Golden star of the hero of the Soviet Union description. Title of Hero of the Soviet Union and Gold Star medal
Appearance highest degree differences in the USSR are directly related to the rescue of passengers and crew members of the Chelyuskin steamship.
Considering that to evacuate the people on the lost ship, Soviet pilots carried out an operation that had no analogues in world history, the Soviet government began to think about the need to especially note this feat.
On April 16, 1934, the USSR Central Executive Committee, by a special resolution, established “the highest degree of distinction - the awarding of the title of Hero for personal or collective services to the state associated with the commission of Soviet Union».
It should be especially noted that no insignia was initially intended for the Heroes of the Soviet Union. The conferment of the title was celebrated exclusively by the presentation of a special diploma from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR.
The first award of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union took place on April 20, 1934, when it was awarded to the pilots who participated in the rescue of the Chelyuskinites: Anatoly Lyapidevsky, Sigismund Levanevsky, Vasily Molokov, Nikolay Kamanin, Mauritius Slepnev, Mikhail Vodopyanov And Ivan Doronin.
Pilots in the USSR in the 1930s were held in special esteem. It is no wonder that the first 11 Heroes of the Soviet Union represented aviation.
Initially, Heroes of the Soviet Union received only a certificate. Photo: Public Domain
Order and medal
The tradition, along with conferring the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, to present the Order of Lenin practically developed by itself. The fact is that the first 11 Heroes, along with the title, also received an order, which was the highest award of the USSR.
In July 1936, this practice was legalized by a decision of the USSR Central Executive Committee - from now on, the Hero of the Soviet Union, along with a diploma, automatically received the Order of Lenin.
The number of Heroes grew - along with the “Stalinist falcons”, the military who fought in Spain, as well as participants in the battles on Lake Khasan, were honored.
The more Heroes there were, the more the need grew for the appearance of some kind of distinctive sign, according to which outstanding person Anyone can find out.
This is how the “Gold Star” medal appeared, the author of which was architect Miron Merzhanov. The Golden Star medal as an insignia of Heroes of the Soviet Union was approved on August 1, 1939, and the first Heroes to receive both the Golden Star and the Order of Lenin were participants in the battles near the Khalkhin Gol River.
Medal "Gold Star". Photo: Public Domain
Zhukov, Brezhnev and Savitskaya
In total, from 1934 to 1991, 12,776 people received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and the vast majority of awards were awarded to those who distinguished themselves in the battles of the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War: there are more than 91 percent of all those awarded.
The absolute record holders for “heroism” are Georgy Zhukov And Leonid Brezhnev. Both the outstanding commander and the Secretary General are four times Heroes of the Soviet Union. At the same time, Brezhnev also has the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. However, Brezhnev’s awards were always treated with a fair amount of humor. Suffice it to say that three titles of Hero of the Soviet Union were awarded to Brezhnev in the period from 1976 to 1981, when the country's leader was rapidly losing his ability to work and his ability to think critically about the surrounding reality.
Oddly enough, despite the heroism of Soviet women, only one of them was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice. However, we are talking about a more than worthy person - an astronaut pilot Svetlana Savitskaya, the first woman to walk into outer space.
Pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya. Photo: www.russianlook.com
Just "thank you"
The most the last Hero The Soviet Union became an extremely unusual person - diving specialist, captain 3rd rank Leonid Solodkov. The decree conferring the title for participation in a diving experiment simulating long-term work at a depth of 500 meters under water was signed on December 24, 1991.
The newly-minted Hero was invited to the Kremlin on January 16, 1992 to receive the award. The situation was extremely strange - the state of which Leonid Solodkov became the Hero had not existed for more than three weeks by this time. But the most interesting thing is that, according to military regulations, Solodkov, as an officer, had to say “I serve the Soviet Union!”
It is impossible to quickly change the Charter, and Solodkov decided to act on his own. After Marshal Shaposhnikov presented the Hero with an award, he simply replied: “Thank you!” With this “Thank you,” the story of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union ended, three years before his 60th birthday.
Many at that moment believed that there would be no more Heroes in our country. They say that nowhere except the USSR and the countries of the socialist bloc has such a system of distinction been practiced, despite the fact that it exists in almost all countries of the world.
