St. George's Ribbon 

St. George's Ribbon (G'yeorgiyevskaya l'yentochka)

St George’s ribbons are the most recognizable and respected symbol of remembrance in Russia and other parts of former Soviet Union. This symbol is as closely associated with Victory Day as poppies are with Armistice Day in Britain and the U.S.

The black and orange striped ribbon can be spotted everywhere from the lapels of coats to the windshields of cars and the headers of newspapers. The symbol dates back to Russia’s Imperial Order of St George and is associated with military glory. It is one of the few symbols introduced by Tsarist forces and retained by the Red Army. Civilians in Russia and many former Soviet countries wear it as a primary sign of homage to military sacrifice on Victory Day.

The Red Army used the ribbon’s colours for the World War II veteran’s medal “ For Victory Over Germany ”, adding an engraving of Stalin’s face and the inscription “Our deed is right. We triumphed.”

The pattern is thought to symbolise fire and gunpowder. It is also thought to be derived from the colours of the original Russian imperial coat of arms (black eagle on a golden background). The ribbon consists of a black and orange bicolour pattern, with three black and two orange stripes.

The Georgian ribbon emerged as part of the Order of St George, established in 1769 as the highest military decoration of Imperial Russia. It remained the highest collective military award in the Imperial Russian Army until the Revolution in 1917 (for 148 years)

The title of the Soviet Guards was first introduced on 18 September 1941.Established on November 8, 1943, the Order of Glory(Orden Slavy) was an order of the Soviet Union.One of the most honourable medals in the Soviet Union, the Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945") also features St. George stripes.

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