For what merits was the Stalin Prize awarded? A short guide to the Stalin Prize
The amount of the first degree award is 200,000 rubles, the second degree award is 100,000 rubles. In total, by decree of April 10, 1942, 15 first-degree prizes and 18 second-degree prizes were awarded. Therefore, in 1944-1945. Stalin Prizes were not awarded, since they were intended specifically for material support.
It was indicated that four prizes were given one each in the fields of poetry, prose, drama and literary criticism. The Stalin Prizes were awarded annually and were a sign of recognition of the high scientific, cultural, engineering or organizational and technical contribution of the laureate. In 1942-1943. almost all (or all) of the laureates transferred the money received with the prize to the Defense Fund. The award was given not for the totality of merit, but for specific work and achievements.
Stalin Prize
Diplomas and badges of the laureate of the Stalin Prizes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees were replaced with diplomas and badges of honor of the laureate of the USSR State Prize of the corresponding degrees. In educational and reference books The name of the Stalin Prize was methodically replaced with the State Prize, information about it and its laureates was dosed out and mystified.
Prizes without debate
Thus total amount payments amounted to 4.8 million rubles. From the end of 1917, Lenin set his salary equal to the sum the earnings of an unskilled worker in Moscow, namely 500 rubles. Since 1939, the Stalin Prize began to be paid from the alienated fee fund of the highest nomenklatura (in total, about five thousand laureates received it). Interesting fact: wage Brezhnev’s was not very large, however, in mid-1973 he awarded himself the Lenin International Prize, for which he received 25 thousand rubles!
Although he returned Khrushchev’s modest salary of 800 rubles, he did not stop there! He liked the idea of Brezhnev's fees and, with his rate of 800 rubles, for February 1984, Andropov's net income amounted to 8 thousand 800 rubles. Yeltsin was also not eager for money and received a very modest salary. But in 1999, almost before leaving, his salary rose sharply to 15 thousand rubles.
Pocket Stalin Prize
It seems that no state has ever managed to do without bonuses. And the Bolsheviks who came to power, who, as is known, did not have much confidence in money, did not refuse to pay bonuses. And if you look at Russian soldier’s awards, it will not always be possible to distinguish a medal from a cash award. Depending on the rank of the recipient, the coin could be tiny, or it could be quite weighty.
However, the century of such royal generosity turned out to be short-lived, and already in 1892, the regulation on awards established that one-time cash payments could not exceed the annual salary. True, this innovation did not take root at that time, and in 1807 the institution of honorary citizenship was abolished, but in 1832 it was restored. Until 1864, money was awarded to Jews who were baptized. For a reward of 60 rubles. one could count on catching a fugitive criminal or pulling a drowning person out of the water.
The prizes were of greatest importance for scientists and writers, for whom patrons and prominent scientists established many awards. As a rule, it looked like this: a certain amount of money was deposited in the bank, interest on which was paid as a bonus. New regulations on scientific awards were regularly published. In view of this, the Imperial Academy of Sciences was forced to begin revising the rules of all awards and coordinate the issuance of awards with the funds available to it.”
The Resolutions of 1951-1952 do not indicate their exact date. The resolutions of 1953-1954 were not published, apparently for reasons of secrecy. Also, some laureates who are mentioned in other sources are not included in the published lists. Since it was intended specifically as a material incentive, it was awarded mainly to people in middle age, or even young people. Similar substitution of names is often found in modern publications.
The number of prizes awarded and their size subsequently changed several times. On the establishment of a prize and scholarship named after Stalin” - was adopted on December 20, 1939 in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of I.V. Stalin. Needing qualified specialists, the Bolsheviks were ready to maintain for them not only high salaries, but also a system of bonuses. As part of the campaign to eradicate the personality cult of Stalin, which began after the 20th Congress of the CPSU, the Lenin Prize was established in 1956, which actually replaced the Stalin Prize.
STALIN PRIZE
Prizes and scholarships “in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin” were established by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated December 20, 1939. It indicated that 16 Stalin Prizes were being established (in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each), which would be awarded annually to scientists and artists for outstanding work in the following fields of science: physics and mathematics, technical, chemical, biological, agricultural, medical, philosophical , economic, historical-philological, legal, as well as for achievements in music, painting, sculpture, architecture, theatrical art and cinematography.
