Prince MIKHAIL ILLARIONOVICH KUTUZOV - SMOLENSKY, 1745-1815, came from ancient noble family Golenishchev - Kutuzov, was the only son of Illarion Matveevich, lieutenant general and senator, married to Beklemisheva, and nephew of the director of the Marine cadet corps Ivan Logginovich Golenishchev - Kutuzov; born September 5, 1745. Begins in 1765 fighting career Mikhail Ilarionovich, first in Poland, then in the army of gr. Rumyantsev, at Larga and Kagul 1770 where he served as a quartermaster. IN next year Kutuzov was transferred for various pranks to Crimean army book Vasily Dolgoruky, and here, in 1774, during the capture of Shuma, near Alushta, he received his famous first wound in the right eye; was awarded for this deed St. George 4th century The wound forced Kutuzov to undergo serious treatment abroad, in Berlin and Vienna, where he had the opportunity to be introduced to King Frederick the Great and Field Marshal Loudon. Beginning in 1776, Kutuzov was almost constantly under Suvorov; in 1788, under Ochakov, he was again wounded in the head, but the treatment of this wound was as successful as the first time; in 1789 and 1790 Kutuzov acted very successfully against the Turks. Suvorov expressed himself this way about Kutuzov’s exploits near Izmail: “Kutuzov provided new experiments in military art and his personal courage. He walked on my left wing, but was mine right hand"; regarding the same matter, Suvorov said his famous phrase that “Kutuzov and Ribas will not deceive.” ( Order of St. George 3rd class.) The next year, 1791, Kutuzov came under the command of Prince I.V. Repnin and, together with Prince S.V. Golitsyn and Prince G.S. Volkonsky, participated in the defeat of the Turks at Manchin. For this deed, all three generals were awarded St. George 2 tbsp., according to the presentation of Prince Repnin. After the Peace of Jassy, Kutuzov was sent by the Empress as ambassador extraordinary to Constantinople. In 1794, after the death of Count Anhalt, Kutuzov was appointed director of the Gentry Cadet Corps, “a breeding ground for military men,” as Catherine II put it, and personally taught the cadets military history and tactics. Under Paul 1, Kutuzov successfully completed diplomatic assignments in Berlin and received, in 1800, St. Andrew's ribbon. During the accession of Emperor Alexander 1, Kutuzov was appointed St. Petersburg military governor, in place of gr. Palen, but in 1802 he asked for dismissal and retired to his Volyn estate. The war of 1805 again forced him to take command of the Russian army; Unfortunately, Kutuzov's prudent advice was not accepted, and the campaign ended with the ill-fated Austerlitz. Here he was again wounded in the cheek. Having fallen out of favor after these events, Kutuzov was appointed first Kyiv and then Vilna governor-general. In 1811 he happy world ended the war with the Turks and received the title of count on October 29. Finally, the year 1812 arrived. After disagreements between Barclay and Bagration, the Tsar elected Kutuzov, indicated by the people's desire, although not loved by himself, and appointed him commander-in-chief of the Russian army. The Battle of Borodino and all actions against Napoleon's troops to the Berezina are associated with the name of Kutuzov. During all this time he was awarded princely dignity, with the title of His Serene Highness, Field marshal's baton, the name "Smolensky" And Order of St. George 1st degree. In a moment of general enthusiasm, Kutuzov alone correctly assessed the circumstances and advised stopping at the Vistula and not fighting “for the liberation of Germany.” At the beginning of 1813, on April 16, Kutuzov died in Bunzlau from hardships and old ailments; his body was buried in St. Petersburg, in the Kazan Cathedral.
Prince Kutuzov was a completely Russian person; gifted with a quick grasping and flexible mind, distinguished diplomat, a calm and cold-blooded commander, he knew how to instill confidence in his subordinates, and his military abilities were appreciated by such people as Rumyantsev and Suvorov. In his old age, under the guise of eternal sleepiness, he noticed everything and, with his characteristic irony, always knew how to rise to the occasion.
(From a miniature belonging to Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich.)
Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, one of the first full Knights of St. George, for his personal courage awarded with orders St. George of all four degrees, who led the Russian army to victory in the Patriotic War. In the years of the second or, in other words, already the Great Patriotic War 19141 - 1945 On the ribbon of the Order of St. George, other orders were awarded - the Order of Glory, and the Motherland was proud of the full holders of this order. In our time, we come to the realization that ALL defenders of the Fatherland are worthy of memory and glory. And for several years now, on Victory Day, May 9, a silent Immortal Regiment defenders of the Motherland, in its multi-million ranks all those who died for freedom, the Fatherland, photographs of heroes decorated St. George ribbons they are carried by their descendants who want to honor the memory of their heroic ancestors, someone makes a photo poster themselves, someone orders it on the website
Exactly 100 years ago, October 10/23 Emperor Nicholas II left the following entry in his diary: “It was quite freezing at night. The day was sunny. After the report, Barka accepted (...) company[istra] L.-Gv. Horse regiment bar. Wrangel, the first Knight of St. George in this campaign". And although military historians argue about whether P.N. Wrangel, awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree on October 13, 1914, can be considered the very first officer to receive this high award, since in addition to him, other officers were also awarded the military order - heroes of the Kaushensky battle, at the instigation of the Sovereign, the right to be called “the first Georgivian cavalier” German war he deserved it.
Let us recall that P.N. Wrangel came from an old Baltic noble family, whose representatives, starting from the 18th century, served Russia faithfully. The son of a famous art scientist, Pyotr Wrangel graduated from the Mining Institute in 1901, receiving an engineering education. Once on military service as a volunteer in the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, Wrangel in 1902 passed the exam for the officer rank under Nikolaev cavalry school, after which he was promoted to cornet and enlisted in the reserves. Returning to civilian service, Pyotr Nikolaevich served for some time as an official special assignments under the Irkutsk Governor-General, but the war with Japan that began in 1904 again called him into the ranks of the army, with which he connected for the rest of his life. Having volunteered to go to the theater of war, in December 1904, Wrangel, “for distinguished service in cases against the Japanese,” received the rank of Cossack centurion and was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 4th class, and St. Stanislav, 3rd class, as well as the right to carry bladed weapons. inscriptions "For bravery". As General P.N. Shatilov noted, it was probably then, during the war with the Japanese, that Wrangel “instinctively felt that struggle was his element, and combat work- his calling". At the beginning of 1906, Wrangel was already a staff captain in one of the dragoon regiments, and in 1907 he was transferred to the guard with the rank of lieutenant, ending up, according to the petition, in the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment - the same one in which he began his career. military service private.
After graduating from the Nikolaev Military Academy (1910) and the Officer Course cavalry school(1911), Wrangel met the First World War with the rank of captain, commanding a squadron. In the baron’s service description his leadership qualities were defined as follows: “Captain Baron Wrangel is an excellent squadron commander. Brilliantly military prepared. Vigorous. Dashing. Demanding and very conscientious. Included in the little details of squadron life. Good comrade. Good rider. A little too hot. Excellent morality. IN in every sense words "outstanding squadron commander".
Pyotr Nikolaevich received his “George” for a successful cavalry attack at the very beginning of the war during the battles in East Prussia. On August 6/19, 1914, near Kaushen, Captain Wrangel led his squadron into an attack on enemy artillery, covered by infantry, forcing the enemy to flee. It happened as follows: having gained a foothold in the village of Kaushen, the German infantry and artillery brought down heavy fire on the Russian horse guards and cavalry guards, who found it extremely difficult to resist the targeted artillery, which rained grapeshot at our cavalry. “...German infantry and artillery brought down furious fire from there on the horse guards, cavalry guards from the 1st brigade of the 1st Guards Cavalry Division,” writes the biographer of General P.N. Wrangel V. Cherkasov-Georgievsky. - They were ordered to dismount. As in all battles that decide the glory of Russian weapons, the guards had to show that it was not in vain that they drank the first glass for the Tsar, wore a magnificent uniform, and their officers were the best Russian names. The Cuirassier Guard went after the German batteries, shooting them point-blank, at full height. A barrage of lead and grapeshot mowed down, but the guards, littering the field with bodies, rolled away only to get up again and go into the fire. In this crazy, rumbling carousel, the squadrons were killed and wounded, and it seemed that such a hot, successful Russian offensive at the very beginning of the war. It was doubly sad that the cavalry elite died on foot. Military theorists unanimously believed that with the machine-gun and rifle firepower of that time, a mounted attack on infantry positions was no longer possible. The day became black from smoke, gunpowder fumes and the screams of those dying in the attacks. From Kaushen, the battery fired non-stop from the mill: the division stumbled into the German stronghold, bleeding from its shock units. Only one squadron of the Horse Regiment remained intact in reserve. It was as if it existed for such cases when the heroism of the last survivors or justifies the historical guards covenant: “The guard dies, but does not surrender!” - or wins by doing the unthinkable. This was His Majesty's 3rd Chief Horse Guards Squadron under the command of Captain Peter Wrangel. The Tsar’s squadron survived because, according to tradition, it guarded the regimental banner.”
