The star of the hero of the Soviet Union is made of. Medal "Gold Star. Zhukov, Brezhnev and Savitskaya
Golden Star hero Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union - an honorary title, the highest degree of distinction in the USSR for services to the state associated with the accomplishment of a heroic deed. Established by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the USSR of April 16, 1934, assigned by the Presidium Supreme Council USSR (since March 1990 - President of the USSR).
The initial awarding of the Hero of the Soviet Union was marked by the presentation of the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin and a special diploma of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR (since 1937 - diplomas of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR).
Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on conferring the title Hero of the Soviet Union
For a special distinction of citizens awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1939, a gold medal"Hero of the Soviet Union", in the form of a five-pointed star with the inscription on the reverse: "Hero of the USSR". It was established that the medal was awarded together with the Order of Lenin. When conferring this high rank for the second and third time, the award was provided only with a medal, while the Order of Lenin was not awarded.
To commemorate the exploits of the twice Hero of the Soviet Union, as well as the Hero of the Soviet Union, who was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, his bronze bust was installed in the homeland of the recipient.
Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin, awarded together with the award of the title
The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 22, 1988 "On improving the procedure for awarding state awards of the USSR" stated that the repeated awarding of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the Gold Star medal was not carried out, and bronze busts were not installed during the lifetime of the heroes.
The first Heroes of the Soviet Union were seven polar pilots: A.V. Lyapidevsky, S.A. Levanevsky, V.S. Molokov, N.P. Kamanin, M.T. Slepnev, M.V. Vodopyanov, I.V. Doronin. They were awarded this honorary title for rescuing passengers and crew in distress on the Chelyuskin steamer on April 20, 1934. In the same year, test pilot M.M. became Hero of the Soviet Union for setting a world record in flight distance. Gromov, and two years later - pilots, and. In 1938, the first women pilots, V.S., were awarded the highest degree of distinction. Grizodubova, P.D. Osipenko and M.M. Raskov.
The first Heroes of the Soviet Union (from left to right): S.A. Levanevsky, V.S. Molokov, M.T. Slepnev, N.P. Kamanin, M.V. Vodopyanov, A.V. Lyapidevsky, I.V. Doronin. 1934
Among those awarded in the 1930s were many Arctic explorers. The most famous of them was the four polar explorers: the head of the research station "North Pole" (SP-1) I.D. Papanin, radio operator E.T. Krenkel, oceanographer P.P. Shirshov and astronomer-magnetologist E.K. Fedorov.
The first assignment of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for military exploits took place on December 31, 1936. This award was awarded to 11 commanders of the Red Army - participants in the Spanish Civil War. Among the internationalist soldiers of that time, Lieutenant S.I. became famous. Gritsevets and Major G.P. Kravchenko, who then received a second Gold Star in the battles at Khalkhin Gol (August 1939). They became the first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 25, 1938, 22 commanders and 4 Red Army soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for military merit and military prowess.
In general, from April 1934 to April 1941, 626 people were awarded the highest degree of distinction. Including, for military exploits in the provision of international assistance in China - 14 people, Spain - 59 people, for heroism shown in the defense of the state border near Lake Khasan - 26, on the river. Khalkhin-Gol - 70, during the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939 - 1940. - 412 people, as well as 45 pilots and aviation navigators, scientists and researchers of the Arctic and Far East, members of high-latitude expeditions. During this period, five people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice.
During the years of the Great Patriotic War the first - on July 8, 1941, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to the pilots of the 158th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 7th Fighter Air Defense Corps M.P. Zhukov, S.I. Zdorovtsev, P.T. Kharitonov, who rammed fascist aircraft on the outskirts of Leningrad. During the first period of the war alone, over 600 people earned the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The crushing blows of the Red Army against the Nazi troops were accompanied by examples of mass heroism and selflessness of the Soviet people. In February 1943, the name of Private A.M. Matrosov. All major military operations of the second period were accompanied by examples of courage and bravery. At this time, more than 3650 Soviet soldiers and 30 partisans and underground workers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Over 7 thousand new Heroes of the Soviet Union came to their glory and immortality during the third period of the Great Patriotic War, and more than 2800 of them were awarded a high title for their deeds committed during the final liberation of the Soviet land.
The courage of the Soviet soldiers, who distinguished themselves in carrying out the great international mission to liberate the peoples of Europe from Nazi slavery, deserved high appraisal.
The events of the apotheosis of war are inscribed in the heroic chronicle with no less striking examples - Berlin operation. The capture of the Seelow Heights, the crossing of the Oder and the Spree, the fierce battles on the streets of Berlin and the assault on the Reichstag became new steps in the ascent to the mass heroism of Soviet soldiers. Dedication Soviet people resulted in the exploits not only of individuals, but also of entire squads, crews and divisions (a platoon of the Guards Lieutenant P.N. Shironin, a feat of 68 participants under command, and many others). Families also became heroes: brother and sister Kosmodemyansky, brothers Ignatov, Kurzenkov, Lizyukov, Lukanin, Panichkin, Glinka, uncle and nephew Gorodovikov ...
