Honorary Revolutionary Weapon

Honorary Revolutionary Weapon 

the highest award in the armed forces of the USSR from 1919 to 1930. It was awarded by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, its Presidium, and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic to top commanders of the army in the field for “special distinction in combat.” The Honorary Revolutionary Weapon was a sword, or dirk, with a gilded hilt and with the symbol of the Order of the Red Banner superimposed on it. The decree instituting the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon was issued by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on Apr. 8, 1920, but it was awarded as early as 1919.

The Honorary Revolutionary Weapon was awarded to 21 persons: S. S. Kamenev (Aug. 8, 1919), V. I. Shorin (Aug. 8, 1919), S. M. Budennyi (Nov. 20, 1919), M. N. Tukhachevskii (Dec. 17, 1919), I. P. Uborevich (Apr. 8, 1920), M. V. Frunze (Nov. 25, 1920), K. E. Voroshilov (Nov. 25, 1920), F. K. Mironov (Nov. 25, 1920), A. I. Kork (Nov. 25, 1920), N. D. Kashirin (Nov. 25, 1920), S. K. Timoshenko (Nov. 28, 1920), V. S. Nesterovich (Jan. 5, 1921), Ia. F. Balakhonov (Feb. 2, 1921), V. G. Vinnikov-Bessmertnyi (Feb. 2, 1921), A. I. Egorov (Feb. 17, 1921), E. S. Kazanskii (June 3, 1921), G. I. Kotovskii (Sept. 20, 1921), V. R. Roze (Dec. 12, 1921), G. D. Khakhan’ian (Dec. 12, 1921), I. S. Kutiakov (Apr. 28, 1922), and S. S. Vostretsov (Apr. 23, 1930).

On Dec. 12, 1924, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR adopted the statute On Awarding the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon to the Higher Command Staff of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army and Navy. In addition to the sword, or dirk, a firearm in the form of a revolver was also instituted. On the handle of the revolver there were affixed the Order of the Red Banner and a silver plaque with the inscription “To an Honorable Soldier of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR.” The revolver as the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon was awarded as earlyas 1921. S. S. Kamenev and S. M. Budennyi received the award on Jan. 5, 1921.

V. V. DUSHEN’KIN