Decree No. GOKO-2039 of July 14, 1942 established the use of a distinctive sign of injury for the Red Army from the day the Patriotic War began. For the illegal wearing of a badge of injury - the perpetrators are prosecuted.

All servicemen of the Red Army who were wounded in battles with the enemy, or wounded by the enemy in the performance of their duties, had the right to wear a distinctive sign of the number of wounds.

For any simultaneous wound, servicemen had the right to wear one patch - a distinctive sign for a wound, depending on the nature of the wounds.

By type of injury are divided into light and severe. The category of "light wounds" includes - wounds of soft tissues without damage internal organs, bones, joints, nerve trunks and large blood vessels, as well as burns of the 1st and 2nd degree. The category of “severe injuries” includes injuries with damage to bones, joints, internal organs, large nerve trunks and large blood vessels, as well as burns and frostbite of the III and IV degrees.

The fact of each injury was certified by a “certificate of injury” issued by military medical institutions and an extract from the order for the unit (institution).

For persons in command, marks on the right to wear award marks of injury were entered in section 3 "Awards and special rights assigned to the owner of the certificate." The identity of the persons of the commanding staff of the Red Army was certified by the signature of the commander of the unit (institution) and the seal of the unit (institution).

For privates, marks on the right to wear award marks of injury were entered in section III “Participation in campaigns, awards and distinctions”, the Red Army book, by the company commander, according to orders for the unit. When transferred to another unit, information about the service was signed by the chief of staff of the unit with a seal attached.

The badge is a rectangular patch 43 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, made of dark red silk lace (for a light wound) or golden (for a severe wound).

The patch for wounds was sewn on a fabric basis, in the color of the uniform. It was located on the right side of the tunic (tunic) at the level of the middle button, and in the presence of a pocket - above the right breast pocket.

It was worn on all forms of clothing on the right side of the chest 8-10 mm above orders and medals, and in the absence of the latter, in their place.

In the navy, the sign of wounds was established by order of the People's Commissar of the Navy of the USSR No. 179 dated July 18, 1942. The difference was in the method of wearing, namely: the sign was worn on the right sleeve of the upper items of naval uniform at a distance of 10 cm from the shoulder seam to the bottom strip. On working and inventory overalls, the sign of the number of wounds was not supposed to be worn. On the general army uniform, the patch for wounds should be worn, as established for the Red Army. The stripes had to be sewn from the bottom up in the order of the wounds, while in the army the stripes were located from the bottom to the top in the order of the severity of the wound (below - for light wounds, above them - for severe ones).

According to official estimates, in the period from June 22, 1941 to September 3, 1945, 14,685,593 cases of injuries, contusions, burns and frostbite were recorded among army and navy personnel. At the same time, 10,530,750 people returned to service. (71.7%), 3,050,733 people were dismissed with an exception from the military register or sent on leave due to injury. (20.8%), 1.104.110 people died. (7.5%).

As of October 1, 1945 in Soviet army of those remaining in the ranks, more than a million military personnel were counted, who had several combat wounds and about one and a half million military personnel who received one wound.

In the post-war years in the Soviet Union, it was allowed to wear a badge for wounds on everyday and field uniforms, but such an opportunity was not provided for the dress uniform. Contrary to orders, military personnel sometimes wore insignia of the number of wounds and on dress uniform clothes.

In the 50s, an attempt was made to transform galloon signs into a classic award. Well-known Soviet artist, author of many post-war awards Zhuk A.B. (1922-2002) developed many design sketches based on alternating golden and red stripes as a design element of the block to which the medallion was attached. The reasons why the award was never released remain unknown.

On July 14, 1942, at a meeting of the State Defense Committee, the issue of the differences between servicemen wounded on the fronts of the Patriotic War was raised, and Resolution No. GOKO-2039 was adopted on this occasion. According to indirect data, this was initiated by the head of the Main Military Sanitary Directorate of the Red Army, Korvrach E.I. Smirnov.

It is interesting to note that this document had a historical precedent in the old Russian army, when by order of the chief of staff Supreme Commander No. 1815 of December 31, 1916 was introduced for the wound stripe, located half an inch above the left cuff. For officers, it was silver or gold, according to the galloon of the epaulette, for the lower ranks - red braid. In general, it should be noted that since the winter of 1941-1942, when the front was relatively stabilized, I.V. Stalin, for every proposal coming from any authority, began to demand a historical background on how it was before.