Tradition is stronger than ideology
However, tradition turned out to be stronger than ideological changes in society. Already on March 20, 1992, the Supreme Council of Russia approved the establishment of the title of Hero Russian Federation.
The fundamental difference between the title of Hero of Russia and its Soviet predecessor is that it is awarded only once.
At the same time, the continuity of the two highest degrees of distinction is confirmed by the fact that four Heroes of the Soviet Union simultaneously became Heroes of the Russian Federation - this astronauts Sergey Krikalev And Valery Polyakov, polar scientist Arthur Chilingarov And military pilot Nikolay Maidanov.
Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union were representatives of many nationalities big country- Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Tatars, Jews, Azerbaijanis, Chechens, Yakuts and many others.
No wonder that in many republics former USSR who became independent states, a similar title was established. Including Russia, it exists in 11 of the 15 states in the former USSR.
On April 16, 1934, the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR established the highest degree of distinction - title of Hero of the Soviet Union, which was awarded for personal or collective services to the state associated with the accomplishment of a heroic feat.
Initially, the Heroes of the Soviet Union were presented with a diploma from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and were separately awarded the Order of Lenin. Since 1936, the Order of Lenin was awarded simultaneously with the conferment of the title.
On August 1, 1939, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the medal “Hero of the Soviet Union” was established. No one was awarded it.
On October 16, 1939, the medal “Hero of the Soviet Union” was renamed “ Gold Star medal" The drawing and description of the medal were approved. The design of the medal was designed by artist I.I. Dubasov. Everyone who was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union before October 16, 1939 was awarded a new medal (several hundred people).
Description of the medal
The Gold Star medal is made of 900-karat gold and is a five-pointed star with dihedral rays on the front side. Beam length - 15 mm.
On the reverse side of the medal there is a relief inscription “Hero of the USSR”. In the upper ray of the star is the medal number.
The order ribbon is red, 20 mm wide.
Method of fastening and wearing
The medal is connected to a rectangular silver gilded block, which is covered with a red silk moiré ribbon, using an eyelet and a link. The block has a pin fastening.
The Gold Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union is supposed to be worn on the left side of the chest above orders and medals of the USSR.
From the Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union :
“The title of Hero of the Soviet Union (GUS) is the highest degree of distinction and is awarded for personal or collective services to the Soviet state and society associated with the accomplishment of a heroic deed. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.”
From Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union dated May 14, 1973:
“A Hero of the Soviet Union, who has accomplished a second heroic feat, no less than that for which others who have accomplished a similar feat are awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, is awarded the Order of Lenin and a second Gold Star medal, and in commemoration of his exploits, a bronze bust of the hero is built with the appropriate inscription , established in his homeland, which is recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the award. The Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded two Gold Star medals, may again be awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for new heroic deeds similar to those previously accomplished.”
(Until this time, according to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1939, the second Order of Lenin was not awarded when re-awarding.)
According to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, three times Heroes of the Soviet Union, in addition to three “Golden Stars” and a bust in their homeland, were awarded a bronze bust in the form of a column, installed in Moscow. However, this point of the Decree was never implemented.
In 1988, the regulation from 1973 was amended, and it was established that the Order of Lenin is awarded to a Hero of the Soviet Union only upon the first award of the Gold Star medal.
For the first time the title of Hero of the Soviet Union On April 20, 1934, the following pilots were awarded: M. V. Vodopyanov, I. V. Doronin, N. P. Kamanin, S. A. Levanevsky, A. V. Lyapidevsky, V. S. Molokov and M. T. Slepnev who took part in the rescue of the crew of the icebreaker "Chelyuskin". On June 19, 1934, M.I. Kalinin presented awarded the order Lenin and a special certificate from the Central Executive Committee.
The first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union were S.I. Gritsevets and G.P. Kravchenko on August 29, 1939 for the battles at Khalkhin Gol. On February 22, 1939, for fighting in Spain, they were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union - for the first time. S. I. Gritsevets was awarded the second Gold Star medal for saving the commander of the 70th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Major V. M. Zabaluev. While chasing Japanese planes over enemy territory, Gritsevets saw V. M. Zabaluev descending by parachute, whose plane was shot down. S.I. Gritsevets landed in difficult conditions and took out the major in his fighter. In the 22nd Aviation Regiment, commanded by G.P. Kravchenko, there were 11 Heroes of the Soviet Union.