And the 3rd reserve squadron, under the command of 36-year-old captain P.N. Wrangel, managed to complete this extremely difficult task. Researcher of the Kaushensky battle V. Letyagin describes the subsequent events as follows: “The artillery observer Lieutenant Gershelman drove up to the commander of the 1st Guards Cavalry Division, General N.N. Kaznakov, and reported that the enemy was retreating, leaving two guns (whose limbers were hit by Prince Eristov’s artillery) to cover the retreat. The squadron commander, Baron P.N. Wrangel, who was nearby, began to ask both the division commander and the regiment commander B.G. Hartmann to allow him to capture these guns». Describing the battle near Kaushen, the commander of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, Major General B.E. Hartman, recalled: “Wrangel could not find a place for himself with impatience. News of losses, of killed comrades reached him and only strengthened his protest against the fact that he had to remain in the rear while his comrades were fighting. And finally he couldn't bear it anymore. (...) Wrangel began to literally beg for permission to attack...”
Further events developed as follows. P.N. Wrangel approached the German positions at a distance of 1 kilometer and attacked the enemy battery. The German artillerymen managed to fire several point-blank shots at our retreating squadron, but since they did not have time to raise their sights, the bulk of the grapeshot hit the horses, which were quite high at the withers. This made it possible, despite the losses, for the main part of the squadron to reach the German guns and chop up the servants. Eyewitnesses of the battle said that after the horse was killed near Wrangel, he flew over his head, grabbed a saber and ran towards the enemy battery. The dismounted fighters of Wrangel's squadron grappled with the Germans in hand-to-hand combat, forcing the enemy to falter and, abandoning the battery, take flight.
During this heroic attack, all the squadron officers were killed, about 20 soldiers were killed and wounded. But the task was completed - the Kaushensky battle was won. “The battle was decided by the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, captain Baron Wrangel, who famously attacked the enemy artillery with his squadron and took 2 guns.”, - wrote the famous military historian A.A. Kersnovsky. Among the fallen officers was the eldest son of the former Moscow Governor-General, Lieutenant Yuri (Georgy) Gershelman, who was posthumously awarded the same award as Baron Wrangel - the Order of St. George, 4th degree. Later, the brother of the deceased officer, an officer of the Life Guards Horse Artillery, Colonel Alexander Gershelman, who became the secretary of the Supreme Monarchical Council in exile, recalled how in 1915, during one of the battles, Baron Wrangel, expressing gratitude to him for the “clean work” of the artillerymen, after pause and said the following words: “Kaushen connected me with your family, because your brother Yuri fell next to me during my attack on the German battery. I want to invite you to switch to first-name terms with me. True, there is no wine to drink at the Brudershaft, but the fight brings people together more than wine.".
The dashing attack of the Horse Guards made a strong impression on his contemporaries. Cuirassier Prince V.S. Trubetskoy spoke about this “case” of P.N. Wrangel: “...One squadron of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, which was part of our division, attacked a German battery in position head-on (though in open formation)!.. In this amazing attack (which the writer of these lines was a witness to and which, as It seems to me that it was the only one of its kind during the entire world war), undoubtedly, the influence and school of Krasnoe Selo had an effect. By the way, the commander of the squadron of horse guards was captain Baron Wrangel, who, thanks to this attack on the battery, gained great fame and popularity in the guard and quickly went up the hill.”
I noted this feat in my memoirs and Grand Duke Gabriel Konstantinovich: “On the 6th there was famous fight Guards cavalry near Kaushen, during which the commander of the 3rd squadron of the Horse Guards, captain Baron Wrangel (later commander-in-chief of the Volunteer Army) attacked a German battery at the head of his squadron. (...) ...They said that Wrangel was killed; Grevs and Velepolsky felt sorry for the murdered man, as a good officer whom they knew from the Japanese war. Suddenly at this moment Baron Wrangel himself appears riding on a huge black horse. At dusk it was hard to see, and it seemed especially large. He drove up to us and eagerly and nervously began to tell us how he attacked the battery. I will never forget this picture."
