It was established in April 1930 simultaneously with the Order of Lenin. The authors of the project of the Order of the Red Star were the artist V. K. Kupriyanov and the sculptor V. V. Golenetsky. On May 5, 1930, the statute of the Order of the Red Star was approved.

Description of the badge of the order

Badge of the Order of the Red Star resembles the breast emblem of the first Red Army soldiers and is a convex five-pointed star. A shield is placed in the center of the five-pointed red star, and on it is a relief figure of a Red Army soldier in a Budyonovka and a long overcoat, with a rifle at the ready. Along the rim of the shield is the inscription: Proletarians of all countries, unite!", and at the bottom - the inscription:" the USSR”and the image of a sickle and a hammer. On the very 1st orders, the Red Army soldier looked straight, later his face was turned to the right. The order is made of silver, and the star is covered with ruby-red enamel.

Way of fastening and wearing

The Order of the Red Star has a pin fastening. Ribbon of the order in burgundy color with a longitudinal gray stripe in the middle, silk moire.

Until 1943, the order was worn on the left side of the chest. Decree of June 19, 1943 "On the Approval of Samples and Descriptions of Ribbons for Orders and Medals of the USSR and the Rules for Wearing Orders, Medals, Order Ribbons and Insignia" ordered the Order of the Red Star to be worn on the right side of the chest. Later, in the Statute of the Order, it was indicated that in the presence of other orders, the Order of the Red Star is located after the Order Patriotic War 2nd degree. According to this Decree, special straps with sashes were also introduced for wearing them instead of orders and medals on field and everyday uniforms.

Statute of the Order of the Red Star:

"The Order of the Red Star was established to reward great merits in the defense of the USSR, both in wartime and in peacetime, in ensuring state security."

“Awarding the Order of the Red Star obliges the order bearer to serve as an example of bravery, selflessness, courage for all soldiers, and exemplary military service.”

The order was awarded “for personal courage and bravery in battle, excellent organization and skillful leadership of military operations, which contributed to the success of our troops; for successful fighting military units and formations, as a result of which significant damage was inflicted on the enemy; for merits in ensuring state security and inviolability of the state border of the USSR; for courage and courage shown in the performance of military or official duty, in conditions involving a risk to life; for the exemplary performance of special command assignments and other feats accomplished in peacetime; for great services in maintaining high combat readiness of the troops, excellent performance in combat and political training, mastery of new military equipment and other services in strengthening the defense power of the USSR; for merit in development military science and technology, training of personnel for the Armed Forces of the USSR; for merits in strengthening the defense capability of the states of the socialist community.

The awarding of the Order of the Red Star is made on the proposal of the USSR Ministry of Defense, the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the USSR KGB, respectively.

First Cavalier of the Order of the Red Star May 13, 1930 became commander of the Special Far Eastern Army V. K. Blucher for an excellent military operation to eliminate the conflict in the China-East railway(CER) in the summer of 1929. He was during civil war the first to receive the Order of the Red Banner.

One of the first collectives awarded the Order of the Red Star was the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, which was awarded this award in December 1933 on the day of its 10th anniversary. Subsequently, the Order of the Red Star was awarded to the magazines "Military Knowledge", "Military Bulletin", "Aviation and Cosmonautics", "Naval Collection" and "Soviet Warrior".

In the prewar years, the most massive awarding of the Order of the Red Star took place after the battles at Lake Khasan, when 1935 soldiers, commanders and political workers of the Red Army received it.

Until June 1941, more than 21.5 thousand people were awarded the Order of the Red Star, 17 orders of the Red Star were received by units, formations and institutions of the Armed Forces of the USSR.

During the Great Patriotic War The Order of the Red Star has become one of the most massive awards. This order was awarded to about three million people for courage and steadfastness in battles against the fascist invaders, as well as 1740 units, formations and institutions of the Red Army, rear teams, as well as most foreign military formations (14 Polish and Czechoslovak units and subunits).

