On September 2, Russia celebrates Guard Day. This is a holiday for all soldiers and officers who serve in more than 100 guards formations of the Russian Armed Forces. Guards status, as a rule, was given to elite military formations that distinguished themselves on the battlefield. The Guard of Imperial Russia was the forge of the command staff of the Russian army. The guards units were abolished in 1918, following the disbandment of the Russian Imperial Army. During the Great Patriotic War, the guards units were revived. In modern Russia, the honorary title of guards symbolizes historical continuity and the connection of generations.

• Military personnel of the Presidential Regiment during the mounting of the mounted guard
• RIA News
• Kirill Kallinikov

Guard Day was established by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2000. Since then, on September 2, the professional holiday has been celebrated by military personnel of the guards units of the Russian army. The presidential decree on celebrating Guard Day was signed with the aim of increasing the prestige of military service.

Particularly close

Guardia is a word of Italian origin that translates as “guard” or “defense.” Historians believe that the guard consisted of warriors close to the royal person. In ancient times, the duties of the guards included protecting the top officials of the state and performing special combat missions.

For example, in Ancient Persia the guard was the “immortals,” whose number was about 10 thousand people. In ancient Rome, the guard was considered a cohort of praetorians - the emperor's bodyguards. In the early Middle Ages, the functions of the guard were performed by vigilantes - the army and the personal guard of the prince.

With the advent of the regular army, the guard units turned into elite formations, which were recruited at the expense of privileged strata of society. As a rule, this was cavalry - a mobile strike force that was used to carry out unexpected attacks and breakthroughs behind enemy lines.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the Life Guards - the military group closest to the monarch. The Life Guards guarded the ruler and participated in ceremonies, parades, ceremonial appearances and processions. In modern Russia, part of the functions of the Life Guards is assigned to the Presidential Regiment.

Military caste

The Russian Guard originates from the amusing troops of Peter I - the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, united in 1693 into the 3rd Moscow elective regiment. On September 2, 1700, both regiments began to be called Life Guards - this date became the day the Russian Guard appeared.

The first Russian guardsman is considered to be Sergei Leontyevich Bukhvostov, who, faster than other soldiers, enlisted in the ranks of the amusing regiments in 1683.

The Russian Guard experienced its baptism of fire in the battle against the Swedes near Narva in November 1700, literally two months after its founding. Despite the fact that the battle was lost by the Russian army, two guards regiments showed extraordinary courage in holding back the enemy onslaught, covering the retreat of the rest of the army.

• "Poltava Victory"
• RIA News

For this feat, Peter I granted the chief officers of both regiments who fought “knee-deep in blood” a badge with the inscription “1700, November 19” and palm branches, and the color of the stockings worn by the guardsmen was changed from green to red. At the same time, Peter I established increased pay for the guards.

According to the Table of Ranks, established in 1722, officers of the guards regiments received seniority of two ranks compared to the army.

The guards were mainly recruited from nobles. Only after heavy losses in battles was it possible to recruit regular recruits or transfer from other parts of the armed forces.

Under Peter I, selection for the guard was made personally by the sovereign, guided by the criteria of education and military professionalism of those wishing to enter the guard service. Nobles entering the service had to begin their careers with the rank of private.

Guardsmen were de facto a caste in Russian society. For example, the marriages of guardsmen were strictly controlled: marriage to the daughters of merchants, bankers or stockbrokers was not allowed. Otherwise, the nobleman was forced to leave the service.

The successors of Peter I changed the approach to the guard service: the political interests of the monarch, the personal loyalty of the officers and the high birth of the candidates came first. Children of nobles began to be enrolled in the guards regiments from infancy, so that they would not serve as privates and junior officers.

As a result, teenagers received officer ranks. In the guard of the mid-18th century there were a huge number of 20-22 year old colonels, while officers who started even as privates did not receive promotion. By the 19th century, guards regiments could have up to 75% of the officers listed on paper.

Commander School

Another feature of recruitment into the guard was a kind of “exterior” tradition. So, they tried to recruit tall young men of strong build into the guard.

• Ordinary regiments of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky and Moscow, 1862
• Pirate K.K.

