The title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, the title of Hero City, the title of Hero Fortress, the title of Mother Heroine.

Hero Title Soviet Union and a medal Golden Star"

By a decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR of April 16, 1934, the highest degree of distinction was established - the award for personal or collective services to the state associated with the accomplishment of a heroic deed, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

By a decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR of 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 distinguish citizens awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and performing new heroic deeds, establish the Gold Star medal, which has the shape of a five-pointed star.

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 14, 1973, the Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in a new edition were approved.

Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union

The order of Lenin

The title of Hero of the Soviet Union (GSS) 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.

The Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded:

badge of special distinction - the medal "Gold Star";

A Hero of the Soviet Union who has accomplished a heroic feat for the second time, no less than the one 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 the second Gold Star medal, and in commemoration of his exploits a bronze bust of the Hero is erected with the appropriate inscription, installed 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 be again 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 simultaneously presented with a letter of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR along with the order and medal.

In the event that the Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, then, in commemoration of his heroic and labor deeds, a bronze bust of the Hero with a corresponding inscription is erected 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 the 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 done by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Description of the medal

The Gold Star medal is a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. The distance from the center of the star to the top of the beam is 15 mm. The distance between opposite ends of the star is 30 mm.

Back side The medal has a smooth surface and is limited along the contour by a protruding thin rim. On the reverse side in the center of the medal there is an inscription in raised letters "Hero of the USSR". The size of the letters is 4 by 2 mm. In the upper beam is the number of the medal with a height of 1 mm.

The medal is made of 950 gold. The medallion is made of silver. As of September 18, 1975, the gold content in the medal is 20.521 ± 0.903 g, the silver content is 12.186 ± 0.927 g. The weight of the medal without a block is 21.5 g. The total weight of the medal is 34.264 ± 1.5 g.

On December 24, 1991, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded for the last time.
The last person to be awarded the Gold Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union (No. 11664, for participating in a diving experiment simulating prolonged work at a depth of 500 meters under water) was a diving specialist, 3rd rank captain Leonid Mikhailovich Solodkov. Upon receiving the "Gold Star" of the Hero, he, as an officer, according to the charter, was supposed to answer: "I serve the Soviet Union!" However, at the time the award was presented (January 16, 1992), the USSR had not existed for 22 days. The charter had not yet been rewritten, so Solodkov only said to Air Marshal E.I. Shaposhnikov, who presented him with the award: "Thank you."

From the history of the highest award:

The first Hero of the Soviet Union pilot - Lyapidevsky A.V. (04/20/1934)

The first woman - Hero of the Soviet Union pilot - Grizodubova V. S. (11/02/1938)

The youngest Hero of the Soviet Union partisan Kotik V. A. (06/27/1958) at the time of the feat he was 14 years old

The oldest Hero of the Soviet Union, peasant Kuzmin Matvey Kuzmich (posthumously, 05/08/1965) - at the time of his death he was 83 years old

The first and only woman - twice Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot-cosmonaut S. E. Savitskaya (08/27/1982 and 07/29/1984)

The first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union: military pilot Major S. I. Gritsevets (22.02.1939 and 08.29.1939), military pilot Colonel Kravchenko G.P. (02.22.1939 and 08.29.1939)

Three times Heroes of the Soviet Union:
Air Marshal A. I. Pokryshkin (05/24/1943, 08/24/1943, 08/19/1944)
Colonel General of Aviation Kozhedub I. N. (02/04/1944, 08/19/1944, 08/18/1945)
Marshal of the Soviet Union Budyonny S. M. (02/01/1958, 04/24/1963, 02/22/1968)

Four times Heroes of the Soviet Union:
Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K. (08/29/1939, 07/29/1944, 06/01/1945, 12/01/1956).
Marshal of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev (12/18/1966, 12/18/1976, 12/19/1978, 12/18/1981)

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor and the Hammer and Sickle medal

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 27, 1938 established the highest degree of distinction in the field of economic and cultural construction - the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 22, 1940, in order to distinguish citizens awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, a gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" was established.

The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 14, 1973 approved the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in a new edition.

Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor

The order of Lenin

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor (GTS) is the highest degree of distinction for merit in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is conferred on persons who have shown labor heroism, have made a significant contribution to improving the efficiency of social production, and contributed to the rise of National economy, science, culture, the growth of the power and glory of the USSR.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded:

the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin;
badge of special distinction - the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle";
Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Hero of Socialist Labor for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less than those for which he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, is awarded the Order of Lenin and the second gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" and a bronze bust is built to commemorate his labor exploits A hero with a corresponding inscription, installed 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 Socialist Labor, who was awarded two gold medals "Hammer and Sickle", for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less significant than the previous ones, can be again awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

When the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal, he is simultaneously presented with a letter of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR along with the order and medal.

If the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, then, in commemoration of his labor and heroic deeds, a bronze bust of the Hero with a corresponding inscription is erected, 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 the Soviet Union .

Heroes of Socialist Labor enjoy the benefits established by law.

The gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" of the Hero of Socialist Labor is worn on the left side of the chest above orders and medals of the USSR.

Deprivation of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor can only be done by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Description of the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle"

The Hammer and Sickle gold medal is a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. In the center of the medal there are relief hammer and sickle. The distance from the center of the star to the top of the beam is 15 mm. The diameter of the circumscribed circle of the star is 33.5 mm. The size of the sickle and hammer from the handle to the top point, respectively, is 14 and 13 mm.

The reverse side of the medal has a smooth surface and is limited along the contour by a protruding thin rim. On the reverse side in the center of the medal there is an inscription in raised letters "Hero of Socialist Labor". The size of the letters in the words "Hero" and "Labor" - 2 by 1 mm, in the word "Socialist" - 1.5 by 0.75 mm. In the upper beam is the number of the medal with a height of 1 mm.

The medal is connected by means of an eyelet and a ring to a gilded metal block, which is a rectangular plate 15 mm high and 19.5 mm wide, with frames in the upper and lower parts. There are slits along the base of the shoe; its inner part is covered with a red silk moiré ribbon 20 mm wide. The box has a threaded pin with a nut on the reverse side for attaching the medal to clothing.

The medal is made of 950 gold. The medallion is made of silver. As of September 18, 1975, the gold content in the medal is 14.583±0.903 g, the silver content is 12.03±0.927 g. The weight of the medal without a block is 15.25 g. The total weight of the medal is 28.014±1.5 g.

The title of "City-Hero", the title of "Fortress-Hero"

City-hero-honorary title, the highest degree of distinction.

Officially, the title was established as a state award on May 8, 1965, when the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR by its Decree approved the Regulations on the highest degree of distinction - the title of "hero city". On the same day, the title was awarded to the cities of Leningrad, Volgograd, Sevastopol, Odessa, Kiev and Moscow, and the title of "hero-fortress" was awarded to the Brest Fortress.