One of the first during the war years on July 8, 1941, the order of the Red Star was awarded to the gunner-radio operator, junior sergeant D. A. Belovol.

This order was also awarded to officers and soldiers of the allies, pilots and sailors of the allied convoys. The Order of the Red Star was also awarded to foreign citizens who saved Soviet soldiers at the risk of their lives.

On October 2, 1943, vocational school No. 1 in the city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) and vocational school No. 3 in the Moscow Region were awarded the Order of the Red Star.

Late 1940s to mid 1980s“For feats accomplished in peacetime” the Order of the Red Star was awarded to more than 800 thousand people - military personnel, including sappers, policemen, combatants.

In just 60 years the existence of this award, it was awarded to more than 3,770 thousand Soviet and foreign citizens.

Order of the Red Star. September 1943

I received my first combat award, the Order of the Red Star, after I spent a year and two months on the front line near Rzhev and on the Kursk Bulge, was wounded and accomplished many feats.

But they forgot to reward me, but they often sent me to dangerous cases, because they knew my luck and “indestructibility”.

For six months we fought hard but unsuccessfully for Rzhev. I miraculously survived, but how many people died there! Our division was updated three times in those battles! Soviet soldiers they performed miracles of heroism there, they died by the thousands in swamps, under terrible shelling and bombing, again and again they rose and fled to attack enemy machine guns across corpse fields. In addition to participating in the battles, I successfully went to the rear of the Germans three times for "language", I was sent after other search groups did not return from the mission and it was impossible to take the "language". But I was lucky. I went on reconnaissance, ran along with the infantry in attacks in order to see the enemy's firing points and correct the fire of the battery. When not a single officer remained in the battle in the rifle companies, I, a tenacious artilleryman, raised and led the soldiers into the attack. But, like many, he was never awarded.

The battles for Rzhev were unsuccessful, and therefore almost no one was awarded there. This once again confirms that the awards were determined not by the exploits of the soldiers, but by the strategic successes of the marshals. The military operation was a success - a certain number of awards are released for it. These awards are distributed among the military units participating in the operation. And in parts they reward those whom the authorities want to reward.

Then our division was transferred to Stalingrad. Heavy fighting in the winter of forty-third in the Donbass. To our misfortune, General Vatutin blundered and the Supreme High Command cheated in carrying out Operation Leap to liberate Donbass. The operation failed, and because of this we were surrounded in Barvenkovo. Then it was me, a twenty-two-year-old lieutenant, who was sent with a report to the army headquarters. It was necessary in broad daylight to be able to get out of the surrounded Barvenkovo ​​through the positions of enemy tanks and infantry. I delivered the report, and along the way, during the bombing, I saved nine children in Barvenkovo.

Then the battles on the Seversky Donets, the Battle of Kursk. On the eve of the Battle of Kursk, the Germans concentrated tank divisions near Kharkov, in the forests on the Donets. Our division during May and June could not take the "language" in any way. The Germans kept the secrets of their preparation for this battle very carefully. However, thanks to the sophistication of the organization of the search, I miraculously managed to capture a German tanker behind the Donets. The delighted general hugged us and promised to reward the entire group of scouts. But months passed, and the general forgot 5 his promise.

The Battle of Kursk died down with heavy fighting. She took to the graves two-thirds of the scouts who, together with me, mined the "language" on the Kursk Bulge. I, thank God, survived, escaped with a slight wound. We took Kharkov, Krasnograd. The completely exhausted division was returned near Kharkov, to Merefa, for replenishment. There, in September 1943, I, along with others, including the rear, were awarded the first award - the Order of the Red Star. According to the results of the Battle of Kursk. I was no longer a scout and not a platoon commander, but for half a year I commanded an artillery battery. That's how "easily" I "grabbed off" my first order.

By the way, we fought then not for awards. We didn't even think about them. Therefore, they were not upset when we were not awarded. Yes, and we didn’t need them: the end of the war was not in sight, not today or tomorrow they will kill, or even in the next second, we are at the forefront, - well, why do I need this award? I even rejoiced when they didn’t reward for a long time, otherwise they will reward, give a fee for this - you’ll grab death. We fought not for awards, but for the Motherland, we would have to exterminate more Germans, who caused us so much evil.

