Order of Alexander Nevsky

Order of Alexander Nevsky
Order of Alexander Nevsky (obverse)
Awarded by Russian Federation USSR
Type	Single-grade order
Eligibility	Civil Servants
Awarded for	Meritorious Service of 20 years or more
Status	Active
Statistics
Established	July 29, 1942
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr
Next (lower)	Order of Suvorov
Ribbon of the Order of Alexander Nevsky

The Order of Alexander Nevsky (Russian: орден Александра Невского) is an order of merit of the Russian Federation named in honour of saint Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) and bestowed to civil servants for twenty years or more of highly meritorious service. It was originally established by the Soviet Union as a military honour during World War II, more precisely by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 7, 1942.^[1] Its statute was amended by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 26, 1947.^[2] It bears a similar name to the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky which had been established by Empress Catherine I of Russia in 1725, and continued to be bestowed by the heads of the House of Romanov after the 1917 Russian Revolution. The Order of Alexander Nevsky was reinstated by the Soviet Union, minus the words "Imperial" and "Saint", for award to officers of the army for personal courage and resolute leadership. The Order was retained by the new Russian Federation following the dissolution of the USSR by Decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation 2557-I of March 20, 1992^[3] but was never awarded. The September 7, 2010 Decree №1099^[4] of the President of the Russian Federation redesigned the badge of the Order closer to pre-1917 imperial model and amended the statute of the Order making it a purely civilian award.

Statute of the Soviet and early Russian Federation Order

The Order of Alexander Nevsky was awarded to Red Army commanders who displayed personal bravery in fighting for their country in World War II, for courage, bravery and skilful leadership that ensured the success of an operation.^[1]

The Order of Alexander Nevsky was awarded in a single class by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to divisional, brigade, regimental, battalion, company and platoon commanders for:^[2]

the initiative of a sudden, bold and swift attack on the enemy inflicting major damage with minimal losses;^[2]
constant and clear leadership in the coordination of arms during the execution of a mission resulting in the complete or near total destruction of numerically superior enemy forces;^[2]
the rapid saturation of numerically superior enemy artillery or the destruction of the artillery emplacements that were preventing the advance of our units, or the destruction of a bunker or fortifications, or for repelling a large enemy armour attack causing heavy damage, while in command of an artillery unit or battery;^[2]
successfully completing combat operations that caused great damage to the enemy with no loss while in command of an armoured unit or sub unit;^[2]
successfully carrying out a series of combat missions, inflicting severe damage to enemy manpower and equipment without loss while in command of an aviation unit or sub unit;^[2]
rapid actions and initiative resulting in the capture or destruction of enemy fortifications helping friendly troops to surge forward during an offensive;^[2]
the systematic organisation of clear and timely communications greatly limiting losses, ensuring the success of major combat operations;^[2]
able and rapid execution of amphibious operations with minimal losses, which caused great damage to the enemy and ensured the success of the overall mission.^[2]

The Soviet Order of Alexander Nevsky was worn on the right side of the chest and when in the presence of other Orders of the USSR, placed after the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd class.^[2] The early Russian Federation Order of Alexander Nevsky was also worn on the right side of the chest and when in the presence of other Orders, placed after the Order of Kutuzov 2nd class.^[3]

Description of the Soviet and early Russian Federation Order

The Soviet and early Russian Federation Order of Alexander Nevsky was a silver, 50 mm wide and high ruby-red enamelled, five-pointed convex star superimposed on a decagon composed of polished diverging rays. The star had gold-plated rims and edges. In the center of the star, a central medallion bearing the left profile relief image of a helmeted Alexander Nevsky and the inscription along the left and right circumference in prominent letters "ALEXANDER NEVSKY" (Russian: «АЛЕКСАНДР НЕВСКИЙ»). The central medallion was surrounded by a gilt laurel wreath bisected at its base by a silver shield bearing the hammer and sickle, the shield is superimposed over gilded sword, spear, bow and quiver of arrows. Two gilt pollaxes cross behind the central medallion, their outward facing blades protruding on either side of the five pointed star's top arm and extending slightly past the decagon's outer edge, their base visible just inside of the star's two lower arms.^[1]

The original Order was suspended by a ring through a suspension loop to an early Soviet rectangular mount covered by a red silk moiré ribbon. This was changed in 1943 to a threaded stud and nut attachment on the reverse.