Fair-haired people were enrolled in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, blondes in the Semenovsky Regiment, brunettes in the Izmailovsky and Grenadier Regiments, red-haired people in the Moscow Regiment, and red-haired and snub-nosed people in the Pavlovsky Regiment. Young men of thin build with any hair color served in the Jaeger units of the Life Guards.

Proximity to the throne, privileged position and aristocratic composition led to the fact that in the history of palace coups of the 18th century, the Russian Imperial Guard played one of the key roles. The noble guards became the subject of political relations.

With the direct participation of guards officers, Catherine I, Anna Ioannovna, Anna Leopoldovna, Elizaveta Petrovna and Catherine II came to power. Almost all the Decembrists served in the Life Guards. In essence, the guard became the political school of the nobility, being the largest aristocratic association.

Despite the increased salary, it was impossible to serve in the guard without additional income. The guardsman had to have several sets of very expensive uniforms, a carriage, horses, participate in feasts and generally lead a fairly active social life. The guards even had a saying: “His Majesty’s cuirassiers are not afraid of wines in quantity.”

However, the guards were strong not only in matters of drinking and courting ladies. Despite the problems of recruitment, the guard fulfilled its military duty during periods of war. In addition, the guards formations were a forge for the leadership of the Russian army. The secondment (transfer) of trained soldiers and officers from the guard continued until the First World War.

• Battle of Leipzig
• A. N. Sauerweid

Under Alexander I, the Russian Imperial Guard participated in all military campaigns and campaigns of their sovereign, and especially distinguished themselves in the War of 1812. The regiments of the Petrovsky brigade (Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky) were awarded the St. George banners for courage and steadfastness in the battle of Kulm (August 1813).

For heroism in the same battle, the Izmailovsky and Jaeger Guards regiments were awarded the Trumpets of St. George. The Lithuanian Life Guards Regiment received the same award for the Battle of Leipzig (October 1813). For saving Emperor Alexander I from captivity during the Battle of Leipzig, silver trumpets were awarded to the Life Guards Cossack Regiment and His Majesty's Own Convoy.

Guards units took part in the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and the First World War of 1914-1018.

The Russian Imperial Guard formally ceased to exist in 1918. On February 23, 1918, the Bolsheviks created the Red Army, which opposed the White movement. The command of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Republic denied the military traditions of the tsarist regime and abandoned the practice of assigning guards ranks.

Reborn in battle

The guard received its rebirth during the Great Patriotic War. The title of Guards was given to units of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) that distinguished themselves in battles with the Nazi occupiers. The return of imperial traditions was intended to inspire the retreating Soviet troops.

On September 18, 1941, by order No. 308 of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR Joseph Stalin, four rifle divisions were transformed into guards divisions for courage and heroism in the battles near Yelnya. This was the beginning of the Soviet Guard.

The Soviet Guard made a significant contribution to the victory in the Great Patriotic War. In the spring of 1945, the Red Army consisted of 11 combined arms and six tank armies, 40 rifle, seven cavalry, 12 tank corps, nine mechanized and 14 aviation corps, about 200 divisions and brigades.

In addition, one fortified area, 18 surface combat ships, 16 submarines, and a number of other units and units of various branches of the military became guards.

After the Great Patriotic War, the guard banner and breastplate were approved, which were evidence of the courage and valor of the unit, which was awarded the honorary title of guards. The presentation of the banner and badge was usually carried out in a solemn atmosphere. All this contributed to the growth of the authority of the Soviet guard.

Despite the fact that in peacetime the conversion of units into guards did not occur, in order to continue military traditions, when a unit was reorganized or a new one was created, the rank of guards was retained. For example, many formations of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) became guards, having received this title from artillery units that distinguished themselves during the war.

Keeping traditions

The modern guard, like the Soviet one after 1945, exists in peacetime. The Guards rank symbolizes loyalty to the traditions of military glory.

In 2009, the 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Sub-Carpathian-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov Division and the 5th Separate Guards Tank Tatsin Red Banner Order of Suvorov Brigade were formed.

In 2013, the 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Taman Order of the October Revolution Red Banner Order of Suvorov Division appeared in the Russian Armed Forces. In November 2014, the 1st Guards Tank Red Banner Army was recreated on the western borders of Russia.