From the author's book

Moscow Kremlin. Order of the Red Star In Moscow, I learned that I had been awarded the next rank of lieutenant colonel. During my stay there, another very pleasant event took place. Decree of the Presidium was published in the central newspapers Supreme Council USSR on awarding

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At the head of the KRO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR. The Second Order of the Red Star Indeed, the next day I sent a report to the Counterintelligence Department of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs with a request to transfer me to work in the active army. A call to Moscow for negotiations soon followed. In Moscow I was given

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The Red Army's invasion of Poland, September-October 1939 On September 17, 1939, following the provisions of the secret protocol to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Red Army invaded Poland. Polish Commander-in-Chief Marshal Edward Rydz-Smigly gave the order to provide

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Southwest Pacific. Dutch East Indies, Australia, Peleliu, Biak - March 1943-July 1943 In the spring of 1943, the US 5th Air Force stationed in Australia went into active combat. In the fall of 1942, a British detachment arrived in Port Darwin.

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Document No. 5.1 Award sheet for the commander of the S-13 submarine of the 1st DPL of the KBF Captain 3rd Rank Marinesko Alexander Ivanovich for awarding the Order of the Red Star 1. Year of birth - 1913 2. Nationality - Ukrainian3. Social status - worker 4. Party membership - can. VKP(b)5. FROM

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Document No. 5.2 Award list for the commander of the S-13 submarine of the 1st DPL of the KBF captain of the 3rd rank Marinesko Alexander Ivanovich for awarding the Order of the Red Star 1. Year of birth - 19132. Nationality - Ukrainian3. Social status - worker 4. Party membership - can. VKP(b)5. FROM

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Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st degree April 4, 1944 And yet, almost a year after the first award, already in the forty-fourth, I was awarded the second time. During this year, we have fought so many defensive and offensive battles, we have experienced so many deaths and injuries, advancing from

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Order of the Red Banner. May - June 1945 Again we engaged in fierce battles with the Nazis in Yugoslavia near Vukovar. There I was severely shell-shocked. Then fighting in Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia. About the fierceness of the fighting in Hungary says this little known fact: under

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CHAPTER XVII The front is narrowing. The 10th flotilla is stepping up its operations. May - September 1943 I take command of the flotilla. Tasks are expanding. Gibraltar attacked from the Olterra. Landing threat. Sardinia or Sicily? On July 10, all doubts were dispelled. Division of boats

The Order of the Red Star is the 22nd most senior military award in the USSR, one of the first approved. In general, the five-pointed red star was the basis for an even more prestigious Red Banner award, but the requirements for its presentation were higher. The order was officially introduced on 04/06/1930, and the status was established on 05/05/1930 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, although the development of the introduction of this award took place since 1925. Its statute was changed throughout the entire period of awarding, the first amendment was made in 1936, then in the war and post-war years. The last revision was made in 1980.

V. Blyukher became the first to be awarded just one month later. After some time, military newspapers and magazines were awarded the award, the Krasnaya Zvezda publishing house topped the list of awardees. Also, they noted other types of teams: schools, divisions, etc.

During the Second World War, this award gained particular popularity; approximately three million people, including foreign citizens, were awarded with it. The order was awarded not only for outstanding military exploits, but also for achieving a labor plan in the rear.

In the post-war period, the order was awarded for accomplishing feats in peacetime. During these times, more than 800 thousand people received the award, including the military, combatants, policemen and soldiers of Afghanistan.

It is worth noting that this order could be awarded repeatedly, in history there are cases when it was awarded to one person 6 times, such people - 5.

The last person to receive this order was L. V. Razumovich, in 1991. During the entire existence of this award, it was presented to 3876742 people.

Appearance

The design of the order was developed by the artist V. K. Kupriyanov and the sculptor V. V. Golenetsky.