In the presentation for awarding Captain P.N. Wrangel the Order of St. George, the baron’s feat was described as follows: “He quickly carried out a cavalry attack and, despite significant losses, captured two guns, and the last shot of one of the guns killed a horse under him.”
Meanwhile, in fairness, it should be mentioned that there is another assessment of Wrangel’s attack. T.A. Aksakova-Sivers, referring to words allegedly spoken by Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, wrote in her memoirs: “News came about the first battles in which a significant part of the guard was killed. They talked about how Wrangel, commanding a squadron of horse guards, with reckless courage led him into an attack and killed many people. Subsequently, I heard that, when signing the awarding of Wrangel with the St. George Cross according to the statute, the Emperor said: “I have never signed an order with such reluctance. If Wrangel had not gotten excited, the same results could have been achieved by Kruzenshtern’s artillery standing behind him, which had already begun to operate. And the people would be safe!". But whether these words were actually spoken by the Emperor, or are these just rumors spread by the baron’s ill-wishers, is difficult to judge...
Meanwhile, the feat accomplished by Wrangel brought him all-Russian fame. Noted with a high award and royal attention, the baron soon received the rank of colonel, appointment as chief of staff of the Combined Cavalry Division and an award to the aide-de-camp of His Imperial Majesty's Retinue. But Wrangel’s exploits did not end there. In 1915, for another success, he was awarded the Arms of St. George. Having received the appointment to command the 1st Nerchinsk Regiment of the Transbaikal Cossack Army, Wrangel was awarded the command following characteristics: “Outstanding courage. He understands the situation perfectly and quickly, very resourceful in difficult situations.". The Baron had the opportunity to fight against the Austrians in Galicia, participate in the famous Brusilov breakthrough, receive the rank of major general “for military distinction” and meet 1917 as commander of the 2nd brigade of the Ussuri Cavalry Division.
After the February Revolution, Wrangel, who decided to continue serving under new government, received subordination to the 7th cavalry division, and then the Consolidated Cavalry Corps. The year 1917 brought Wrangel another award, unusual for his rank - the soldier's St. George Cross, IV degree with a laurel branch, with which he was awarded by the Duma for covering the retreat of our infantry.
After the Bolsheviks came to power, Wrangel was subjected to short-term arrest; after his release, he left for Crimea, and from there to Hetman Ukraine. Having enlisted in the Volunteer Army, Wrangel received the rank of lieutenant general (1918) and, alternately commanding a cavalry division, a corps, the Caucasian volunteer army, distinguished himself in many battles. In 1920, after the failure offensive operation General A.I. Denikin, Wrangel took command of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia, which he renamed into the Russian Army. This was followed by the fight against the Reds in Tavria, the defense of Crimea, emigration, leadership of the Russian All-Military Union (ROVS) and sudden death in 1928 from tuberculosis, which, due to its complete surprise, gave rise to the version of the deliberate infection of the legendary “black baron” with the Koch bacillus by a Bolshevik agent. ..
Meanwhile, the memory of the feat white general, despite many years of silence in Soviet Russia, continues to live. This year, for the 100th anniversary of P.N. Wrangel’s attack at Kaushen, enthusiasts produced a memorial plaque, designed to remind our contemporaries about « the first Knight of St. George" of the First World War.
Prepared Andrey Ivanov, Doctor of Historical Sciences
During the First World War, the name of Kuzma Kryuchkov was known throughout Russia. The brave Cossack appeared on posters and leaflets, cigarette packs and postcards, his portraits and drawings depicting his feat were published in newspapers and magazines. And the Cossack distinguished himself in the first days of the war in a battle with German cavalrymen near the Polish town of Kalwaria.
The Cossack guard patrol he led entered into battle with a group of German cavalrymen and, as recorded in the award documents, Kuzma Kryuchkov personally killed 11 people during the cavalry battle. It’s hard to believe, but forgery in Cossack award documents is also unlikely.
