The Order of Alexander Nevsky was established in 1942. This order was awarded to commanders who managed to inflict a major defeat on the fascist invaders with minimal losses for their troops. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 42, 000 people received this order. And who was the author of the sketch of the award, and what is depicted on the order of Alexander Nevsky.
Igor Sergeyevich Telyatnikov was a graduate of the Moscow Architectural Institute. It was he who was instructed to develop a sketch of the new order in a day. The architect decided to use images of ancient Russian weapons: a sword, shield and ax. Exactly 24 hours later, three draft versions of the new order fell on the table of the head of the Technical Department of the Quartermaster Office. One of the projects has been approved.
Telyatnikov set about developing the final version. To do this, he visited the Historical Museum, the order provided for the image of Alexander Nevsky himself. And here the architect ran into unexpected difficulties. The lifetime portrait of the great commander simply did not exist.
The resourceful Telyatnikov went for help to the Mosfilm film studio, where the film "Alexander Nevsky" was recently shot, in which the actor Nikolai Cherkasov played the main role. It is the face of this actor depicted in the order of Alexander Nevsky.
July 29, 1942 the Order of Alexander Nevsky was officially established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The first to receive this high award was Senior Lieutenant N.I. Ruban is the commander of the Marine Corps battalion, who destroyed seven German tanks and more than 200 enemy soldiers and officers in battle, and the architect Telyatnikov later became the developer of the "Mother Heroine" and "Mother Glory" awards.