The order itself is very similar to the first emblems of the Red Army, it is also based on a five-pointed red star. In general, the appearance of this award is as follows: a five-pointed star, with a convex outer part, in the center of which is a shield. In the center of this shield is a Red Army soldier in a long overcoat and hat, with a rifle in his hands. The inner rim is wide, it contains the inscription: "PROLETARIANS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE", and below the abbreviation of the country: USSR. Between the lower rays of the star is the image of a hammer and sickle. On the obverse of the order there is a device for fastening: a threaded pin and a nut for screwing, there is also an inscription: “GOSZNAK” and a number.

The ribbon of the order is made in dark red tones, with a gray stripe in the middle. Made from moire.

Manufacturing materials

For the manufacture of this order, as a rule, the following materials are used: the base is completely cast from 925 silver - the most silver-containing alloy, on the outside - ruby-red enamel.

Varieties of the Order

Changes in the appearance of the order are extremely minor, they occurred infrequently, in total there are six types of them:

• The first type was produced from the year of establishment - 1930 to 1936. In principle, the appearance of this type of order is no different from the above standard, the manufacturing materials are the same, the order was soldered from two parts. However, it is worth noting that on this sample, the Red Army soldier on the shield looks forward, and behind, under the nut, “GOSZNAK” is written.
• The second type lasted 1 year, its feature is the absence of a brand, instead of it, the year was indicated below. Also, the soldier indicated on the shield began to look to the right - this edit remained unchanged for all subsequent types.
• The third (1937 - 1941) type is practically no different from the second - only the inscription "MONDVOR" was embossed on top with a fastener.
• The difference of the next, according to the name of the fifth type, which was awarded throughout 1941, is that the shield with the Red Army soldier was attached to the silver base with three rivets, and not by soldering.
• The sixth type of the order (1941 - 1954) is also distinguished by the inscription above the mount, which reads: "MINT". The place of its manufacture was the Moscow Mint and the plant "Platinapribor". It is also worth noting that cupronickel nickel silver was the material for the manufacture of the fastening. Connoisseurs distinguish its variety, in which the rays of the star are slightly rounded, and sometimes seem to be cut off.
• The seventh type of the order (1954 - 1991) is the most different: the image of a soldier on the shield is tilted forward, the right leg is slightly turned, and the rays of the star are more rounded.

Reasons for the award

The broadest basis for the award was a similar wording: for great merits in the defense of the USSR, ensuring state security in peaceful and military conditions. The Order of the Red Star was awarded to servicemen in the navy, internal troops, border guards of the USSR Army, both commanding and enlisted personnel. It was allowed to award employees of foreign countries.

In the post-war period, they were posthumously awarded to employees of the military fire service, law enforcement agencies, serving in the army, who died in the line of duty. In this case, it was received by the relatives of the dead. This order was awarded to soldiers who participated in the repayment of localized conflicts, the war in Afghanistan.
The statute of the order, as already mentioned above, has undergone changes, the last one was in 1980.

According to the statute, the order was awarded to:

• For courage in combat operations and personal courage, faithful leadership in combat conditions and operational organization, which contributed to the success of the USSR troops;
• For causing significant damage to the enemy by military operations of military units;
• For outstanding achievements in ensuring the safety and inviolability of the state cordons of the USSR and ensuring the security of the country;
• For the manifestation of courage and courage, performing military or official duty under life-threatening conditions;
• For exemplary performance of special assignments and other accomplishments in peacetime;
• For outstanding achievements in the field of ensuring the highest indicator of army combat training, excellent indicators of political and combat training, mastering new models of military equipment and other achievements in providing the defense force of the USSR;
• For outstanding achievements in organizing the development of military science and technology, training employees for the military service of the USSR;
• For achievements in organizing the defense power of the USSR.

Also, in the period from 1944 - 1957, this order was awarded for fifteen years of service in the Red Army and the Navy, state security agencies, internal affairs agencies

General information

Wearing methods

The order was worn on the left side of the chest, until the decree of 1943 was issued, according to which it was placed on the right side. The statute of the order states that, in the presence of other awards, it should be placed after the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree.