The GKO decree approved the "Regulations on the distinctive signs of the wounded soldiers of the Red Army on the fronts of the Patriotic War." They were of two types: for a light wound and for a severe one, which was determined by the "Certificate of Wound". The right to wear signs was noted in the Red Army books or identity cards and service records of command personnel. This decree was announced by the order of the NCO of the USSR No. 213 of July 14, 1942 and the order of the People's Commissariat of the Navy of the USSR No. 179 of July 18, 1942.

However, it was urgently necessary to clarify the concept of "light" and "severe" wounds, to introduce a single "certificate of injury", and also to determine who and when could issue it. All this was carried out in the order of the main military sanitary department of the Red Army No. 263a dated July 23, 1942, where a list of injuries was given that should be attributed to one or another category of injuries, the form "Information about the wound" was given and it was determined that it could be issued only by those medical institutions where the final outcome of the damage was determined.

These signs were worn on the right side of the chest at the level of the middle button of the front bar, at a distance of 7-8 cm from it, and if there was a pocket, above it. They were located one above the other at a distance of 3-4 mm from each other. At the same time, for a severe wound, it is higher than for a light one. Later, the wearing of these signs was allowed only on everyday and field clothes, and with the introduction on July 26, 1969 by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 191 of the new Wear Rules military uniform clothes - are worn with all forms of clothing on the right side of the chest 8-10 mm above orders or, in the absence of such, in their place.

In the Navy, the rules for wearing these signs were somewhat different. On May 5, 1943, the USSR Navy NK approved the description of the insignia of personnel Navy, where, unlike the general army rules, they were worn on the right sleeve at a distance of 10 cm from the shoulder seam to the bottom strip. They were sewn from bottom to top in order of injury. These rules existed until the merger of the military ministries in 1953 and the introduction by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 105 of June 30, 1955 of the uniform Rules for wearing military clothing marshals, generals, admirals and officers of the SA and the Navy, as well as the order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 120 of August 4, 1956 on the introduction of uniform rules for wearing military clothing by sergeants, foremen, soldiers, sailors, cadets and pupils of the SA and the Navy.

Description of "Sign of injury"

A horizontally elongated rectangle of silk galloon: with a light wound - dark red, with a severe one - golden. It was fastened on a rectangular piece of fabric, similar in color to the fabric of the uniform, as wide as a badge, and 3-4 mm high above and below it in the form sewn onto clothes. The size of one sign is 6X43 mm.

The courage and fearlessness of warriors shown in battles were praised in every era. Those who showed these qualities were awarded orders, which testified to the self-sacrifice they had shown. One of the distinguishing marks was the stripe for the wound.

History of appearance

It should be noted that in Russian Empire in one of the first among other states new history there were signs of injury for soldiers and officers of this format. Their issuance was established in 1906. Then the wounded and shell-shocked participants in the war with Japan relied on medals with a ribbon and a bow.

World War I

The last Russian tsar decided to reward the wounded during the battles of the First World War. The procedures for extradition and all related rules were approved in the order of 1916. It became impossible to keep the design of the previous decals. And this time, the Russian Empire provided galloon and fringe stripes. The lower ranks received such stripes in red, and the officers - in gold and silver. They were placed on the left sleeve.

Wearing rules

All those who were wounded in the war wore them on every type of their uniform - on a tunic, uniform, shirt and overcoat. The award was based on the number of wounds. Moreover, if a wounded soldier became an officer, he wore stripes for wounds in red, soldier's color, for wounds received before receiving the rank. The patches were always attached in a horizontal direction. Be sure to mark with such a sign and the wounds preceding this war. It was obligatory for officers to wear them in a contrasting color: for gold epaulettes - silver-colored stripes, and for silver ones - gold. While for all soldiers, the chronology of injuries was not taken into account, and all stripes were red.

These signs were worn only in active units. In the rear, they were strictly prohibited, with the exception of the military, who had at least three stripes. With the end of hostilities, all military personnel were given the right to wear these signs at any time.

During the bloody war of the whites and reds, special stripes existed for both sides of the hostilities. The Red Army used rectangles of silver tinsel.

