Awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. History of the title "Hero of Labor"

Hero of Socialist Labor is an honorary title awarded in the Soviet Union, considered the highest in the USSR from 1938 to 1991. This is how they noted merit for work, the contribution of a particular person to the development of science or a specific area of ​​industry or economy. In this article we will focus on the most famous personalities who received this title. Most of them received this award three times.

Anatoly Alexandrov first became a hero of Socialist Labor in 1954. He was awarded the honorary title twice more, in 1960 and 1973. This is a famous Soviet physicist, member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

Alexandrov is considered one of the founders of domestic nuclear energy. His main works are written in solid state physics, nuclear physics and polymer physics. Immediately after the Great Patriotic War, he was appointed director of the Institute of Physical Problems at the Academy of Sciences - in this post he replaced Kapitsa, who fell into disgrace at that time.

It was Aleksandrov who participated in the creation of projects and the construction of power plants that were used on the famous Soviet nuclear icebreakers - "Arktika", "Lenin", "Sibir". It was he who presented Stalin with a new type of submarine - a submarine with a nuclear installation.

The decision was made, the submarine was built, serial production was launched - so the USSR became the world's largest center of nuclear submarine shipbuilding.

Aleksandrov was a fan of nuclear energy, and when the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant occurred, he admitted that it became a personal tragedy for him. He died in 1994 at 91.

Hero of Socialist Labor Boris Vannikov is considered one of the first to receive this award three times. He received it in 1942, 1949 and 1954. Vannikov was an active statesman.

During the Great Patriotic War, he organized the provision of ammunition to the navy and the Red Army. Already in 1943, their production in the USSR tripled compared to 1941. In addition, Soviet engineers made them cheaper, without losing quality and even improving the ballistic characteristics of the projectiles. This played a certain role in the final victory over fascism.

Immediately after the war, he headed the First Directorate under the Council of People's Commissars and oversaw the production of nuclear weapons. In fact, he was one of the creators of the atomic project, and indeed the entire nuclear industry in the Soviet Union. If Kurchatov was responsible for solving scientific problems, then Vannikov was responsible for the prompt execution of orders and coordination of all work. In this regard, he was an indispensable leader.

He died in 1962, when he was 64 years old.

Hero of Socialist Labor Yakov Zeldovich was a Soviet chemist and physicist. He is one of the creators of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. He received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in 1949, 1954 and 1956. Among scientists, his works on detonation, nuclear physics, physics of explosive combustion and cosmology are known.

His work on combustion theory is still considered classic today. It was Zeldovich, together with Doering and Neumann, who proposed a model for the propagation of a detonation wave in a gaseous medium.

Thanks to numerous discoveries made in the field of physics, his name is deservedly included in the list of Heroes of Socialist Labor.

He died in 1987 at the age of 73.

Sergei Ilyushin is one of the most famous aircraft designers in the country. It was his merit that became the mass production of the Il-2 attack aircraft, named after its creator. Thanks to Ilyushin, the country began to recognize and remember the names of the Heroes of Socialist Labor. The aircraft designer received the award in 1841, 1957 and 1974.

Even before the war, he designed experimental bombers. On one of them, the first Soviet aviation world record for cargo lifting height was set in 1936. It was in Ilyushin’s design bureau that the Il-4 bombers were created, which already in 1941, when the Germans were bombing the territory of the Soviet Union with might and main, carried out raids on Berlin.

But his main merit is the Il-2, a massive aircraft that took part in that war. It is interesting that after the war, the aircraft designer concentrated on the production of passenger aircraft, which were also made at the Il base.

Ilyushin died in 1977, he was 82 years old.

The Order of the Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded three times to the Soviet scientist Mstislav Keldysh, one of the main ideologists of the Soviet space program, in 1956, 1961 and 1971.

After the Great Patriotic War, Keldysh developed a thermonuclear bomb, establishing a special calculation bureau for this purpose. It was for this work that he received his first star of Hero of Socialist Labor.

In the mid-50s, he became a member of the Council of Designers, which was headed by Korolev, and began developing projects for space exploration and rocket design. At that time, he only carried out theoretical calculations of the probability of a flight into Earth’s orbit, to the Moon and other planets of the solar system.

