The word “guard” comes from the Old Germanic or Scandinavian word Warda or Garda - to guard, to protect.
Since ancient times, kings and generals had detachments of bodyguards with them, whose duties included exclusively protecting the ruler.
The bodyguards gradually began to unite into special detachments, formations, and later into selected troops. 
On September 18, 1941, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army introduced the concept of “guards unit.”
This decision was made a few days after the successful liquidation of the so-called Yelninsky salient by Soviet troops during World War II.
The Yelninskaya operation is an army offensive operation of the Red Army, which became the first actual defeat of the Wehrmacht during the war. It began on August 30, 1941 with the offensive of two armies (24th and 43rd) of the Soviet Reserve Front (commander - Army General G.K. Zhukov), and ended on September 6 with the liberation of the city of Yelnya and the liquidation of the Elninsky ledge. According to Soviet historiography, it is part of the Battle of Smolensk. 
On September 18, 1941, by decision of the Supreme High Command Headquarters, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 308 dated September 18, 1941, four rifle divisions of the USSR - the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st - “for military exploits, for organization, discipline and exemplary order" were given the honorary titles "Guards", and they were renamed and transformed into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards, respectively. 
On June 19, 1942, the Guards Naval Flag was established, and on July 31, 1942, the Regulations on the Guards of the USSR Fleet were put into effect.
Later during the war, many battle-hardened units and formations of the Red Army were converted into guards units. There were guards regiments, divisions, corps and armies. 
The military ranks of military personnel serving in guards units and formations have the prefix “guard” - for example, “guard cadet”, “guard major engineer”, “guard colonel general”. During the war years in the Navy, the words “guard” (for aviation and coastal defense) were added to the military ranks of military personnel serving in guards units - for example, “guard captain”, as well as “guards crew” (for sailing personnel) - for example, “ guards crew captain of the first rank." 
By the end of the war, the Soviet guard included 11 armies and 6 tank armies; 40 rifle, 7 cavalry, 12 tank, 9 mechanized and 14 aviation corps; 215 divisions; 18 warships and a large number of units of various branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military. 
In peacetime, formations, formations, units and ships were not converted into guards units. However, in order to preserve military traditions, guards names belonging to units, ships, formations and formations, upon their disbandment, could be transferred to other associations, formations, units and ships.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, guards units, formations and associations remained in such post-Soviet countries as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. 
The Soviet Guard was born during the Great Patriotic War during the Battle of Smolensk near Yelnya on September 18, 1941. There, as a result of a counterattack by the Western and Reserve Fronts, a large enemy group was defeated for the first time, and the city was liberated. Four motorized rifle divisions - 100-, 127-, 153- and 161st (division commanders: Major General I. Russiyanov, Colonels A. Akimenko, N. Gagen, P. Moskvitin) “... for military exploits, organization, discipline, and exemplary order” were renamed Guards by order of the USSR NCO No. 308.
Their military history is significant. For example, the 100th Rifle Division is one of the oldest in the Red Army. Its fighting traditions were established on the fronts of the Civil War. In 1940, the division's soldiers crushed the Mannerheim Line on the Karelian Isthmus, and its Battle Banner was decorated with the Order of Lenin. Entering into battle on June 26, 1941, it defeated two enemy regiments in two days: a tank and an infantry. The decisive test for the title of Guards for the division was the battles on the Yelninsky ledge, which lasted about a month. The soldiers boldly went into battle with one thought - to win. They gave the enemy no rest day or night. The wounded, as a rule, did not leave the battlefield as long as they could stay on their feet. And the future guardsmen did what was required of them: in cooperation with their neighbors, they pinned down large enemy forces, cleared part of the Soviet territory from the enemy, and contributed to the liberation of Yelnya - the first Soviet city that the Nazis were forced to abandon.
The former platoon commander of the 153rd (3rd Guards) Rifle Division, retired Major General N. Kosmodemyansky, recalled: “...For us veterans, the heavy battles of 1941 are especially memorable. Near Vitebsk, where the Ural warriors received a baptism of fire, repelling the onslaught of an enemy many times superior in strength. Near Yelnya, where they learned not only to defend themselves, but also to successfully attack.
Yes, the victory at Yelnya came at a high price. In those battles, many of our comrades died the death of the brave. They did not have to wear the “Guard” sign on their chests. But they rightfully deserved the title of guardsmen.”
At the same time, by decision of the Supreme Command Headquarters, guards mortar units were formed. The order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated November 11, 1941 for the first time summarized the combat experience of the guardsmen: “... the tank crews of the brigade, having met Guderian’s tank group in the Mtsensk area, acted extremely skillfully, showed combat caution, hit the enemy’s tanks and manpower...” In a word, they fought in a way that no one had managed before, they burned 133 tanks, preserving their material and combat effectiveness.
