After the events of the October Revolution, mass defense work was very actively promoted and encouraged in every possible way among the youth. Sports shooting took the leading place in the military training of workers in the mid-20s.
By 1928, there were 2.5 thousand shooting ranges in the USSR, in which about 240 thousand people trained. In order to encourage the very best, a very large number of different award signs were made. The most popular of them was the Voroshilovsky shooter badge. What was it given for, what did the award look like, in what forms and in what quantity was it made? Information about this is presented in the article.
History
In the summer of 1932, test commander firing was carried out. Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council Kliment Voroshilov, when examining the targets, drewattention to one of them, which remained completely untouched. The shooter assigned to her complained about the poor quality of the revolver. Voroshilov took his weapon and retreated to the line. He then took aim and fired seven shots, hitting 59 points. Returning the revolver back, K. Voroshilov noticed that there are no bad weapons, but there are bad arrows. According to one version, the idea of creating the Voroshilovsky shooter badge was born precisely after the incident with the famous revolutionary.
Shoot like Voroshilov
In order to encourage the skill of marksmanship, the Presidium of the Central Soviet of the USSR in October 1932 approved the title and badge of the "Voroshilovsky shooter". Soon, the very first Voroshilov Riflemen Club in the Soviet Union was opened in Moscow. In the early thirties, club members represented the country at international shooting competitions. The rival to the Moscow club was the Portsmouth Shooting Club (USA). During the competition, the Soviet participants won, knocking out 207 points more. The movement "Voroshilovsky shooter" due to the high enthusiasm of the workers, help from the CPSU (b) and the Soviet leadership acquired a mass character. The USSR in those years became the most shooting country in the world. Soon, several varieties of the Voroshilov Shooter badge were created: a breastplate of the first and second levels and an award for young shooters.
Regulations and regulations
On May 28, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR approved Order No. 92 on the Voroshilov Shooter badge. The document outlined the standards for the delivery of firing forreceive this badge. The initiator of the adoption of the Order was the Political Directorate of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. In June 1934, the Regulations on awarding the best servicemen of the Red Army and Navy with the Voroshilov Rifleman badge were adopted.
Sign of the first step
The left side of the chest has become the place for wearing this badge "Voroshilovsky shooter" (photo presented in the article). The breastplate of the first stage with a diameter of 25 mm was made of high-quality brass and cold enamel. Fastening was carried out using a screw with a nut.
The shape of this sign resembled an irregular oval. On the front side was a five-pointed red star, against which a Red Army soldier was depicted aiming from a rifle. A target was located below, and a red flag was located on top, on which there was an inscription: "Voroshilovsky shooter." A wheat ear was depicted on the right side of the badge, and gears with the inscription “Osaviakhim” on the left side.
For what was the Voroshilov shooter badge of the first stage awarded?
After the events of 1917 in the Soviet Union, the entire potential of the working people was directed to defense labor activities. The Osoaviakhim society was especially distinguished by its zeal - the members of this organization were engaged in defense, aviation and chemical construction.
Since Osoaviakhim was the leader among other Soviet socio-political defense organizations in terms of shooting standards and the amount of work, thenthe owners of the badges "Voroshilovsky shooter" were mainly its members. To receive this badge, it was necessary to pass the shooting standards as "excellent". The badge of the first stage was also received by the Red Army soldiers who demonstrated high skill.
Sign of the second stage: conditions for obtaining
To the second step of this sign higher requirements were made. To receive this badge, you must be the owner of the badge of the first stage. A certificate was issued for each badge. If the owner of the badge of the first stage did not pass the standards, then he did not lose his badge. The exception was cases when a member of Osoaviakhim was expelled from the community for any discrediting act.
The passing of the standards for obtaining the "Voroshilovsky shooter" of the second stage was carried out only with the use of rifles.
This badge was intended for the command, political and commanding staff of the Red Army and the RKKF of the USSR. Rewarding occurred by order of the commander of the unit. The Red Army, Red Navy, cadets who demonstrated excellent rifle shooting also had the right to wear the badge of the second stage.
Badges of the second degree were awarded from 1934 to 1939. By that time, a new award was approved - "For excellent shooting of the Red Army", which began to be awarded to employees of defense enterprises before the start of World War II.
Design
The sign has the shape of a circle, in which, as in the first step badge, there are images of an ear of wheat and gears. But in thisThe inscription on the badge: "Osoaviakhim" was replaced by "RKKA" and "NKVD". Under the badge's enamel there is an image of a red five-pointed star with notched rays. Against the background of this star is a Red Army soldier dressed in summer uniform. In his hand he holds a 1930 three-line rifle. Above the star is a red flag with the inscription: "Voroshilovsky shooter." Between the two lower rays of the star there is a standard white target with a small black circle in the center. In some badges, the target did not represent a single whole with the main sign, but was a separate element.
Product size 57x44 mm. When viewed from the outside, the badge gave the impression that the Red Army soldier was standing on the circle of the target and preparing to shoot. On the badge "Voroshilovsky shooter" of the second stage, the Roman numeral "2" was necessarily present. In some samples, the number was represented by an Arabic numeral. On the reverse side of the badge is the NKVD abbreviation and number.
Children's Awards
For pioneers and schoolchildren there was a badge "Young Voroshilov shooter". It differed from previous badges in that in the children's version, the shooting Red Army soldier was replaced by a pioneer fire. The badge was created from pure copper, as well as from copper with nickel additives. The sign was made by stamping. It depicted a pioneer fire, under which a target was located.
A flag with the inscription: "Young Voroshilov shooter" fluttered above the flame. For coveragered enamel was used for images of a flame and a flag, the image of a shooting target was covered with white and black enamel. All of them were framed by a circle. On the left side of the badge there was a gear wheel and the inscription: "Osoaviakhim". On the right side was a wheat ear. The badge number was located on the reverse side. The size of the product was 35x40 mm. There were also smaller badges - 15x20 mm. To fasten the badge, a threaded pin and a nut with a number stamped on it were provided.
Rarities
Millions of Soviet people proudly wore this badge of the popular Osoaviakhim society. Of great interest to collectors are earlier and very rare samples. Several types of the Voroshilov Shooter award badge were issued:
- 1932 badge. It was distinguished by its large size: 4x5 cm, each sample was equipped with its own number. The target was a separate overhead element. The badge was awarded for only one year.
- Badge of 1933. Differed in smaller size: 3x4 cm.
- Badge 1935. It is a rare miniature tailcoat variant.
- "Voroshilovsky shooter" of the second stage, 1934 release. It is characterized by the presence of an invoice of the Roman "deuce".
- Badge with the Arab "two" on the target.
- The sign "Voroshilovsky shooter" of the second stage with the inscription: "Red Army".
This badge was awarded to:
- Border troops. There was an engraving on the product: “GUPVO”.
- Soldiers and commanders of the Red Army and Navy. The badge had engravings: "RKKA" and"RK Navy".
- Servicemen and officers of the NKVD. The corresponding engraving was located on the reverse of the target.
The dimensions of the badges for these three options were: 44x57 mm.
Badge "Young Voroshilov shooter". Awarded to pioneers from 1934 to 1941. During this time, this sign was awarded to 550 thousand children
Conclusion
Manufacturing badges "Voroshilovsky shooter" was carried out at many factories. At the Mint in Leningrad, 700 thousand items were produced. Over the entire period, the badge has been awarded to about 10 million people.