The cost of the Order of the Red Star (price)

It should be noted right away that, according to the law of the Russian Federation, it is impossible to buy and sell this order, it is possible only in foreign stores and auctions. The cost absolutely depends on the time of manufacture, and, depending on the type, ranges from 250 UAH.

In Ukraine, the sale and purchase of orders and medals is not prohibited.

75 years ago, on September 30, 1943, the first stage of the battle ended.

In the forty-third, it was necessary to break through to the Dnieper and seize bridgeheads behind it.

Research recent years they convince that young Russians know less about the battle for the Dnieper than about the battles near Moscow, on the Volga, the Kursk Bulge, about the Bagration operation to liberate Belarus ... There is an explanation for this: due to the huge spatial scope, the single battle for the Dnieper was a series of parallel front-line operations and in total lasted from August to December 1943.

After the Battle of Kursk, the strategic initiative on the Soviet-German front finally passed to the Soviet command. The Red Army outnumbered the enemy in the number of personnel, artillery, and less significantly in tanks and aircraft. But victory was still far away. Holding part of the left-bank Ukraine, the Nazis began to create in advance a strategic defensive line in their rear called "Eastern Wall" ("Ostwall"). It originated at the mouth of the Narva River, which flows into the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, and along the line of Pskov, Vitebsk, Orsha, the Sozh River went to the middle course of the Dnieper - a powerful natural obstacle for the advancing troops. In the south, near Zaporozhye, the "Eastern Wall" deviated from the Dnieper to the east and ran along the bed of the Molochnaya River (in the upper reaches - Tokmak), which flows into the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov. Having created multi-lane fortifications on this long line, the Germans hoped to keep the troops of the Red Army beyond the Dnieper and give the war a positional character.

The first bridgehead south of Kyiv was captured by the advanced detachments of the 3rd Guards Tank Army

To the battle for the Dnieper, the liberation of the cities located on its banks, the capture of strategic footholds across the river, the Soviet Supreme High Command attracted troops from five fronts: Central (commander General of the Army K.K. Rokossovsky), Voronezh (commander General of the Army N.F. Vatutin), Steppe (commander General of the Army I.S. Konev), South-Western (commander General of the Army R.Ya. Malinovsky) and Southern (commander F.I. Tolbukhin, who received the rank of Army General in the dynamics of the operation, on September 21).
By order of the Headquarters of the Supreme Command, the troops of the Central and Voronezh fronts concentrated their main efforts on the Kiev, Steppe - on the Poltava-Kremenchug, South-Western - on the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye directions. The troops of the Southern Front were to break through the enemy defenses on the Molochnaya River, reach the lower reaches of the Dnieper and the Crimea.
Realizing the complexity of the battle for the Dnieper, the importance of capturing bridgeheads in the Ukrainian Right Bank, on September 9, 1943, the Headquarters of the All-Russian Supreme Command sent a directive to the troops stating that those who particularly distinguished themselves during the crossing of the Dnieper would be presented to the highest government awards. The directive was brought to every commander and fighter.
Of great importance for the actions of the Red Army in the southwestern direction, the breakthrough to the Dnieper as a whole was a separate operation, not included in the battle for the Dnieper, carried out by the troops of the Western (commanded by Colonel General V.D. Sokolovsky) and the left wing of Kalininsky (commanded by General Colonel A.I. Eremenko) fronts from August 7 to October 2, 1943. As a result of the Smolensk-Roslavl operation, the first large city on the Dnieper, Smolensk, was liberated.
In 1941, after the capture of Smolensk by the Germans, Goebbels wrote: “Smolensk is a broken door. german army opened its way into the depths of Russia. The outcome of the war is a foregone conclusion." Now, in September 1943, Krasnaya Zvezda correspondent Vasily Ilyenkov headlined a report from liberated Smolensk with the words "Gateway to the West!" Although downstream of the Dnieper, Mogilev b