About ribbon bars

[Tretov]

I've studied some photos of ribbon bars, and noted that the number of ribbons seem to differ depending on rank etc. I read earlier here in the forum that 4-place ribbon bars were reserved for higher officers, but how about 5-place ribbon bars? I have seen some marshals and marshals of USSR using the wider type, but at the same time some of them had just 4-ribbon wide ribbon bars. Were there any rules about this or was it up to the wearer to decide?

/Patrik

[Christophe]

No one seems to have the right answer...

Patrik's point is interesting. If you look at the Soviet Union Admirals and Marshals, you will notice they all seem to wear 4-ribbon wide ribbon bars, except Zhukov, Brezhnev, Kulikov, Jazov, and maybe others (?).
I have also found a pic of Beria - dated around 1945 - on which he wears a 5-ribbon bar, but where he doesn't seem to wear his orders (Suvorov 1st Class....) on the right chest... So...
The Soviet Union Marshals I mentioned are the only ones I have seen with 5-ribbon wide bars, and all in recent pictures (except Beria).

It is possible to see some of them in the excellent pic, dated 1978, posted by Dave in this thread dedicated to Ustinov :
Marshal Ustinov, D.F.

Whats is also interesting is that this pic even shows Vladimir Fedorovich Tolubko - who was not a Soviet Union Marshal, but a Chief Marshal of Artillery - wearing a 5-ribbon wide bar !!

What are the regulations about the wear of these ribbon bars ?
Is it defined in the official texts, as for the medals and orders, and which ones ? Has it changed in the most recent years ?
or :
Is it at the wearer's choice ? And in this last hypothesis, is it linked to the number of ribbons (apparently not always...) ?

Shawn, Dave, others, any idea ?

Many thanks.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Still no answer ? and

No Forum Member to help or provide informations concerning the regulations about the wear of the ribbon bars ?

This nevertheless seems an interesting topic.

Has the wear of these ribbon bars been defined by official texts, as for the medals and orders, and which ones ? Has it changed in the most recent years of the USSR ?
Or, is it at the wearer's choice ?

Shawn, Dave, others, any idea ?

Many thanks in advance.

Ch.

[Esteban_cool]

In the books of the USSR Defense Ministry (1989, for example) there are sections that talk about ribbon bars regulations from pages 81 to 84 (Stats 193, 194 and 195). I can just understand some words in the text so I can´t say if this can help, but someone who speaks russian will do.

Esteban

[Christophe]

Many thanks Esteban,

Can you - or someone else - post scans of these sections ? With this help, maybe a Russian speaking Member would be able to answer the question...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Nack]

When wearing the dress uniform with the medals, did the wearer wear all the medals that the ribbon bar indicated that he had received?

For example, take the ribbon bar below. Would the owner wear all the anniversary and good service medals on the dress uniform, or just the most recent ones, etc.?

Thanks.

[Tretov]

Originally Posted by T. Nackowicz

When wearing the dress uniform with the medals, did the wearer wear all the medals that the ribbon bar indicated that he had received?

For example, take the ribbon bar below. Would the owner wear all the anniversary and good service medals on the dress uniform, or just the most recent ones, etc.?

Thanks.

I have seen both, the example images in the 1988 regulations book shows that only the most recent medals should be worn. Veterans seems to wear anything that has a pin on the back.

EDIT:
I would like to correct my statement:

I have seen both, the example images in the 1988 regulations book shows that only the most recent medals being worn, not all of them, giving a more modest appearance.

[desantnik]

I agree, most veterans wear EVERYTHING to which they are entitled, either on a ribbon bar or the actual awards. The actual awards are worn especially for parades or holidays like Victory Day.

[ibaya]

Originally Posted by Tretov

I have seen both, the example images in the 1988 regulations book shows that only the most recent medals should be worn.

I think that's somewhat of an assumptive leap. Without reading the actual text of the regulations, we can only assume that the images show the proper arrangement of decorations worn, and not any inference of what is and isn't worn.

It's also worth keeping in mind that this document was released during perestroika, when the government was weaning itself of the habitual practice of awarding medals, particularly from the Brezhnev period, e.g. they stopped the practice of multiple Hero awards and medals, jubilee medals for cities, etc. Also, the WW2 generation, upon whom practically the State Mint's inventory fell upon, were already gone from the active ranks -- no more chests of medals to compare with the likes of Zhukov, Rokossovsky ...

[Tretov]

Originally Posted by ibaya

I think that's somewhat of an assumptive leap. Without reading the actual text of the regulations, we can only assume that the images show the proper arrangement of decorations worn, and not any inference of what is and isn't worn.

Yes, you are right, I think that is a more correct statement, sorry.

The images in the book shows officers wearing only the most recent anniversary medals.