He was among the leaders of the council for the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite, and did a lot to implement manned flights. He was one of the Soviet scientists who collaborated with other countries under the Intercosmos program.

It is with Keldysh that the development of computational mathematics in the Soviet Union is associated. Died in 1978 at the age of 67.

In the list of Heroes of Socialist Labor this name is known to everyone without exception - Igor Kurchatov. Behind the scenes, he is called the “father of the Soviet atomic bomb.” He was awarded the honorary title in 1949, 1951 and 1954.

Kurchatov oversaw the Soviet atomic project from its inception in 1942 until his death in 1960, when he was only 57 years old. At first, these works were predominantly research and theoretical in nature. At the same time, he aroused increased attention from the authorities: they were closely watched by Stalin’s people.

Since 1943, Kurchatov began to return prominent scientists from the front, who he needed to achieve a speedy result. In the Special Committee on State Defense Defense, whose main task was the development of the country's nuclear industry, Kurchatov was responsible for the scientific part, and all organizational issues fell on Vannikov's shoulders.

In 1946, Kurchatov met with Stalin, which resulted in the signing of several dozen documents that made the nuclear industry a priority in the country.

When talking about the Heroes of Socialist Labor of the USSR, it is necessary to mention Academician Sakharov. He is the only one who was the holder of this title three times, and then deprived of them. Sakharov is a prominent Russian theoretical physicist, one of the main creators of the Soviet hydrogen bomb.

In fact, he worked on this project from 1948 to 1968, while at the same time conducting unique research for that time on controlled thermonuclear reactions.

At the same time, Academician Sakharov is no less famous for his human rights activities. He is the author of the draft Constitution of the so-called Union of Soviet Republics of Europe and Asia. For his human rights activities in 1975, the Nobel Committee awarded Sakharov the Peace Prize.

In 1980, the authorities considered his activities anti-Soviet, expelled him from Moscow and deprived him of all awards. Together with his wife, Sakharov lived in Nizhny Novgorod until Mikhail Gorbachev allowed him to return from exile in 1986.

The academician passed away in 1989, he died at the age of 68.

Efim Slavsky

Another leader of the Soviet nuclear industry, Efim Slavsky, received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in 1949, 1954 and 1962.

He participated in the creation of the atomic and then the hydrogen bomb. In the mid-50s he was Minister of Mechanical Engineering. His merit is the creation of the so-called nuclear cities - Ozersk in the Chelyabinsk region, Aktau, Zelenogorsk and Zheleznogorsk.

It was he who made the decision to build the Siberian Nuclear Power Plant, and in the early 60s he supported the program of “peaceful atomic explosions.”

He died in 1991, when he was 93 years old.

Andrei Tupolev received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in 1945, 1957 and 1972. First of all, he is known as a Soviet aircraft designer. Directly under his leadership, several dozen different types of aircraft were designed, 70 of which were eventually put into mass production.

It is Andrei Tupolev who is responsible for the production of the famous Tu aircraft of various modifications, which are still successfully used in domestic civil and military aviation.

Tupolev died in 1972 at the age of 84.

It is noteworthy that many awards were received not only by physicists and aircraft designers, but also by leading agricultural workers. Thus, twice the Hero of Socialist Labor was the chairman of the collective farm "40 Years of October", which was based in the Panfilov district of the Alma-Ata region, Nikolai Nikitich Golovatsky.

Being from the Volyn province, from the city of Zhitomir, Golovatsky went to Kazakhstan in the late 30s. At first he was entrusted with the collective farm "Krasny Vostok", and during the Great Patriotic War he managed subsidiary farms.

Golovatsky became the chairman of the collective farm “40 Years of October,” legendary by Soviet standards, in 1950, worked there until 1992, and only retired at the age of 80.

All this time, the collective farm was among the leading ones, comparing favorably with many other farms in the Soviet Union. In 1990, a documentary film called “Union of Land Owners” was even made about Golovatsky’s achievements.

He died in 1996 at the age of 84.