Famous commanders and prominent military leaders have been awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union several times. He was awarded the Marshal of the Soviet Union four times. Twice - Marshals of the Soviet Union, P.K. Koshevoy, I.I. Yakubovsky, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Air Chief Marshals -, P.S. Kutakhov, A.I. Koldunov, army generals -, A.P. Beloborodov, etc.
In total, over 11,600 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the heroic deeds committed during the Great Patriotic War, 115 of them - twice, and two - subsequently air marshals A.I. Pokryshkin and I.N. Kozhedub - three times. The legendary army commander of the 1st Cavalry Army of the times civil war, Knight of St. George and Marshal of the Soviet Union. Marshal of Victory - Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov was first awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1939 for leading the operation to encircle and destroy a group of Japanese troops in the area of the Khalkhin Gol River, and was awarded the fourth Gold Star in December 1956.
Three times Heroes of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov (in the center), major generals of aviation A.I. Pokryshkin (left) and I.N. Kozhedub (right) on the territory of the Kremlin during the work of the session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Moscow, November 1957
Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union are representatives of more than 60 nationalities and nationalities of the USSR. Among them, 88 women. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was also awarded to a number of foreign citizens who distinguished themselves in the fight against the Nazi invaders.
Heroes of the Soviet Union - representatives of more than 60 nationalities
| Russians | 8182 | Lithuanians | 15 | Dungan | 4 | Balkarets | 1 |
| Ukrainians | 2072 | Tajiks | 14 | Lezgins | 4 | Veps | 1 |
| Belarusians | 311 | Latvians | 13 | Germans | 4 | Darginets | 1 |
| Tatars | 161 | Kyrgyz | 12 | French people | 4 | Hispanic | 1 |
| Jews | 108 | Komi | 10 | Chechens | 3 | Korean | 1 |
| Kazakhs | 96 | Udmurts | 10 | Yakuts | 3 | Koeman | 1 |
| Georgians | 91 | Karely | 9 | Altaians | 2 | Kurd | 1 |
| Armenians | 90 | Poles | 9 | Bulgarians | 2 | Moldavian | 1 |
| Uzbeks | 69 | Estonians | 9 | Greeks | 2 | Nanaets | 1 |
| Mordvins | 61 | Kalmyks | 8 | Karachays | 2 | Nogaets | 1 |
| Chuvash | 44 | Kabardians | 7 | Kumyks | 2 | Svan | 1 |
| Azerbaijanis | 43 | Adyghe | 6 | Laks | 2 | Tuvan | 1 |
| Bashkirs | 39 | Czechs | 6 | Khakasses | 2 | Gypsy | 1 |
| Ossetians | 32 | Abkhazians | 5 | Circassians | 2 | Evenk | 1 |
| Mari | 18 | Avars | 5 | Finns | 2 | ||
| Turkmens | 18 | Buryats | 5 | Assyrian | 1 |
In the post-war years, the exploits of the Soviet people were associated with the development of the latest military equipment, peaceful penetration into space, the protection of state interests and borders, and the fulfillment of international duty. Among the test pilots who stood at the origins of the development of Soviet jet aviation were Heroes of the Soviet Union G.Ya. Bakhchivandzhi, M.I. Ivanov, M.L. Gallay, I.E. Fedorov, I.T. Ivashchenko, G.A. Sedov, G.K. Molosov and many others. From the biography of one of them, P.M. Stefanovsky, it is known that during his 30-year service in aviation, he mastered 317 types of aircraft and made 13.5 thousand flights.
The first Hero of the Soviet Union of the nuclear submarine fleet was the commander of the Leninsky Komsomol submarine, Captain 1st Rank L.G. Osipenko. For the conquest of the same submarine North Pole in the early 1960s, Rear Admiral A.I. Petelin, captain 2nd rank L.M. Zhiltsov, engineer-captain 2nd rank R.A. Timofeev was also awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 23, 1966 for the successful completion of a group transoceanic transition in a submerged position from the bay Western Face(Murmansk region) to Krasheninnikov Bay (Kamchatka) through Cape Horn (South America) a group of Soviet submariners: Rear Admiral A.I. Sorokin, captains of the 2nd rank V.T. Vinogradov, L.N. Stolyarov, N.V. Usenko, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
On April 12, 1961, the whole world learned the name of a Soviet citizen officer who made an orbital flight around the Earth. Over the next quarter of a century, 60 Soviet cosmonauts went into space. All of them are Heroes of the Soviet Union, and more than half of them were awarded this title twice.
