the hero’s body was solemnly reburied in St. Petersburg, in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Pyotr Butusov, Russian border guard officer, lieutenant colonel

In 1904 - head of the Kwantung Department of the Special Trans-Amur District OKPS. On June 13, 1904, by order of the commander of the forward detachment of the 4th East Siberian Division, Colonel Ya. U. Shishko, drove the Japanese out of Mount Quinsan. On August 28, 1904, he was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus, II degree, for skillful leadership of his unit and “excellent courage” in the battles of June 20 and 21. In July, Butusov led a search in which border guards blew up an enemy cannon and removed the locks from three. On August 6, Butusov’s border guards, together with the riflemen, knocked out the Japanese from the Vodoprovodny redoubt they had captured. On October 15, 1904, for the courage shown in the battles to repel the second assault on Port Arthur, Lieutenant Colonel Butusov was awarded the Order of St. George, IV degree. On November 21, 1904, during the fourth assault on Port Arthur, Butusov was appointed General Kondratenko R.I. commandant of Mount Vysokaya, where he was mortally wounded. He died on November 22, 1904, and was buried in the Port Arthur military cemetery.