The same decree established the Stalin Prizes, which were to be awarded annually for best invention: ten first prizes in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each, twenty second prizes in the amount of 50 thousand rubles each and thirty third prizes in the amount of 25 thousand rubles each. The Stalin Prize was established for outstanding achievements in the field of military knowledge: three first prizes of 100 thousand rubles each, five second prizes of 50 thousand rubles each, and ten third prizes of 25 thousand rubles each.
In addition to this document, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, a month and a half later, decided to establish four more prizes named after Stalin (100 thousand rubles each), which will be awarded for outstanding works in the field of literature - one prize each in poetry, prose, drama and literary criticism.
All works in the area various sciences, military knowledge, etc., nominated for the Stalin Prize, as well as a description of inventions with the application of all necessary drawings and documents were submitted to the Stalin Prize Committees, which were created under the Council of People's Commissars, no later than October 15 of the current year. After discussing and evaluating the submitted works, the Committees submitted their proposals for awarding Stalin Prizes to the Council of People's Commissars before December 1 of the current year.
According to the regulations for the Stalin Prizes, only new works or inventions completed in the year the prizes were awarded were submitted. Works or inventions completed between October 15 and December 1 of the current year were eligible for the Stalin Prize next year. Scientific societies, research institutes, higher education institutions could present their works educational establishments and public organizations.
Works in the fields of science and military knowledge, as well as descriptions of inventions, were submitted in any language in triplicate, printed on typewriters or by typography. Literary and musical works, as well as architectural projects, were presented in one copy, other works of art - in the original. The evaluation and awarding of prizes in the field of theatrical art and cinematography were carried out both on the basis of the submitted materials (plays, scripts, etc.) and on the basis of the films and theatrical productions that took place.
The Committee for Awarding Stalin Prizes for work in the field of science, military knowledge and inventions was entrusted with a preliminary examination of the works, selecting the most outstanding ones and presenting them with its conclusion to the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. For a more complete and comprehensive assessment of these works, the Committee could organize sections from among its members with the participation of scientists in relevant specialties, as well as create expert commissions of leading scientists and practitioners. Research institutes, scientific societies and institutions could take part in the consideration of individual works on behalf of the Committee, which then presented their conclusions to the Committee. Where necessary, representatives of research institutes, scientific institutions and organizations, as well as individuals were invited to the meetings of the Committee to participate in discussions and give opinions on the work nominated for the Stalin Prize. Committee decisions were made by a simple majority of votes by closed ballot.
If the Stalin Prize was received by a group of authors of two people, then it was divided in half between them; with a team of three people, the leader was given half the money, and the rest was divided equally between the other two members of the team; if the team of authors consisted of four or more people, then the director received a third of the bonus, and two-thirds were divided among the remaining members of the team.
In the first year, the procedure for awarding the Stalin Prizes was slightly changed, and it was decided to present awards not only for works of 1940, but also for works of the last 6 years, starting in 1935. One of the first to receive the Stalin Prize of the first degree in the field of physical and mathematical sciences was P.L. Kapitsa, full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, for the scientific work “Turboexpander for obtaining low temperatures and its use for air liquefaction.” Major General of Artillery P.A. Gelvikh was awarded the Stalin Prize for a number of works: “On dispersion, the probability of a hit and the mathematical expectation of the number of hits,” “ Theoretical foundations developing shooting rules" and "Shooting at fast-moving targets."
The Stalin Prize of the first degree was awarded to Academician N.N. Burdenko for scientific works in surgery of central and peripheral nervous system. Academician V.V. Obruchev was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree for the three-volume treatise"Geology of Siberia".
High awards were also given during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. The terrible military situation not only did not stop the work of the creative intelligentsia, but, on the contrary, led to an unprecedented patriotic impulse and the scope of creative initiative of Soviet scientists, inventors and production innovators. Everyone understood perfectly well that their activities during the war years were needed even more than in Peaceful time. And 1941 showed major achievements of Soviet scientists in all fields of knowledge.
Rebuilding industry on a war footing, it was necessary to expand its raw material resources, increase production capacity, etc. In this regard huge interest presents the work awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree, which was carried out by a group of academicians and scientists under the leadership of V.L. Komarov - President of the USSR Academy of Sciences. They researched and developed development issues National economy of the Urals, as well as economic activities in the field of ferrous metallurgy, building materials, energy, etc. As a result of these studies, specific work was planned to expand the production of the Ural industry.