This is how Kryuchkov himself described this fight:
“At about ten o’clock in the morning we headed from the city of Kalvaria to the Aleksandrovo estate. There were four of us - me and my comrades: Ivan Shchegolkov, Vasily Astakhov and Mikhail Ivankov. We began to climb the hill and came across a German patrol of 27 people, including an officer and non-commissioned officer. At first the Germans were afraid, but then they attacked us. However, we met them steadfastly and killed several people. Dodging the attack, we had to separate. Eleven people surrounded me, and I decided to sell my horse dearly. I have a mobile, obedient one. I wanted to use the rifle, but in a hurry the cartridge jumped, and at that time the German slashed at my fingers, and I grabbed the rifle and began to work. I received several small wounds. , but I realize that the wounds are not important. For each wound I answer with a fatal blow, from which the German lies down forever. Having killed several people, I felt that it was difficult to work with the saber, and therefore I grabbed their own pike and killed the rest one by one. At this time, my comrades dealt with others. Twenty-four corpses lay on the ground, and several unwounded horses were running around in fear. My comrades received light wounds, I also received sixteen wounds, but all empty, so - injections in the back, in the neck, in the arms. My horse also received eleven wounds, but I then rode it back six miles. On August 1st, the army commander, General Rennenkampf, arrived in Belaya Olita and took off his St. George's ribbon, pinned it on my chest and congratulated me on the first St. George Cross."
In the Cossack’s presentation, all this looks almost ordinary, but they clashed not with hastily mobilized infantrymen, but with cavalrymen, who have always been the elite of any army and had the appropriate training. The more incredible the outcome of the battle looks. It was not for nothing that the army commander himself came to congratulate the Cossack for such a feat. By the way, General Rennenkampf himself was an experienced cavalry commander and understood a lot about cavalry control.
For this feat, all four Cossacks became Knights of St. George, and the St. George Cross of the 4th degree, number 5501, received by Kuzma Kryuchkov, became the first St. George award awarded in this war. This feat was reported to the emperor and published in newspapers. The brave Cossack instantly became Russian celebrity, and he was only 24 years old.
Kuzma (Kozma) Kryuchkov was born in 1890 on the Nizhne-Kalmykovsky farm of the Ust-Khopersky village of the Ust-Medveditsky district of the Don Army in the family of a native Cossack-Old Believer Firs Larionovich Kryuchkov. Like all Cossacks, Kuzma studied at the village school (Cossacks revered education) and in 1911 was called up for active service in the 3rd Don Cossack Regiment named after Ermak Timofeev. By the beginning of the war, he already had the rank of clerk (corresponding to a corporal in the army) and was considered an experienced fighter, which he demonstrated in his first battle.
After lying in the infirmary for 5 days after the battle, Kryuchkov returned to the regiment and received leave to go home. One can imagine with what furore the Cossack appeared in the village with George on his chest, and, probably, he did not forget to grab newspapers describing his feat. By this time he was married, had a son and daughter, so the reflections of his glory were reflected on them.
The short stay flew by quickly, and the war was just beginning. And the Cossack passed her, as they say, from bell to bell. He had new battles with fierce cavalry cuts, and new wounds, fortunately not fatal, and new awards. By the end of the war, he became a sub-horunzhim (the first officer rank in Cossack troops), received another St. George Cross and two St. George medals. There is information that he also managed to receive the golden weapon of St. George, a very honorable award among officers.
After February revolution Kryuchkov was elected chairman of the regimental committee, and after the collapse of the front, he and the regiment returned to the Don. Peaceful life it didn't work out. Even the former same-sum people turned out to be different sides bloody boundary that divided Russia. Thus, Mikhail Ivankov, a participant in the legendary battle, served in the Red Army.
And on the Don Kryuchkov had to collect partisan detachment to confront another famous Cossack- Philip Mironov, future commander of the 2nd Cavalry Army. The battles were difficult, because on both sides of the front there were experienced, fierce fighters, who at one time together learned the science of combat in fierce battles with the Germans.
The Cossack fought skillfully, and by the summer of 1919 he became a centurion. Kryuchkov died, as befits a Cossack, having taken a machine-gun burst with his chest in battle.
Kuzma Firsovich Kryuchkov was buried in the cemetery of his native farm.
“For service and bravery” was the motto of the military Order of St. George. The history of this order is closely connected with the history of the country. November 24, 1769 to St. Petersburg summonses were sent out, in which it was reported that on the 26th “the first day of the establishment of the imperial military order Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George..." On this day, Catherine II entered the ceremonial chambers of the palace in order clothes and, as the founder and grandmaster, placed the signs on herself of this order 1st degree, establishing an order holiday on this day.
The statute of the order was announced on November 27. The order was established "out of special imperial favor to those serving in the troops, as an abolition (distinction) and rewarding them,” that is, “solely for the military rank as a reward for jealousy and zeal and for encouragement to further exploits in the art of war.”
