Bathe the Order

lenin501 · 01-30-2012, 09:26 PM

I was watching a soviet movie last week and I saw something a little unusual, the movie is Battle for Moscow and it`s about the defense of the city during the Great Patriotic War and in one scene, a soldier is awarded a Order of the Red Banner however his officer took his order and put it in a mug with vodka and told the soldier to drink it, he also said that it was an old tradition of the russian army and that they should give the order a "bath" so it would not be the last one.

Do you guys ever heard of this or have any more information?

***desantnik*** · 01-30-2012, 09:44 PM

Yes, that practice is very widespread to this day. In fact most combat decorations (probably not jubilees) were "baptized".

lenin501 · 01-30-2012, 09:55 PM

Thanks for the info desantnik, I have never heard of that tradition, nice to learn about it

***CtahhR*** · 01-31-2012, 12:55 AM

There are many American films where awards such as jump wings are put in the bottom of a drink (which has to be downed in one). The trick is to catch it between your teeth and not swallow it. I think this tradition can be seen on "Band Of Brothers" amongst many war related "stories".

Lapa · 01-31-2012, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desantnik

Yes, that practice is very widespread to this day. In fact most combat decorations (probably not jubilees) were "baptized".

Actually, this tradition is much more widespread than that. Russians tend to "baptize" ("обмывать") any and all received "awards": orders, medals, distinctions, badges, etc.

Marc

Simon · 01-31-2012, 12:57 PM

A previous discussion of the washing ceremony

:
http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...tml#post108293

MadZombieLenin · 02-02-2012, 01:12 AM

Anthony Beevor mentions the practice of having soldiers earn their decorations in this fashion in his phenomenal book Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege 1942-1943.

01-30-2012, 09:26 PM	#1
lenin501 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brazil Age: 32 Posts: 35	Bathe the Order I was watching a soviet movie last week and I saw something a little unusual, the movie is Battle for Moscow and it`s about the defense of the city during the Great Patriotic War and in one scene, a soldier is awarded a Order of the Red Banner however his officer took his order and put it in a mug with vodka and told the soldier to drink it, he also said that it was an old tradition of the russian army and that they should give the order a "bath" so it would not be the last one. Do you guys ever heard of this or have any more information? __________________ "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?" I. V. Stalin

01-30-2012, 09:44 PM	#2
*desantnik* Forum Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eurasia Posts: 2,339	Re: Bathe the Order Yes, that practice is very widespread to this day. In fact most combat decorations (probably not jubilees) were "baptized".

01-30-2012, 09:55 PM	#3
lenin501 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brazil Age: 32 Posts: 35	Re: Bathe the Order Thanks for the info desantnik, I have never heard of that tradition, nice to learn about it __________________ "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?" I. V. Stalin

01-31-2012, 12:55 AM	#4
*CtahhR* Forum Administrator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Deep In The Archives. Age: 17 Posts: 12,074	Re: Bathe the Order There are many American films where awards such as jump wings are put in the bottom of a drink (which has to be downed in one). The trick is to catch it between your teeth and not swallow it. I think this tradition can be seen on "Band Of Brothers" amongst many war related "stories". __________________ "Signed with his own rubber stamp"

01-31-2012, 12:57 PM	#6
Simon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 173	Re: Bathe the Order A previous discussion of the washing ceremony : http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...tml#post108293

02-02-2012, 01:12 AM	#7
MadZombieLenin Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland, United States Posts: 52	Re: Bathe the Order Anthony Beevor mentions the practice of having soldiers earn their decorations in this fashion in his phenomenal book Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege 1942-1943.

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