Meeting of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union with astronauts. Sitting: M.V. Vodopyanov, M.T. Slepnev, N.P. Kamanin, A.V. Lyapidevsky, V.S. Molokov. Standing: V.F. Bykovsky, G.S. Titov, Yu.A. Gagarin, V.V. Tereshkova, A.G. Nikolaev, P.R. Popovich
Selfless devotion to the Motherland and in peacetime put forward new Heroes of the Soviet Union from among the military. Among them, officers D.V. Leonov, I.I. Strelnikov and V.D. Bubenin, junior sergeant Yu.V. Babanskiy. Forever inscribed themselves in the heroic chronicle of the country and the soldiers who performed their international duty in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Among them are Colonels V.L. Neverov and V.E. Pavlov, lieutenant colonel E.V. Vysotsky, Major A.Ya. Oparin, captain N.M. Akramov, Senior Lieutenant A.I. Demakov, guard private N.Ya. Anfinogenov and many others. In total, during the years of the war in Afghanistan, 86 servicemen were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Many military leaders in peacetime for their great contribution to the construction and strengthening Armed Forces USSR, increasing the level of their combat readiness were awarded the highest degree of distinction. Titles of Hero of the Soviet Union received: Marshals of the Soviet Union, P.F. Batitsky, S.K. Kurkotkin, V.I. Petrov, ; army generals A.L. Getman, A.A. Epishev, M.M. Zaitsev, E.F. Ivanovsky, P.I. Ivashutin, P.G. Lushev, Yu.P. Maksimov, I.G. Pavlovsky, I.N. Shkadov; fleet admirals G.M. Egorov, V.A. Kasatonov, V.N. Chernavin; Colonel General A.S. Zheltov and others.
After the collapse of the USSR, the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" was abolished. Instead, on March 20, 1992, the title "Hero of Russian Federation”, also awarded for outstanding feats. Currently, the Heroes of the Soviet Union have the same rights as the Heroes of the Russian Federation.
The appearance of the highest degree of distinction of the USSR is directly related to the rescue of passengers and crew members of the Chelyuskin steamer.
Considering that in order to evacuate people who were on the wrecked ship, Soviet pilots carried out an operation that had no analogues in world history, the Soviet government also thought about the need to highlight this feat.
On April 16, 1934, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, by a special resolution, established " the highest degree distinctions - assignment for personal or collective services to the state associated with the commission, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
It should be especially noted that no insignia for the Heroes of the Soviet Union was originally intended. The assignment of the title was marked exclusively by the presentation of a special diploma of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR.
The first assignment of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union took place on April 20, 1934, when the pilots who participated in the rescue of the Chelyuskinites were awarded with it: Anatoly Lyapidevsky, Sigismund Levanevsky, Vasily Molokov, Nikolai Kamanin, Mauritius Slepnev, Mikhail Vodopyanov and Ivan Doronin.
Pilots in the USSR in the 1930s were held in high esteem. No wonder that the first 11 Heroes of the Soviet Union represented exactly aviation.
Initially, the Heroes of the Soviet Union received only a diploma. Photo: Public Domain
Order and medal
The tradition, along with the awarding of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, to present the Order of Lenin actually developed by itself. The fact is that the first 11 Heroes, along with the title, received the order, which was the highest award of the USSR.
In July 1936, this practice was legalized by the decision of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR - from now on, the Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the diploma, automatically received the Order of Lenin.
The number of Heroes grew - along with the "Stalin's falcons", the military who fought in Spain, as well as participants in the battles on Lake Khasan, were noted.
The more Heroes became, the more the need grew for the appearance of some kind of distinctive sign, according to which outstanding person anyone can find out.
This is how the Gold Star medal appeared, the author of the sketch of which was architect Miron Merzhanov. The Gold Star medal as an insignia of the Heroes of the Soviet Union was approved on August 1, 1939, and the first Heroes to receive both the Gold Star and the Order of Lenin were participants in the battles near the Khalkhin Gol River.
Medal "Golden Star". Photo: Public Domain
Zhukov, Brezhnev and Savitskaya
In total, from 1934 to 1991, 12,776 people received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and the vast majority of awards were awarded to those who distinguished themselves in the battles of the Great Patriotic War: more than 91 percent of all those awarded.
The absolute champions in "heroism" are Georgy Zhukov and Leonid Brezhnev. Both the outstanding commander and the Secretary General are four times Heroes of the Soviet Union. At the same time, Brezhnev also has the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. However, Brezhnev's awards have always been treated with a fair amount of humor. Suffice it to say that three titles of the Hero of the Soviet Union were awarded to Brezhnev in the period from 1976 to 1981, when the country's leader was rapidly losing his ability to work and be critical of the surrounding reality.
Oddly enough, but, despite the heroism of Soviet women, only one of them was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice. However, we are talking about a more than worthy person - a pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya, the first woman to walk in outer space.
Pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya. Photo: www.russianlook.com
Just thank you"
The most recent Hero of the Soviet Union was an extremely unusual person - diving specialist, captain 3rd rank Leonid Solodkov. The decree on conferring the title for participation in a diving experiment simulating long-term work at a depth of 500 meters under water was signed on December 24, 1991.
The newly-minted Hero was invited to the Kremlin on January 16, 1992 to receive the award. The situation was extremely strange - the state, the Hero of which was Leonid Solodkov, by this moment had not existed for more than three weeks. But the most interesting thing is that, according to military charter, Solodkov as an officer had to say "I serve the Soviet Union!".
It is impossible to quickly change the Charter, and Solodkov decided to act on his own. After Marshal Shaposhnikov presented the Hero with an award, he simply answered: “Thank you!”. This “Thank you” ended the history of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, who did not live three years before his 60th birthday.
Many at that moment believed that there would be no more Heroes in our country. Like, nowhere, except for the USSR and the countries of the socialist bloc, such a system of distinction was practiced, despite the fact that it exists in almost all countries of the world.
Tradition is stronger than ideology
However, tradition turned out to be stronger than ideological changes in society. Already on March 20, 1992, the Supreme Soviet of Russia approved the establishment of the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
The fundamental difference between the title of Hero of Russia and the Soviet predecessor is that it is awarded only once.
At the same time, the continuity of the two highest degrees of distinction is confirmed by the fact that four Heroes of the Soviet Union at once became Heroes of the Russian Federation - this astronauts Sergei Krikalev and Valery Polyakov, polar scientist Artur Chilingarov and military pilot Nikolay Maidanov.
Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union were representatives of many nationalities of a large country - Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Tatars, Jews, Azerbaijanis, Chechens, Yakuts and many others.
No wonder that in many republics former USSR that became independent states, a similar title was established. Including Russia, it exists in 11 out of 15 states in the expanses of the former USSR.
Gold Star medal - what we need to know and what is the significant difference between the "Gold Star" and the medal "Hero of the Soviet Union".
The highest degree of distinction in the USSR was the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. It was awarded to citizens who accomplished a feat during military operations or distinguished themselves by other outstanding services to the Motherland. As an exception, it could be assigned in peacetime.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was established by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR of April 16, 1934.
Later, on August 1, 1939, as an additional insignia for the Heroes of the USSR, the Gold Star medal was approved, in the form of a five-pointed star fixed on a rectangular block.
At the same time, it was established that those who have performed a repeated feat worthy of the title of Hero are awarded the second Gold Star medal. When the award was repeated in the homeland of the hero, his bronze bust was installed. The number of awards with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was not limited.
More than 90 percent of the total number of Heroes of the Soviet Union appeared in the country during the Great Patriotic War. This high title was awarded to 11,657 people, 3,051 of them posthumously. This list includes 107 fighters who became twice heroes (7 were awarded posthumously), also in total number 90 women were also awarded (49 posthumously).
On the picture: Three times Heroes of the Soviet Union (from left to right) Major General of Aviation Pokryshkin A.I., Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K. and Major General of Aviation Kozhedub I.N. during a meeting in Moscow. The photo was provided by Igor Bozhkov.
How the Pskov peasant repeated the feat of Susanin
The attack of Nazi Germany on the USSR caused an unprecedented rise in patriotism.
The Great War brought a lot of grief, but it also opened up the heights of courage and firmness of character, it would seem, of ordinary ordinary people.
So, who would have expected heroism from the elderly Pskov peasant Matvey Kuzmin. In the very first days of the war, he came to the military registration and enlistment office, but they dismissed him there - he was too old: "go, grandfather, to your grandchildren, we'll figure it out without you."
Meanwhile, the front moved inexorably to the east. The Germans entered the village of Kurakino, where Kuzmin lived.
In February 1942, an elderly peasant was unexpectedly summoned to the commandant's office - the battalion commander of the 1st mountain rifle division found out that Kuzmin was an excellent tracker who knew the area perfectly and ordered him to assist the Nazis - to lead a German detachment to the rear of the forward battalion of the Soviet 3rd shock army .
“If you do everything right, I’ll pay well, and if not, blame yourself ...”. “Yes, of course, of course, don’t worry, your honor,” Kuzmin pretended to whine.
But an hour later, the cunning peasant sent his grandson with a note to ours: “The Germans ordered a detachment to be brought to your rear, in the morning I will lure them to a fork near the village of Malkino, meet me.”
That same evening, the fascist detachment set off with its guide. Kuzmin led the Nazis in circles and deliberately exhausted the invaders: he forced them to climb steep hillsides and wade through thick bushes. “What can you do, your honor, well, there is no other way here…”.
At dawn, tired and frozen Nazis were at the fork in Malkino. "All right, guys, come." "How did you come!?" “Well, let’s rest here, and then we’ll see…”. The Germans looked around - they walked all night, but moved away from Kurakino only a couple of kilometers and now stood on the road in an open field, and twenty meters in front of them was a forest, where, now they understood it for sure, there was a Soviet ambush.