The Regulations on the title of "hero city" states:

The order of Lenin

The highest degree of distinction - the title of "hero city" is awarded to the cities of the Soviet Union, whose workers showed mass heroism and courage in defending the Motherland in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

The city awarded the highest degree of distinction - the title of "hero city":

a) the highest award of the USSR is awarded - the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal;

b) a Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is issued.

On the banner of the city, awarded the highest degree of distinction - the title of "hero city", the Order of Lenin and the medal "Gold Star" are depicted.

In the city, awarded the highest degree of distinction - the title of "hero city", an obelisk is installed with the image of the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star medal and the text of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Each city, like each person, has its own destiny: the time of birth (foundation), development, the time of ups and downs, the time of heroic deeds...

During the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, all the people stood up to defend their homeland: men fought at the front, women and children - in the rear, at the machine tools, in partisan detachments. Some cities have shown special courage and mass heroism, for which they were awarded a special title.

After the war, 12 cities of the USSR were awarded the title of Hero City:

May 1, 1945
Leningrad (St. Petersburg);
Stalingrad (Volgograd);
Sevastopol;
Odessa.

Currently, Kyiv, Odessa, Kerch and Sevastopol are located on the territory of Ukraine; Minsk and Brest Fortress– in the Republic of Belarus; the rest of the cities are in Russia.

By order of the Supreme Commander I.V. Stalin on May 1, 1945, the first hero cities were:

Leningrad;
Stalingrad;
Sevastopol;
Odessa.

Star of the Marshal of the Armed Forces, Admiral of the Fleet and General of the Army

On September 2, 1940, by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, the marshal insignia "Marshal Star" was established. On March 3, 1955, it was established that the Admirals of the Fleet of the Soviet Union were awarded the same star.

DESCRIPTION, HISTORY

It is a five-pointed gold star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. In the middle of the badge there is a platinum five-pointed star with diamonds; in the center is a diamond weighing 2.62 carats, in the rays there are 25 diamonds with a total weight of 1.25 carats.
Between the edges of the rays are 5 diamonds with a total weight of 3.06 carats.
The diameter of the circumscribed circle of the gold star is 44.5 mm, the platinum star is 23 mm.
The height of the Marshal's Star profile is 8 mm.
The reverse side of the badge is flat, with openwork of diamonds of a platinum star and diamonds located between the edges of the rays.
The "Marshal's Star" is connected by means of a triangular eyelet in the upper beam to a semi-oval mount 14 mm in size, through which a moiré ribbon 35 mm wide is threaded.
The total weight of the marshal's insignia is 36.8 g.

Although the Marshal's Star was a sign of distinction, similar, for example, to epaulettes, it was awarded, like an order, in a solemn atmosphere by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council, and a special diploma was also issued to its owner. After the death or demotion of the Marshal, the star was subject to surrender to the Diamond Fund.
About 200 of these stars were made.

Later (February 27, 1943) a Marshal's Star of a different type appeared - for persons with the rank of Marshal of Artillery, Marshal of Air and Marshal of Armored Forces. On March 20, 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Council ordered the marshals of the engineering troops and marshals of the communications troops to wear it; On June 5, 1962, to the admirals of the fleet, and on November 1, 1974, to the generals of the army.

The Marshal's Star of the Marshal of the Armed Forces, Admiral of the Fleet and General of the Army is a five-pointed gold star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. On top of the gold star is superimposed a five-pointed platinum star of a smaller size. In the center of the platinum star is a 2.04 carat diamond. In the rays of a platinum star - 25 diamonds with a total weight of 0.91 carats. There are no diamonds between the rays of the golden star. The diameter of the circumscribed circle of the gold star is 42 mm, the platinum star is 21 mm. The height of the profile of the Marshal's Star is 8 mm. The reverse side of the badge is flat, with openwork of platinum star diamonds. The total weight is 35.1 g. The Marshal's Star is connected to a 14 mm semi-oval mount by means of a triangular lug in the upper beam. A moiré ribbon 35 mm wide is threaded through the eyelet in the upper beam.
The colors of the ribbon vary, depending on the type of troops. For artillery, a golden ribbon, for aviation - blue color, for armored troops - burgundy, for engineering troops - crimson, for signal troops - of blue color, for an admiral of the fleet - turquoise.

About 370 such stars were made. They were also given to Russian army in 1992-1997 (after the abolition of marshal ranks in the military branches - only to generals of the army and admirals of the fleet).

Title "Mother Heroine"

Order
"Mother Heroine"

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 8, 1944, it was established that a mother who gave birth and raised ten children was awarded the highest degree of distinction - the title of "Mother Heroine". The regulation on the honorary title "Mother Heroine" and the Order "Mother Heroine" were approved by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 18, 1944.

Regulations on the title "Mother-heroine"

The title "Mother-Heroine" is the highest degree of distinction and is awarded to mothers who have given birth and raised ten or more children.

The title of "Mother Heroine" is awarded upon reaching last child the age of one year and if there are other children of this mother alive.

When conferring the title "Mother Heroine", children are also taken into account:

adopted by the mother in the manner prescribed by law;
dead or missing in the defense of the USSR or in the performance of other duties military service, or when fulfilling the duty of a citizen of the USSR to save human life, for the protection of socialist property and socialist law and order, as well as those who died as a result of injury, concussion, injury or disease received under the indicated circumstances, or as a result of an industrial injury or occupational disease.

Mothers who have been awarded the title "Mother Heroine" are awarded the Order "Mother Heroine" and a Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The Order "Mother - Heroine" is worn by the awarded on the left side of the chest and, if the recipient has other orders and medals, is placed above them.

Description of the order "Mother Heroine"

The badge of the order "Mother-Heroine" is a gold convex five-pointed star against the background of silver rays diverging in the form of a five-pointed star, the ends of which are placed between the ends of the gold star.

The size of the order between the opposite ends of the silver shtral star is 28 mm. The height of the order together with the block is 46 mm.

On September 18, 1975, the gold content in the order was 4.5 ± 0.4402 g, the silver content was 11.525 ± 0.974 g. The fineness of gold was 583. The total weight of the order was 17.5573 ± 1.75 g.