The Great Patriotic War

Patches for wounds during the Second World War have become legendary. They were introduced into use only a year after the start of hostilities - in 1942. By that time, the evidence of their necessity had increased to the limit. And the decision of the Defense Committee introduced special badges. They were issued to all military personnel who were injured during the fighting with the enemy, or to injured soldiers who were at their combat posts at that time.

All fighters with stripes for wounds were very respected. The situation was aggravated by the fact that orders and medals were being prepared for issuance to a fighter for a very long time. Documents on awards were considered for a long time - sometimes for months. While the life of each fighter constantly hung in the balance. At any moment in every battle, everything ended with a funeral or a hospital for so many Red Army soldiers.

After the hospitals, it was almost impossible to be with comrades in the unit again. This distinguished the Soviet system from the German one. The situation was simpler for officers and pilots. And for a fighter from the infantry troops, the path to former colleagues lay through the regimental or divisional medical battalion. This is after receiving minor injuries.

From the front-line hospital or from the rear one could forget about returning to brothers in arms. The fighters were sent to convalescents, and then replenished with thinned units. Because of this system, many of the rightful accolades from the state were lost by the fighters who deserved them.

Some of the veterans received their orders and medals 15 years after the victory.

That was the advantage of the stripes for the wounds of the Second World War, that they received them in a simplified manner. It was enough for a certificate and a note in the book of a Red Army soldier. This was worn by every fighter. With an injury, everyone sewed galloons on their own. Although shell-shocked decals were not issued. However, according to rumors, purple or dark chevrons were allowed to be sewn on to those who were shell-shocked.

Naval signs

Some liberties existed in the fleet of those times. Badges for wounds for sailors were placed on the sleeves of uniforms. Nevertheless, many sailors sewed them, as in the army, on the chest on the right side. Naval decals were placed according to the chronology of the injuries received, rather than the priority of the gold-colored stripes. This was typical for both privates and officers.

deprivation

The decals once issued were not torn off when they hit the penal battalions. While awards were being thwarted, titles were being taken away. This always happened on the orders of the commanders, there were no decrees about this. Galloon strips were sewn on tightly, they were only torn off, as they say, “with meat”.

With the outbreak of hostilities, the presence of wound patches was recognized as an acceptable insignia. And already closer to the end of the Great Patriotic War in the army ranks, it was considered an exceptional phenomenon when a wounded man, especially repeatedly, did not have government awards. This was an oversight by the commander.

There was a lot of brilliant stuff on staff and in the rear, and there weren’t enough stripes on the front lines. And yet, some of the fighters went without brilliant orders. A yellow stripe or a red one was clear evidence that the fighter did not go to the rear, but was a real veteran who sniffed gunpowder and shed blood for his Fatherland.

Appearance

The patches were rectangular, 43 mm long and 6 mm wide. They were silk, for light wounds - red, and for severe wounds - yellow. The number of stripes showed the number of injuries received.

Injuries of mild severity were considered injuries in soft tissues, when vital organs, bones, joints, and the largest blood vessels were not affected. They also included burns of the 2nd and 1st degrees.

Severe wounds were recognized as injuries with damage to the bone, joint, vital organ, large blood vessel. These were any life-threatening injuries. These included serious penetrating wounds, frostbite, burns of the 3rd and 4th degrees.

The treatment of all injuries of the Red Army soldier was confirmed by the provision of relevant documents. They were issued in hospitals and similar organizations during the war years. The commanders of the Red Army necessarily made a mark in their personal certificates, certified by the signatures of higher authorities.

For ordinary soldiers, a similar mark was made in the Red Army book. The signature of the chief of staff was obligatory.

The patches were attached to the right side of the tunics next to the middle buttons. Or over the chest pocket. In the post-war era, they were attached to any form on the right side of the chest 1 cm above orders and medals.

Appearance in the fleet

In the Red Army Fleet, these decals were rectangular in shape and made of silk fabrics. They were sewn in a horizontal direction. They were 5 mm wide and 43 mm long. Stripes of a golden hue denoted severe injuries affecting vital organs, burns and frostbite of the 3rd and 4th degrees, penetrating wounds. Burgundy rectangles are light. There were small gaps of 3 mm between the bands.

Conclusion

The fighters, and later veterans, were proud of the injuries they had once experienced, because they were fraught with many memories of the difficult, but glorious minutes of the battles. They reminded them of the trials they went through while saving their country and their loved ones. They reminded us of those comrades-colleagues who did not return from the fields of the fiercest battles.