Among the laureates of the Stalin Prize of the first degree is the name of the famous chemist N.D. Zelinsky, who was awarded a high award for his work on the catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons and defense chemistry.
For aircraft manufacturing great importance had the works of Professor M.V. Keldysh and Candidate of Technical Sciences E.P. Grossman, awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. These scientists developed the theory of elastic vibrations of aircraft parts and presented a method for calculating aircraft for flutter.
The composer D. Shostakovich spent the first months of the war in besieged Leningrad, where he conceived the idea of the “Seventh Symphony”, dedicated to the heroic defenders of the city. Three movements of the symphony were written in Leningrad; the composer completed the final work on this work in Kuibyshev. Soon this work went around the whole world, affirming the all-conquering humanism of the Soviet people. The writer A. Tolstoy wrote that “The Seventh Symphony arose from the conscience of the Russian people, who without hesitation accepted a mortal battle with the black forces. Written in Leningrad, it has grown to the size of great world art, understandable at all latitudes and meridians, because it tells the truth about man in an unprecedented time of his misfortunes and trials.”
In 1942, for the Seventh Symphony, D. Shostakovich was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree. In the same year he was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.” In 1946, the composer’s new work, a trio for violin, cello and piano, was awarded the Stalin Prize, and a year later the outstanding composer was awarded the title “ National artist RSFSR".
In 1947, D. Shostakovich performed the seven-part oratorio “Song of the Forests,” written for soloists, choir and orchestra to a text by the poet E. Dolmatovsky. For this work, as well as for the music for the film “The Fall of Berlin” in 1950, the composer was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. A new significant achievement of D. Shostakovich was the suite for choir “a capella” (unaccompanied) created by him in 1951 - “Ten Poems” based on texts by revolutionary poets of the period from 1905 to October revolution. In 1952, this work was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree.
All recipients received the title “Laureate of the Stalin Prize.” The honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was worn on the right side of the chest next to orders and medals of the USSR. It was made of silver and was a convex oval, covered with white enamel and bordered at the bottom with gold laurel wreaths.
Golden ascending rays were depicted on white enamel. At the top of the sign, against the background of these rays, was placed five pointed star, made of red enamel and bordered with a gold rim. In the middle of the oval there was an inscription in gold capital letters: “TO THE STALIN PRIZE LAUREATE.” Top part The oval ended with a corrugated ribbon, covered with blue enamel with a gold edge, with the inscription on it: “USSR”. Using an eyelet and a ring, the honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was connected to a silver plate covered with gold, on which there was blue enamel Arabic numerals The year the Stalin Prize was awarded was written. The resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on awarding the Stalin Prizes was published in the central press on December 21 - the birthday of I.V. Stalin.
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Citizens of the USSR who achieved outstanding achievements creative success in any field of activity, were encouraged main prize countries. The Stalin Prize was awarded to those who radically improved production methods, as well as to the creators of scientific theories, technologies, and outstanding examples of art (literature, theater, cinema, painting, sculpture, architecture).
Joseph Stalin
The prize named after the leader existed for thirteen years - from 1940 to 1953, and was established a little earlier - in December 1939. The Stalin Prize did not have state fund, the laureates were subsidized from the personal salary of J.V. Stalin, which was huge according to his status - his two positions were paid ten thousand rubles each monthly.
The prize fund also included royalties for publishing the leader’s books in the USSR and abroad, of which there were also many, and the payments in those days were considerable (Alexey Tolstoy even became the first Soviet millionaire). The Stalin Prize took a lot of money, almost everything. That is why, after the death of the leader, he was left with a meager amount of nine hundred rubles, while the average salary of a worker often exceeded seven hundred.
Story
In 1939, in December, the leader’s sixtieth birthday was officially celebrated, and in honor of this event, a prize named after him appeared. In February 1940, the Council of People's Commissars decided to establish awards of one hundred thousand rubles (1st degree), fifty thousand rubles (2nd degree) and twenty-five thousand rubles (3rd degree) for the best literary works(prose, poetry, drama, literary criticism), as well as for achievements in other fields of art. In addition, the prize was awarded annually to individuals who made a special contribution to science, culture, technology or organization of production.
