Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union

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Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union are decorations from the Former USSR that recognized achievements and personal accomplishments, both military and civilian. All the awards, decorations, and orders were discontinued in December 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Many of the awards were simply replaced in the Russian Federation, such as the transition of Hero of the Soviet Union to Hero of the Russian Federation. Due to the extensive and diverse period of history from 1917 to 1991, a wide range of awards and decorations were produced in the Soviet Union.

Highest Awards

This was the highest military decoration in the Soviet Armed Forces and one of the rarest in the world due to the lack of recipients. It was established on November 8, 1943 and awarded to only Generals and Field Marshals for "successful operation within the framework of one or several fronts resulting in a radical change of the situation in favor of the Red Army". Made of platinum, rubies, and 150 diamonds, the sheer value of the order was astronomical. It was awarded only 20 times. Some prominent recipients of this award included Georgy Zhukov, Leonid Brezhnev, and American General Eisenhower, the only American recipient of the award. Except for Brezhnev, who later had his award revoked posthumously, the award was only presented during WWII since the Soviet Union never fought another war on that scale.

Another high award and the highest honorary title that could be given to both civilians and soldiers for accomplishments in promoting peace, promoting socialism, protecting the motherland, or a heroic act to help others. Established on October 16, 1939, about 12,500 people received the title, over 95% of them during the Great Patriotic War. The title meant that a recipient would receive both the Gold Star Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin. The Gold Star was a small medallion of 21 grams of pure gold with the word "HERO USSR" on the back enscribed in Cyrillic. Up until 1988, a person could receive the award more than once. Zhukov and Brezhnev were the only two to be awarded it 4 times.

The 2nd highest civilian award next to the Hero of the Soviet Union was the Hero of Socialist Labour, a title and medal given to workers for improving production and efficiency. It was awarded 19,000 times. The medal was much like the Gold Star, but slightly smaller and with a Hammer and Sickle in the center of the star. First established on May 22, 1938, about 1/4 of the recipients of the award were women. The Order of Lenin was also awarded with this title.

Another prominent award given to both civilians and soldiers for outstanding service to the motherland in defense, strengthening peace, and strengthening labour. The Order of Lenin was awarded about 400,000 times. Established on April 6, 1930, the first editions of it from 1930 to 1934 were made of silver. From 1934 to 1936, it was made of gold. The final edition from 1936 to 1991 was cast in platinum.

