One of the first orders of the Soviet government became a decree on the abolition of all the orders, medals and other insignia of imperial Russia, adopted in November 1917.However, any state, even based on communist ideology needs its rewards.
Order of the Red Banner was introduced in September 1918, to mark his soldiers and commanders of the Red Army, who showed particular heroism in the Civil War.In accordance with the overall national policy, similar signs were introduced in other republics where power has triumphed Workers (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bukhara, Khorezm and Georgian).
in 1922 to formalize the formation of a new union state.At that time, the Order, the highest award of the Soviet Union - all the same "Red Flag" (aka - the only one, except for a nominal weapons).In 1924, he becomes all-Union significance.
As the state apparatus there was a need to distinguish between the characters according to their merits.Moreover, the political situation in the country has created a series of embarrassing cases.Many cavaliers first revolutionary insignia somehow are "enemies of the people."
In 1930, together with the "Red Star" was established following the Order, the highest award of the Soviet Union - Lenin.His appearance was showed all the pomp peculiar aesthetics of the Stalinist era, and it was manufactured in platinum and gold.
title of Hero of the Soviet Union, established in 1934.At first, people awarded this high distinction, receiving a certificate of the CEC, but as this paper to carry around was uncomfortable, in addition to her since 1937 they started handing the gold medal in the form of a five-pointed star.Order, the highest award of the Soviet Union, with the profile of the leader of the world proletariat, complements the image of the honored citizen of the society.A year later, at the highest level, it was decided that such a sign deserve not only military, but also the workers.For them, the Hero of Socialist Labor introduced the title, which is awarded with the Diploma of the CEC, the Order of Lenin and a five-pointed gold medal with the logo "hammer and sickle" in the geometric center.
In November 1943, the military established the Order, the highest award of the Soviet Union for generalship Merit and was named "Victory".His generals were awarded, the operation was successfully carried through across the fronts and radically changed the strategic situation in favor of the Soviet Army.His first Cavaliers became marshals and generals.Among them Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Konev, Rokossovsky, Antonio, and, of course, myself, IVStalin.Get it and foreign nationals who have made, according to the Soviet leadership, a significant contribution to the defeat of Nazism: Eisenhower, Montgomery, Josip Broz Tito, and even the Romanian King Michael, just declared war on his former ally to Hitler.
In the postwar decades, many historical facts have been repeatedly re-evaluation, look at me and the Order of the Soviet Union.Photos of military and party leaders, lavishly festooned with awards received sometimes as a gift for a birthday, do not add them to people's respect.They often served as a theme for caustic ridicule.
devaluation, which suffered the highest award of the Soviet Union, "Star of the Hero", started in 1956, when the wording "in connection with the 60th anniversary of" it handed GKZhukov, the then Minister of Defence.The medal was the fourth that grossly violated the statute, but it did not bother sycophants as most marshal.AND IN.Stalin, by the way, wore a tunic Star of the Hero of Socialist Labor, considering that the feats of arms did not commit ...
indignation caused awarded Star of the Hero of Egyptian President Nasser and his commander in chief Amer.Vladimir Vysotsky wrote a song-a pamphlet, which was the string "would be better if the gold was given in war ..." and expressed a wish to select the order.
NSKhrushchev was three times Hero of Socialist Labor and the Hero of the Soviet Union (awarded on the day of his 70th birthday, in 1964).In LIBrezhnev's chest was five "stars" like a good cognac, not counting the numerous other awards, including the Order of the "Victory".Premium system of the USSR at the end of its existence became more amorphous and shapeless, like the country itself.
For this same soldiers the value of awards is the price that they had a chance to pay for the peaceful sky over our heads difficult labor and soldiers' blood.