“Oh, you…” - the German officer pulled out a pistol and discharged the entire clip into the old man. But at the same second, a rifle salvo burst out of the forest, then another, Soviet machine guns chirped, a mortar hooted. The Nazis rushed about, shouted, fired randomly in all directions, but not one of them left alive.
The hero died and took 250 Nazi invaders with him. Matvey Kuzmin, born three years before the abolition of serfdom, became the oldest Hero of the Soviet Union. At that time he was 83 years old.
Matvey Kuzmin There are many such examples. True patriotism is inherent in each of us, regardless of age. More about patriotism in Russia
"To establish the highest degree of distinction - 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."
In April 1934, 85 years ago, the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR established the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. It was awarded for special merits or feats before the country and people. Until now, there are those among us who, not sparing their lives, defended the right of our great country to exist, defended it and accomplished a feat. And as long as we have the opportunity to talk with living heroes or talk about them, we should cherish this and use this opportunity.
The first heroes of the USSR - polar pilots
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org
A special resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, and since 1937 - a resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, established special rules for awarding and conferring the honorary status of Hero of the Soviet Union. It is interesting that initially there were no insignia that are familiar to us now, that is, such as the Golden Star or, were not provided. The recipient was given only certificate of honor from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, which contained a description of the feat and the name of the hero.
Nevertheless, with the very first award, a year before the official introduction of the title, an interesting incident occurred. All seven famous pilots who participated in the rescue of the crew of the Chelyuskin ship received the Order of Lenin. Especially for them, the provision on awarding was approved, according to which it was supposed to issue the Order of Lenin to all awarded the title of Hero. Moreover, they became Heroes back in 1934, when there was no official position and resolution. Pilots A. Lyapidevsky, M. Vodopyanov, V. Molokov, I. Doronin, M. Slepnev, N. Kamanin and S. Levanevsky became not only the first Heroes of the Soviet Union, they became truly national heroes. Thousands of young men and women, following their example, went to flying clubs and aircraft manufacturing to help the country conquer such an inaccessible sky.
The first female heroes. Source: https://www.pnp.ru
Participants in the Spanish Civil War were awarded next. The USSR then actively helped the Republicans, and 60 people were awarded awards. Among them appeared the first foreign soldiers who fought in the ranks of the Soviet units - the Italian Primo Gibelli and the Bulgarian Volkan Goranov.
There were also conflicts on the eastern borders of the USSR. The Japanese militarists tested the power of our country and tasted the Soviet bayonet on and. As a result of these battles, the Japanese were defeated, and the number of Heroes of the USSR increased by 70 people, and the first twice Heroes appeared. However, despite this, the Golden Star that we all know has not yet appeared.
Birth of a Star
On August 1, literally a month before the start of the armed Japanese provocation on the Khalkhin Gol River in September 1939, a special distinguishing sign for the Heroes of the Soviet Union was introduced by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR - the Gold Star medal. The decree of August 16, 1939 approved its appearance. The first awards with new medals were made after the end of the conflict with the Japanese on the Khalkhin Gol River. Then 421 soldiers of the Red Army received the Star for distinction during the Soviet-Finnish War.
Order of Lenin and Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Source: https://www.pinterest.ru
The medal is a gold five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. With the help of an eyelet and a ring, a golden star is connected to a gilded rectangular plate, which is covered with a red moiré ribbon. The plate has on the reverse side a threaded pin with a nut for attaching to clothing. On the reverse side of the medal there is an inscription "Hero of the USSR". All those heroes who received their honorary titles before the star was introduced received it, and those who did not have the Order of Lenin received it. Since that moment, a stable and unchanging tradition of honorary presentation of the highest award has appeared in our country. The star could be awarded several times, but the Order of Lenin was issued only at the first award. During subsequent awards, the numbers on the reverse side of the medal were not in a row, but corresponded to the serial numbers of the stars being produced. When the award was repeated in the homeland of the hero, a bronze bust was installed. And since 1967, the government of the USSR established special benefits in Everyday life for the awardees. Of course, most of the awards fall on the period of the Great Patriotic War.
Heroes of the Fatherland
Heroes are victorious. Source: https://pinterest.com
By the beginning, 626 people were listed as Heroes of the Soviet Union, among them were three women - Marina Raskova, Valentina Grizodubova and Polina Osipenko. Five people became Heroes twice. When the enemy attacked our homeland, all the people rose to its defense. The exploits of such heroes as Gastello, Maresyev, Matrosov are on everyone's lips ... Pilots, tankers, artillerymen, sappers and sailors - perhaps there was not a single branch of the army that would not have distinguished itself with a whole galaxy of its heroes. Numerous civilians and partisans have also received this high award. No wonder the period of the war accounts for 91% of all awards with the title of Hero in the entire history of the award. A total of 11,657 people received the medal during the war years, over 3,000 of them posthumously. Over 100 of them were awarded this title twice, and Georgy Zhukov, Ivan Kozhedub and Alexander Pokryshkin - three times.