Within two weeks battles near Lake Khasan 26 people received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
For battles at Khalkhin Gol 70 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, of which 21 soldiers received it posthumously. Among the Heroes of Khalkhin Gol is G.K. Zhukov, later four times Hero of the Soviet Union.
The first in the Great Patriotic War By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 8, 1941, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to pilots S.I. Zdorovtsev, M.P. Zhukov and P.T. Kharitonov, who rammed German bombers.
85 Soviet pilots - Heroes of the Soviet Union - made rams in the air, of which Lieutenant A. S. Khlobystov - three rams, and Senior Lieutenant B. I. Kovzan - four.
In the ground forces, the first Hero of the Soviet Union was the commander of the 1st Moto rifle division 20th Army Colonel Y. R. Kreiser. During three days of defensive battles on the Berezina, his division destroyed 3 thousand enemy soldiers and officers and about 70 tanks.
The first sailor - Hero of the Soviet Union - was Senior Sergeant V.P. Kislyakov, assistant platoon commander, who distinguished himself in July 1941 during the landing in the Zapadnaya Litsa area in the Arctic.
The first Hero of the Soviet Union from the partisans was posthumously T. P. Bumazhkov, 1st Secretary of the Oktyabrsky District Committee of the Polesie Region of the Communist Party of Belarus. During the Great Patriotic War, 190 partisans became Heroes of the Soviet Union, and the commanders of partisan formations S.A. Kovpak and A.F. Fedorov became heroes twice.
91 women became heroes of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War, including the legendary partisans Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, Liza Chaikina, snipers Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Maria Polivanova and Natalya Kovshova, pilots Marina Chechneva and Evgenia Rudneva and others.
On the Soviet-German front, anti-fascists from many countries fought against the enemy shoulder to shoulder with Soviet soldiers. More than twenty of them became Heroes of the Soviet Union. Among them are French pilots from the Normandy-Niemen regiment, Czech captain Otakar Jaros and others.
On July 22, 1941, for the first time in the Great Patriotic War, the Gold Star medal was re-awarded. Her cavalier posthumously became pilot Lieutenant Colonel S.P. Suprun, commander of the 401st Special Purpose Fighter Aviation Regiment, who died in an unequal battle with six enemy fighters on July 4.
The first holder of three "Gold Stars" The hero of the Soviet Union was fighter pilot, later air marshal A.I. Pokryshkin, who flew more than 600 sorties, 156 air battles and shot down 59 enemy aircraft. Also, fighter pilot, later Colonel General of Aviation I.N. Kozhedub, who flew 330 combat missions and shot down 62 enemy aircraft, became a three-time hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war, Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov became four times Hero of the Soviet Union.
For their exploits in the Great Patriotic War, more than 11,600 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
Gold Star Medal was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 1, 1939 as an insignia of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union called the medal “Hero of the Soviet Union.” By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated October 16, 1939, it was renamed “Golden Star”, and the drawing and description were also approved.
Regulations on the Gold Star medal
The medal is made in the shape of a five-pointed star with polished dihedral fifteen millimeter rays on the front side. The reverse was a smooth surface bordered along the contour by a thin rim. In its center, in raised letters, was written: “Hero of the USSR.” The number was in the upper beam. Spring awards 21.5 grams, with the help of an eyelet and a link, the medal was attached to a rectangular gilded block, covered with a red moire ribbon, the width of which was 22 millimeters. The provision provided for the possibility of repeated awards. Such a hero was awarded the Order of Lenin and a second medal, and to commemorate the feats of the recipient, a bronze bust with an appropriate inscription was built in his homeland.