In 1941, the Stalin Prize was awarded to the very first laureates. The record holder for the number of Stalin Prizes awarded was S.V. Ilyushin, a famous aircraft designer, awarded seven times special attention leader. Film directors Yu. A. Raizman and I. A. Pyryev, writer K. M. Simonov, aircraft designer A. S. Yakovlev, composer S. S. Prokofiev and some others received the award six times each. The actresses and Alla Tarasova became five-time winners of the Stalin Prize.
Establishment
The USSR Stalin Prize (originally called the Stalin Prize) was established by two resolutions. On December 20, 1939, the Council of People's Commissars decided: sixteen annual prizes named after Stalin (100 thousand rubles) should be awarded to scientists and artists for particularly outstanding work in the following fields: technical, physico-mathematical, biological, chemical, medical, agricultural, economic, philosophical, legal and historical and philological sciences, painting, music, sculpture, theatrical art, architecture, cinematography.
Ten first degree, twenty second, thirty third degree prizes were also established for the best inventions, plus three first degree, five second and ten third degree prizes for special achievements in the field of military knowledge. A separate resolution regarding writers who were awarded the annual Stalin Prize was adopted in February 1940, and it stated that four first-degree prizes were awarded to laureates in each category. literary activity: prose, poetry, literary criticism, drama.
Changes
The size of the Stalin Prize in rubles and the number of laureates changed many times, and never downwards, on the contrary - instead of one first-degree laureate, for example, already in 1940 there were three in each category. In 1942, the prize (first degree) increased to two hundred thousand rubles. In addition, in 1949, a new one appeared - the International "For Between Nations". The prizes were distributed directly by the Council of People's Commissars, in which two special committees were created: one worked on awarding prizes in science, military knowledge and invention, and the second dealt with literature and art.
At first, only new works that were completed in a given year were noted. Applicants who completed their works later than mid-October were included in next year's lists. Then the terms were revised, and the laureates could become people who had earned the award by work over the past six to seven years. Thus, those awarded the Stalin Prize found themselves in favorable conditions. Many evidence suggests that Joseph Vissarionovich was directly involved in the distribution of bonuses in his name (and his own finances), sometimes the decision was made almost single-handedly.
Liquidation
After Stalin's death, the will was not found, so publication fees could not be used to reward laureates. After 1954, the Stalin Prize ceased to exist. Then the notorious campaign to eradicate the cult of the leader began.
In 1956, the Lenin Prize was established, which in fact replaced the Stalin Prize. After 1966, the Stalin Prize laureates changed their diplomas and badges of honor. Even the name was systematically changed everywhere; in encyclopedias and reference books, Stalin began to be called the State Prize of the USSR. Information about the laureates turned out to be mystified and dosed.
Division rules
There was special resolution Council of People's Commissars on the fair distribution of the prize among several participants in the work for which it was awarded. If two people (co-authors) were awarded the same prize, the amount was divided equally. For three of them, the distribution was different: the manager received half, and the two performers received a quarter of the entire amount. If there were a lot of people, then the leader received a third, the rest was divided equally among the team.
The first laureates of the Stalin Prize in physics - in mathematics - A. N. Kolmogorov, in biology - T. D. Lysenko, in medicine - A. A. Bogomolets, V. P. Filatov, N. N. Burdenko, in geology - V A. Obruchev, noted for inventions by the famous gunsmith V. A. Degtyarev, for aircraft design - S. A. Lavochkin, for painting - A. M. Gerasimov, for sculpture - V. I. Mukhina.
The designer of the Kyiv and Komsomolskaya metro stations, architect D. N. Chechulin, was also awarded the Stalin Prize. A. N. Tolstoy received it for the book “Peter the Great”, M. A. Sholokhov - for the novel “Quiet Don”, and the playwright was awarded after staging the play “The Man with a Gun”.
How the works were considered
Works of a scientific nature were reviewed in advance with the involvement of scientists corresponding to their specialty, expert commissions of practitioners and even entire Research Institutes. Then the assessment was more complete and comprehensive with the issuance of a special conclusion for the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR.
If necessary, representatives of research institutes and scientific organizations attended Committee meetings. Decisions were made by closed ballot voting.
Badge of honor
After receiving the prize, each laureate received a corresponding title and a Stalin Prize laureate, which had to be worn on the right side next to the orders. It was made of silver in the form of a convex oval, covered with white enamel and bordered at the bottom with a laurel wreath of gold. The enamel depicted a sunrise - golden rays, against the background of which a star made of red enamel with a gold rim shone at the top. The inscription in gold letters read: “Laureate of the Stalin Prize.”