The badge of the order is connected by means of an eyelet and a link to a figured metal plate covered with red enamel. On the plate there is a convex inscription "Mother is a heroine". The edges of the plate and the inscription are gilded. The plate has a pin on the reverse side for attaching the order to clothes.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 27, 1938 established the highest degree of distinction in the field of economic and cultural construction - the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 22, 1940, in order to distinguish citizens awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, a gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" was established.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 14, 1973 approved the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in a new edition

Order of the medal.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor (GTS) is the highest degree of distinction for merits in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to individuals who have shown labor heroism, who, through their particularly outstanding innovative activity, have made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production, contributed to the rise of the national economy, science, culture, and the growth of the power and glory of the USSR.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded:

the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin;
badge of special distinction - the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle";
Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Hero of Socialist Labor for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less than those for which he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, is awarded the Order of Lenin and the second gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" and a bronze bust is built to commemorate his labor exploits A hero with a corresponding inscription, installed in his homeland, as recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the award.

If the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, then in commemoration of his labor and heroic deeds, a bronze bust of the Hero with a corresponding inscription is erected, 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 the Soviet Union .

Heroes of Socialist Labor enjoy the benefits established by law.

The gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" of the Hero of Socialist Labor is worn on the left side of the chest above orders and medals of the USSR.

Deprivation of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor can only be done by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR

Description of the medal.

Gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" is a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. In the center of the medal there are relief hammer and sickle. The distance from the center of the star to the top of the beam is 15 mm. The diameter of the circumscribed circle of the star is 33.5 mm. The size of the sickle and hammer from the handle to the top point, respectively, is 14 and 13 mm.

The medal is made of 950 gold. The medallion is made of silver. As of September 18, 1975, the gold content in the medal is 14.583 ± 0.903 g, the silver content is 12.03 ± 0.927 g. The weight of the medal without a block is 15.25 g. The total weight of the medal is 28.014 ± 1.5 g

History of the medal.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor was the highest degree of distinction of the USSR, like the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and in many respects similar to it. Both titles had similar Regulations, similar insignia, presentation and award procedures, as well as a list of benefits. However, unlike the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was not awarded to citizens of foreign countries.

The term "hero of labor" appeared in 1921, when hundreds of the best workers of Petrograd and Moscow were named that way. This term was found in newspapers and was affixed to certificates of honor awarded to advanced workers. In 1922, the phrase "Hero of Labor" was placed on the badge of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the RSFSR.

The Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and the Council of People's Commissariats of the USSR of July 27, 1927 established the title of "Hero of Labor", which could be awarded to "persons with special merits" and who had worked for hire for at least 35 years. This title was conferred by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR or a union republic, which presented the recipient with a special diploma from the Central Executive Committee.

Ten years later, on December 27, 1938, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Now the recipient, in addition to the diploma, was awarded the Order of Lenin, as well as the Hero of the Soviet Union. The sign of special distinction - the gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" - was established by Decree of May 22, 1940.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 14, 1973, the restriction on the number of repeated awards with the Hammer and Sickle medal, which existed since 1940 (no more than 3 times in total), was lifted, but this step remained unused: no one became Hero of Socialist Labor four times.

In 1988, the awarding of the Order of Lenin during the second presentation of the Hammer and Sickle medal was canceled, which was the last change in the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Three years later, in 1991, this title was permanently abolished along with the award system of the USSR.

The first Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on conferring the title of GTS took place on December 20, 1939. By this decree, the title of GTS was awarded to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) Stalin I.V. With the establishment of the Hammer and Sickle medal, he was awarded this insignia No. 1.

For almost 10 years, this award was awarded solely for merit in the creation and implementation of new types of weapons or for labor heroism during the war years.

The well-known designer of small arms V.A. Degtyarev became the second GTS in the USSR. This title was awarded to him by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 2, 1940. Degtyarev was awarded badge No. 2.

The next awarding of the title of GTS was awarded to aircraft designers Polikarpov N.N., Yakovlev A.S., small arms designer Tokarev F.V., aircraft armament designer B.G. Shpitalny, artillery guns designers V.G. Grabin, M.Ya. , Ivanov I.I., designers of aircraft engines Mikulin A.A., Klimov M.Ya. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 28, 1940).

The next assignment took place during the war. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1941, the Hammer and Sickle medal was awarded to TsAGI scientific director Academician S. Chaplygin, one of the founders of aerodynamics and organizer of combat aircraft testing.

During the Great Patriotic War, the titles of GTS were among the first to be awarded to People's Commissar aviation industry Shakhurin A.I., his deputies Dementiev P.V. and Voronin P.A., director of the aviation plant in Kuibyshev, which produced Il-2 attack aircraft, Tretyakov A.T. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 8, 1941), the designer of the KV tanks Zh.Ya. Kotin, the director of the Kirov plant in Leningrad, Zaltsman I.M. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 19, 1941) and aircraft designer Ilyushin S.V. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 25, 1941).

In 1942, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to the People's Commissar for Armaments, Ustinov D.F. (later awarded another Hammer and Sickle medal and the Gold Star medal - in 1961 and 1978, respectively), Commissar of Ammunition Vannikov B.L. (in the future, three times Hero of Socialist Labor - 1942, 1949, 1954), as well as one of the creators of the T-34 tank Morozov A.A. and designer of aircraft engines Shvetsov A.D. .

In 1943, the Hammer and Sickle gold medals were awarded to a group of state and party leaders. Among the awarded were the secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, a member of the State Defense Committee (GKO) G.N. Malenkov, members of the GKO, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs V.M. and a member of the committee for the restoration of the national economy Mikoyan A.I. In addition, the Heroes were a member of the military council of the front Kaganovich L.M., People's Commissar of Ferrous Metallurgy Tevosyan I.V., People's Commissar of the Coal Industry Vakhrushev V.V., Director of the Uralmash Plant Muzrukov B.G., Director of the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant Maskarev Yu.E. ., fighter designer Lavochkin S.A. (future double GTS).

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 5, 1943, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was immediately awarded to 127 (!) Railway workers and military personnel of the railway troops. Such mass awarding of the highest degree of distinction of the state was made for the first time. This Decree named the names of the first women in history who were awarded the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle": the engine driver Chukhnyuk E.M., the station attendant Zharkova A.P. and switchman Aleksandrova A.N.

In 1944, the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, the People's Commissar of the Tank Industry V.A. Malyshev, the People's Commissar of the Oil Industry I.K. .

In June 1945, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to G.S. Shpagin, the creator of the famous PPSh assault rifle, B.I. Shavyrin, mortar designer, and M.V. (since 1946 - Minister of the Aviation Industry of the USSR), director of the Kovrov Arms Plant Fomin, aircraft designer Tupolev A.N. and designer of tanks and self-propelled guns Dukhov N.L. (the last two became later three times GTS).

At the same time, the Hammer and Sickle medals were awarded to a large group of scientists. Physicians A.I. Abrikosov were awarded. and Orbeli L.A., metallurgists Bardin I.P., Vinogradov I.M., an outstanding organic chemist Zalinsky N.D., agronomists Pryanishnikov D.I. and Lysenko T.D., as well as archaeologist and linguist Meshchaninov I.I.