At once 11 people in the history of the country were simultaneously heroes of the Soviet Union and heroes of Socialist labor. Among them are military leaders, government officials, and state security officials.

These are Leonid Brezhnev, Kliment Voroshilov, Vasily Golovchenko, Valentina Grizodubova, Pyotr Masherov, Joseph Stalin, Pyotr Trainin, Ivan Tretyak, Dmitry Ustinov, Nikita Khrushchev.

Kirill Orlovsky, whose name is not as well known as most of those listed above, deserves special mention. He worked in the NKVD and was one of the key leaders of the partisan movement in Belarus.

At the same time, he more than once inspired writers and directors to create works of art. Thus, it is Orlovsky who is the prototype of the main character of the drama “Chairman” by Alexey Saltykov, released in 1964.

Presumably, Orlovsky is the prototype of Robert Jordan, the main character of Ernest Hemingway's novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. It is known that during the war he illegally crossed the state border and the front line at least 70 times.

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

Uch-re-zh-de-no Decree of the Pre-zi-diu-ma of the USSR Armed Forces dated December 27, 1938. He was preceded by the honorable title of Hero of Labor, awarded in the 1920-1930s for special services re-re-do-vi-kam and no-va-to-ram pro-from-water-st-va, first-in-first-but - at individual enterprises, primarily de-lah city, district, ob-las-ti, re-pub-li-ki (in every case, you have your rights) won his title), since 1927 - at the general-union level (establishment of the Central Executive Committee and Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated July 27, 1927) . The title of Hero of Labor in 1928-1938 was awarded to 1014 people.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded for “for services in the region of economy-st-ven-no-go and so-ci-al-no-kul-tour- no-go build-st-va”, as the right for labor g-ro-ism, out-of-se-se-cially you-give-sya no-va-tor The activity is significant. contribution to increasing the efficiency of public production, the rise of the national economy, science, culture. Since the mid-1950s, the title began to be awarded to major party and government figures also for their service or in connection with various anniversaries -mi and celebrate-n-ka-mi, that from time to time the car is in the city. Decisions on granting a title or on depriving it were made by the President of the USSR Armed Forces (since March 1990 - Pre-zi- den-tom of the USSR). When receiving the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, they were awarded: Gra-mo-ta of the Pre-zi-diu-ma of the USSR Armed Forces, Le-ni-on the Order, since 1940 - also “ Sickle and Molot” medal. Since 1973, in the event of a title being awarded for new services, awards, orders and medals were awarded a second time; person, twice awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, or this title and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, at birth -not a bronze bust. According to the Pre-zi-diu-ma of the USSR Armed Forces dated August 22, 1988, the second awarding of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was excellent. Since 1992, for his labor services he has been awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

The first Heroes of Socialist Labor - I.V. Stalin (1939; Hammer and Sickle medal No. 1), V.A. Deg-tya-roar (1940). Over 20.5 thousand people were awarded the entire title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Over 190 people received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor twice (first - B.L. Vannikov, 1949), three - 16 people (first - you - Van-ni-kov, N.L. Du-khov, I.V. Kur-cha-tov, Yu.B. year).

Org-ga-ni-za-tions, compiling accredited ranks: Russian Inter-regional Fund of the General swarms of the Soviet Union and Heroes of the Russian Federation; Russian association Ge-ro-ev.

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

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to people who showed labor heroism or, through their particularly outstanding innovative activities, 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.

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. A special insignia - the gold medal “Hammer and Sickle” - was established by Decree of May 22, 1940.

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 are a relief hammer and sickle. On the reverse side in the center of the medal there is an inscription in raised letters “Hero of Socialist Labor”. The medal is made of 950 gold. Total weight - approximately 30 grams.
The author of the medal project is the artist A. Pomansky.

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 had existed since 1940 (no more than 3 times in total), was lifted, but this step remained unused: no one became a Hero of Socialist Labor four times.

In 1988, the awarding of the Order of Lenin during the re-awarding 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 forever abolished along with the USSR award system.

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 GST 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.