In our time, the Guards include four tank and seven motorized rifle divisions, all airborne formations, one division of missile boats, a number of units of the Ground Forces, air force units, ships and naval units, as well as missile divisions of the Strategic Missile Forces.

• Military personnel at the solemn ceremony of taking the military oath of the Guards Air Assault Brigade of the Airborne Forces in Ussuriysk
• RIA News

But historical continuity does not mean that the guards units stopped performing feats. The most striking example of heroism was demonstrated by the Pskov paratroopers during the Second Chechen Campaign (1999-2000).

On February 29, 2000, the 6th company of the 76th Guards Airborne Division under the command of Guard Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evtyukhin was surrounded by militants. Pskov paratroopers held the defense against many times superior enemy forces.

After the death of Evtyukhin, Captain Viktor Romanov took command of the unit. Seeing the inevitable breakthrough of the militants from the Argun Gorge, the officer decided to call fire on himself. Of the 99 soldiers, 84 died. 22 paratroopers of the 6th company were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

In a conversation with RT, a member of the scientific-historical council of the Russian Military Historical Society (RVIO), Oleg Rzheshevsky, noted that the guards rank of modern units of the Russian army reminds descendants of grandiose feats on the fields of the Great Patriotic War.

“I believe that in our time it makes sense to continue the good military tradition by awarding guards ranks to units and ships. This inspires the younger generation of military personnel to serve in honor of their heroic predecessors. However, I do not rule out that army units will become guards for their feats in battles that are still going on today,” Rzheshevsky said.

The history of the first guards units in the Russian army dates back to the existence of the imperial system. It is reliably known that the first such units were two and Preobrazhensky, which were founded during the reign of Peter I. Even then, these regiments showed considerable endurance and heroism in battle. Such units existed until Bolshevism came to power in Russia. Then there was an active struggle against the remnants of the tsarist regime, and the guards units were disbanded, and the concept itself was forgotten. However, during the Great Patriotic War, the issue of rewarding distinguished soldiers became acute, since many soldiers or entire units fought bravely even against superior enemy forces. It was during this difficult time that the “USSR Guard” badge was established.

Establishment of the Guards rank

In 1941, the Red Army suffered a series of defeats from the Wehrmacht and retreated. The decision to revive the former tradition of the Soviet government arose during one of the most difficult defense battles - the Battle of Smolensk. In this battle, four divisions especially distinguished themselves: the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st. And already in September 1941, by order of the Supreme High Command, they were renamed into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards Divisions and assigned the corresponding rank. At the same time, all personnel were awarded the “Guard” badge, and also received special salaries: for privates - double, for officers - one and a half. Later, this sign also began to decorate the banners of distinguished units (since 1943).

During the war years, many units that showed courage and heroism in battles with the invaders were awarded the guards rank. But the story of elite formations in the Red Army does not end there. Awards of the Guards rank were also carried out during other armed conflicts. They continued until the collapse of the USSR. The "Guard" badge was awarded to any recruit who joined the unit, but only after he had undergone baptism of fire, and in such areas as the aviation or navy, these requirements were even more stringent. Moreover, in this regard, there was no difference between officers and ordinary soldiers.

Badge "Guard": description

There are several varieties of this award: WWII, post-war, and modern badges. Each of them has its own differences, since the design and Yes, and they were produced at different factories, changed over time. A sample from 1942 will be described below.

So, this honorary award is a sign made in the form of a laurel wreath, covered with gold enamel. The upper part is covered with a fluttering color on which "Guard" is written in gold letters. The entire space inside the wreath is covered with white enamel. In the center stands the Soviet army in red with gold trim. The left rays of the star are crossed by the flagpole, which is intertwined with a ribbon. Two cords extend from it, which hang onto the left branch of the wreath. At the bottom there is a cartouche on which the inscription “USSR” is engraved.

When assigning any part of the Guards rank, the emblem depicting the award was also applied to military equipment - tanks or aircraft.

The dimensions of the sign are 46 x 34 mm. It was made of tombak - an alloy of brass, copper and zinc. Its properties prevented the award from rusting. A special pin and nut were included for fastening to clothing. The award was worn on the right side of the clothing at chest level.

The project was developed by S.I. Dmitriev. One of the design options was an almost similar sign, but Lenin’s profile was placed on the banner. However, Stalin did not like the idea, and he ordered to replace the profile with the inscription “Guard”. This is how the award received its final form.