It was very high reward. It is not for nothing that the statute says about her: “Neither high family, nor previous merits, nor wounds received in battles are accepted in respect when conferring the Order of St. Georgiy for military exploits; The only one who is awarded it is the one who not only fulfilled his duty in everything according to oath, honor and duty, but in addition to this marked himself for benefit and glory Russian weapons special distinction."
It was extremely difficult to earn the Order of St. George. For example, in the first hundred years of the existence of this award, 2,239 people received the order of the lowest, 4th degree for military distinction, 3rd - 512 people, 2nd - 100 people and 1st degree - 20 people. The following figures speak eloquently about how honorable this award was: the highest order Russian Empire- the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was awarded to more than a thousand people, and the first degree of the Order of St. George - only 25 people, of which 8 are foreigners.
The order could be received, for example, by someone who “personally leading an army, defeats an enemy consisting of significant forces, complete victory, the consequence of which will be its complete destruction” or “personally leading the army, he will take the fortress.” This award could also be given for the capture of the enemy's banner, the capture of the commander-in-chief or corps commander of the enemy army and other outstanding feats. The statute of the Order of George also said: “This order should never be removed, for it is acquired by merit.”
The Order of St. George had four degrees, and the first time the recipient was presented to the lowest, 4th degree, the next time - to the higher, 3rd, then the 2nd and finally the fourth outstanding military feat could be presented for awarding the order St. George 1st degree.
The only woman (except Catherine II) awarded the order St. George, became sister of mercy Raisa (according to other sources - Rimma) Mikhailovna Ivanova, awarded the 4th degree posthumously in the First World War.
In 1916, the French fortress of Verdun was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, for the courage of its defenders in defending the so-called Verdun ledge. This is the only case of a collective award of the Order of St. George.
Only four people in total glorious history Russian army and navy became full holders of the Order of St. George, that is, they had all four degrees: this is Field Marshal General, His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov; Field Marshal General Prince Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly; Field Marshal General, His Serene Highness Prince, Count Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich-Erivansky; Field Marshal General Count Ivan Ivanovich Dibich-Zabalkansky.
Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1745-1813) went through his entire military career from ensign to field marshal general with the Russian army through the fire and smoke of battles.
On July 23, 1774, a regiment of the Moscow Legion, whose battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel M.I. Kutuzov, quickly attacked the village of Shumy, fortified by the Turkish landing. The battalion crushed the enemy and put him to flight. At the head of the first battalion of the regiment, M.I. Kutuzov burst into Shumy with a banner in his hands, but in this attack he was seriously wounded: a bullet hit him in the left temple and exited near his right eye, which was badly damaged. The doctors considered the wounded man hopeless, but M.I. Kutuzov not only survived, but also returned to duty. For this battle he received his first Order of George - the cross of the 4th degree.
In 1788, Kutuzov took part in the siege and capture of Ochakov. On August 18, the fortress garrison made a sortie and attacked a battalion of Russian rangers. The four-hour battle, which ended in victory for the Russians, was led personally by M.I. Kutuzov. And again a serious wound: the bullet hit the left cheek and exited the back of the head. Doctors predicted imminent death, however, he survived and continued his military service: in 1789 he accepted a separate corps, with which Akkerman occupied, fought near Causeni and during the assault on Bendery.
The year 1790 is glorified in Russian military history storming of Ishmael. About the actions of M.I. Kutuzov, who commanded one of the assault columns, A.V. Suvorov subsequently wrote: “He walked on my left wing, but was my right hand.” On March 25, 1791, for his distinction during the capture of Izmail, the commander received a white neck cross - the Order of St. George, 3rd degree and was promoted to lieutenant general. According to M.I. Kutuzov for the award it was said: “Major General and Cavalier Golenishchev-Kutuzov showed new experiments in his art and courage, overcoming all difficulties under the strongest enemy fire, climbed the rampart, captured the bastion, and when the excellent enemy forced him to stop, he, serving example of courage, held the place, overcame a strong enemy, established himself in the fortress and then continued to defeat the enemies.”
Badges of the Order of St. George, 2nd degree - large neck cross and star - M.I. Kutuzov received for the victory at Machin on June 28, 1791. This battle lasted about six hours and ended in the complete defeat of the Turks. Commander of the Russian troops, Field Marshal General N.V. Repnin reported in his report: “The efficiency and intelligence of General Golenishchev-Kutuzov surpasses all my praise.”