The last person awarded the high title of Hero of Socialist Labor in the history of the USSR was the soloist of the opera of the Kazakh State Academic Theater. 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 total, over the entire history of the USSR, more than 19 thousand people were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
Over 160 people were awarded the Hammer and Sickle medal twice.
Sixteen people became three times Heroes of Socialist Labor.

By resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR dated July 29, 1936, the Regulations on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union were approved.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1939, in order to specially distinguish citizens awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and performing new heroic deeds, to establish the Gold Star medal, shaped like a five-pointed star.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 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

Order of Lenin

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:

a sign of special distinction - the Gold Star medal;

A Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded two Gold Star medals, may again be awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for new heroic deeds similar to those previously performed.

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

If the Hero of the Soviet Union is awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, then in commemoration of his heroic and labor exploits, a bronze bust of the Hero with the appropriate inscription is built, installed in his homeland, which is recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

Heroes of the Soviet Union enjoy benefits established by law.

The Gold Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union is worn on the left side of the chest above the orders and medals of the USSR.

Deprivation of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union can only be carried out by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Description of the medal

The Gold Star medal is a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the obverse. The distance from the center of the star to the top of the beam is 15 mm. The distance between the opposite ends of the star is 30 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 the USSR”. The size of the letters is 4 by 2 mm. In the upper beam is the medal number 1 mm high.

The medal is made of 950 gold. The medal block is made of silver. As of September 18, 1975, the gold content in the medal was 20.521 ± 0.903 g, the silver content was 12.186 ± 0.927 g. The weight of the medal without the block was 21.5 g. The total weight of the medal was 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 participation in a diving experiment simulating long-term work at a depth of 500 meters under water) was a diving specialist, captain of the 3rd rank Leonid Mikhailovich Solodkov. When receiving the “Golden Star” of the Hero, he, as an officer, according to the regulations, 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, “Thank you,” to Air Marshal E. I. Shaposhnikov, who was presenting the award to him.

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. (02.11.1938)

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 (02.22.1939 and 08.29.1939), military pilot Colonel G. P. Kravchenko (02.22.1939 and 08.29.1939)

Three times Heroes of the Soviet Union:
Air Marshal Pokryshkin A. I. (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 S. M. Budyonny (02/01/1958, 04/24/1963, 02/22/1968)

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

Title of Hero of Socialist Labor and Hammer and Sickle Medal

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

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

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

Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor

Order of Lenin

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated labor heroism, who, through their particularly outstanding innovative activities, 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;
a sign of special distinction - a gold medal "Hammer and Sickle";
Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

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

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

If the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, then in commemoration of his labor and heroic exploits, a bronze bust of the Hero with the appropriate inscription is built, installed in his homeland, which is recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on conferring the title of Hero of the Soviet Union .

Heroes of Socialist Labor enjoy 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 the orders and medals of the USSR.

Deprivation of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor can only be carried out 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 are a 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 is 14 and 13 mm, respectively.

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” is 2 by 1 mm, in the word “Socialist” - 1.5 by 0.75 mm. In the upper beam is the medal number 1 mm high.

The medal, using an eyelet and a ring, is connected 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 block; its inner part is covered with a red silk moiré ribbon 20 mm wide. The block 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 medal block is made of silver. As of September 18, 1975, the gold content in the medal was 14.583 ± 0.903 g, the silver content was 12.03 ± 0.927 g. The weight of the medal without the block was 15.25 g. The total weight of the medal was 28.014 ± 1.5 g.

Title “Hero City”, title “Fortress Hero”

Hero City is an 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 “Hero City”. On the same day, the title was awarded to the cities of Leningrad, Volgograd, Sevastopol, Odessa, Kyiv and Moscow, and the Brest Fortress was awarded the title of “hero fortress”.

The Regulations on the title “Hero City” say:

Order of Lenin

To 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 Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is issued.

In the city, awarded the highest degree of distinction - the title of “hero city”, an obelisk is erected 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 of 1941-1945, the entire people stood up to defend the Motherland: men fought at the front, women and children fought in the rear, at the machines, in partisan detachments. Some cities showed 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.