44 people from the armies allied to us, including 4 French pilots, also became heroes. The 167th twice Red Banner Rifle Division distinguished itself. In its ranks, there were the most awarded the honorary title of hero - 108 people.
Astronaut heroes.
On August 1, 1939, the medal "Hero of the Soviet Union" was established, but no one was awarded it. On October 16, 1939, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the medal "Hero of the Soviet Union" received a new name - "Gold Star". The same Decree approved the drawing and description of the medal, designed by the artist I. I. Dubasov. The medal was made of gold in the form of a five-pointed star. The rays of the star are two-sided. On the reverse side - the inscription "Hero of the USSR" and the number of the medal. The sash, introduced later, is red, 20 mm wide.
All those who before October 16, 1939 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union were awarded a new medal. According to the Decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, a bronze bust was to be erected in their homeland for those awarded with two Gold Star medals. Three times the Heroes of the Soviet Union, in addition to three "Golden Stars" and a bust in their homeland, were awarded a bronze bust in the form of a column, installed in Moscow. However, this paragraph of the Decree was never fulfilled, and not a single column appeared in Moscow, although Heroes of the Soviet Union were entered into the annals of the history of the Fatherland three times and even four times. It is impossible to say with certainty which of the Soviet soldiers on June 22, 1941 was the first to perform a feat, for which he was subsequently awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. It could be Major P. M. Gavrilov, who led the defense of the Brest Fortress, and the border guards of many outposts of the western borders of our country.
The border guards of the 5th outpost on the Prut River were among the first to fight the Nazis on the morning of June 22 and repelled 11 enemy attacks in two days. By the end of the third day, the surviving border guards were forced to retreat. However, at night a small group of our fighters made their way to the rear, destroyed the enemy guards and blew up the railway bridge. Three of them - Lieutenant A.K. Konstantinov, Junior Sergeant V.F. Mikhalkov and Sergeant I.D. Buzytskov - were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The first Heroes could also be border guards - Lieutenants A.V. Lopatin and A.V. Ryzhikov. On June 24, 1941, the Pravda newspaper wrote about the battles on the border: “The Chekist soldiers covered themselves with immortal glory… They fought hand-to-hand, and only through their dead bodies could the enemy advance a span forward.”
The deputy political instructor of the 7th frontier post of the 90th frontier detachment, V.V. Petrov, after a five-hour battle, remained to cover the retreat of his comrades. He was seriously wounded, but continued to fire. And when the cartridges ran out, he blew himself up and the Nazis surrounding him with the last grenade. The first in the Great Patriotic War the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was officially awarded (by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 8, 1941) to three pilots. Fighter pilot junior lieutenant S. I. Zdorovtsev fought the enemy until the cartridges ran out, and then rammed a German bomber with his plane, rushing towards Leningrad. Two days later his feat was repeated by the pilots M.P. Zhukov and P.T. Kharitonov. The first Hero of the Soviet Union in ground forces became the commander of the 1st motorized rifle division of the 20th army, Colonel Ya. G. Kreizer. On June 30, 1941, his division took up defensive positions on the eastern bank of the Berezina and in three days destroyed 3,000 enemy soldiers and officers and about 70 tanks. The first Hero-sailor was the assistant platoon commander, senior sergeant V.P. Kislyakov, who distinguished himself in July 1941 during the landing in the Zapadnaya Litsa area in the Arctic. On July 22, 1941, for the first time since the beginning of World War II, the second Gold Star medal was awarded. Pilot Lieutenant Colonel S.P. Suprun became her cavalier posthumously. He commanded the 401st Fighter Aviation Regiment special purpose and on July 4 he died in an unequal battle with six enemy fighters.
Svetlana Savitskaya connected her fate with aviation from a young age. While still a student at the Moscow Aviation Institute, she became the absolute world champion in aerobatics on piston aircraft, later set three world records in group parachute jumps from the stratosphere and nine world records on jet aircraft.