With the end of the fighting season, the enemy troops were destroyed with great efforts. But such special stripes on uniforms remained a reminder of the immortal feat of millions of citizens of the Soviet state. Therefore, these rectangles are considered valuable to this day, after almost a century since the beginning of the war years.

It should be emphasized that only in 1985, on the fortieth anniversary of the Victory, all participants in the hostilities were issued orders in memory of the Patriotic War. All wounded and shell-shocked veterans were awarded orders of the 1st degree.

Who cares even a little military history, he probably remembers that in 1916, in the Russian Imperial Army on December 5, 1916, stripes were introduced for wounding, concussion or gas poisoning on sleeves. For privates and non-commissioned officers they were red, for officers they were gold or silver, depending on the metal device of the unit.
The practice of such stripes was also transferred to the warring armies of the Civil. True, the red examples are oh so few (though they already cleared up in the Second World War). Here is the most famous one.
Meet the instructor of the machine gun team of the 1st revolutionary cavalry regiment of the division named after. N. Kochubeya Anton Vasilyevich Bliznyuk. Awarded by the BKZ of the Russian Federation for distinction in battle on July 1, 1918. near the station of Zlodeysk and in many other battles, where he always showed outstanding bravery, courage and resourcefulness. Comrade Bliznyuk imprinted his devotion to the revolutionary duty with heavy wounds received in valiant battles with the whites. (Provision R B C P dated November 17, 1919 No. 309). Covering the retreat of the regiment with machine-gun support, he was captured by the White Cossacks, received about 26 saber wounds and lost an eye. He managed to escape from the execution by swimming across a mountain river in the frost and making his way to his own! On the sleeve of his overcoat he has ten stripes for being wounded. In his hand is a cigar, according to legend - a gift from Trotsky.

Recently, a new picture of him was found on Sammler


Impressive? But you compare with one white officer! His sleeve generally resembles the keys of a piano.

Personally, I counted from him ... 16 stripes (!!!).
Now the biography of the hero.
Kislitsyn Vladimir Alexandrovich (January 9, 1883, Belaya Tserkov - May 18, 1944, Harbin) was an officer in the RIA and then the White Army at a later stage civil war. Son of Admiral Alexander Kislitsin. Vladimir was educated at the Odessa Military Institute in 1900. He was sent to serve in the Special Frontier Corps on the western border of the Russian Empire. Participated in Russo-Japanese War. During the First World War, he led the 11th Dragoon Regiment, received the rank of colonel in 1916. Vladimir Kislitsin was awarded the Order of St. George 4th class in 1915, the Order of St. Stanislav 3rd and 2nd class, the Order of St. Anna 4th and 1st class and received the Golden Weapon "For Courage". He was repeatedly wounded, including his head. In 1918, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Ufa Cavalry Division and then the 3rd Cavalry Corps. In 1919, Kislitsin served as a company commander in Yevgeny Miller's Northern Army. In July of the same year, Vladimir Kislitsyn was appointed division commander of the 2nd Ufa Cavalry Brigade under the command of Admiral Kolchak, in December 1919 he was appointed commander of the 2nd Ufa Cavalry Division.
After the defeat of Kolchak's army in the Urals and in Western Siberia, Vladimir Kislitsin took part in the Great Siberian ice hike. After arriving in Chita, Ataman Semyonov entrusted him with the Manchu detachment until the retreat of the White Guards from Russia (1921-1922). Vladimir Kislitsyn emigrated to Harbin in November 1922, where he became a dentist and also served in the police. In Manchuria, he led the local "Legitimists" who supported Kirill Vladimirovich as the rightful heir to the Russian throne. In 1928 he was promoted to the rank of general. In 1936, Kislitsyn's memoirs "In the Fire of the Civil War" were published by Nash Put. From 1938 to 1944 Kislitsin acted as chairman of the Bureau for Russian Emigrants in Manchuria, created by the Japanese. He died in Harbin in 1944, where he is buried.

Like this. Who else will swell there that there are no heroes in the Civil War?
True, the little-known machine gunner Anton Bliznyak, unlike Kislitsyn, dressed worse ... And he lost his eye ... But this does not change much.
In general, "to remember."