In total, during the pre-war period and during the Great Patriotic War, 201 people were awarded the title of GTS.

In 1947, the Hammer and Sickle medals were first awarded to a large group of collective farmers and collective farmers for high harvesting performance, including Angelina P.N., then known throughout the country, the organizer of the first women's tractor brigades even before the start of the war.

In the summer of 1949, the USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb, and the title of GTS was awarded to a group of its creators, including Kurchatov I.V., Zeldovich Ya.B., Khariton Yu.B., Shchelkin K.I. For the same test, the first ever awarding of the second Hammer and Sickle medal took place. Twice Heroes of Socialist Labor became the organizers of the Soviet "atomic project" former People's Commissar for Armaments of the USSR Vannikov B.L. and former designer of heavy tanks Dukhov N.L. All listed persons later became three times Heroes of Socialist Labor. This happened on January 4, 1954 for the successful test of the world's first hydrogen bomb. At the same time, together with them, Sakharov A.D. received his first medal "Hammer and Sickle" (out of the future three). Later, by Decree of January 8, 1980, Academician Sakharov was deprived of the title of laureate of the Lenin and State Prize, all awards, including the title of Three Times Hero of Socialist Labor. All awards and medals "Hammer and Sickle" were returned to him only during Gorbachev's "perestroika".

The first collective farmers - Heroes of Socialist Labor, awarded the second medal "Hammer and Sickle" by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 17, 1950, were women cotton growers Bagirova Basti Masim kyzy and Gasanova Shamama Mahmudali kyzy.

In 1964, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was first awarded to a cultural worker - sculptor Konenkov S.T.

In 1961, the Hammer and Sickle gold medals were awarded to the creators of the Vostok rocket and space system. Twice Heroes were Chief Designer Korolev S.P. and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Ustinov D.F., who oversaw rocket science. became heroes large group designers, engineers, technicians and workers who participated in the preparation and implementation of the first manned flight into space, as well as party leaders who were involved in the launch of Vostok. Among the latter was Leonid Brezhnev. (future General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU and four times Hero of the Soviet Union).

The ideological inspirer of the space program, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Khrushchev N.S. had three stars of the Hero of Socialist Labor. In 1964, Khrushchev also received the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union for his seventieth birthday.

Under Brezhnev, six people became GTS three times: President of the USSR Academy of Sciences M.V. Keldysh. (1971), who replaced Keldysh Aleksandrov A.P. (1973), aircraft designers Tupolev A.N. (1972) and Ilyushin S.V. (1974), chairman of the cotton-growing collective farm "Star of the East" from Uzbekistan Khamrakul Tursunkulov (1973), first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan Kunaev D.A. In 1984, the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Chernenko K.U. became three times the Hero of Socialist Labor.

The Hammer and Sickle medals were also awarded to the military: Commander of the Belarusian Military District, General of the Army Tretiak I.M. and the commander of the anti-missile and anti-space defense forces, Colonel-General Votintsev Yu.V.

The Hammer and Sickle medal was given to the popular actor Vyacheslav Tikhonov for his role as intelligence agent Isaev (Standartenführer Stirlitz) in the film Seventeen Moments of Spring. This is an almost unique case of awarding one of the highest awards of the USSR to a person who wore the uniform of an SS officer throughout the film.

Under Gorbachev, the Hammer and Sickle medal was awarded to famous artist Nikulin Yu.V. (1990).

The total number of three times Heroes of Socialist Labor reached 16 people. They were Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Shchelkin K.I., Academicians Aleksandrov A.P. (1954, 1960, 1973), Keldysh M.V. (1953, 1961, 1971), Zeldovich Ya.B., Kurchatov I.V. (1949, 1951, 1954), Sakharov A.D. (1953, 1956, 1962), Khariton Yu.B., designer of heavy tanks Dukhov N.L. (1945, 1949, 1954), aircraft designers Ilyushin S.V. (1941, 1957, 1974) and Tupolev A.N. (1945, 1957, 1972), People's Commissar of Ammunition and 1st Deputy. Minister of Medium Machine Building Vannikov B.L. (1942, 1949, 1954), 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan Kunaev D.A. (1972, 1976, 1982), Minister of Medium Machine Building Slavsky E.P. (1949, 1954, 1962), chairman of the Uzbek collective farm Tursunkulov Kh. (1948, 1951, 1957), 1st secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Khrushchev N.S. (1954, 1957, 1964), General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Chernenko K.U. (1976, 1981, 1984).

The titles of Hero of Socialist Labor and Hero of the Soviet Union were awarded to 11 people: Stalin I.V., Brezhnev L.I., Khrushchev N.S., Ustinov D.F., Voroshilov K.E., the famous pilot Grizodubova V.S. , Army General Tretiak I.M., 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus Masherov P.M., chairman of the collective farm Orlovsky K.P., director of the state farm Golovchenko V.I., mechanic Trainin P.A.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor in the postwar years was awarded to eight full holders of the Order of Glory: Velichko M.K., Litvinenko P.A., Martynenko A.A., Peller V.I., Sultanov Kh.A., Fedorov S.V., Khristenko V.T. and Yarovoy M.S. .

By June 1, 1976, 4,019 industrial workers, 7,066 collective farmers, 4,162 state farm workers, 863 builders, 726 transport and communications workers, 226 scientists, 94 teachers, 85 health workers became GTS.

As of June 1, 1976, 17974 people were awarded the Hammer and Sickle medal (among them 4793 women).

It is interesting to trace the distribution of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor among the republics of the Soviet Union. As of 1988, a total of 20,370 people were awarded the high title in the USSR. Of these, the RSFSR accounted for 9760 people, the Ukrainian SSR - 3651, the BSSR - 549, the Uzbek SSR - 922, the Kazakh SSR - 1803, the Georgian SSR - 1301, the Azerbaijan SSR - 577, the Lithuanian SSR - 163, the Moldavian SSR - 199, the Latvian SSR - 165, the Kirghiz SSR - 275, the Tajik SSR - 410, the Armenian SSR - 225, the Turkmen SSR - 323 and the Estonian SSR - 137.

One of the last in the history of the USSR Hero of Socialist Labor was the chairman of the agricultural company of the collective farm named after. Kirov, Balashikha District, Moscow Region, Dmitry Andrianovich Storozhen (Decree of the President of the USSR of November 28, 1991).

The last person awarded the high title of Hero of Socialist Labor in the history of the USSR was the soloist of the Kazakh State Opera academic theater them. Abaya Bibigul Akhmetovna Tulegenova. She was awarded this award by Decree of the President of the USSR No. UP-3122 of December 21, 1991 "for her great contribution to the development of musical art."

In general, in the entire history of the existence of the USSR, more than 19 thousand people have been awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

Over 160 people have been awarded the Hammer and Sickle medal twice.