The Guard of the Great Patriotic War is a galaxy of heroes whose names will never fade. These include B.C. Petrov, who commanded the 248th Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment and after losing both arms. He received the second Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union as a guard major. All three Stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the famous pilot A.I. Pokryshkin received it as part of the 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The last one was during the performance of the position of commander. Another famous World War II ace, three-time Hero of the Soviet Union I.N., fought with the enemy as deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. Kozhedub. In the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Guard Senior Lieutenant A.P. accomplished a feat, conducting air battles using prosthetic legs instead of legs. Maresyev, deputy squadron commander. Guard private forever entered the history of A.M. Sailors, who covered the embrasure of the enemy bunker with his chest and was forever enrolled in his native 244th Guards Rifle Regiment.
All of them resurrected and multiplied the best military traditions of the Russian Guard. The military exploits of their ancestors helped the guardsmen find high examples of perseverance and fearlessness, loyalty to their people. In total, during the Great Patriotic War, over 4.5 thousand units, ships, formations, and associations were given the guards name. They were awarded special guards banners, and naval formations were awarded the guards naval flag.
In May 1942, a badge was established for military personnel of the guards units. In the Navy, until 1943, it was a rectangular plate (gold-plated for commanding officers and silver-plated for privates) with an orange moire ribbon with black longitudinal stripes. Sailors and foremen of guard ships wore a moire ribbon on their caps. Distinctive military ranks were established for all military personnel of guards units, ships and formations. In addition, they were given an increased salary. The assignment of guards ranks and the presentation of banners was carried out in a solemn atmosphere at rallies, where the soldiers swore not to disgrace the guards unit and to observe the laws of the guard.
In the post-war years, the Soviet guard continued the glorious traditions of previous generations of guards. And although in peacetime the formations were not converted into guards, in order to preserve military traditions, the guards ranks of units, ships, formations and associations were transferred to new military formations during reorganization with direct succession in personnel. Thus, the 4th Kantemirovskaya Tank Division was created on the basis of the famous 4th Kantemirovsky Guards Corps. She retained her honorary title and was given the corps guards banner. The same thing happened with the 5th Guards Mechanized Division, whose soldiers subsequently fulfilled their military duty in Afghanistan with dignity. Similar reorganizations took place in the Air Force, Airborne Forces and Navy. Newly formed units and formations of the Strategic Missile Forces, anti-aircraft missile units and formations of the country's Air Defense Forces were awarded the ranks of artillery and mortar formations that distinguished themselves during the Great Patriotic War.
Guards units and formations were located primarily at the forefront in groups of troops and border districts, and divisions and ships, whose exploits received special recognition, were stationed in large cities and capitals of the union republics. A recruit soldier, coming to serve in a guards unit, with great pride accepted the “Guard” badge from the hands of the commander and vowed not to disgrace the memory of his fathers and grandfathers.
The Guard of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was the successor and continuer of the military traditions of its predecessors. Guards motorized rifle Taman, Guards tank Kantemirovskaya, Guards motorized rifle Carpathian-Berlin divisions; Guards separate motorized rifle brigade; guard formations of the Airborne Forces; Guards Motorized Rifle Piotrakuvsky Regiment, Guards Motorized Rifle Tatsinsky Regiment... These names still inspire and oblige to selflessly serve the Fatherland.
The guardsmen of the late 20th - early 21st centuries are faithful to the laws of the guard, developed and enshrined by their predecessors. Will we ever forget about the feat of our contemporaries - the 6th company of the 104th Guards Parachute Regiment near Ulus-Kert, which is inscribed with a golden line in the modern history of the Russian Armed Forces, in the centuries-old chronicle of its guards? He inspires to good deeds those who today carry out difficult military service under the guards banners, helps to instill in soldiers a sense of pride in their army, their Fatherland.
Today, in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Guard is the successor and continuer of the military traditions of its predecessors. Guards units, ships and formations that became part of the RF Armed Forces retained their previous honorary names and awards. The further development of the Guard of the Russian Federation follows the path of professionalization by changing the principles of manning, improving the organizational structure, and equipping it with more modern types of weapons and military equipment. Great importance is attached to increasing combat training, instilling patriotism, and improving the furnishings and uniforms of military personnel of the guards units.
An integral feature of a guardsman is ideological conviction, patriotism, and loyalty to the military oath. At all times, he is distinguished by selfless love for his unit, the ship.
The traditions of the Guard, its unfading glory are the inheritance and heritage of every Russian soldier, all our units and ships. To serve in the Guards today means to have the highest combat qualifications, to masterfully wield equipment and weapons, to serve vigilantly, and to tirelessly strengthen the combat readiness of the army and navy.
Military personnel whose units were awarded the title “Guards” had the right to wear them. Since June 11, 1943, this sign was also placed on the banners of these units.
The Soviet Guard appeared during the most difficult defensive battles in the summer and autumn of 1941 near Smolensk. Order No. 308 of the Supreme High Command Headquarters dated September 18 stated: “In numerous battles for our Soviet Motherland against the Nazi hordes of Nazi Germany, the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st Infantry Divisions showed examples of courage, bravery, discipline and organization. In difficult conditions of struggle, these divisions repeatedly inflicted brutal defeats on the Nazi troops, put them to flight, and terrified them.” The divisions listed in the order, which distinguished themselves in battles with the enemy, were renamed respectively into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards. They were presented with special guards banners with a portrait of V.I. Lenin.