The decision to establish insignia for the wounded in the USSR, taken at the height of the war - in the summer of 1942, seems to be quite reasonable. The need to visually highlight the fighters and commanders who shed blood on the battlefield became obvious.

The memoirs of Major General David Ortenberg (during the war years, the editor-in-chief of Krasnaya Zvezda) contain a description of a rather characteristic episode:

“... Changes have taken place in the 5th Army, where I often looked during the days of the Moscow battle. Instead of L. A. Govorov, who was appointed commander of the Leningrad Front, I. I. Fedyuninsky, our good friend, comrade from Khalkhin Gol, became the commander. I directed my steps there, capturing the photojournalist V. Temin.

….

There, in the clearing, I told Temin to take pictures of the wounded for the newspaper. Victor immediately launched a stormy activity, began to loudly order, gather people, "shuffle" them. He constantly clicked his "watering can", filmed the fighters in different poses and angles, alone and in groups. After returning to Moscow, Temin brought me a freshly printed, still wet photograph. It depicted close-up figures of ten fighters standing in one line.

Why only ten? Where are the rest? I asked.

Temin explained that he took pictures of all the wounded, but they were special people, and showed me the caption under the photo: “Western Front. Guardsmen, wounded twice and thrice in battle, returned to their regiment. From left to right: Guards military assistant L. Semchuk - wounded in two battles; Guard Sergeant V. Chechin - wounded in three battles; Guard Senior Sergeant A. Ivanov - wounded in three battles; Guards Red Army soldier I. Tselishchev - wounded in five battles ... "

Our readers, and above all the wounded themselves, took this picture as a kind of reward. By the way, on the second day, General A.V. Khrulev called me and said that this photo was noticed at Headquarters. Obviously, the insignia of the wounded will be established. Indeed, a month and a half later, a GKO resolution was adopted on distinctive signs on the number of wounds.

« NOT FOR PRINT

State Defense Committee
Decree No. GOKO-2039 of July 14, 1942
Moscow Kremlin.

On the introduction of distinctive signs for the wounded soldiers of the Red Army on the fronts patriotic war

1. To introduce for the Red Army soldiers, command and political staff of the Red Army, who were wounded in the battles for our Soviet Motherland against the German invaders, a distinctive sign on the number of wounds for constant wear on uniforms.

2. Approve the "Regulations on the distinctive signs for the wounded soldiers of the Red Army on the fronts of the Patriotic War" and the samples of signs attached to it.

3. Distinctive sign of the wound to wear on the right side of the chest.

4. The right to wear a distinctive sign of a wound to a military man to note:
- for the Red Army and junior commanding staff - in the Red Army book;
- for middle and senior command and political staff - in the identity card and service record.

5. For the illegal wearing of a badge of injury - the perpetrators shall be held criminally liable.

6. The distinctive sign of injury established by the Regulations for the servicemen of the Red Army shall be applied from the day of the beginning of the Patriotic War.

CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE DEFENSE COMMITTEE

I. STALIN

Statements sent: t.t. Khrulev, Vasilevsky"

* * *

POSITION

On the decals for the wounded soldiers of the Red Army on the fronts of the Patriotic War.

Basic provisions:

1. For the Red Army soldiers, command and political staff of the Red Army, wounded in the battles for our Soviet Motherland against the German invaders, a distinctive sign of injury is established.

The right to wear the distinctive badge of wounds

2. All servicemen of the Red Army who were wounded in battles with the enemy, or wounded by the enemy in the performance of their duties, enjoy the right to wear a distinctive sign of wounds.

3. For each simultaneous wound, servicemen enjoy the right to wear one patch - a distinctive sign, depending on the nature of the wounds.

4. By their nature, injuries are divided into light and severe.

The category of “light injuries” includes soft tissue injuries without damage to internal organs, bones, joints, nerve trunks and large blood vessels, as well as burns of the 1st and 2nd degree.

The category of “severe injuries” includes injuries with damage to bones, joints, internal organs, large nerve trunks and large blood vessels, as well as burns and frostbite of the III and IV degrees.

5. The fact of each injury is certified by a “certificate of injury” issued by military medical institutions and an extract from the order for the unit (institution).

Description and method of wearing the distinctive sign of wounds

6. A distinctive sign of wounds is a rectangular patch 43 mm long, 5-6 mm wide.

The patch is made of silk galloon - in case of a light wound it is dark red, in case of a severe wound it is golden.