By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief 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 a resolution 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. A platinum five-pointed star with diamonds is mounted in the middle of the sign; in the center there is a diamond weighing 2.62 carats, in the rays there are 25 diamonds weighing a total of 1.25 carats.
Between the facets of the rays there are 5 diamonds weighing a total 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 Marshall Star profile is 8 mm.
The reverse side of the badge is flat, with openwork of platinum star diamonds and diamonds located between the edges of the rays.
The “Marshal's Star”, using a triangular eyelet in the upper beam, is connected to a semi-oval mount measuring 14 mm, through which a moiré ribbon 35 mm wide is threaded.
The total weight of the marshal's insignia is 36.8 g.

Although the Marshall Star was a sign of distinction, similar, for example, to shoulder straps, it was awarded as an order in a solemn ceremony by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council, and its owner was given a special certificate. After the death or demotion of the Marshal, the star was to be handed over to the Diamond Fund.
About 200 of these stars were made.

Subsequently (February 27, 1943), a Marshall Star of a different type appeared - for persons with the rank of marshal of artillery, marshal of air force and marshal of armored forces. On March 20, 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Council also ordered marshals of the engineering troops and marshals of the signal troops to wear it; June 5, 1962 to the admirals of the fleet, and November 1, 1974 to the generals of the army.

The Marshal's Star of a branch marshal, fleet admiral and army general is a five-pointed gold star with smooth dihedral rays on the front side. Superimposed on top of the gold star is a smaller five-pointed platinum star. At the center of the platinum star is a 2.04-carat diamond. In the rays of the platinum star are 25 diamonds weighing a total of 0.91 carats. There are no diamonds between the arms of the golden star. The diameter of the circumscribed circle of the gold star is 42 mm, the platinum star is 21 mm. The profile height of the Marshall Star is 8 mm. The reverse side of the sign is flat, with openwork diamonds of a platinum star. The total weight is 35.1 g. The Marshall Star is connected to a semi-oval mount measuring 14 mm using a triangular eyelet in the upper beam. A 35 mm wide moire ribbon is threaded through the eyelet in the upper beam.
The colors of the ribbon vary depending on the type of military service. For artillery the ribbon is golden, for aviation - blue, for armored forces - burgundy, for engineering troops - crimson, for signal troops - blue, for the admiral of the fleet - turquoise.

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

Title "Mother Heroine"

Order "Mother Heroine"

Regulations on the title "Mother Heroine"

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

The title “Heroine Mother” is awarded when the last child reaches the age of one year and if there are other children of this mother alive.

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

adopted by a mother in accordance with the procedure established by law;
those who died or went missing while defending the USSR or while performing other military service duties, or while fulfilling the duty of a citizen of the USSR to save human life, to protect socialist property and socialist law and order, as well as those who died as a result of wounds, contusions, injuries or illnesses received during the above mentioned circumstances, or due to a work injury or occupational disease.

The Order "Mother - Heroine" is worn by the recipients 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 golden convex five-pointed star against a background of silver rays diverging in the form of a five-pointed star, the ends of which are placed between the ends of the golden star.

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

As of 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 gold purity 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 eye and a link to a figured metal plate covered with red enamel. On the plate there is a raised 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 clothing.

And in many ways it is similar to him. Both titles had similar provisions, insignia, procedures for presentation and awards, 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 regulations on the title were established by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated December 27, 1938. The text of the provision stated that “the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to individuals who, through their particularly outstanding innovative activities in the field of industry, agriculture, transport, trade, scientific discoveries and technical inventions, have shown 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 regulations also established that “The Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded: the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin; Certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR."