The Soviet variants of the Order used the likeness of the actor Nikolay Cherkasov as Alexander Nevsky from Eisenstein's 1938 film, as there were no known portraits of Nevsky made in his lifetime.^[5]

The design of the early Russian Federation variant of the Order differed from the Soviet variant only in the abrogation of the hammer and sickle from the silver shield on the obverse.^[3]

1942 - 1943	1943 - 1991	1992 - 2010	2010 to date
Early Soviet Variant	Soviet Variant	Early Russian Federation Variant	Current Russian Federation Variant

Recipients of the Soviet Order of Alexander Nevsky (partial list)

During World War II the order was granted to more than 42,000 Soviet servicemen and 6 servicewomen, about 70 foreign generals and officers, and over 1,470 military units that display the order on their banners. In all, 50,585 were awarded.^[1]

Statute of the modern Order

The Order of Alexander Nevsky is awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation who have served in civil service positions for at least 20 years and have achieved special personal merit in nation-building, for many years of honest service and excellent results achieved while on duty, for strengthening the international prestige of Russia, the country's defense, economic development, science, education, culture, the arts, health care and other services, as well as to other citizens of the Russian Federation if previously awarded a state Order, for outstanding personal achievements in various sectors of the economy, research, social, cultural, educational and other socially useful activities.^[7]

The Order of Alexander Nevsky may also be awarded to prominent foreign politicians, public figures or representatives of business communities of foreign states, for merit in the development of multilateral cooperation with the Russian Federation and to assist in its socio-economic development.^[7]

The Russian Federation Order of Precedence dictates the The Order of Alexander Nevsky is to be worn on the left breast with other orders and medals immediately after the Order For Merit to the Fatherland 4th class.^[8]

Award description

The Order of Alexander Nevsky is a 40 mm wide gold plated ruby enameled cross pattée. Between each cross arm, a gold double-headed eagle, the State Emblem of the Russian Federation. In the center of the obverse, a circular convex medallion bearing the enameled figure of Prince Alexander Nevsky riding a white steed facing left. On the reverse center, from the right end of the right arm of the cross to the left end of the left end of the cross, the horizontal inscription in relief "FOR WORK AND FATHERLAND" (Russian: «ЗА ТРУДЫ И ОТЕЧЕСТВО»). At the bottom of the reverse of the lower cross arm, the award's serial number.^[7]

The Order of Alexander Nevsky is secured to a standard Russian pentagonal mount by a ring through the suspension loop. The mount is covered by an overlapping silk moiré 24mm wide red ribbon with a central 1.5mm wide yellow stripe.^[7]

Recipients of the modern Order of Alexander Nevsky (partial list)

Politician - Boris Vyacheslavovich Gryzlov^[9]
Russian Orthodox patriarch Kirill I of Moscow^[9]
Mathematician Yury Sergeyevich Osipov^[9]
Marshal Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov^[9]
Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus^[10]
Vladimir Zhirinovsky

References

1 2 3 4 "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 7, 1942" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 1942-07-07. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 26, 1947" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 1947-02-26. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
1 2 3 "Decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation 2557-I of March 20, 1992" (in Russian). Commission under the President of the Russian Federation on state awards. 1999-12-15. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
↑ "Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 7, 2010 No 1099" (in Russian). Russian Gazette. 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
↑ "Житие благоверного супермена"
↑ Don Bennett
1 2 3 4 "Statute of the Order of Alexander Nevsky" (in Russian). Commission under the President of the Russian Federation on state awards. 1999-12-15. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
↑ "Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 16, 2011 No 1631" (in Russian). Russian Gazette. 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
1 2 3 4 "Compiled from the site of the President of the Russian Federation" (in Russian). Kremlin News. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
↑ Kremlin News (2014-08-30). "Executive Order awarding the Order of Alexander Nevsky to Alexander Lukashenko". Kremlin.ru. Retrieved 2014-08-31.