7. The patch of the distinguishing sign of wounds is located on the fabric, in the color of the uniform, rectangular shield on the right side of the chest, according to the approved description.

That's right: Khryapkina "

* * *

34. Newspaper publication with the layout of wound patches (1942).

DESCRIPTION OF THE SIGN FOR THE NUMBER OF WOUNDS

The distinctive sign of the number of wounds is a rectangular shield made of fabric in the color of the uniform with parallel beveled sides, on which horizontal strips of silk galloon 5-6 mm wide and 43 mm long are sewn.

Each wound is indicated by a galloon sewn on the shield: with a light wound - dark red, with a severe one - golden.

The distance between the sewn strips is 3-4 mm.

The length of the shield corresponds to the length of the sewn-on colored galloon, and its width depends on the number of stripes sewn on.

The sign of the wound is sewn on the right side of the chest at the level of the middle button of the strap, at a distance of 7-8 cm from it; and if there is a pocket, above the right chest pocket, towards its inner edge.

(RGASPI, f. 644, op. 1, d.43, ll.179-182)

The decision to place patches over the right breast pocket of a tunic or tunic is quite understandable: in the rear army units, rank insignia were still worn above the cuffs, and all awards and insignia until June 1943 were worn on the left, so the right location of the patches for the wound visually "balanced" the uniform (ill. 34).

In connection with the "movement" of a number of orders and signs on the right side of the chest, the stripes for the wound were given a place 8-10 mm higher than the awards, i.e. more honorable than for orders.

Undoubtedly, when developing the design of the stripes, the system of distinctions for wounds introduced in the Russian Imperial Army in December 1916 was analyzed and rethought. Having retained the principle of using fabric stripes and their differentiation by color, the Soviet command abandoned the distinction by ranks (ranks) awarded in benefit of color determination of the severity of wounds. In similar proportions, the size was also changed: the length from 1.5 inches (66-67 mm) was reduced to 43 mm (practically - 1 inch), the width from 1/5 inch (9 mm) was also reduced by one and a half times - to 5- 6 mm. It can be assumed that in difficult military conditions, the use of a cheap soutache cord or braid (the production of which was mastered by industry) as a mass insignia looked preferable to the establishment of a fundamentally new metal badge.

35. An example of wearing seven stripes for a wound (1944-1945).	36. Guards Lieutenant Colonel with four stripes for a wound (after 1945).	37. Major General of the Guards with stripes for the wound, made in the technique of satin stitch embroidery.	38. Guard Colonel unregulated stripes for wounds
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The photo chronicle of the war years and the surviving items of uniforms indicate that many servicemen could wear 4-7 stripes for a wound (ill. 35,).

Despite the fact that the size of the stripes was determined at 43x5-6 mm, often instead of a soutache cord or braid of a regulated width (ill.). ordinary sergeant galloons 9-11 mm wide were worn. The senior and senior command and command staff had stripes embroidered with satin stitch or cantle (ill.,).

Even before the end of the war, unregulated purple or black stripes began to appear among military personnel - there was an opinion that shell shocks could be designated this way. In isolated cases, other "author's additions" were also observed (ill.).

At the same time, another trend was observed: soldiers who were injured did not always wear patches. In some cases, this could be due to the personal aesthetic tastes of a soldier or officer, sometimes due to the lack of braid.

In the navy, the sign for the number of wounds was established by order of the People's Commissar of the Navy of the USSR No. 179 dated July 18, 1942. The difference was in the method of wearing, namely: the sign was worn on the right sleeve of the upper items of naval uniform at a distance of 10 cm from the shoulder seam to the bottom strip, and stripes were located across the sleeve. On items of work and inventory overalls issued for short-term use, it was not supposed to wear a sign of the number of wounds. On the general army uniform, the sign of the number of wounds should have been worn, as established for the Red Army.

In the "Illustrated description of the insignia of the personnel of the Navy of the USSR", approved by the Order of the People's Commissar of the Navy of the USSR Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov on May 5, 1943 and published in 1944, it was specified that "...The stripes are sewn from bottom to top in order of injury.Thus, when placing the sleeve insignia of the number of wounds in the fleet, not a typological, but a chronological principle was applied.