The term “hero of labor” appeared back in 1921, when hundreds of the best workers in Petrograd and Moscow were so named. This term was found in newspapers, affixed to certificates of honor awarded to advanced workers, and in 1922 it 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, a resolution 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 (that was the name of the government) dated July 27 established the title "Hero of Labor", which could be awarded " persons who have special merits" and have worked as an employee 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 from 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, just like the Hero of the Soviet Union, while initially the Heroes of Socialist Labor also did not have a special insignia. Such a badge - the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" - was established by the 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 October 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 in the homeland of the twice Hero of Socialist Labor his bronze bust would be built, and In honor of the thrice Hero of Socialist Labor, the bust is installed near the Palace of the Soviets, which was then under construction in Moscow and was unfinished. Moreover, the Order of Lenin at that time was awarded only at the first award of 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 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 for the 30th anniversary of the Victory by decree of April 30, 1975 and is still in effect today, 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 regulations determined that “the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is the highest degree of distinction for merits in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction” and “is awarded to individuals who have shown labor heroism, through their particularly outstanding work activities have made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production, contributed to the rise 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 had existed since 1940 (no more than 3 times in total), was lifted, but this step remained unused: no one became a Hero of Socialist Labor four times. At the same time, the regulation introduced the procedure for presenting the Order of Lenin with each award of the Hammer and Sickle medal. The latter was clearly done for the party and government leaders of that time, who loved to decorate themselves with all kinds of awards. The regulation also established that if a Hero of Socialist Labor is also a Hero of the Soviet Union, then a bronze bust is also erected in his homeland, as if he were twice a 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 re-awarding of the Hammer and Sickle medal was again cancelled, which was the last change in the provisions on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Three years later, in 1991, this title was forever abolished along with the USSR award system.

A special insignia of the Hero of Socialist Labor is the gold medal “Hammer and Sickle”, 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 the 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 eyelet through which the medal is attached using a ring 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 J.V. Stalin, for which artists in the typical clothes of collective farmers, workers, etc. were invited to the Kremlin with models of the Hammer and Sickle medal of various sizes. The appearance of the medal turned out to be so successful and complete that decades later 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 Golden 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 conferment 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 positions at that time (during the war years, he had 5 of them at the same time), became Hero of Socialist Labor No. 1. He was awarded the highest degree of honor on his 60th birthday. During his lifetime, this was the first and only time the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded for the anniversary.

Then, for almost 10 years, this purely peaceful award in its design was awarded exclusively for merits in the creation and introduction of new types of weapons or for labor heroism during the war. Thus, the second Hero of Socialist Labor after I.V. Stalin, according to the decree of January 2, 1940, was V.A. Degtyarev, the creator of the first Soviet PPD assault rifle, tested in those days in the Soviet-Finnish war, and the wonderful DShK machine gun (Degtyarev, Shpagin large-caliber ), still (!) in service with the Russian army.

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

It must be said that in 1945, J.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 even then he never wore it. But he wore the “Hammer and Sickle” medal without taking it off both on his famous jacket and on the jacket 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 City took place by decree on October 28, 1940. For the first time, 9 famous weapons designers immediately received diplomas, the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle medal. Among them were F.V. Tokarev, creator of the TT pistol and SVT self-loading rifle; designer of the “super-fast-firing” ShKAS aircraft machine gun and the ShVAK aircraft cannon B. G. Shpitalny; “king of fighters” N. N. Polikarpov, a brilliant aircraft designer who had just served time as a “wrecker”; 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 penetrated through any German tank, and I. I. Ivanov, the author of heavy siege weapons, at the beginning of the same years of hacking the Mannerheim Line.

So, before the start of the Great Patriotic War, only 11 people became Heroes of Socialist Labor. The next appropriation occurred already during the war. The Hammer and Sickle medal was awarded to the scientific director of TsAGI, Academician S. A. Chaplygin, 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. Dementyev and P. A. Voronin, as well as the director of the aircraft plant in Kuibyshev, which produced Il-2 attack aircraft, A. T. Tretyakov. According to the decree of September 19, 1941, J. Ya. Kotin, who created the most powerful KV tank in the world (Klim Voroshilov) and I. M. Zaltsman, 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 the People's Commissar of Arms D. F. Ustinov, the 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 government and party leaders. Among the recipients were the Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, member of the State Defense Committee (GKO) G. M. Malenkov, three deputy chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars (SNK) I. V. Stalin and members of the State Defense Committee, People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs V. M. Molotov, People's Commissar of Internal Affairs Affairs L.P. Beria and member of the Committee for the Restoration of the National Economy A.I. Mikoyan. Besides. The heroes were member of the front military council L. M. Kaganovich, People's Commissar of Ferrous Metallurgy I. F. Tevosyan, People's Commissar of the Coal Industry V. V. Vakhrushev, Director of Uralmash B. G. Muzrukov, Director of the Chelyabinsk "Tankograd" Yu. E. Maskarev, creator fighters S.A. Lavochkin, future twice Hero of Socialist Labor. It should be noted that almost all of them put on military uniforms during the war, becoming generals overnight.