Military Orders

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creationGreat Soviet Encyclopedia, entry "Orders of USSR", Moscow, 1969-1978	Description	Number awarded
	Order of the Red Banner Орден Крaсного Знамени Orden Krasnogo Znameni	September 16, 1918	The Order of the Red Banner recognised military deeds. Before the establishment of the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner functioned as the highest (and practically the only) military order of the USSR. Practically all well-known Soviet commanders became Cavaliers of the Order of the Red Banner.	Unknown
	Order of Suvorov (1st Class) Орден Суворова первой степени Orden Suvorova pervoy stepeni	July 29, 1942	The 1st class order is awarded to army commanders for exceptional direction of combat operations.	Unknown
	Order of Suvorov (2nd Class) Орден Суворова второй степени Orden Suvorova vtoroy stepeni	July 29, 1942	The 2nd class order is awarded to corps, divisions, and brigade commanders for a decisive victory over a numerically superior enemy.	Unknown
	Order of Suvorov (3rd Class) Орден Суворова третьей степени Orden Suvorova tret'ey stepeni	July 29, 1942	The 3rd class order is awarded to regiment commanders, their chief of staff, and batallion and company commanders for oustanding leadership leading to a battle victory.	Unknown
	Order of Ushakov (1st Class) Орден Ушакова первой степени Orden Ushakova pervoy stepeni	March 3, 1944		47
	Order of Ushakov (2nd Class) Орден Ушакова второй степени Orden Ushakova vtoroy stepeni	March 3, 1944		198
	Order of Kutuzov (1st Class) Орден Кутузова первой степени Orden Kutuzova pervoj stepeni	July 29, 1942	The order of Kutuzov (first class) was created to award commanders of fronts and armies for skillful evasions of enemy attacks and successful counter attacks.	669
	Order of Kutuzov (2nd Class) Орден Кутузова второй степени Orden Kutuzova vtoroj stepeni	July 29, 1942	The order of Kutuzov (second class) was created to award commanders of corps, divisions and brigades for skillful evasions of enemy attacks and successful counterattacks.	3,325
	Order of Kutuzov (3rd Class) Орден Кутузова третьей степени Orden Kutuzova vtoroj stepeni	February 8, 1943	The order of Kutuzov (third class) was created to award commanders, their chiefs of staff, battalion and company commanders for skillful evasions of enemy attacks and successful counterattacks.	3,328
	Order of Nakhimov (1st Class) Орден Нахимова первой степени Orden Nakhimova pervoy stepeni	March 3, 1944		80
	Order of Nakhimov (2nd Class) Орден Нахимова второй степени Orden Nakhimova vtoroy stepeni	March 3, 1944		467
	Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky (1st Class) Орден Богдана Хмельницкого первой степени Orden Bogdana Khmel'nitzkovo pervoy stepeni	October 10, 1943	The 1st class order was awarded to front or army commanders for successful direction of combat operations that led to the liberation of a region or town inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.	323
	Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky (2nd Class) Орден Богдана Хмельницкого второй степени Orden Bogdana Khmel'nitzkovo vtoroy stepeni	October 10, 1943	The 2nd class order was awarded to corps, divisions, brigade or battalion commanders for a breach of defensive enemy line or a raid in the enemy rear.	2400
	Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky (3rd Class) Орден Богдана Хмельницкого третьей степени Orden Bogdana Khmel'nitzkovo tret'ey stepeni	October 10, 1943	The 3rd class medal was awarded to officers, partisan commanders, sergeants, corporals and privates of the Red Army and partisan units for outstanding bravery and resourcefulness leading to a battle victory.	5700
	Order of Alexander Nevsky Орден Александра Невского Orden Aleksandra Nevskovo	July 29, 1942		42,000+
	Order of the Red Star Орден "Красная Звезда" Orden "Krasnaya Zvezda"	6 April, 1930	The Order of the Red Star was given to Red Army and Navy personnel for exceptional service in the cause of the Defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace.	3,000,000+
	Order of the Patriotic War (1st Class) Орден Отечественной войны первой степени Orden Otechestvennoy Voyni pervoy stepeni	20 May, 1942	The Order of the Patriotic War was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisans for heroic deeds during the Great Patriotic War. In 1985 during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, it was decided that all surviving veterans of the war would be awarded either 2nd or 1st class of the Order.	2,400,000+
	Order of the Patriotic War (2nd Class) Орден Отечественной войны второй степени Orden Otechestvennoy Voyni vtoroy stepeni	20 May, 1942	The Order of the Patriotic War was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisans for heroic deeds during the Great Patriotic War. In 1985 during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, it was decided that all surviving veterans of the war would be awarded either 2nd or 1st class of the Order.	6,500,000+
	Order of Glory (1st class) Орден Славы первой степени Orden Slavy pervoy stepeni	8 November, 1943	The Order of Glory, modelled closely upon the Tsarist Cross of St. George, was awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the armed forces, as well as junior lieutenants of the air force, for bravery in the face of the enemy. A person initially received the third degree, and would subsequently be promoted to higher degrees for further acts of bravery.	2620
	Order of Glory (2nd class)	8 November, 1943	The Order of Glory, modelled closely upon the Tsarist Cross of St. George, was awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the armed forces, as well as junior lieutenants of the air force, for bravery in the face of the enemy. A person initially received the third degree, and would subsequently be promoted to higher degrees for further acts of bravery.	46473
	Order of Glory (3rd class)	8 November, 1943	The Order of Glory, modelled closely upon the Tsarist Cross of St. George, was awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the armed forces, as well as junior lieutenants of the air force, for bravery in the face of the enemy. A person initially received the third degree, and would subsequently be promoted to higher degrees for further acts of bravery.	997815
	Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces (1st Class) Орден "За службу Родине в Вооружённых Силах" первой степени Orden "Za sluzhbu Rodine v Vooruzhennih Silah" pervoy stepeni	28 October, 1974	This order was awarded for exemplary service in the armed forces, both during a war and during peacetime. A recipient was first awarded a 3rd class order, then if further deeds were made, the second and the first class. Like the civilian order of Labor Glory upon which it is modelled, it gave a certain number of material benefits to their owners.	13
	Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces (2nd Class) Орден "За службу Родине в Вооружённых Силах" второй степени Orden "Za sluzhbu Rodine v Vooruzhennih Silah" vtoroy stepeni	28 October, 1974	This order was awarded for exemplary service in the armed forces, both during a war and during peacetime. A recipient was first awarded a 3rd class order, then if further deeds were made, the second and the first class. Like the civilian order of Labor Glory upon which it is modelled, it gave a certain number of material benefits to their owners.	589
	Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces (3rd Class) Орден "За службу Родине в Вооружённых Силах" третьей степени Orden "Za sluzhbu Rodine v Vooruzhennih Silah" tret'ey stepeni	28 October, 1974	This order was awarded for exemplary service in the armed forces, both during a war and during peacetime. A recipient was first awarded a 3rd class order, then if further deeds were made, the second and the first class. Like the civilian order of Labor Glory upon which it is modelled, it gave a certain number of material benefits to their owners.	69576