Privileges and features

Those who had the sign “USSR Guard” were entitled to special privileges. The award remained with the person who received it even if he left the guards service. The same applied to the transfer of a soldier to another unit. The award was also worn in the post-war period. In 1951, the government of the USSR issued a law that decided to temporarily stop awarding the “Guard” badge, doing this only in exceptional cases. This order was observed until 1961, when the Minister of Defense R. Ya. Malinovsky approved an order according to which the right to wear the badge came into force when serving in a guards unit. It did not apply to WWII participants.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the presentation. It was carried out solemnly, with the entire unit in general formation, with banners unfurled. In addition to the award itself, the fighter was also given a document containing relevant information about the award and confirming it. But over time, the presentation itself turned into a routine and lost its “ritual” meaning.

Modernity

Now, when the glory of past events is fading, it can be purchased from various private dealers. Since one of the most popular awards is the “Guard” badge, its price is usually low. This depends on several factors: the time and method of manufacture, the history of the award, and who is selling it. The cost starts at an average of 2000 rubles.

Bottom line

The “Guard” badge testified to the heroism, military training and valor of the person wearing it. During the existence of the USSR, units awarded the title of guards were considered elite, and soldiers who served in such units were treated with great respect.

The Soviet Guard was born during the Great Patriotic War during the Battle of Smolensk near Yelnya on September 18, 1941. There, as a result of a counterattack by the Western and Reserve Fronts, a large enemy group was defeated for the first time, and the city was liberated. Four motorized rifle divisions - 100-, 127-, 153- and 161st (division commanders: Major General I. Russiyanov, Colonels A. Akimenko, N. Gagen, P. Moskvitin) “... for military exploits, organization, discipline, and exemplary order" by order of the USSR NCO No. 308 were renamed into guards.

Their military history is significant. For example, the 100th Rifle Division is one of the oldest in the Red Army. Its fighting traditions were established on the fronts of the Civil War. In 1940, the division's soldiers crushed the Mannerheim Line on the Karelian Isthmus, and its Battle Banner was decorated with the Order of Lenin. Entering into battle on June 26, 1941, it defeated two enemy regiments in two days: a tank and an infantry. The decisive test for the title of Guards for the division was the battles on the Yelninsky ledge, which lasted about a month. The soldiers boldly went into battle with one thought - to win. They gave the enemy no rest day or night. The wounded, as a rule, did not leave the battlefield as long as they could stay on their feet. And the future guardsmen did what was required of them: in cooperation with their neighbors, they pinned down large enemy forces, cleared part of the Soviet territory from the enemy, and contributed to the liberation of Yelnya - the first Soviet city that the Nazis were forced to abandon.

The former platoon commander of the 153rd (3rd Guards) Rifle Division, retired Major General N. Kosmodemyansky, recalled: “...For us veterans, the heavy battles of 1941 are especially memorable. Near Vitebsk, where the Ural warriors received a baptism of fire, repelling the onslaught of an enemy many times superior in strength. Near Yelnya, where they learned not only to defend themselves, but also to successfully attack.

Yes, the victory at Yelnya came at a high price. In those battles, many of our comrades died the death of the brave. They did not have to wear the “Guard” sign on their chests. But they rightfully deserved the title of guardsmen.”

At the same time, by decision of the Supreme Command Headquarters, guards mortar units were formed. The order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated November 11, 1941 for the first time summarized the combat experience of the guardsmen: “... the tank crews of the brigade, having met Guderian’s tank group in the Mtsensk area, acted extremely skillfully, showed combat caution, hit the enemy’s tanks and manpower...” In a word, they fought in a way that no one had managed before, they burned 133 tanks, preserving their material and combat effectiveness.

The Guard of the Great Patriotic War is a galaxy of heroes whose names will never fade. These include B.C. Petrov, who commanded the 248th Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment and after losing both arms. He received the second Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union as a guard major. All three Stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the famous pilot A.I. Pokryshkin received it as part of the 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The last one was during the performance of the position of commander. Another famous World War II ace, three-time Hero of the Soviet Union I.N., fought with the enemy as deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. Kozhedub. In the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Guard Senior Lieutenant A.P. accomplished a feat, conducting air battles using prosthetic legs instead of legs. Maresyev, deputy squadron commander. Guard private forever entered the history of A.M. Sailors, who covered the embrasure of the enemy bunker with his chest and was forever enrolled in his native 244th Guards Rifle Regiment.