However, the "naval" version of the wound patch is extremely rare in the photo chronicle of the war years (ill.,),. It seems that the order in which the galloon stripes were placed was determined not by the priority of golden stripes over dark red ones, but by the chronology of injuries - even among officers (ill. 41). Sailors sometimes wore signs of the number of wounds on their chests - even on naval clothes (ill. 44).

Be that as it may, the special naval style of wearing signs of the number of wounds was reflected in the feature film "Ivan Nikulin - Russian Sailor", released in 1944. The heroes of this film demonstrate the wearing of red sleeve patches.

The story about the Soviet signs of the number of wounds would be incomplete without mentioning the number of servicemen who could be awarded this distinction. According to official estimates, in the period from June 22, 1941 to September 3, 1945, 14,685,593 cases of injuries, contusions, burns and frostbite were recorded among army and navy personnel. At the same time, 10,530,750 people returned to service. (71.7%), 3,050,733 people were dismissed with an exception from the military register or sent on leave due to injury. (20.8%) and 1,104,110 people died. (7.5%).

Even after the end of the war (as of October 1, 1945) in the Soviet Army, more than a million servicemen who had several combat wounds were counted among those remaining in the ranks alone. In addition, on the same day, there were about one and a half million servicemen in the Soviet Army who received one wound (see table).

One of the official studies indicates that the sanitary losses of the personnel of the operating fleets and individual flotillas for the period from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945 (excluding the Pacific Fleet and Amur flotilla) amounted to 84873 people. It should be remembered that this number includes both sick people and people who died during the period of treatment in hospitals.

However, in the same publication, detailed information was given on sanitary losses by fleets and flotillas, which made it possible to subtract sick people from the total number of sanitary losses of the fleet (apparently, they did not receive the right to wear the sign of the number of wounds) and determine the number of wounded, frostbite and burns, who had the right wearing the named distinction. The result of the generalization of these data by the author of the article can be presented in the form of a table.

Based on this, on the basis of proportional (i.e., purely theoretical, not confirmed by archival data) calculations, it can be concluded that the cases of wearing signs of the number of wounds in the fleet could be approximately 190 times less than in the army. Of course, the calculation method does not fully characterize the rarity of the practice of wearing signs of the number of wounds on the sleeve of naval uniforms. Repeated wounds, the death of those who returned to duty after being cured, the refusal to wear signs of the number of wounds cannot be counted. An objective confirmation of the rarity of wearing this distinction in the Navy is a photo chronicle - photographs of sailors with sleeve insignia of the number of wounds can be considered unique.

For a while, galloon stripes were considered quite sufficient insignia for the wounded. However, at the final stage of the war in the army, they began to consider it abnormal that the wounded, especially those repeatedly wounded, did not have government awards (at that time, orders and medals were called not state, but government awards). The facts of the presence in the military unit of military personnel who were injured and did not have awards began to be considered as serious omissions in the work of the command and political agencies. In one of the popular science publications, a political report was quoted from the head of the political department of the 69th Army to the head of the political department of the 1st Belorussian Front about some of the results and shortcomings of the first day of the battle on the Oder bridgehead:

« №0471

…

5. Rewarding the wounded.

A survey of the wounded revealed many fighters, sergeants and officers with several wounds, who have not yet been awarded or have been awarded such government awards that do not correspond to their exploits.

Platoon commander 1 sb 39 cn 4 sd lieutenant Grundovsky N.V. until April 16 he was wounded five times. On April 16, he was wounded for the sixth time - severely (blind shrapnel wound to the chest). He was awarded only the medal "For Courage" in October 1942 and after that he was no longer awarded.

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Soldiers and officers were identified with two and three wounds and still not awarded (312 rifle division, 247 rifle division, etc.) "

Signs of the number of wounds were worn quite massively by participants in the Victory Parade - soldiers, sergeants, officers and even some generals ground forces. At the same time, the photo and newsreel known to the author does not illustrate examples of wearing signs of the number of wounds by participants in the Victory Parade - military personnel of the Air Force, NKVD troops and sailors (neither breastplate nor sleeve) ( Note. Ed .: This fact does not indicate the low popularity of these signs, but rather a large proportion irretrievable losses in these branches of the armed forces) . Naturally, the Soviet signs of the number of wounds were not worn by the participants in the Victory Parade - foreign soldiers and officers.