Civilian Orders

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creation	Description	Number awarded
	Order of the October Revolution Орден Октябрьской Революции Orden Oktyabr'skoy Revolutzii	October 31, 1967	Created for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution, this order was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defences of the Soviet Union.
	Order of the Red Banner of Labor Орден Трудового Красного Знамени Orden Trudovovo Krasnovo Znameni	December 28, 1920	This order was established as the civilian counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner and was awarded for exceptional working achievements.
	Order of the Badge of Honor Орден "Знак Почета" Orden "Znak Pocheta"	November 25, 1935	This order conferred on citizens of the USSR for "outstanding achievements in production, scientific research and social, cultural and other forms of social activity". It was replaced on December 28, 1985 by the Order of Honor, which appearance is almost identical.	1,500,000+
	Order of Labor Glory (1st Class) Орден Трудовой Славы первой степени Orden Trudovoy Slavy pervoy stepeni	18 January, 1974	Closely modeled on the Order of Glory, this order was meant to be its civilian counterpart, awarded for exceptional labor achievements. In the same way as the Order of Glory, it was divided in three classes (the highest being the 1st class), with a person initially received the third degree, and subsequently promoted to higher degrees for further achievements. It also gave a certain number of material benefits to their owners, such as pension raises or free travel in city transports.	952
	Order of Labor Glory (2nd Class) Орден Трудовой Славы второй степени Orden Trudovoy Slavy vtoroy stepeni	18 January, 1974	Closely modeled on the Order of Glory, this order was meant to be its civilian counterpart, awarded for exceptional labor achievements. In the same way as the Order of Glory, it was divided in three classes (the highest being the 1st class), with a person initially received the third degree, and subsequently promoted to higher degrees for further achievements. It also gave a certain number of material benefits to their owners, such as pension raises or free travel in city transports.	50,000+
	Order of Labor Glory (3rd Class) Орден Трудовой Славы третьей степени Orden Trudovoy Slavy tret'ey stepeni	18 January, 1974	Closely modeled on the Order of Glory, this order was meant to be its civilian counterpart, awarded for exceptional labor achievements. In the same way as the Order of Glory, it was divided in three classes (the highest being the 1st class), with a person initially received the third degree, and subsequently promoted to higher degrees for further achievements. It also gave a certain number of material benefits to their owners, such as pension raises or free travel in city transports.	650,000+
	Order of Friendship of Peoples Орден Дружбы Народов Orden Druzhby Narodov	October 17, 1972	This order was awarded to persons, organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for "accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnical and international friendship and cooperation, for economical, political, scientifical, military, and cultural development of the Soviet Union".
	Order for Personal Courage Орден "За Личное Мужество" Orden "Za Lichnoe Muzhestvo"	December 28, 1988	This decoration could be awarded to any USSR citizen showing outstanding courage and bravery during life-saving, keeping of public order and safeguard of State property, as well as for fighting crime, environmental catastrophes and other exceptional events.
Worn in full	Mother Hero Мать-героиня Mat'-geroinya	8 July, 1944	This decoration was awarded to all mothers bearing and raising 10 or more children. It was awarded upon the first birthday of the last child, provided that nine other children (natural or adopted) remained alive. Children who had perished under heroic, military, or other respectful circumstances were also counted.

