Order of Suvorov

II degrees

III degrees

The awarding of the Order of Suvorov was carried out by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The highest degree of the order was I degree.

The Order of Suvorov was awarded to the commanders of the Red Army for outstanding successes in the management of troops, excellent organization of military operations and the determination and perseverance shown in their conduct, as a result of which a victory was achieved in the battles for the Motherland in the Patriotic War.

The badge of the Order of Suvorov I degree is a platinum convex five-pointed star, the surface of which is made in the form of diverging rays. In the middle of the star, in the rim, there is a golden circle covered with dark gray enamel with a red enamel strip in the upper part of the circle and a red enamel star in the middle of the upper ray of the star, with the inscription in the upper part around the circle in golden letters "ALEXANDER SUVOROV." The lower part of the circle is bordered by a gold laurel-oak wreath. In the center of the circle is an overhead gold polished chest relief image of Suvorov (from the engraving of 1818 by the artist Utkin N.I.).

The inscription "ALEXANDER SUVOROV" on orders of II and III degree is made with red enamel. The enamel red star in the upper beam of the star in the order of the second and third degree is absent.

The Order of Suvorov I degree is made of platinum, with a golden circle in the center. The size of the order between the opposite peaks of the star is 56 mm. Platinum content in the order of the first degree - 28.995 g, gold - 8.84 g, silver - 9.2 g. The total weight of the order is 41,8±1,8 g.

The badge of the Order of Suvorov II degree is made of gold. The circle in the middle of the star, the image of Suvorov and the wreath are made of silver. Gold content in the order of the second degree - 23.098 g, silver - 12.22 g. The total weight of the order is 29,2±1,5 g.

The badge of the Order of Suvorov III degree is made entirely of silver. A silver circle located in the middle of the star, a relief image of Suvorov and a laurel-oak wreath at the bottom of the circle on the order are made oxidized. Silver content in the order of the third degree - 22.88 g. The total weight of the order - 25,3±1,5 g.

The second and third degrees of the order are made of a reduced size - 49 mm between the opposite vertices of the star.

The ribbon to the order is silk moire green, with longitudinal orange stripes:

• for I degree - with one strip in the middle of the tape, 5 mm wide;

• for II degree - with two strips at the edges of the tape, 3 mm wide each;

• for the III degree - with three strips - one in the middle and two at the edges of the tape, 2 mm wide each.

The width of the tape is 24 mm.

I degrees

II degrees

III degrees

The Order of Suvorov is the first order of the USSR to have three degrees. He occupied the highest rung in the hierarchy of military orders. The Order of Suvorov was established simultaneously with the Order of Kutuzov, who then had two degrees, and the Order of Alexander Nevsky, who had one degree. The order had a pronounced "offensive" character, as can be seen from the statute, and was awarded to the commanders of units and formations. Sometimes for the same operation, for which the unit commander received the Order of Suvorov, the chief of staff of the same unit could receive the Order of Kutuzov of the same degree. For example, we can cite the case when the commander of the North Caucasus Front, Colonel-General Petrov I.E., for the operation to completely liberate the Kuban and Taman Peninsula from German occupation in October 1943, received the rank of Army General and the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree. The chief of staff of the North Caucasus Front, Major General I. Laskin, received the rank of Lieutenant General and the Order of Kutuzov, 1st degree, for the same operation.

The decision to establish orders specifically for awarding military leaders was made in June 1942, during the most difficult battles in the south of the USSR, when Soviet troops rolled back to the Don and Volga under German attacks, and besieged Sevastopol was already doomed. The establishment of the newly created "commander" orders took place the day after the signing of the famous order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief No. 227 of July 28, 1942 "Not a step back!" The future successes of the Red Army commanders had to be encouraged. Therefore, they decided to move away from the system of awarding traditional for the USSR, according to which any order presented for the award could be awarded: a Red Army soldier, commander, marshal or civilian. According to the plan, new orders could be obtained only by holding the corresponding position. Initially, as a simplified version, it was proposed to establish the Order of the Red Banner with swords for these purposes. There were other options, but in the end they decided to give the new orders the names of the great commanders.