The top of the oval was framed by a corrugated ribbon of blue enamel with a gold edge, on which was written “USSR.” The silver and gilded plate, to which an honorary sign was attached through an eyelet and a ring, also had an inscription: it indicated in Arabic numerals the year the prize was awarded. Publications in the press about the current year's laureates always appeared on December 21 - the birthday of J.V. Stalin.
War
During the terrible years of the war, this high award also found those who distinguished themselves, since the creative intelligentsia worked as never before - in a powerful patriotic impulse and with enduring initiative. Soviet scientists, innovators, and inventors understood perfectly well that now the country needed their activities more than during times of peace and quiet. Even 1941 brought major achievements of the intelligentsia in almost all areas of life.
Industry was rebuilt on a war footing, raw material resources expanded, and production capacity increased. The Stalin Prize of the first degree was awarded to the work of a group of academicians under the leadership of the President of the USSR Academy of Sciences V.L. Komarov, who researched and developed ways for the development of industry in the Urals - ferrous metallurgy, energy, building materials and everything else. The result was a huge expansion of production in all types of industry.
N.D. Zelinsky did a lot for defense chemistry. He was also awarded this award. Professor M.V. Keldysh and Candidate of Technical Sciences E.P. Grossman worked hard for the Soviet aircraft industry: they developed the theory of elastic vibrations and came up with a method for calculating aircraft for flutter, for which they were awarded the Stalin Prize, 2nd degree.
Dmitry Shostakovich
The composer, outstanding in terms of creative power, wrote his famous “Seventh Symphony” in besieged Leningrad before the evacuation. This work immediately entered the treasury of world musical art. All-conquering humanism, readiness to fight to the death with dark forces, unshakable truth sounding in every note, won worldwide recognition immediately and forever. In 1942, this work was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree.
Dmitry Shostakovich - three more times a laureate of the Stalin Prize in addition to the first: for the wonderful trio of 1946 - the first degree prize, and then the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR, in 1950 he was awarded the second degree Stalin Prize for his oratorio "Song of the Forests" on poems by Dolmatovsky and music for the film "The Fall of Berlin". In 1952, he received another Stalin Prize, second degree, for a suite for choir.
Faina Ranevskaya
For for long years worked as a public favorite who had never played a single role in a movie leading role. This is an exceptionally talented actress. She received the Stalin Prize three times: twice in the second degree and once in the third.
In 1949 - for the role of Losev's wife in Stein's "Law of Honor" (Moscow Drama Theater), in 1951 - for the role of Agrippina in Suvorov's "Dawn over Moscow" (same theater), in the same year - for the role of Frau Wurst in the film "They Have a Homeland." In principle, any role played by Faina Georgievna could be awarded this honor, since the classics of Soviet cinema were mostly created by this actress, a Stalin Prize laureate. She was great in her time, and even now there is probably no person who does not know her name.
Lenin Prize
Lenin Prize- one of the highest forms of rewarding citizens for the most significant achievements in the field of science, technology, literature, art and architecture.
Story
The V.I. Lenin Prizes were established on June 23, 1925 by resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People's Commissars. Initially they were awarded only for scientific works.
Not awarded from 1935 to 1957. On December 20, 1939, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of J.V. Stalin, a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars was adopted “On the establishment of a prize and scholarship named after Stalin.” It said: “In commemoration of the sixtieth birthday of Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decides: to establish 16 Stalin Prizes (in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each), awarded annually to scientists and artists for outstanding work in the field of: 1) physics and mathematics sciences, 2) technical sciences, 3) chemical sciences, 4) biological sciences, 5) agricultural sciences, 6) medical sciences, 7) philosophical sciences, 8) economic sciences, 9) historical and philological sciences, 10) legal sciences, 11) music, 12) painting, 13) sculpture, 14) architecture, 15) theatrical art, 16) cinematography.”
The number of prizes awarded and their size subsequently changed several times.
Stalin Prize
On August 15, 1956, the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a resolution to restore the V.I. Lenin Prizes and award them annually on V.I. Lenin’s birthday - April 22. In 1957, the awarding of Lenin Prizes for outstanding scientific works, architectural and technical structures, inventions introduced into the national economy, was restored. technological processes and etc.; Lenin Prizes were also established for outstanding works of literature and art. In March 1960, the Lenin Prizes in the field of journalism and publicism were established.
