Order of Alexander Nevsky
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Order of Alexander Nevsky (Russian: Орден Александра Невского) was first instituted as the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky in 1725 by Catherine I of Russia. It was originally awarded to distinguished Russian citizens who had served their country with honor, mostly through political or military service. Tolstoy states in Anna Karenina that the Order of St. Vladimir and Order of St. Andrew were higher honors.
In 1917, the Imperial Order was abolished. However, on July 29, 1942, the Soviet Union reinstated the Order, minus the words "Imperial" and "Saint", and awarded the status as a military honour upon hundreds of men who served during World War II, thereby reviving the memory of Alexander Nevsky's struggle with the Teutonic Knights. During the war the Order was granted to more than 42,000 Soviet servicemen, about 70 foreign generals and officers, and over 1,470 military units that display the order on their banners. Since then, the Order has been regarded solely as a military award.
The star of the order is to be worn on the right breast. The ribbon is bluish-white with a red central stripe. The weight of order is 40.8±1.7 g with 37.056±1.387 g of silver.