All of them resurrected and multiplied the best military traditions of the Russian Guard. The military exploits of their ancestors helped the guardsmen find high examples of perseverance and fearlessness, loyalty to their people. In total, during the Great Patriotic War, over 4.5 thousand units, ships, formations, and associations were given the guards name. They were awarded special guards banners, and naval formations were awarded the guards naval flag.

In May 1942, a badge was established for military personnel of the guards units. In the Navy, until 1943, it was a rectangular plate (gold-plated for commanding officers and silver-plated for privates) with an orange moire ribbon with black longitudinal stripes. Sailors and foremen of guard ships wore a moire ribbon on their caps. Distinctive military ranks were established for all military personnel of guards units, ships and formations. In addition, they were given an increased salary. The assignment of guards ranks and the presentation of banners was carried out in a solemn atmosphere at rallies, where the soldiers swore not to disgrace the guards unit and to observe the laws of the guard.

In the post-war years, the Soviet guard continued the glorious traditions of previous generations of guards. And although in peacetime the formations were not converted into guards, in order to preserve military traditions, the guards ranks of units, ships, formations and associations were transferred to new military formations during reorganization with direct succession in personnel. Thus, the 4th Kantemirovskaya Tank Division was created on the basis of the famous 4th Kantemirovsky Guards Corps. She retained her honorary title and was given the corps guards banner. The same thing happened with the 5th Guards Mechanized Division, whose soldiers subsequently fulfilled their military duty in Afghanistan with dignity. Similar reorganizations took place in the Air Force, Airborne Forces and Navy. Newly formed units and formations of the Strategic Missile Forces, anti-aircraft missile units and formations of the country's Air Defense Forces were awarded the ranks of artillery and mortar formations that distinguished themselves during the Great Patriotic War.

Guards units and formations were located primarily at the forefront in groups of troops and border districts, and divisions and ships, whose exploits received special recognition, were stationed in large cities and capitals of the union republics. A recruit soldier, coming to serve in a guards unit, with great pride accepted the “Guard” badge from the hands of the commander and vowed not to disgrace the memory of his fathers and grandfathers.

The Guard of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was the successor and continuer of the military traditions of its predecessors. Guards motorized rifle Taman, Guards tank Kantemirovskaya, Guards motorized rifle Carpathian-Berlin divisions; Guards separate motorized rifle brigade; guard formations of the Airborne Forces; Guards Motorized Rifle Piotrakuvsky Regiment, Guards Motorized Rifle Tatsinsky Regiment... These names still inspire and oblige to selflessly serve the Fatherland.

The guardsmen of the late 20th - early 21st centuries are faithful to the laws of the guard, developed and enshrined by their predecessors. Will we ever forget about the feat of our contemporaries - the 6th company of the 104th Guards Parachute Regiment near Ulus-Kert, which is inscribed with a golden line in the modern history of the Russian Armed Forces, in the centuries-old chronicle of its guards? He inspires to good deeds those who today carry out difficult military service under the guards banners, helps to instill in soldiers a sense of pride in their army, their Fatherland.

Today, in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Guard is the successor and continuer of the military traditions of its predecessors. Guards units, ships and formations that became part of the RF Armed Forces retained their previous honorary names and awards. The further development of the Guard of the Russian Federation follows the path of professionalization by changing the principles of manning, improving the organizational structure, and equipping it with more modern types of weapons and military equipment. Great importance is attached to increasing combat training, instilling patriotism, and improving the furnishings and uniforms of military personnel of the guards units.

An integral feature of a guardsman is ideological conviction, patriotism, and loyalty to the military oath. At all times, he is distinguished by selfless love for his unit, the ship.

The traditions of the Guard, its unfading glory are the inheritance and heritage of every Russian soldier, all our units and ships. To serve in the Guards today means to have the highest combat qualifications, to masterfully wield equipment and weapons, to serve vigilantly, and to tirelessly strengthen the combat readiness of the army and navy.