External links

The Commission on State Awards to the President of the Russian Federation

Orders, decorations, and medals of the Soviet Union

Highest grade of distinction	Hero of the Soviet Union Hero of Socialist Labour Mother Heroine

Honorary titles	Honoured Military Pilot of the USSR Honoured Military Navigator of the USSR Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR Honoured Test Pilot of the USSR Honoured Test Navigator of the USSR Honoured Pilot of the USSR Honoured Navigator of the USSR Honoured Inventor of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR People's Doctor of the USSR People's Architect of the USSR People's Teacher of the USSR

Civil and military orders	Order of Victory Order of Lenin Order of the October Revolution Order of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov Order of Ushakov Order of Kutuzov Order of Nakhimov Order of the Red Star Order of the Patriotic War Order of Alexander Nevsky Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Order of Glory Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR Order of the Red Banner of Labour Order of Friendship of Peoples Order of the Badge of Honour Order of Maternal Glory Order of Labour Glory Order of Honour Order "For Personal Courage"

Military medals	Medal "For Courage" Medal for Battle Merit Medal of Ushakov Medal of Nakhimov Medal "For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR" Medal "For Distinction in the Protection of Public Order" Medal "For Distinction in Military Service" 1st class Medal "For Distinction in Military Service" 2nd class Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation" Medal "For Impeccable Service" Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

Second World War medals	Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" Medal "For the Defence of Odessa" Medal "For the Defence of Sevastopol" Medal "For the Defence of Stalingrad" Medal "For the Defence of Moscow" Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus" Medal "For the Defence of the Soviet Transarctic" Medal "For the Defence of Kiev" Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" Medal "For the Capture of Budapest" Medal "For the Capture of Königsberg" Medal "For the Capture of Vienna" Medal "For the Liberation of Prague" Medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw" Medal "For the Liberation of Belgrade" Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Medal "For the Victory over Japan" Medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War" 1st class Medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War" 2nd class Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"

Civil medals	Medal "For Labour Valour" Medal "For Distinguished Labour" Medal "For the Salvation of the Drowning" Medal "For Courage in a Fire" Medal "Veteran of Labour" Medal "For the Restoration of the Donbass Coal Mines" Medal "For the Restoration of the Black Metallurgy Enterprises of the South" Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands" Medal "For Construction of the Baikal-Amur Railway" Medal "For Transforming the Non-Black Earth of the RSFSR" Medal "For the Tapping of the Subsoil and Expansion of the Petrochemical Complex of Western Siberia"

Jubilee medals	Jubilee Medal "XX Years of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy" Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Medal "In Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow" Medal "In Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of Leningrad" Medal "In Commemoration of the 1500th Anniversary of Kiev" Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Soviet Militia" Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"

Orders, decorations, and medals of Russia

Honorary titles	Hero of the Russian Federation Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation Honoured Military Pilot of the Russian Federation Honoured Military Navigator of the Russian Federation Honored Cultural Worker of the RSFSR

Orders	Order of St. Andrew Order of St. George Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" Order of St. Catherine Order of Alexander Nevsky Order of Suvorov Order of Ushakov Order of Zhukov Order of Kutuzov Order of Nakhimov Order of Courage Order "For Military Merit" Order "For Naval Merit" Order of Honour Order of Friendship Order of Parental Glory

Decorations	Cross of St. George Decoration "For Beneficence" Decoration For Impeccable Service

Medals	Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" Medal "For Courage" Medal of Suvorov Medal of Ushakov Medal of Zhukov Medal of Nesterov Medal of Pushkin Medal Defender of a Free Russia Medal "For Distinction in the Protection of Public Order" Medal "For Distinction in the Protection of the State Borders" Medal "For Life Saving" Medal "For Work in Agriculture" Medal "For the Development of Railways" Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" Medal of the Order of Parental Glory

Jubilee medals	Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Navy" Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow" Jubilee Medal "100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway" Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg" Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan"

Presidential certificates	Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Honour Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude

Defunct dynastic orders	Order of Saint Catherine Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky Order of the White Eagle Order of Saint Vladimir Order of Saint Anna Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Order of Saint Anastasia Order of Saint Stanislaus Order of Saint Michael the Archangel (Insignia of Saint Olga)

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