Sixteen people became three times Heroes of Socialist Labor.

You can find out about the features and varieties of medals on the website of the USSR Medals

Estimated value of the medal.

How much does the Hammer and Sickle medal cost? Below we will give an approximate price for some rooms:

According to current legislation Russian Federation The purchase and / or sale of medals, orders, documents of the USSR and Russia is prohibited, this is all described in Article 324. Acquisition or sale of official documents and state awards. You can read about this in more detail in which the law is disclosed in more detail, as well as those medals, orders and documents that do not apply to this ban are described.

HERO OF SOCIALIST LABOR - an honorary title, one of the three highest degrees of distinction in the USSR for assignment to individuals (along with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and Mother Hero of the -nya).

Uch-re-zh-de-no Decree Pre-zi-diu-ma of the USSR Armed Forces of December 27, 1938. He was preceded by the honorary title of Ge-roy Tru-da, in the 1920-1930s with-pile-vav-neck for special services pe-re-do-vi-kam and but-va-to-ram pro-from-water-st-va, first-at-first-but - at separate enterprises, in pre- de-lah of the city-ro-yes, district-she, region-las-ti, re-public-ki (in each case, su-sche-st-vo-va-li- vi-la conferring one's own rank), since 1927 - at the general-with-s-uz-level (on-stand-new-le-tion of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of 27.07.1927) . The title of Ge-roy Tru-da in 1928-1938 in Lu-chi-li 1014 people.

The title of the Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to the pile-wa-elk for “for-services in the field of host-st-ven-no-go and so-qi-al-no-kul-tour- no-go builder-tel-st-va "as right-vi-lo for labor-do-howling hero-ism, out-of-se-nie especially-bo you-give-sche-scha-no-va-tor -sky activity-tel-no-stu means. contribution to the higher efficiency of social production, the rise of the national economy, science, culture. Since the mid-1950s, the title has become attached to major party and state figures, also for you-serving years or in connection with various anniversaries -mi and celebrating-no-ka-mi, that from-hours-reduce-zi-lo av-to-ri-tet-to-grad-dy. Decisions about conferring a rank or depriving it of being given a Pre-zi-diu-mom of the USSR Armed Forces (since March 1990 - Pre-zi- den-tom of the USSR). When conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, I handed over: Gra-mo-ta Pre-zi-diu-ma of the USSR Armed Forces, Le-ni-on-or-den, since 1940 - the same " Sickle and Mo-lot "medal. Since 1973, in the case of conferring a title for new services, a diploma, an order and a medal have been awarded a second time; person, two-zh-dy awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, or this title and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, on the ro-di -not mustache-ta-nav-whether-val-sya armored bust. On-sta-new-le-ni-em Pre-zi-diu-ma of the USSR Armed Forces dated 22.8.1988, for the second time, the award of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is excellent. Since 1992, for labor-for-services at-pile-va-et-sya the title of Hero of the Russian Fe-de-ra-tion.

The first Heroes of Socialist Labor - I.V. Stalin (1939; medal "Sickle and Mo-lot" No. 1), V.A. Deg-tya-roar (1940). The total title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to over 20.5 thousand people. Two-way title of Hero of Socialist Labor in-lu-chi-li over 190 people (first - B.L. Van-nikov, 1949), three-way - 16 people (per- you-mi - Van-ni-kov, N. L. Du-khov, I. V. Kur-cha-tov, Y. B. Kha-ri-ton, K. I. Shchel-kin, all - in 1954 year).

Or-ga-ni-za-tions, o-e-di-nya-ing awards for honorary ranks: Russian inter-regional fund Ge- ro-ev of the Soviet Union and Heroes of the Russian Fe-de-ra-tion; Russian Association of Ge-ro-ev.

Hammer and Sickle medal - a sign of special distinction in the USSR, which was awarded to Hero of Socialist Labor along with the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin and a letter from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR The award was established on May 22, 1940 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The Hammer and Sickle medal was made of 950 gold in the form of a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the obverse. In its central part there are embossed hammer and sickle. The distance from the center of the star to the top of the beam is 15 mm, and the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the star is 33.5 mm. The size of the sickle and hammer from the handle to the top point is 14 and 13 mm, respectively.

The reverse of the award has a smooth surface and is bounded along the contour by a protruding thin rim. In the center of the medal in raised letters is written: "Hero of Socialist Labor". The size of the letters in the words "Hero" and "Labor" is 2x1 mm, and in the word "Socialist" - 1.5 x 0.75 mm. The height of the medal number located in the upper beam is 1 mm.

The medal is connected with an eyelet and a ring to a gilded metal block, which is made in the form of a rectangular plate, with frames in the upper and lower parts. Its height is 15 mm, and its width is 19.5. Slots stretch along the base of the block, and its inner part covered with red silk moiré ribbon. On the reverse side of the block there is a threaded pin with a nut for attaching the award to clothing.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor as the highest degree of labor distinction

It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on December 27, 1938. The title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to persons who had shown labor heroism, made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production and contributed to the rise of the national economy, science, culture, the growth of the power and glory of the Soviet Union.

On May 14, 1973, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in a new edition were approved. In the charter of the medal, the possibility of re-delivery was planned - for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less than those for which the recipient had already been awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Such a gentleman was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second Hammer and Sickle medal, and to commemorate his labor exploits in the hero’s homeland, a bronze bust was erected with a corresponding inscription, which was recorded in the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the award.

The Hero of Socialist Labor, who already has two gold medals "Hammer and Sickle", for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, which are no less significant than the previous ones, can again be awarded the Gold Star medal.

And in many ways it is similar. Both titles had similar provisions, insignia, the procedure for presentation and awarding, as well as a list of benefits. But the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was not awarded to foreign citizens, unlike the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and all other Soviet awards.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor and the position on the title were established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 27, 1938. The text of the provision read that “the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to persons who, through their particularly outstanding innovative activity in the field of industry, Agriculture, transport, trade, scientific discoveries and technical inventions showed exceptional services to the Soviet state, contributed to the rise of the national economy, science, culture, the growth of the power and glory of the USSR. The regulation also established that “the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded: the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin; Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The term "hero of labor" appeared as early as 1921, when hundreds of the best workers of Petrograd and Moscow were named that way. This term was found in newspapers, affixed to certificates of honor, awarded to advanced workers, and in 1922 was placed on the sign of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the RSFSR. In 1927, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the October armed uprising, by a decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR (CEC - the then parliament of the country) and the Council of People's Commissariats of the USSR (as the government was called) of July 27, the title "Hero of Labor" was established, which could be awarded " persons with special merits" and who have worked for hire for at least 35 years. This title was awarded by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR or a Union Republic, which presented the recipient with a special certificate of the Central Executive Committee, which created the highest prestige for this award.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor grew out of the previous two, but along with the diploma, the Order of Lenin was awarded, as well as the Hero of the Soviet Union, while initially the Heroes of Socialist Labor also did not have a special insignia. Such a sign - the gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" - was established by decree of May 22, 1940 "On additional insignia for Heroes of Socialist Labor." As in a similar document on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union dated 10/16/1939, this decree determined the possibility of awarding the Hero of Socialist Labor this medal for the second and third time (no more), and established that his bronze bust was being built in the homeland of the twice Hero of Socialist Labor, and in honor of the three times Hero of Socialist Labor, the bust is installed near the Palace of Soviets, which was then being built in Moscow and unfinished. At the same time, the Order of Lenin at that time was awarded only at the first award with the Hammer and Sickle medal.