Initially, 42 prizes were awarded. Since 1961, according to the regulations, up to 76 prizes could be awarded annually. Of these, up to 60 were awarded by the Committee for Lenin Prizes in the field of science and technology and up to 16 by the Committee for Lenin Prizes in the field of science and art under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. In 1967, this number of awards was reduced to 30. The laureates were awarded a diploma, a gold medal and a cash prize. Since 1961, the cash bonus amounted to 7,500 rubles each.
In the period 1956-1967, the Lenin Prize was the only state prize top level, so the number of its laureates was large. In 1967, the USSR State Prize was established, which began to be considered less prestigious, thereby increasing the level of the Lenin Prize.
According to the resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated September 9, 1966, 30 Lenin Prizes were awarded once every 2 years (including 25 in science and technology, 5 in literature, art, architecture). Since 1966, Stalin Prize diplomas were replaced by corresponding State Prize diplomas. In 1970, an additional prize was established for works of literature and art for children. Since 1961, the cash bonus has been 10,000 rubles each.
Prizes and scholarships “in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin” were established by the Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of December 20, 1939. It indicated that 16 Stalin Prizes were being established (in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each), which would be awarded annually to scientists and artists for outstanding work in the following fields of science: physics and mathematics, technical, chemical, biological, agricultural, medical, philosophical , economic, historical-philological, legal, as well as for achievements in music, painting, sculpture, architecture, theatrical art and cinematography.
The same Resolution established the Stalin Prizes, which were to be awarded annually for the best invention: ten first prizes in the amount of 100 thousand rubles each, twenty second prizes in the amount of 50 thousand rubles each, and thirty third prizes in the amount of 25 thousand rubles each. The Stalin Prize was also established for outstanding achievements in the field of military knowledge: three first prizes of 100 thousand rubles each, five second prizes of 50 thousand rubles each, and ten third prizes of 25 thousand rubles each.
In addition to this document, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, a month and a half later, decided to establish four more Stalin Prizes (100 thousand rubles each), which will be awarded for outstanding works in the field of literature - one prize each in poetry, prose, drama and literary criticism.
All works in the field of various sciences, military knowledge, etc., nominated for the Stalin Prize, as well as descriptions of inventions with the attachment of all necessary drawings and documents, were submitted to the Stalin Prize Committees, which were created under the Council of People's Commissars, no later than October 15 of the current of the year. After discussing and evaluating the submitted works, the Committees submitted their proposals for awarding Stalin Prizes to the Council of People's Commissars before December 1 of the current year.
According to the regulations for the Stalin Prizes, only new works or inventions completed in the year the prizes were awarded were submitted. Works or inventions completed between October 15 and December 1 of the current year were eligible for the Stalin Prize next year. Scientific societies, research institutes, higher education institutions and public organizations could present their works.
Works in the fields of science and military knowledge, as well as descriptions of inventions, were submitted in any language in triplicate, printed on typewriters or by typography. Literary and musical works, as well as architectural projects, were presented in one copy, other works of art - in the original. The evaluation and awarding of prizes in the field of theatrical art and cinematography were carried out both on the basis of the submitted materials (plays, scripts, etc.) and on the basis of the films and theatrical productions that took place.
The Committee for Awarding Stalin Prizes for work in the field of science, military knowledge and inventions was entrusted with a preliminary examination of the works, selecting the most outstanding ones and presenting them with its conclusion to the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. For a more complete and comprehensive assessment of these works, the Committee could organize sections from among its members with the participation of scientists in relevant specialties, as well as create expert commissions of leading scientists and practitioners. Research institutes, scientific societies and institutions could take part in the consideration of individual works on behalf of the Committee, which then presented their conclusions to the Committee. Where necessary, representatives of research institutes, scientific institutions and organizations, as well as individuals were invited to the meetings of the Committee to participate in discussions and give opinions on the work nominated for the Stalin Prize. Committee decisions were made by a simple majority of votes by closed ballot.
If the Stalin Prize was received by a group of authors of two people, then it was divided in half between them; with a team of three people, the leader was given half the money, and the rest was divided equally between the other two members of the team; if the team of authors consisted of four or more people, then the director received a third of the bonus, and two-thirds were divided among the remaining members of the team.