The role of M.I. Kutuzov in the Patriotic War of 1812 is well known. Being first the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of Russia, and then the commander-in-chief and allied forces, he showed himself to be a wonderful strategist, a man of great statesman And greatest commander. On December 12, 1812, for “the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia” M.I. Kutuzov, already with the rank of field marshal, received the highest military award Russia - Order of St. George, 1st degree - and became the first full holder of the Order of St. George.
The second full holder of the Order of St. George - Field Marshal General Prince Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818) - received the first St. George Cross in 1794 for the Polish campaign, distinguished himself during the capture of the fortifications of the city of Vilna by storm and the destruction of the colonel's detachment at Grodno Grabovsky. He was awarded the second degree of the order for Borodino. He was the only person, awarded such a high order for this battle. He earned the first degree in 1813, defeating the corps of General Vandam near Kulm.
The third full cavalier, Field Marshal General Count Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich, His Serene Highness Prince of Warsaw (1782-1856), earned the first two degrees for exploits in the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812, and the remaining two - in the Russian-Turkish war of 1828 -1829 for the capture of the fortresses of Erivan and Erzurum.
The fourth and last full cavalier was Field Marshal General Count Ivan Ivanovich Dibich-Zabalkansky (1785-1831), who received George 4th degree for the war of 1805-1807. against Napoleon. He received the third degree in 1812, and the first and second - in the war of 1828-1829, being the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in European theater military actions.
In 1833, a new statute of the order was adopted, which aimed to further enhance the significance of the award. In total, the statute set out in detail 64 points for which an officer could receive the St. George Cross.
Earlier, in 1807, the insignia of the Order of St. George for awarding soldiers, sailors and non-commissioned officers. Already in the first rules regarding the insignia, it was stated: “It is acquired only on the battlefield, during the defense of fortresses and in sea battles. It is awarded only to those of the lower military ranks who, while serving in the Russian land and naval forces, really show their excellent courage in the fight against the enemy.”
It was possible to earn an insignia - a soldier's St. George Cross - only by performing a military feat, for example, capturing an enemy banner or standard, capturing an enemy officer or general, being the first to enter an enemy fortress during an assault or (during boarding) on board an enemy ship. A lower rank who saved the life of his commander in combat conditions could also receive this award.
The insignia of the Order of St. George No. 1 was received by the non-commissioned officer of the cavalry regiment Yegor Ivanovich Mitrokhin (Mityukhin), who distinguished himself in the battle with the French near Friedland on June 2, 1807.
From the very moment of its establishment, the insignia of the military order, in addition to the official one, received several more names: St. George's Cross of the 5th degree, soldier's George ("Egory"), etc. Soldier's George N9 6723 was awarded to the famous cavalry maiden, heroine of the war with Napoleon, Nadezhda Durova, who began her service as a simple uhlan.
The most difficult years for Russia, when the people, driven by a sense of patriotism, stood up to defend the Fatherland, are also marked the largest number St. George's Soldier's Awards. So, during the Patriotic War of 1812, in the years Crimean War 1853-1856 (the main and most striking episode of which was the heroic defense of Sevastopol), tens of thousands of heroes were awarded the insignia of the military order.
In 1844, a type of insignia appeared for awarding persons of non-Christian religion. From 1844 to 1856, 1,368 such awards were made.
By a decree of March 19, 1856, the insignia was divided into 4 degrees, and the awarding began with the lowest, 4th degree, and then, as when awarding the officer Order of St. George, the 3rd, 2nd and finally 1st degrees were issued sequentially. I degree.
Already in 1856, 151 people were awarded the Soldier's George 1st degree, that is, they became full Knights of St. George. In subsequent years, the soldier's St. George Cross of the 1st degree was issued less frequently: for example, in 1857 - 3 times, in 1858 - 4 times, in 1859 - 8 times, etc. For Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878 St. George's Soldier's Cross was issued different degrees approximately 46 thousand, for Russian- Japanese war 1904-1905 – about 87 thousand.
A new type of sign for Gentiles also appeared, which also had 4 degrees. From 1856 to 1913, when the “Muslim” version of the award was abolished, 29 people received the 1st degree badge.
The first full holder of the insignia for non-believers was Labazan Ibrahim Khalilogly, a police cadet of the 2nd Dagestan Cavalry Irregular Regiment.
In 1913, a new statute for the insignia of the military order was approved. It began to be officially called the St. George's Cross.
Soldier George 1st degree N 1 was received at the very beginning of the First World War, in the fall of 1914, by ensign Nikifor Udalykh, who saved the banner of the 1st Nevsky Infantry Regiment.