Medals

Military

General

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creationGreat Soviet Encyclopedia, entry "Medals of USSR", Moscow, 1969-1978	Description	Number awarded
	Medal for Valor Медаль "За Отвагу" Medal' "Za Otvagu"	October 17, 1938	The Medal for Valor was the highest military medal that could be awarded to a soldier for bravery on the field of battle. it was awarded for "acts of bravery during a battle, during the defense of the state borders or during military duties associated with risk for life."	4,569,893Kolesnikov G.A. & Rozhkov A.M., Orders and medals of USSR, Moscow, Mil. lib., 1983.
	Medal for Combat Service Медаль "За боевые заслуги" Medal' "Za boevye zaslugi"	October 17, 1938	This military medal awarded for "combat action resulting in a military sucess", "courageous defense of the state borders", or "successful military and political training and preparation".	5,210,078
	Nakhimov Medal Медаль Нахимова Medal' Nakhimova			13,000+
	Ushakov Medal Медаль Ушакова Medal' Ushakova	March 3, 1944	This medal was awarded to fleet officers and soldiers, both during war and peacetime, for courage and bravery during military operations, state borders patrol, and military duties with life risk. Note that the "peacetime" part results from a modification of the status in 1980 (before that, the medal used to be awarded only during wars).	16,000+
	Partisan Medal (1st class)
	Partisan Medal (2nd class)
	Distinguished Guard of USSR State Borders
	Medal for Distinguished Military Service
	Veteran of Soviet Armed Forces
	Reinforcement of Military Friendship

Campaign medals

Defense medals

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creationGreat Soviet Encyclopedia, entry "Medals of USSR", Moscow, 1969-1978	Description	Number awarded
	Defense of Kiev За оборону Киева Za oboronu Kieva	June 21, 1961
	Defense of Moscow За оборону Москвы Za oboronu Moskvy	May 1, 1944
	Defense of Leningrad За оборону Ленинграда Za oboronu Leningrada
	Defense of Odessa За оборону Одессы Za oboronu Odessy
	Defense of Sevastopol За оборону Севастополя Za oboronu Sevastopolya
	Defense of the Caucasus За оборону Кавказа Za oboronu Kavkaza
	Defense of Stalingrad За оборону Сталинграда Za oboronu Stalingrada
	Defense of Soviet Polar Regions За оборону Советского Заполярья Za oboronu Sovestkogo Zapoliarya

Victory medals

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creationGreat Soviet Encyclopedia, entry "Medals of USSR", Moscow, 1969-1978	Description	Number awarded
	Capture of Budapest За взятие Будапешта Za vsyatie Budapeshta
	Capture of Koenigsberg За взятие Кенигсберга Za vsyatie Kenigsberga
	Capture of Vienna За взятие Вены Za vzyatie Veny
	Capture of Berlin За взятие Берлина Za vsyatie Berlina
	Liberation of Belgrade За освобождение Белграда Za osvobozhdenie Belgrada
	Liberation of Prague За освобождение Праги Za osvobozhdenie Pragi
	Liberation of Warsaw За освобождение Варшавы Za osvobozhdenie Warshavy
	Victory Over Germany За победу над Германией Za pobedu nad Germaniey
	Victory Over Japan За победу над Японией Za pobedu nad Yaponiey

Other

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creationGreat Soviet Encyclopedia, entry "Medals of USSR", Moscow, 1969-1978	Description	Number awarded
	From the Grateful Afghan People* От благодарного афганского народа Ot blagodarnovo afganskovo naroda
	International Soldier (Military Service Outside the USSR)*

Civilian

Award	Ribbon
Outstanding Achievements in Labor
Excellence in Maintaining Public Order
Reclaiming the Virgin Lands
Restoration of the Donets Mines
Outstanding Labor during Great Patriotic War

Commemoration medals

Years of Victory in the

Badge and Ribbon	Name (English/Russian/Translit)	Date of creationGreat Soviet Encyclopedia, entry "Medals of USSR", Moscow, 1969-1978	Description	Number awarded
	20 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 20 Лет Победы в Великой Отечественной Войне 20 Let Pobedy v Velikoy Otechestvennoy Voyne	May 7, 1965
	30 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 30 Лет Победы в Великой Отечественной Войне 30 Let Pobedy v Velikoy Otechestvennoy Voyne	April 25, 1975
	40 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 40 Лет Победы в Великой Отечественной Войне 40 Let Pobedy v Velikoy Otechestvennoy Voyne	April 12, 1985

Award	Ribbon
20 Years
30 Years
40 Years

Years Since the Creation of the

Award	Ribbon
20 Years
30 Years
40 Years
50 Years
60 Years
70 Years

Other

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Note: Several Soviet decorations were worn in full, so a ribbon bar was not created. However, since the fall of the USSR, some medals have had ribbon bars created for them. An asterisk, *, denotes these medals.

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References

External links

• [http://rustyknight.topcities.com/Soviet.htm]
• [http://www.acadiacom.net/adimag/]
• [http://www.soviet-awards.com/]
• [http://www.russianmilitaria.com/]

 

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