Thirty years later, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution, celebrated with great pomp, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by decree of September 6, 1967, established a number of benefits for the Heroes of Socialist Labor, Heroes of the Soviet Union and holders of all three degrees of the Order of Glory. The list of benefits was expanded by the 30th anniversary of the Victory by decree of April 30, 1975 and is still valid, confirmed by the legislation of the Russian Federation, although the title of Hero of Socialist Labor has been abolished.

In 1973, by decree of May 14, the provisions on the titles of Hero of Socialist Labor and Hero of the Soviet Union were approved in a new edition.

The regulation determined that “the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is the highest degree of distinction for merit in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction” and “is awarded to persons who have shown labor heroism, their especially outstanding labor activity made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production, contributed to the rise of the national economy, science, culture, the growth of the power and glory of the USSR. The restriction on the number of repeated awards with the Hammer and Sickle medal, which existed since 1940 (no more than 3 times in total), was removed, but this step remained unused: no one became Hero of Socialist Labor four times. At the same time, the regulation introduced the procedure for awarding the Order of Lenin with each award of the Hammer and Sickle medal. The latter was clearly done under the then party and statesmen who loved to adorn themselves with all sorts of awards. The regulation also approved that if a Hero of Socialist Labor is at the same time a Hero of the Soviet Union, then a bronze bust is also built in his homeland, as if he were twice Hero of Socialist Labor. In addition, the regulation approved the list of benefits for Heroes established earlier.

In 1988, the awarding of the Order of Lenin during the second presentation of the Hammer and Sickle medal was again canceled, which was the last change in the provision on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Three years later, in 1991, this title was permanently abolished along with the award system of the USSR.

A special insignia of the Hero of Socialist Labor is the Hammer and Sickle gold medal, designed by the artist Pomansky. The medal has the shape of a five-pointed star with dihedral polished rays and a convex image of a hammer and sickle superimposed on the center. The reverse side of the star is smooth, edged with a thin convex rim, and has an inscription in raised letters "Hero of Socialist Labor", under which the medal number is engraved. On the upper ray of the star there is an eye through which, with the help of a ring, the medal is attached to a rectangular block covered with a red moire (silk) ribbon. The diameter of the circle described by the vertices of the rays of the star is 33.5 mm, the weight of the medal is 15.25 g.

The optimal size of the medal was personally selected by I. V. Stalin, for which artists were invited to the Kremlin in typical clothes of collective farmers, workers, etc. with models of the Hammer and Sickle medal of various sizes. Appearance The medal turned out to be so successful and complete that after decades it was accepted as a model for the development of the Golden Stars of the Hero of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the People's Republic of Romania, as well as the Order of the "Gold Star" of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Now all these awards have been abolished, as well as their prototype - the Hammer and Sickle medal.

The first assignment of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor took place more than a year after its establishment. By decree of December 20, 1939, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) I.V. Stalin, who did not hold any government posts at that time (during the war years, he had 5 at the same time), became the Hero of Socialist Labor No. 1. He was awarded the highest degree of distinction on his 60th birthday. During his lifetime, this was the first and only case of conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor for the anniversary.

Then, for almost 10 years, this purely peaceful award was awarded solely for merits in the creation and implementation of new types of weapons or for labor heroism during the war years. So, the second Hero of Socialist Labor after I.V. Stalin, according to the decree of 02/01/1940, was V.A. ), still (!) in service with the Russian army.

I. V. Stalin and V. A. Degtyarev were initially awarded the Order of Lenin and the letters of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and after the establishment of the Hammer and Sickle medal, these medals for Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

It must be said that in 1945 I. V. Stalin was also awarded the Gold Star medal, thus becoming the first (and until 1958 the only) Hero of Socialist Labor and Hero of the Soviet Union at the same time. However, he agreed to accept the Golden Star only in 1950, but after that he never put it on. But he wore the Hammer and Sickle medal without removing it both on his famous jacket and on the tunic of the Marshal of the Soviet Union, which he became in 1943.

The third and last pre-war conferment of the title of Hero of the Socialist Group took place by decree on 10/28/1940. For the first time, 9 well-known weapon designers immediately received diplomas, the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle medal. Among them were F. V. Tokarev, the creator of the TT pistol and the SVT self-loading rifle; B. G. Shpitalny, the designer of the “super-rapid” ShKAS aircraft machine gun and the ShVAK aircraft gun; the “king of fighters” N. N. Polikarpov, a brilliant aircraft designer who had just served his term as a “saboteur”; the young deputy people's commissar (i.e., minister) of the aviation industry, designer of light aircraft and fighters A. S. Yakovlev, in the future twice Hero of Socialist Labor; aircraft engine designers A. A. Mikulin and V. Ya. Klimov; three creators of artillery guns: M. Ya. Krupchatnikov, V. G. Grabin, the creator of the most powerful 57-mm anti-tank gun in the world, which pierced through any German tank, and I. I. Ivanov, the author of heavy siege guns, at the beginning of the same who hacked the Mannerheim Line.

So, before the start of the Great Patriotic War, only 11 people became Heroes of Socialist Labor. The next assignment took place during the war. The Hammer and Sickle medal was presented to Academician S. A. Chaplygin, scientific director of TsAGI, the organizer of combat aircraft testing. Then the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to the head of the aviation industry, People's Commissar A. I. Shakhurin and his deputies P. V. Dementiev and P. A. Voronin, as well as the director of the aircraft factory in Kuibyshev, which produced Il-2 attack aircraft, A. T. Tretyakov. According to the decree of September 19, 1941, Zh. Ya. Kotin, who created the most powerful KV tank in the world (“Klim Voroshilov”) and I. M. Saltsman, director of the Kirov Plant in Leningrad, which produced these tanks, became Heroes of Socialist Labor.