According to the first statute (August 1939), the award was called the “Medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union” and was declared the highest award of the USSR, awarded for special valor shown in defending the Motherland as well as for special services to the party and government. Initially, it was planned to place on the front side the inscription “Hero of the SS” (meaning Hero of the Soviet Union), however, due to unwanted associations that arose (with German SS units), the inscription was removed already in November of the same year, and instead the inscription “ “ Hero of the USSR." The statute of November 1939 changed the very name of the award; from now on until the end of its existence it was called the “Gold Star Medal.” In addition, rules for repeated and third awards were added to the statute. It was established that the second and third stars on the reverse should have serial numbers II and III, respectively (in Roman numerals). The cavaliers were also celebrated by installing bronze busts: at the second award - in their homeland and at the third - in the courtyard of the Palace of the Soviets. Special mention should be made about the last rule: at the time the statute was approved, the Palace of Soviets was just beginning to be built, it was assumed that it would be a huge 420-meter skyscraper, topped with a 100-meter statue of Lenin. The location is on the bank of the Moscow River; the famous Cathedral of Christ the Savior was demolished especially for this construction. However, with the outbreak of the war, construction was frozen and was never resumed, so busts of three times the heroes of the Soviet Union were placed in the Kremlin, although a corresponding change to the statute of the award was made only in 1967.
The medal could be awarded not only to individuals who committed a heroic feat and were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but also to cities that were awarded the title “Hero City” and fortresses awarded the title “Hero Fortress”.
When the Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded the Order of Lenin, he was also presented with a diploma from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The medal is worn on the left side of the chest above all other USSR awards. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union for new heroic deeds similar to those performed earlier could be awarded the Order of Lenin and the Golden Star for the third time.
The first Heroes of the Soviet Union were not awarded the Golden Star, because at that time the title of Hero did not yet have external attributes. Later, the highest insignia of this title was awarded to the rescuers of the crew of the sunken Chelyuskin. The first on the list to receive this medal is S. Levanevsky, who did not have time to receive it during his lifetime, as he died in the region North Pole when taking a direct flight to the USA.
In 1939-1940 The “Gold Star” was received by many Soviet soldiers who fought on the side of the Republican Army of Spain and took part in the defeat of Japanese troops in the area of Lake Khasan and the Khalkhin Gol River, as well as distinguished themselves in battles on the Karelian Isthmus during the Soviet-Finnish armed conflict.
In total, before 1941, it was awarded to more than 600 people. The “Gold Star” medal was awarded to the hero cities of Leningrad, Stalingrad, Odessa, Sevastopol, Moscow, Kiev, Novorossiysk, Kerch, Minsk, Tula, Murmansk and Smolensk, as well as the hero fortress of Brest.
More than 90% of awards occurred during the Great Patriotic War: 11,657 soldiers and officers received the Gold Star Medal, 3,051 of them posthumously. The large number of awards is explained, first of all, by massive displays of heroism Soviet people, The Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union was never given to anyone “for beautiful eyes.” Both experienced warriors and completely green boys, yesterday’s schoolchildren and students, did not spare their lives for the sake of ridding the Motherland of the fascist infection. The Medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union was deservedly received by the pilot Stepan Zdorovtsev, who rammed a fascist bomber on the first night of the war, and Sergeant Vasily Kislyakov, who single-handedly held the heights from the advancing Germans for 7 hours, and Alexander Matrosov, who covered the enemy embrasure with his body, and thousands more selfless men, women and even children, up to last straw the blood of those who fought the brown plague.
After 1945, the Hero of the Soviet Union Medal was awarded to participants in the Korean (1950-1953) and Afghan (1979-1989) wars: 22 and 86 gentlemen, respectively, and until the 80s, awards continued for heroes of the Great Patriotic War, which for various reasons have not previously received a well-deserved award. They also received the Hero Star Soviet cosmonauts(total 84 awards).
The Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded:
– highest award USSR - Order of Lenin;
- sign special distinction– medal “Gold Star”;
- Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
In honor of the Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded the 2nd Gold Star medal, a bronze bust of the Hero with the appropriate inscription was built, which was installed in his homeland.
The Gold Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union was worn on the left side of the chest above the USSR. The Gold Star medal is a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. The reverse side of the medal has a smooth surface and is limited in silhouette by a protruding narrow rim. On the reverse side, in the center of the medal, there is an inscription in raised letters “Hero of the USSR”.
This USSR medal is made of 950 gold. The medal block is made of silver. As of September 18, 1975, the gold content in the medal was 20.521 ± 0.903 grams, the silver content was 12.186 ± 0.927 grams. The weight of the medal without the block is 21.5 grams. The total weight of the medal is 34.264 ± 1.5 g.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was established by the Decree of the USSR Central Executive Committee of April 16, 1934. The resolution established that “Heroes of the Soviet Union are issued a distinctive certificate.” No other attributes or insignia were introduced for the Heroes of the Soviet Union at that time.
The regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union were established on July 29, 1936. It introduced the procedure for awarding Heroes of the Soviet Union, in addition to the CEC diploma, also the Order of Lenin, the highest award of the USSR. Those who were awarded the title of Hero before the release of this Resolution were also given it retroactively; there were 11 of them. From this stage, all Heroes of the Soviet Union received almost until the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
On August 1, 1939, the “Hero of the Soviet Union” medal was established, which is awarded simultaneously with the awarding of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the awarding of the Order of Lenin. The issuance of Gold Star medals was carried out similarly to those individuals who were awarded the title before the establishment of this medal.
On July 21, 1942, all fighters of the tank destroyer unit from the 1075th regiment of the 316th Infantry Division of Major General Panfilov became heroes. 27 soldiers, led by political instructor Klochkov, at the cost of their lives stopped the advanced tank units of the Germans, rushing to Volokolamsk highway. All of them were awarded the title posthumously, but then five of them turned out to be alive and received “Gold Stars”.
On May 18, 1943, all the soldiers of the platoon of Lieutenant P.N. Shironin were awarded the title of GSS. from the 78th Guards rifle regiment 25th Guards Rifle Division under General P.M. Shafarenko From March 2, 1943, for five days, a platoon, reinforced with a 45-mm gun, defended a railway crossing near the village of Taranovka south of Kharkov and repeated the feat of the Panfilov men. The enemy lost 11 armored vehicles and up to a hundred soldiers. When other units came to the rescue of the Shironinites, only six heroes survived, including the seriously wounded commander. All 25 platoon soldiers were awarded the title of GSS.
On April 2, 1945, the last assignment of the title of GSS to all personnel of one unit took place during the Great Patriotic War. On March 28, 1944, during the liberation of the city of Nikolaev, 67 soldiers of the landing detachment (55 sailors and 12 soldiers), led by senior lieutenant K.F. Olshansky, performed a heroic feat. and his deputy for political affairs, Captain A.F. Golovlev. The landing force was landed in the Nikolaev port to facilitate the capture of the city by the advancing units. The Germans threw 3 infantry battalions against the paratroopers, supported by 4 tanks and artillery. Before the main forces arrived, 55 out of 67 people died, but the paratroopers managed to destroy about 700 fascists, 2 tanks and 4 guns. All dead and surviving paratroopers were awarded the rank of GSS. In addition to the paratroopers, a conductor also fought in the detachment, but he was awarded the title of Hero only 20 years later.
Former Chief of Operations of the General Staff Soviet Army Marshal Shtemenko provides the following data: for exploits during the Great Patriotic War, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (as of September 1, 1948) was awarded to 11,603 people, 98 people were awarded this honor twice, and three times - three.
GSS Guard Captain Nedorubov K.I. (1889-1978) - commander of the people's militia squadron of the 41st Guards Cavalry Regiment of the 11th Guards cavalry division 5th Guards Cavalry Corps of the North Caucasus Front. Member of the 1st World War and civil war. Full Knight of St. George. He wore the Gold Star of the Hero along with the Crosses of St. George.
Of all those awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War and the war with Japan, the largest number were fighters ground forces- over 8 thousand (1800 artillerymen, 1142 tank crews, 650 sappers, more than 290 signalmen and 52 logistics soldiers). It must be said that in 1944 Decrees were promulgated on awarding the navigator of the fighter air regiment, Major N.D. Gulaev. the third “Golden Star”, and a number of other pilots with the second “Golden Star”, but none of them received awards because of the brawl they caused in a Moscow restaurant on the eve of receiving the awards. These decrees were annulled.
The number of Air Force Heroes is about 2,400 people.
In the Navy, 513 people received the title of Hero (including naval pilots and soldiers Marine Corps those who fought on the shore).
Among the border guards, internal troops and security forces - over 150 Heroes of the Soviet Union.
234 partisans were awarded the title of GSS.
There are more than 90 representatives of the fairer sex among the Heroes of the Soviet Union. More than half of them were awarded the title of GSS posthumously.