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

In 1944, the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, V. A. Malyshev, who had the nickname "Prince of Tankogradsky", the People's Commissar of the Oil Industry, I. K. Sedin, the creator of the most powerful howitzers in the world, F. F. Petrov, and the silent and the powerless head of the Soviet state, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the elderly M.I. Kalinin, who by that time had been left without his wife for seven years, thrown into a camp by Stalin allegedly for “counter-revolutionary activities.”

In June 1945, the title of Hero of Socialist Grud was awarded to the creator of the famous PPSh assault rifle, mortar designer B.I. Shavyrin, world-famous aircraft designer A.N. Tupolev, who was considered an “enemy of the people” back in 1942, and tank and self-propelled gun designer N.L. Dukhov (both of them became three times Heroes of Socialist Labor), M.V. Khrunichev and the director of the Kovrov arms factory Fomin.

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

A year after the victory, the last “rollback” began - a return to pre-war repressions. The Hero of the Soviet Union was demoted three times, the Hero of the Soviet Union, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Air Force Chief Marshal A. A. Novikov, and other military leaders were arrested and convicted twice, despite their merits, titles and awards. Together with A. A. Novikov, one of the first Heroes of Socialist Labor, People's Commissar of the Aviation Industry of the war years A. I. Shakhurin was also convicted and deprived 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).

At the beginning of the 1940s, awards were given to the creators of weapons systems, at the end of the 1940s to the creators of atomic weapons, as well as to workers in agriculture, which was in complete “corral” from the first days of Stalin’s collectivization (1929). Thus, in 1947, the “Hammer and Sickle” medals were first awarded to a large group of collective farmers and collective farmers for high performance in harvesting, including the then-famous P.N. Angelina throughout the country, the organizer of the first women’s tractor brigades even before the start of the war.

In 1949, gold medals of the Hero of Socialist Labor were awarded to schoolchildren for the first and last time: Tajik pioneer Tursunali Matkazilov for harvesting a record cotton harvest and Georgian pioneer Natela Chelebadze for growing and harvesting 6 tons of tea leaves. A year later, the first agricultural workers appeared - twice Heroes of Socialist Labor, collective farmers-cotton farmers from Azerbaijan B. M. Bagirova and Sh. M. Gasanova. The awarding of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to collective farmers under Stalin became an annual event and so abundant 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 the title of Hero of Socialist Grud was awarded to a group of its creators, including I. V. Kurchatov, Ya. B. Zeldovich, Yu. B. Khariton, K. I. Shchelkin. For the same test, the first ever award of the second Hammer and Sickle medal took place; The first to receive this honor were the organizers of the Soviet “atomic project”, the former People’s Commissar of 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 of Chemical Industry M. G. Pervukhin, who in 1957 briefly headed the entire nuclear industry of the USSR, became a Hero. In the same year, another twice Hero of Socialist Labor appeared - the director of the famous Uralmashzavod B. G. Muzrukov, awarded this title for the production of equipment for the nuclear industry and new tanks. In 1951, all of the listed scientists and organizers of the “atomic project” also received a second “Hammer and Sickle” medal.

Stalin's successor N. S. Khrushchev (since 1953) largely continued the Stalinist tradition of awarding the highest degree of distinction to the USSR, but also introduced some innovations. So, for example, in 1954, the first Heroes of Socialist Labor were awarded three times for the successful testing of the world's first hydrogen bomb - the same 6 people who were first awarded in 1949 for the creation of the atomic bomb. At the same time, A.D. Sakharov received his first “Hammer and Sickle” medal (of the future three). In the same year, another new trend emerged: awarding 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 on his 60th birthday. Perhaps he simply repeated Stalin's experience (1939). But Khrushchev’s subsequent awards with the second (1957) and third (1961) Hammer and Sickle medals were clearly “pioneering”: before him, no party leader had been a Hero not only three times, but even twice. His awarding 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 chronologically hunter of awards.