On August 19, as a research cosmonaut, together with the crew commander twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel L. I. Popov and flight engineer A. A. Serebrov, she flew into space on the Soyuz T-7 spacecraft, which docked with the orbital complex. S. Savitskaya conducted many scientific experiments. For her courage and heroism, Svetlana Savitskaya was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the title of Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR. She made her second space flight in July 1984 on the Soyuz T-12 spacecraft. Together with Vladimir Dzhanibekov, the crew commander, Svetlana Savitskaya worked in outer space on July 25 for 3 hours and 35 minutes, during which time she tested a new universal tool designed to perform complex technological operations in open space. She cut and welded metal, soldered metal plates and sprayed coatings. The results of her experiments have found wide application not only in space flights, but also on earth - in national economy. She became the first woman - twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
A brilliant galaxy of space explorers was headed by the world's first cosmonaut Yu. A. Gagarin. On April 12, 1961, he circled the Earth on the Vostok spacecraft in 1 hour and 48 minutes. “For the heroic feat - the first flight into space,” said the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 15, 1961, “who glorified our socialist Motherland, for the courage, bravery, fearlessness and selfless service to the Soviet people, the cause of communism, the cause of the progress of all mankind , confer the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal to the world's first pilot-cosmonaut Major Gagarin Yuri Alekseevich and install a bronze bust of the Hero in the city of Moscow "
In August 1961, the second flight into space lasting 25 hours was made by pilot-cosmonaut Major G.S. Titov, who circled the Earth more than 17 times. He also became a Hero of the Soviet Union. In August 1962, cosmonauts A. G. Nikolaev and P. R. Popovich made the first group space flight, which lasted more than 70 hours. In July 1963, V. F. Bykovsky and V. V. Tereshkova carried out the second group flight into space. In October 1964, on the first multi-seat Voskhod spacecraft, the crew, consisting of the ship's commander, Colonel-Engineer V. M. Komarov, researcher K. P. Feoktistov, and physician B. B. Egorov, flew without spacesuits. In March 1965, for the first time, a man went out into outer space and spent 12 minutes there. This was our compatriot A. A. Leonov.
In October 1968, pilot-cosmonaut G.T. Beregovoy made the closest possible approach of the Soyuz-3 spacecraft, which he controlled, with the unmanned Soyuz-2 spacecraft, which had been put into orbit earlier. The first docking of ships in space was carried out by a space pilot V. A. Shatalov, who piloted the Soyuz-4 spacecraft, and the crew of the Soyuz-5 spacecraft, consisting of cosmonauts B. V. Volynov, A. S. Eliseev and E. V. Khrunov. On January 16, 1969, Eliseev and Khrunov transferred from the Soyuz-5 spacecraft to the Soyuz-4 spacecraft, being in outer space for 37 minutes. After the docking of the two ships, their joint flight lasted more than four and a half hours. Thus, the beginning of the replacement of the crews of spacecraft, orbital stations and rescue work in space was laid. In October 1969 on earth orbits Three Soyuz spacecraft with seven cosmonauts on board were launched at once. The flight was directed by V. A. Shatalov, and cosmonauts G. S. Shonin, A. V. Filipchenko, V. N. Kubasov, V. N. Volkov, A. S. Eliseev, and V. V. Gorbatko took part in the experiment. Cosmonauts V. A. Shatalov, A. S. Eliseev and N. N. Rukavishnikov on the Soyuz-10 spacecraft in April 1971 worked out methods of rendezvous and mooring to the orbital station, docked and undocked the spacecraft with it. In June 1971, a crew consisting of G. T. Dobrovolsky, V. N. Volkov and V. I. Patsaev was delivered to the orbital station. Their space watch at the Salyut-2 station lasted more than 23 days. The astronauts did an excellent job, but when they returned to Earth, they died due to a sudden depressurization of the ship.
The duration of space watches at orbital stations was constantly increasing, and the volume and complexity of work increased. In 1975, cosmonauts A. A. Gubarev and G. M. Grechko worked on board the Salyut-4 station for 30 days, and the following year, P. I. Klimuk and V. I. Sevastyanov spent more than two months at the station, having completed a large program of complex research and received a lot of data of great interest to geography, geology, meteorology, oceanology and other sciences. Yu. V. Romanenko and G. M. Grechko spent 96 days in space, V. V. Kovalenok and A. S. Ivanchenkov spent 140 days, and V. A. Lyakhov and V. V. Ryumin spent 175 days in space. In 1984, astronauts L. D. Kizim, O. Yu. Their space watch lasted 237 days. Space exploration is a grandiose, epochal undertaking of all mankind. Millions of people take part in it - workers, engineers, doctors, pilots, scientists, but at the tip of the cosmic spire are the pilots of starships. Most of the astronauts came from their winged family. Many of them, before joining the cosmonaut corps, were excellent pilots, navigators, testers.