In the first year, the procedure for awarding the Stalin Prizes was slightly changed, and it was decided to present awards not only for works
1940, but also for the work of the last 6 years, starting from 1935. One of the first to receive the Stalin Prize of the first degree in the field of physical and mathematical sciences was P.L. Kapitsa, full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, for the scientific work “Turboexpander for obtaining low temperatures and its use for air liquefaction.” Major General of Artillery P.A. Gelvikh was awarded the Stalin Prize for a number of works: “On dispersion, the probability of a hit and the mathematical expectation of the number of hits,” “Theoretical foundations for the development of shooting rules” and “Shooting at fast-moving targets.”
The Stalin Prize of the first degree was awarded to Academician N.N. Burdenko for scientific work on surgery of the central and peripheral nervous system. Academician V.V. Obruchev was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree for his three-volume scientific work “Geology of Siberia”.
High awards were also given during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. The terrible military situation not only did not stop the work of the creative intelligentsia, but, on the contrary, led to an unprecedented patriotic impulse and the scope of creative initiative of Soviet scientists, inventors and production innovators. Everyone understood perfectly well that their activities during war years were needed even more than in peacetime. And 1941 showed major achievements of Soviet scientists in all fields of knowledge.
Rebuilding the industry on a war footing, it was necessary to expand its raw material resources, increase production capacity, etc. In this regard, the work awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree, carried out by a group of academicians and scientists under the leadership of V.L., is of great interest. Komarov - President of the USSR Academy of Sciences. They researched and developed issues of development of the national economy of the Urals, as well as economic measures in the field of ferrous metallurgy, building materials, energy, etc. As a result of these studies, specific work was planned to expand the production of the Ural industry.
Among the laureates of the Stalin Prize of the first degree is the name of the famous chemist N.D. Zelinsky, who was awarded a high award for his work on the catalytic transformation of hydrocarbons and defense chemistry.
For aircraft manufacturing, the works of Professor M.V. were of great importance. Keldysh and Candidate of Technical Sciences E.P. Grossman, awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. These scientists developed the theory of elastic vibrations of aircraft parts and presented a method for calculating aircraft for flutter.
The composer D. Shostakovich spent the first months of the war in besieged Leningrad, where he conceived the idea of the “Seventh Symphony,” dedicated to the heroic defenders of the city. Three movements of the symphony were written in Leningrad; the composer completed the final work on this work in Kuibyshev. Soon this work went around the whole world, affirming the all-conquering humanism of the Soviet people. The writer A. Tolstoy wrote that
The Seventh Symphony arose from the conscience of the Russian people, who without hesitation accepted a mortal battle with the black forces. Written in Leningrad, it has grown to the size of great world art, understandable at all latitudes and meridians, because it tells the truth about man in an unprecedented time of his misfortunes and trials.
In 1942, for the Seventh Symphony, D. Shostakovich was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree. In the same year he was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.” In 1946, the composer’s new work, a trio for violin, cello and piano, was awarded the Stalin Prize, and a year later the outstanding composer was awarded the title “People’s Artist of the RSFSR.”
In 1947, D. Shostakovich performed the seven-part oratorio “Song of the Forests,” written for soloists, choir and orchestra to a text by the poet E. Dolmatovsky. For this work, as well as for the music for the film “The Fall of Berlin” in 1950, the composer was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree. A new significant achievement of D. Shostakovich was the suite he created for choir “a capella” (without accompaniment) in 1951 - “Ten Poems” based on texts by revolutionary poets of the period from 1905 to the October Revolution. In 1952, this work was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree.
All recipients received the title “Laureate of the Stalin Prize.” The honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was worn on the right side of the chest next to orders and medals of the USSR. It was made of silver and was a convex oval, covered with white enamel and bordered at the bottom with gold laurel wreaths.
Golden ascending rays were depicted on white enamel. At the top of the sign, against the background of these rays, was a five-pointed star made of red enamel and bordered with a gold rim. In the middle of the oval there was an inscription in gold capital letters: STALIN PRIZE LAUREATE. The upper part of the oval ended with a corrugated ribbon, covered with blue enamel with a gold edge, with the inscription on it: USSR. Using an eyelet and a ring, the honorary badge “Stalin Prize Laureate” was connected to a silver plate covered with gold, on which the year of the Stalin Prize was written in blue enamel in Arabic numerals. The resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on awarding the Stalin Prizes was published in the central press on December 21 - the birthday of I.V. Stalin.