In 1942, when there was no time for awards, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was nevertheless awarded to People's Commissar of Armaments D. F. Ustinov, People's Commissar of Ammunition B. L. Vannikov - in the future twice Hero of Socialist Labor, as well as one of the creators of the T-34 A tank A. Morozov and aircraft engine designer A. D. Shvetsov.

In 1943, the Hammer and Sickle gold medals were awarded to a group of state and party leaders. Among those awarded were Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, member of the State Defense Committee (GKO) G.M. affairs of L.P. Beria and a member of the committee for the restoration of the national economy A.I. Mikoyan. Besides. The heroes were a member of the military council of the front L. M. Kaganovich, the people's commissar of ferrous metallurgy I. F. Tevosyan, the people's commissar of the coal industry V. V. Vakhrushev, the director of Uralmash B. G. Muzrukov, the director of the Chelyabinsk "Tankograd" Yu. E. Maskarev, the creator fighter S. A. Lavochkin, the future twice Hero of Socialist Labor. It should be noted that almost all of them put on military uniforms during the war years, becoming generals overnight.

And by decree of May 5, 1943, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was immediately awarded to 127 railway workers and military personnel of the railway troops. There was a lot in this decree for the first time: such a numerous award, never repeated after, and the assignment of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to ordinary workers, and not people's commissars and chief designers, and the appearance of Heroes of Socialist Labor - women. There were three of them: the locomotive driver E.M. Chukhnyuk, the station attendant A.P. Zharkova, and the switchman A.N. Aleksandrova. In addition, this was the first time that the title of Hero was awarded to people who were not the creators of weapons.

In 1944, the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, People's Commissar of the Tank Industry V.A. and the disenfranchised head of the Soviet state, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the elderly M.I. Kalinin, who by that time had been without his wife for seven years, was thrown into the camp by Stalin allegedly for "counter-revolutionary activities."

In June 1945, the title of Hero of the Socialist Group was awarded to the creator of the famous PPSh assault rifle, mortar designer B.I. Shavyrin, the world-famous aircraft designer A.N. Dukhov (both of them became Heroes of Socialist Labor three times), M. V. Khrunichev and Fomin, director of the Kovrov Arms Plant.

At the same time, the Hammer and Sickle medals were awarded to a large group of prominent scientists - for the first time after S. A. Chaplygin was awarded in 1941. This group of academic scientists included doctors A. I. Abrikosov and L. A. Orbeli, metallurgists I. P. Bardin, I. M. Vinogradov, an outstanding organic chemist N. D. Zelinsky, agronomists D. I. Pryanishnikov and T. D. Lysenko, as well as archaeologist and linguist I. I. Meshchaninov. The last one came the only person of 201 Heroes of Socialist Labor of the war years, who received this title not for completing assignments for the front.

A year after the victory, the last "rollback" began - a return to pre-war repressions. He was demoted three times Hero of the Soviet Union, arrested and convicted twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal A. A. Novikov and other military leaders, regardless of merits, titles and awards. Together with A. A. Novikov, one of the first Heroes of Socialist Labor, People's Commissar for the Aviation Industry of the war years, A. I. Shakhurin, was also convicted with deprivation of the Hammer and Sickle medal (after Stalin's death, he was rehabilitated and the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was returned to him).

In the early 1940s, there were awards for the creators of weapons systems, in the late 1940s, creators atomic weapons, as well as agricultural workers, who were in a complete "corral" from the first days of Stalin's collectivization (1929). So, in 1947, the Hammer and Sickle medals were first awarded to a large group of collective farmers and collective farmers for high harvesting performance, including P. N. Angelina, then known throughout the country, the organizer of the first women's tractor brigades even before the start of the war.

In 1949, the gold medals of the Hero of Socialist Labor were awarded for the first and last time to schoolchildren: Tajik pioneer Tursunali Matkazilov for harvesting a record cotton harvest and Georgian pioneer Natela Chelebadze for growing and collecting 6 tons of tea leaves. A year later, the first agricultural workers appeared - twice Heroes of Socialist Labor, collective farmers-cotton growers from Azerbaijan B. M. Bagirova and Sh. M. Gasanova. The assignment of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to collective farmers under Stalin became an annual event and so plentiful that on the eve of his death there were reports in the press about the “collective farm of 40 Heroes” (!). It was a Transcaucasian collective farm named after L.P. Beria, also a Hero of Socialist Labor.

In the summer of 1949, the USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb, and a group of its creators, including I. V. Kurchatov, Ya. B. Zeldovich, Yu. For the same test, the first ever awarding of the second Hammer and Sickle medal took place; the first to receive such an honor were the organizers of the Soviet "atomic project" former People's Commissar for Armaments of the USSR B. L. Vannikov and the former designer of heavy tanks N. L. Dukhov. All of these persons later became three times Heroes of Socialist Labor. At the same time, the Minister became the Hero chemical industry M. G. Pervukhin, who in 1957 briefly headed the entire nuclear industry of the USSR. In the same year, another twice Hero of Socialist Labor appeared - the director of the famous Uralmashzavod, B. G. Muzrukov, who was awarded this title for the production of equipment for the nuclear industry and new tanks. In 1951, all the listed scientists and organizers of the "atomic project" also received the second Hammer and Sickle medal.

Stalin's successor N. S. Khrushchev (since 1953) basically continued the Stalinist tradition of conferring the highest degree of distinction on the USSR, but also introduced some innovations. So, for example, in 1954, the first Heroes of Socialist Labor awarded for the successful testing of the world's first hydrogen bomb three times appeared - all the same 6 people who were first awarded in 1949 for creating an atomic bomb. At the same time, together with them, A.D. Sakharov received his first medal "Hammer and Sickle" (out of the future three). In the same year, another new trend emerged: conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to a party leader on his birthday. The recipient was none other than N. S. Khrushchev himself, who received the first Hammer and Sickle medal for his 60th birthday. Perhaps he simply repeated the experience of Stalin (1939). But the subsequent awards of Khrushchev with the second (1957) and third (1961) Hammer and Sickle medals were clearly “pioneer”: before him, none of the party leaders was not only three times, but twice a Hero. The assignment to him also of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1964 turned Khrushchev into an operetta figure. In the 1970s, L. I. Brezhnev also began to be perceived, who, apparently, was not the first hunter of awards in chronology.

Following the Hero was the chairman of the Party Control Committee under the Central Committee of the CPSU N. M. Shvernik (1958), the secretaries of the Central Committee O. Kuusinen and F. R. Kozlov (both - 1961), M. A. Suslov (1962) and N. V. Podgorny (1963). Both of the latter under Brezhnev became Heroes twice. Stalin never practiced such assignments to the party nomenklatura as a birthday present.

And one more fact must be mentioned: unlike Stalin, who shot many Heroes of the Soviet Union and even one twice Hero (Y. V. Smushkevich), for 53 years of the existence of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, only one holder of the Hammer and Sickle medal was executed - Marshal of the Soviet Union, who became the first deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR after Stalin's death.

Khrushchev also introduced the practice of awarding the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to the Heroes of the Soviet Union, the first of which was the chairman of the collective farm from Belarus K. P. Orlovsky, a former employee of the "organs", a saboteur in Spanish war and commander of a partisan detachment during the Great Patriotic War. In addition, under Khrushchev, Heroes of Socialist Labor appeared - military personnel. The first assignment took place in 1955 to the Minister of Defense Marshal of the Soviet Union N. A. Bulganin. True, almost immediately after this, Bulganin became chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, that is, a civilian, but this does not change the essence of the matter. After 5 years, in 1960, the Hammer and Sickle medal was awarded to another Marshal of the Soviet Union - K. E. Voroshilov, Hero of the Soviet Union in peacetime (1956). But by the time he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, Voroshilov had been chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for 7 years, that is, he was formally the head of state and also held a civil position, but military rank Of course, no one took him away.

There was another innovation: already before the removal of Khrushchev (1964), the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was first awarded to a cultural worker - sculptor S. T. Konenkov. He was certainly a talented artist, but this appropriation was clearly part of the struggle against "abstractionism" that Khrushchev was then leading, and a method of maintaining "Soviet" art.

Under Khrushchev, the practice of conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor upon the completion of major construction, commissioning of facilities, projects, etc., was also established. The most famous award of this kind was the presentation of the Hammer and Sickle gold medals to the creators of the Vostok rocket and space system in 1961. Twice Heroes were the chief designer S.P. Korolev and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR D.F. Ustinov, who oversaw rocket science. The heroes were a large group of designers, engineers, technicians and workers who participated in the preparation and implementation of the first manned flight into space, as well as party leaders who were involved in the launch of Vostok.

Among the latter was L. I. Brezhnev, who on the eve replaced Voroshilov as head of state and later added 4 more Gold Star medals of the Hero of the Soviet Union to this single Hammer and Sickle medal.

During his reign, Brezhnev increased the “award rain” to unprecedented proportions, devaluing many awards. But the title of Hero of Socialist Labor still remained a particularly honorary degree of distinction, despite the fact that Heroes from the nomenclature of the Central Committee of the CPSU appeared twice under him - almost all members of the Politburo, many secretaries of the Central Committee, etc., directors of large factories, etc. in addition to the eight three times Heroes of Socialist Labor that appeared under Khrushchev (six listed nuclear scientists, Khrushchev himself and A. D. Sakharov - since 1962), Brezhnev awarded six more people with the third Hammer and Sickle medal: President of the USSR Academy of Sciences M. V Keldysh (1971), his successor A.P. Aleksandrov (atomic engineer, 1973), two general aircraft designers: A.N. Tupolev (1972) and S.V. Uzbekistan Khamrakul Tursunkulov (1973) and party leader, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan D. A. Kunaev - a case out of the ordinary. Thus, the number of three times Heroes of Socialist Labor reached 14; after that only one appeared, the 15th and last Hero three times.

The decomposition of the communist under Brezhnev was expressed, in particular, in the practice of conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Thus, there has been a tendency to have a Hero of Socialist Labor at every mine, at every factory, in every large collective farm and state farm. These people often had real merit, but since they were supposed to be the "beacons" of the next five-year plan, they were selected according to personal data, often leaving no less worthy candidates without awards.

And the party nomenclature received gold stars almost automatically: by the 60th or 70th anniversary of their birth. As a means of maintaining the Soviet system under Brezhnev, they decided to pay special attention to Soviet art. And in the late 1960s, the Heroes of Socialist Labor artists M. S. Saryan (1965) and A. Deineka (1969), composer D. D. Shostakovich (1966), writers M. A. Sholokhov and L. M. Leonov appeared (both 1967). In the 1970s, the number of Heroes of Socialist Labor - artists increased immeasurably. Hammer and Sickle gold medals were awarded to actors and directors, writers and ballerinas, composers and sculptors. Among them were S. V. Obraztsov and N. A. Sats, S. T. Richter and M. M. Zharov, A. K. Tarasova, K. M. Simonov, I. A. Moiseev, S. A. Gerasimov , A. I. Raikin, M. A. Sholokhov and the great Russian ballerina and teacher G. S. Ulanova. He was also three times Hero of Socialist Labor: G. M. Markov, Chairman of the Board of the Union of Writers of the USSR (who received both awards for "leading and guiding" activities). The heroes were the director of the Moscow Circus Mark Mestechkin and the outstanding clown Pencil (M. N. Rumyantsev). The popular film actor V. V. Tikhonov became a Hero under the following circumstances: L. I. Brezhnev, who loved the film "Seventeen Moments of Spring", shortly before his death, suddenly wished to award the prototype of the main character of the film (nine years after its release on the screens). Since such a person was not found (the image was collective), Brezhnev ordered all the creators and main actors of the film to be awarded, and Tikhonov was awarded the Hammer and Sickle medal for the role of Stirlitz.

But there was also the opposite case: by decree of January 8, 1980, the academician was deprived of the title of laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes, all awards, including the title of three times Hero of Socialist Labor. Later, already during the years of "perestroika", all these awards and medals "Hammer and Sickle" were returned to him.

There were also cases of awarding the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to military leaders. Among them were the commander of the Belarusian Military District, General of the Army I. M. Tretyak, and the commander of the Anti-Missile and Anti-Space Defense Forces, Colonel-General Yu. V. Votintsev.

It was during the reign of Khrushchev and Brezhnev that the vast majority of Heroes and twice Heroes of Socialist Labor, as well as 14 out of 15 three times Heroes, appeared. Brezhnev's successors - Yu. V. Andropov, K. U. Chernenko and M. S. Gorbachev - continued to confer the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, but already, as it were, by inertia. Nevertheless, K. U. Chernenko, who served as head of state and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU for less than a year, managed to become during his reign the 15th in a row and the last Three Times Hero of Socialist Labor. Under M. S. Gorbachev, there were attempts to streamline the assignment of the title of Hero or "democratize" it. So, in particular, in 1990, the Hammer and Sickle medal was given to the national favorite, clown and great artist Yu. V. Nikulin. In former times, such an award would hardly have taken place.

In December 1991, the Soviet Union was abolished, and with it the high and rare award, called the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, disappeared forever. In total, it was assigned 19 thousand times, including more than 100 times - twice and 15 times - three times. Until now, a person with a Hammer and Sickle medal on his chest is surrounded by respect (at least the rights and benefits of the Hero are declared by acts of the Government of the Russian Federation), but unlike the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, which was transformed into the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, the title of Hero of the Socialist There was no such continuation of work.