Following the Hero was the Chairman of the Party Control Committee of the CPSU Central Committee 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 became twice Heroes under Brezhnev. Stalin never practiced such assignments to the party nomenklatura as a birthday present.

And one more fact needs to be mentioned: unlike Stalin, who shot many Heroes of the Soviet Union and even one twice Hero (Ya. V. Smushkevich), during the 53 years of 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 after Stalin's death became first deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

Khrushchev also introduced the practice of awarding the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to Heroes of the Soviet Union, the first of whom was the chairman of a collective farm from Belarus, K. P. Orlovsky, a former employee of the “organs”, a saboteur in the 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. 5 years later, 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 served as 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 civilian position, but, of course, no one deprived him of his military rank.

There was one more innovation: already before the removal of Khrushchev (1964), the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was first awarded to a cultural figure - the sculptor S. T. Konenkov. He was certainly a talented artist, but this appropriation was clearly part of the fight against “abstractionism” that Khrushchev was then waging, and a method of maintaining “Soviet” art.

Under Khrushchev, the practice of awarding the title of Hero of Socialist Labor upon completion of large construction projects, commissioning of objects, 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. Chief designer S.P. Korolev and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR D.F. Ustinov, who oversaw rocket science, became twice Heroes. The heroes were a large group of designers, engineers, technicians and workers who participated in the preparation and implementation of the first manned space flight, as well as party leaders who were involved in the launch of Vostok.

Among the latter was L.I. Brezhnev, who the day before 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 “reward rain” to previously unheard of proportions, devaluing many awards. But the title of Hero of Socialist Labor still remained a particularly honorable degree of distinction, despite the fact that with it there were twice Heroes from the nomenklatura of the CPSU Central Committee - 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 who appeared under Khrushchev (the six listed nuclear scientists, Khrushchev himself and A.D. Sakharov - since 1962), Brezhnev awarded the third Hammer and Sickle medal to six more people: the 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. Ilyushin (1974), the only chairman of the cotton-growing collective farm "Star of the East" from. Uzbekistan Hamrakul Tursunkulov (1973) and party leader, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan D. A. Kunaev - an extraordinary case. Thus, the number of thrice Heroes of Socialist Labor reached 14; after that only one appeared, the 15th and last three times Hero.

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

And the party nomenclature received gold stars almost automatically: on 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 at the end of the 1960s, Heroes of Socialist Labor appeared: artists M. S. Saryan (1965) and A. Deineka (1969), composer D. D. Shostakovich (1966), writers M. A. Sholokhov and L. M. Leonov (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. There was also a three-time Hero of Socialist Labor: Chairman of the Board of the Union of Writers of the USSR G. M. Markov (who received both awards for “leading and directing” activities). The heroes were the director of the Moscow Circus Mark Mestechkin and the outstanding clown Karandash (M. N. Rumyantsev). 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 wanted to reward the prototype of the main character of the film (nine years after its release). 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 to be 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 Hammer and Sickle awards and medals 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, Army General I. M. Tretyak, and the commander of the missile defense 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 appeared, as well as 14 out of 15 three times Heroes. Brezhnev's successors - Yu. V. Andropov, K. U. Chernenko and M. S. Gorbachev - continued to award the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, but as if by inertia. Nevertheless, K.U. Chernenko, who served as head of state and General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee for less than a year, managed to become the 15th and last Three-Time Hero of Socialist Labor during his reign. Under M. S. Gorbachev, there were attempts to streamline the awarding of the title of Hero or to “democratize” it. So, in particular, in 1990, the Hammer and Sickle medal was awarded to the people's favorite, clown and great artist Yu. V. Nikulin. In previous 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 the Hammer and Sickle medal on his chest is surrounded by respect (at least, the rights and benefits of a 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 labor.