Of all the Heroes of the Soviet Union, 35% were privates and non-commissioned officers (soldiers, sailors, sergeants and foremen), 61% were officers and 3.3% (380 people) were generals, admirals and marshals.
In terms of national composition, the bulk of the Heroes were Russians - 7998 people; Ukrainians - 2021 people, Belarusians - 299, Tatars - 161, Jews - 107, Kazakhs - 96, Georgians - 90, Armenians - 89, Uzbeks - 67, Mordvins - 63, Chuvash - 45, Azerbaijanis - 43, Bashkirs - 38, Ossetians – 31, Mari – 18, Turkmens – 16, Lithuanians – 15, Tajiks – 15, Latvians – 12, Kyrgyz – 12, Komi – 10, Udmurts – 10, Estonians – 9, Karelians – 8, Kalmyks – 8, Kabardians – 6 , Adygeis - 6, Abkhazians - 4, Yakuts - 2, Moldovans - 2, Tuvans - 1, etc.
By resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR dated July 29, 1936, the Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union were approved.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1939, in order to specially distinguish citizens awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and performing new heroic deeds, to establish the “Gold Star” medal, shaped like a five-pointed star.
The first medal was awarded to the Hero of the Soviet Union, polar pilot A. S. Lyapidevsky. During the Great Patriotic War, fighter pilots M.P. Zhukov were among the first to receive the highest degree of distinction. S.I. Zdorovtsev and P.T. Kharitonov, who accomplished their feats in the sky near Leningrad.
Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union is the highest degree of distinction and is awarded for personal or collective services to the Soviet state and society associated with the accomplishment of a heroic feat.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded:
- the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin;
— a sign of special distinction - the “Gold Star” medal;
- Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
A Hero of the Soviet Union, who has accomplished a second heroic feat, no less than that for which others who have accomplished a similar feat are awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, is awarded the Order of Lenin and a second Gold Star medal, and in commemoration of his exploits, a bronze bust of the Hero is built with an appropriate inscription, established in his homeland, which is recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the award.
A Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded two Gold Star medals, for new heroic deeds similar to those previously accomplished, may again be awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
When a Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal, he is presented with a certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR simultaneously with the order and medal.
If the Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, then in commemoration of his heroic and labor exploits, a bronze bust of the Hero with the appropriate inscription is built, installed in his homeland, which is recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
Heroes of the Soviet Union enjoy benefits established by law.
The “Gold Star” medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union is worn on the left side of the chest above the orders and medals of the USSR.
Deprivation of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union can only be carried out by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
More than 11,600 soldiers, officers and generals of the Red Army, partisans and underground fighters were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for their feats committed during the Great Patriotic War.
The author of the medal project is the artist I. I. Dubasov.
The first three medals were awarded to the military pilot Hero of the Soviet Union A.I. Pokryshkin.
There are many foreigners among those awarded the highest degree of distinction. Four French pilots of the Normandie-Niemen regiment received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union: Marcel Albert. Rolland de la Poype, Jacques Andre, Marcel Lefebvre. The title was posthumously awarded to Jan Nelspke, commander partisan detachment, consisting of Czechs and Slovaks.
Among the post-war Heroes of the Soviet Union were pilots of the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps, who fought in North Korea against American and South Korean aces.
On June 8, 1960, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to the Spaniard Ramon Mercader, who arrived in the USSR from Mexico after serving a 20-year sentence for the murder of Leon Trotsky, committed in 1940 on the orders of Stalin. A year later, Fidel Castro and Egyptian President Nasser became Heroes of the USSR.
For feats accomplished during the war. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to people who received the stigma of “traitor to the Motherland” under Stalin. Justice was restored to the defender of the Brest Fortress, Major P. M. Gavrilov, the hero of the French Resistance, Lieutenant Porik (posthumously), holder of the Italian Resistance Medal Polezhaev (posthumously). In 1945, pilot-lieutenant Devyatayev escaped from captivity by hijacking a German bomber. Instead of a reward, he was put in a camp as a “traitor.” In 1957 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1964, intelligence officer Richard Sorge became a Hero (posthumously). Under M. S. Gorbachev he was awarded the title of Hero famous submariner Marinesko, undeservedly forgotten after the war.