The fate of the USSR pilot-cosmonaut G. T. Beregovoy is symbolic in this respect. He flew his first plane into the sky at the age of 16. At the age of 20 he received the first order, and at the age of 23 - the first "Gold Star" of the Hero. In the battles of the Great Patriotic War, he burned three times in an airplane, but got out of these alterations alive and again rose into the sky. At the age of 44, G. T. Beregovoy, an honored test pilot of the USSR, a colonel and a Hero of the Soviet Union, achieved admission to the cosmonaut corps, where they were accepted at the age of 30 years. And after 4 years he was once again awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the courage and heroism shown during the space flight on October 26–30, 1968 on the Soyuz-3 spacecraft. Not only test pilots, submariners and cosmonauts replenished the family of Heroes of the Soviet Union. On June 21, 1965, Colonel border troops N. F. Karatsupa. The name of this brave man became widely known back in the 1930s, when dozens of articles were written about the skillful and brave guard dogs, and books were dedicated to him. From 1933 to 1937, N.F. Karatsupa participated in 120 battles and detained 467 border violators. For long service on the border, Nikita Fedorovich was awarded four orders and several medals. The senior lieutenant of militia A. I. Popryadukhin also became a hero of the Soviet Union. In November 1973, four bandits hijacked a plane with passengers and crew. They wounded the flight mechanic and one of the passengers and demanded that no one approach the aircraft. To release the hostages, a capture group was sent, commanded by A. I. Popryadukhin. He managed to be the first to break into the cabin of the aircraft, called upon himself the fire of criminals and thereby paved the way for his comrades. The bandits were disarmed and captured. This was one of the first cases of air terrorism, which was skillfully and decisively suppressed by a small capture group, which subsequently was not always achieved even with the introduction of larger forces. The Afghan war of 1979-1989 occupies a special place in the history of our country. No matter how we feel about this war, no matter how we qualify it, we must not forget that the Soviet soldiers and officers thrown into its fire sincerely believed (especially in the early years of the war) that they were fulfilling a noble international mission of helping the fraternal people , and showed high fighting qualities in this situation. Several participants in the events were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Among them was the commander of the helicopter, Major V. V. Shcherbakov, who, at great risk, landed the car in the mountains and rescued a group of comrades in distress. Helicopter pilot E. I. Zelnyakov became famous for breaking through enemy barrage dozens of times, accurately hitting targets and skillfully landing a car in hard-to-reach mountainous areas. The heroes were officer Vyacheslav Gainutdinov and deputy commander of a motorized rifle battalion, Major Gennady Kuchkin, commander of the parachute unit, Lieutenant Colonel Yu. V. Kuznetsov, company commander, Senior Lieutenant N. M. Akramov, Colonel General Yu. Pavlov, Lieutenant Colonel E. V. Vysotsky and others. During the post-war years, more than 250 people were awarded this high title. In the days of the war, not all feats received an immediate assessment, they could not always be accurately weighed and compared with other accomplishments. This applies not only individual people, but also large and important events, into the orbit of which tens of thousands of people were drawn. Characteristic in this regard is the example of a number of cities that have gained fame as bastions of courage and steadfastness. In honor of the heroic defense of Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol and Odessa, medals were established already during the war years. The sixth medal - "For the Defense of Kyiv" - was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 21, 1961.
The term "hero cities" appeared at the end of the war. In 1945, in the May Day order Supreme Commander this name was given to Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol and Odessa. And on May 8, 1965, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Regulations on the honorary title "Hero City" were approved. And six cities, in honor of which the medals "For Defense" were minted, became hero cities, and the Orders of Lenin and the Gold Star medals appeared on their banners. They were awarded this title in connection with the 20th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany. By decree of May 8, 1965, the title of "Fortress-Hero" was awarded to the Brest Fortress. Subsequently, the cities-heroes were recognized: Kerch and Novorossiysk (1973), Minsk (1974), Tula (1976), Smolensk and Murmansk (1985). Gold stars attached to the banners of the hero cities crowned the feat of thousands of Soviet patriots - soldiers, workers, militiamen, defending their native streets and lanes, squares and avenues with weapons in their hands. The memory of the heroes is immortalized in bronze and marble, in the names of cities, streets and squares. Among the memorials and monuments erected only in honor of the heroes of the battle for Moscow are the monuments to Marshal G.K. Zhukov and the legendary commander I.V. Panfilov, whose soldiers did not let the Nazis to Moscow. And in 1975, at the Dubosekovo junction near Moscow, a memorial was opened in honor of 28 Panfilov heroes.
Near the village of Petrishchevo there is a monument to Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, near the village of Palashkino - to General L.M. Dovator, in Moscow many streets are named after the Heroes of the Soviet Union. Twice Heroes of the Soviet Union erected bronze busts in their homeland. Monuments to the heroes have been erected in hundreds of cities and villages in Russia. Streets and squares, ships and schools are named after them. Only in one Kaliningrad region, the cities of Chernyakhovsk, Nesterov, Gusev, Ladushkin, Mamonov, Guryevsk, Kosmodemyansk, Romanov bear the names of the Heroes of the Soviet Union. Memorial museums are dedicated to the heroes of the Soviet Union: the house-museum of Yu. A. Gagarin in the city that bears his name, the house-museum "Young Guard" in Krasnodon, the house-museum of Marshal G. K. Zhukov in his homeland in the village of Zhukovo, Kaluga Region and a lot others. The Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union is one of the most respected awards among the people. Given this, after the Soviet Union ceased to exist, on March 20, 1992, the title of “Hero of Russia” was established in Russia and the Gold Star medal was preserved.