Material privileges were established for military personnel of the guards units: for command and command personnel one and a half salary, and for privates - double salary.
It was planned to introduce a special uniform with shoulder straps for the guards, but during the Second World War this was not possible.
I.V. Stalin individually reviewed all designs for the sign. He suggested replacing the bas-relief of Lenin on the banner with the inscription “Guard”.
The signs produced at various industries differed markedly from each other. This state of affairs contributed to a large number of varieties of the sign. For example, the “Guard”, manufactured at the Shcherbinsky ShMZ NKPS, initially had a smooth banner panel. Then it was decided to put a fine notch on it so that the banner would sparkle. The notch was made in the form of dots, dotted lines, scales, in a column, in a checkerboard pattern, etc. The shape of the signs was round, oval, elongated, flat, convex, embossed, and so on. They differed from each other in the color of the enamel: from orange-red to dark cherry.
During the Second World War, the “Guard” badge was awarded in a solemn atmosphere, in a general formation, with the carrying out of the battle flag. Young recruits, distributed to guards units and formations, received this honor after baptism of fire, and in aviation and the navy only after several combat missions or a campaign. This rule applied to both privates and officers.
Worn on the right side of the chest. When wearing orders and medals, the guards symbol is attached under them.
At the end of the Second World War, the “Guard” badge was awarded to military personnel as a symbol of encouragement at the end of the academic semester.
During the war and in the first post-war years, the “Guard” badge was worn even in cases where the serviceman served further in an ordinary, non-guards unit. By Order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 254 of November 10, 1961, the right to wear the badge was reserved only for the duration of service in guards units and on guards ships.
The difference between the wartime Guard badge and the post-war badge is that on the post-war badge the banner has a fringe at the bottom and is decorated with specific patterns under the banner.
On May 9, 1945, the title of guards was awarded to: 11 combined arms and 6 tank armies; horse-mechanized group; 40 rifle, 7 cavalry, 12 tank, 9 mechanized and 14 aviation corps; 117 rifle, 9 airborne, 17 cavalry, 6 artillery, 53 aviation and 6 anti-aircraft artillery divisions, 7 rocket artillery divisions; 13 rifle, 3 airborne, 66 tank, 28 mechanized, 3 self-propelled artillery and 64 artillery regiments, 1 mortar, 11 anti-tank fighter, 40 rocket artillery, 6 engineering and 1 railway brigade; 1 UR; in the Navy - 18 surface ships, 16 submarines, 13 divisions of combat boats, 2 air divisions, 2 anti-aircraft artillery regiments, 1 marine brigade, 1 naval railway artillery brigade, as well as a number of separate battalions and companies of various types of troops and special forces.
The first guards units appeared in the summer of 1941. These were rocket artillery units - batteries of the famous Katyushas, which were awarded the rank of guards when they were formed. This emphasized the great importance of a weapon that was new for that time. But the true birthday of the Soviet Guard is considered to be September 18, 1941. On this day, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, four rifle divisions of the Western Front - 100, 127, 153 and 161 - were transformed, respectively, into the 1, 2, 3 and 4 Guards rifle divisions. The circumstances surrounding the emergence of guards rifle formations are described in the memoirs of Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov. During his report on the evening of September 9, 1941 to J.V. Stalin about the situation in the Moscow direction, the question arose about the actions of units of the 24th Army. Zhukov noted that it was these four divisions that distinguished themselves in the battles. Stalin noted something in his notebook, and soon an order followed, which not only stated the renaming of the divisions, but also listed the reasons for their successful military operations. This was supposed to be a powerful incentive for other units and formations of the Red Army to improve their combat skills.
Soon, many units that showed heroism and courage were awarded the title of Guards. So, already on September 21, the 1st Moscow Motorized Rifle Division, which distinguished itself in the battles near Smolensk, became a guards division, and on September 26, the 107,120 and 64th rifle divisions were renamed the 5, 6 and 7th Guards. Following this, guards units and formations appeared in other branches of the armed forces and branches of the Armed Forces.
On November 11, 1941, the 4th Tank Brigade of Colonel M.E. Katukov, which distinguished itself in the battles near Mtsensk, was transformed into the 1st Guards Tank Brigade. On November 26, the Soviet cavalry guard was born: cavalry corps, commanded by
P.A. Belov and L.M. Dovator, for their heroic actions during the defense of Moscow, were transformed into the 1st and 2nd Guards Corps, respectively. In December 1941, the first guards aviation unit appeared. And in January 1942 and April of the same year - the first guards artillery units and the first guards ships of the Navy. In August 1942, the 1st Guards Army was formed from the guards rifle divisions under the command of Lieutenant General F.I. Golikov, and in February - March 1943 the 5th Guards Tank Army was created under the command of Lieutenant General P. A. Rotmistrov. These armies became the first guards associations.
Since 1942, all guards formations and units have been awarded special guards banners, and ships have been awarded a guards naval flag. The commanders of guards units and formations were paid one and a half salaries, and the rank and file - double salary. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 21, 1942, guards ranks were established for military personnel of guards units, ships and formations and a special badge was introduced - “Guard”.