Many Soviet military leaders who started difficult military school still in the fire of the First World War, they were Knights of St. George. The bravery and military merits of the Marshals were awarded the Crosses of St. George. Soviet Union G.K. Zhukova, K.K. Rokossovsky, General I.V. Tyulenev and many other prominent Soviet commanders and military leaders.
The heroes had a full bow, that is, all four soldiers' crosses. Civil War CM. Budyonny, V.I. Chapaev and others.
During the First World War, several Knights of St. George appeared, each having five (!) crosses. Today I will mention only a few of them, although at least three more are not on this list!
This is a soldier's George of all 4 degrees (first on the left - fourth on the right, with bows 3 and first)
the so-called St. George's bow (the full bow included 4 more St. George's medals for bravery)
Officers' St. George's Crosses (everything is clear - which is which)
Scheme of correct wearing of officers' St. George's crosses
Ilya Vasilievich Volkov, repeatedly distinguished himself in battles during the war with Japan, and then during the First World War. His five St. George crosses are still kept in the family.
Hero's Crosses of St. George:
4th degree (No. 42701)
3rd degree (No. 86324) - received it not immediately... but after being wounded
already in the new part there is another cross of the 3rd degree (No. 117607)
2nd degree (No. 18654)
1st degree (No. 14357)
Another hero is the namesake of Ilya Vasilyevich, Avenir Nikolaevich Volkov, also received five St. George's Crosses.
Even during the Japanese War, he already had four degrees of awards, and in the very first battles of the First World War he again distinguished himself and received a second time highest degree St. George's Cross.
The third hero Petr Leonov, earned all five crosses during the German war.
Fourth hero: Zhidik Alexey Vasilievich, ensign of the 9th Hussars Kyiv Regiment.
Sub-ensign of the 9th Kyiv Hussar Regiment, in this regiment another one was a sub-ensign with 5 crosses.
There was another hero who received two first degree Georges in one day (two feats!) from the hands of Tsar Nicholas.
There was another one, I don’t remember the name... we have to dig and look :(
There were also heroes are complete gentlemen who received their 5th crosses with wreaths (for the fight against Soviet power) - in particular, there were two of them in the famous Kappel (Baikal) crossing in the winter of 1919.
There were also such cavalier heroes who, having received all 4 degrees of George, became officers and managed to also receive the officer George!
Here's one of them in the photo! full Knight of St. George, 4 crosses and 4 medals for bravery + officer's cross of the 3rd (?) degree
In the photo Dmitry Ivanovich Mitaki (1892 - 1953)- Full Knight of St. George (awarded by Emperor Nicholas II in the Church of “Peter and Paul” in Bendery (Moldova), military intelligence officer, 19 wounds. Not all have been preserved in the Museum of the History of Moldova (now the Republic of Moldova), duplicates of his awards and several old photographs, numbers of medals “For Bravery”: No. 166722, No. 707194.
to his left: with 4 crosses and 2 medals P. I. Krizhenovsky
*sorry, Ramadan, for getting ahead of me.
I give you everything I have - your post will turn out better and of higher quality!
**I’m checking information about the 6 crosses holders.
Infrequently, it was practiced to award the same degree of the St. George Cross several times. So, ensign of the Life Guards of the 3rd rifle regiment G.I. Solomatin was awarded two St. George Crosses of the 4th degree, two of the 3rd degree, one of the 2nd degree and two of the 1st degree.
Most complete hero for soldier's crosses and St. George medals Salomatin, ensign of the Life Guards Rifle Regiment (born in 1893 (?), a total of 13 crosses and St. George medals
SEVEN St. George's crosses (4X2 + 3x2 + 2nd + 1x2 = 7!)
6 St. George medals? (2 in Japanese and 4 in World War I)
*** Next time I’ll tell you about 83 heroes who were presented (or even received) 4 (FOUR) Orders of Glory!
and about three who deserved this glorious order 5 (FIVE) times!!!
One of them is still a living fellow countryman of mine from the suburbs of Krasnoyarsk! (however, he only wears the 4 Orders of Glory that were awarded to him - someone in Moscow thought that he would already have a lot...)
But Nikolai Evgenievich Litvinenko is not sad about this... As well as about the fact that he still has not received the highest soldier’s rank of Sergeant Major, which he still deserved during the Second World War!
We are planning to organize a petition to the awards department so that the veteran is given his well-deserved third medal of the Order of Glory, 2nd degree.
