Culver City,
California
x
Maker: Belozerov, Gennadii Nikitich
For Motherland, For Stalin
Date Made: 1990
Country: Soviet Union
Measurements: 90 cm x 60 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 5/8 in
"For Motherland, for Stalin" was the rallying cry used by Russian soldiers while attacking Nazi troops during World War II, also referred to in Russia as the Great Patriotic War. The Order of Glory, shown here, was the highest honor a soldier could be awarded for bravery. Any soldier who was awarded three Orders of Glory (a bronze, silver and gold) was named a Hero of the Soviet Union. In many cases, however, this prestigious status was transient. Some of these soldiers, first categorized as the “best and bravest,” were later arrested and sent to prison camps for speaking out against the injustices that they and their comrades suffered. It is estimated that nearly 1.5 million Soviet soldiers that had been captured POWs in Nazi prison camps were later liberated only to be sent away by Stalin to die in the gulags. Many of those imprisoned were never fairly tried and others were unaware of the charges against them. The Order of Glory portrayed in this poster is outlined with barbed wire, alluding to the gulags. The black upper half is a grim reminder of death that contrasts with the bright coloration of the actual medals that were given to these soldiers.
Accession Number: 2009.053.009
Item Name: Painting
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
Collection/Series: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris