Orders and Medals of the USSR

Military Orders

Order of the Red Star

Established April 6, 1930. It was awarded for achievements in the defense of the Homeland in time of war and peace, the insurance of State security, the promotion of military science and the development of military equipment, and for valour in battle.

The award is a 45mm diameter red enameled star with silver edges. In the center of the star is a silver medallion showing a soldier holding a rifle with fixed bayonet. Around the medallion is the inscription "Workers of all Countries, Unite!" and "CCCP" in Cyrillic letters. The award is not suspended by a ribbon, but is attached to the uniform by a screw-back mechanism. The award may be replaced on the uniform by a red ribbon with a 5mm grey stripe in the center.

The Order of the Red Star has been awarded over 4,000,000 times.

Order of the Patriotic War 1st and 2nd Class

Established May 20, 1942. They were awarded to officers and men of the Soviet army, navy, and to partisans for personal courage and bravery as well as to those who contributed to the success of an operation.

The 2nd Class award consists of a solid silver badge with a 44mm red enameled star and silver rays between the point of the star. Behind the star are crossed a sword and rifle with fixed bayonet. In the center of the award is a 21mm medallion with a gilt hammer and sickle on a red enameled field. Around the red field is a white enameled ring with the inscription "War of the Fatherland" in silver letters. Just like the Order of the Red Star, these orders are also screw-back. When the award is not worn it may be replaced by a red ribbon with a 5mm orange stripe on each edge. The 1st Class award is identical to the 2nd Class award except that it is fully gilded. The 1st Class award may be replaced by a maroon ribbon with a 5mm red stripe in the center.

The 1st Class award has been issued over 344,000 times and the 2nd Class award has been issued over 1,028,000 times.

Order of the Red Banner

Established August 1, 1924. The order was awarded for bravery and courage in defense of the Homeland.

The award consists of a red enameled star on a white enameled background surrounded by a silver gilt wreath of oak leaves. The star is superimposed over a silver hammer and plough. Two of the upper points of the star are covered by a red enameled banner crossed with a golden torch. In the center of the star is a circle of golden laurels with the hammer and sickle on a white enameled background. The award is suspended by a pentagonal ribbon of three equally sized stripes, two red stripes separated by a white stripe and a 2mm white stripe on each edge. If the award has been received more than once, the subsequent awards are designated by the number of the award on a white enameled background on the bottom of the medal.

Over 600,000 have been awarded.

Order of Glory 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class

Established November 8, 1943. The order was awarded to privates, sergeants, and air force junior lieutenants for feats of valour and courage in the defense of the Soviet Union. The 1st Class award also had

the stipulation that the person be listed for outstanding performance in specific combat exploits.

The 3rd class award consists of a 45mm silver star with a 23mm medallion in the center. The medallion shows the Spassky Tower topped with a red enameled star. The medallion is also surrounded by a wreath of leaves and a red enameled ribbon with the inscription "Glory" in Cyrillic letters. The award is suspended by a pentagonal ribbon with three 5mm black stripes alternated with two 5mm orange stripes and a 2mm orange stripe on each edge. The ribbon is from the Czarist Order of St. George and is the same for all three classes. The 2nd Class and 1st Class awards are identical to the 3rd Class except that the center medallion is silver gilt on the 2nd Class award and the 1st Class award is solid gold.

The 1st Class award has been awarded over 2,582 times, 2nd Class 46,362 times, and 3rd Class 948,260 times.

Order for Service to the Homeland 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class

Established October 28, 1974. These orders were awarded to Soviet army, navy, frontier guards,

and internal forces for achievements in combat and political training and education as well as for maintaining a high level of combat readiness and the mastering of new combat equipment.

The 3rd Class award consists of a solid silver screw-back device in the shape of a convex 8-pointed star. The upper and lower corner points contain the tips and tails of two crossed missiles on a light blue enameled background. In the center of the 8-pointed star is a medallion that consists of pilot's wings and an anchor with a white enameled ring. Inscribed on the ring is the phrase "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" and a silver 5-pointed star in the center of the ring and on top of the wings and anchor. The award may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with 3 yellow 2mm stripes separated by two light blue 2mm stripe. The 2nd Class award is distinguished by a gilt 5-pointed star in the center and gilt missile tips and tails. The award may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with two 3mm yellow stripe separated by one 3mm light blue stripe. The 1st class award is fully gilded except for the wings and anchor. It may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with a 5mm yellow center stripe.

The 1st Class Order has been awarded 10 times, 2nd Class has been awarded 200 times, and 3rd Class has been awarded over 75,000 times.

Order of Alexander Nevsky Order of Alexander Nevski

Established July 29, 1942. This was awarded to military commanders for personal valour and courage in the Great Patriotic War and insured the successful execution of missions by the troops under their command.

Alexander Nevsky was the Grand Prince of Novgorod in the 13th Century, some of the most trying times in Russia's history. Commonly regarded as the key figure of medieval Russia, Alexander rose to legendary status on account of his military victories over German invaders. Nevsky faced the enemy on the ice of the Lake Peipus and defeated the the Teutonic Knights during the Battle of the Ice on April 5, 1242. Alexander’s victory was a significant event in the history of the Middle Ages. Russian foot soldiers had surrounded and defeated an army of knights, mounted on horseback and clad in thick armor, an obvious inspiration for the the Soviet people, seeking to defeat the German Panzers. In 1938, Sergei Eisenstein made one of his most acclaimed films, Alexander Nevsky, on Alexander's victory over the Teutonic Knights.

The solid silver award consists of a 50mm red enameled star with gilt edges over silver beams radiating from the star. In the center of the award is a silver medallion surrounded by a gilt wreath of laurel. The medallion shows the bust of Alexander Nevsky surrounded with his name in Cyrillic letters. On each side of the top point of the star are two gilt battle axes. Between the lower points of the star is a light blue enameled shield with the hammer and sickle on top of a sword and a bow and quiver in silver gilt. The award is the screw-back type and may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with a 6mm red center stripe. Since there were no portraits of Alexander Nevsky, the bust on the medallion is that of actor Nikolai Cherkassov who played the part of Alexander Nevsky in a film about the hero.

The award has been issued to over 42,165 officers and to 1,470 army units.

Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class

The 1st and 2nd Class awards were established October 10, 1943 and the 3rd Class award was

established January 14, 1944. It was awarded to officers and men of the army, navy, and partisan leaders and fighters for skill in combat operations and for courage and patriotism in liberating the Homeland from the Nazi invaders.

Bogdan Khmelnitsky was a 17th Century Cossack leader, who rebelled against Poland, and brought the Cossacks, i.e. much of modern-day Ukraine, into the Russian Empire. In the Soviet assessment of Khmelnytsky's legacy the official Russian historiography stressed the fact that Khmelnytsky entered into union with Moscow's Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with an expressed desire to "re-unify" Ukraine with Russia. This view corresponded with the official theory of the Soviet Union being an heir of the Kievan Rus and thus a gatherer of its former territories.

The 3rd Class award consists of a 45mm solid silver star with pyramid-shaped silver beams radiating from between the points of the star in a 40mm diameter. In the center of the star is a medallion bearing the bust of Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his name in Cyrillic letters. When the screw-back award is not being worn, it may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with a 2mm white stripe in the center and a 2mm white stripe on each edge. The 2nd Class award is also the screw-back type and consists of a 55mm solid silver star with silver beams radiating from between the points of the star in a 48mm diameter. In the center is a 22mm solid gold medallion bearing the bust of Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his name in Cyrillic letters. The award may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with a 3mm white stripe on each edge. The 1st Class award is identical to the 2nd Class award with the 48mm beams consisting of silver gilt. The award may be replaced by a light blue ribbon with a 5mm white center stripe.

The 1st Class award has been issued 323 times, 2nd Class 2,390 times, and 3rd Class 5,700 times.

Order of Kutuzov 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class

The 1st and 2nd Class awards were established July 29, 1942 and the 3rd Class was established on

February 8, 1943. It was awarded to army commanders for elaborate and well executed plans and for operations that inflicted heavy damage and defeat of the enemy forces allowing the Soviet forces to remain battle worthy. The 1st Class award went to army commanders, 2nd Class to corps, division, and brigade commanders, and 3rd Class to regiment, battalion, and company commanders.

Marshal Kutuzov was the Russian Field Marshal who defeated Napoleon's invasion of Russia of 1812, the decisive turning point of the Napoleonic Wars. He adopted scorched-earth tactics and withdrawals, tactics which ultimately were successful, and which the Soviets (in view of the lightning German advances of 1941-42) had to emulate. His nickname was the "Fox of the North."

The 1st Class award consists of a 55mm solid gold star with platinum rays between the points. In the center is a 36mm white enameled medallion with the bust of Kutuzov in gold surrounded by a gold wreath of oak and laurel leaves. Behind the bust is the Kremlin Tower in platinum with a ruby star at the top. Between the bust and the wreath is the inscription "Mikhail Kutuzov" in gold Cyrillic letters. When the screw-back award is not being worn, it may be replaced by a blue ribbon with a 5mm orange center stripe. The 2nd Class award is consists of a 55mm solid silver star with platinum rays between the points. In the center of the star is a 28mm white enameled medallion with the bust of Kutuzov and the Kremlin Tower in silver. Around the bust is the inscription "Mikhail Kutuzov" in silver Cyrillic letters without the wreath. When not worn, the 2nd class award may be replace by a blue ribbon with a 3mm orange stripe on each edge. The 3rd Class award is a smaller version of the 1st and 2nd Class awards without the enamel and ruby and in solid silver. When the 3rd Class award is not being worn, it may be replaced by a blue ribbon with a 3mm orange center stripe and a 3mm orange stripe on each edge.

The 1st Class award has been issued 669 times, 2nd Class 3,325 times and 3rd Class 3,328 times.

Order of Suvorov 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class

Established July 29, 1942. It was awarded to army commanders for expert control of troops, brilliant organization of combat operations, and the determination displayed in the execution of the

operations in the Great Patriotic War.

Alexander Suvorov was the fourth and last generalissimus of Russian Empire in the late 1700s. One of the few great generals in history who never lost a battle, he was noted for the sayings "Train hard, fight easy", "Perish yourself but rescue your comrade!". He himself rose through the ranks, and always retained the common touch, virtues emphasized by the Communist regime. Suvarov had long insisted that the way soldiers marched on parade was of little consequence so long as they knew how to fight, and he declared that the tight Prussian uniforms in which the Czar had dressed Russia's armies were useless and silly."

The 1st Class award consists of a 55mm solid platinum star with a 30mm platinum medallion in the center. The medallion contains the bust of Suvorov in solid gold over a gold wreath of leaves. Around the bust is the inscription "Alexander Suvorov" in gold Cyrillic letters. On the outer edge of the medallion is a ring of gold with a red enameled inner ring. On the top point of the platinum star is a ruby star surrounded by gold. When the screw-back award is not being worn, it may be replaced by a green ribbon with a 5mm yellow center stripe. The 2nd Class award is a 50mm solid gold star without the ruby star on the top point. In the center of the star is a 25mm medallion that is the same as the 1st Class award, but is made of silver. When not being worn, it may be replaced by a green ribbon with a 3mm yellow stripe on each edge. The 3rd Class award is the same as the 2nd Class award except that it is made entirely of silver and the inscription is red enameled. When not being worn, it may be replaced by a green ribbon with a 3mm yellow stripe in the center and a 3mm yellow stripe on each edge.

The 1st Class award has been issued 391 time, 2nd Class 2,863 times, and 3rd Class 4,012 times.

Order of Nakhimov 1st and 2nd Class

Established March 3, 1944. It is awarded to naval officers for success in the planning, execution,

and support of naval operations that achieved victory over a numerically superior enemy, crushed an enemy offensive, or ensured successful operations that inflicted serious damage on the enemy.

Pavel Nakhimov was one of the most famous admirals in Russian naval history, best remembered as the commander of naval and land forces during the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War (1854-56).

The 1st Class award consists of a 53mm star made of genuine rubies terminated with silver anchors. Between the arms of the star are solid gold rays. In the center of the star is a 30mm gold and blue enameled medallion. In the center of the medallion is the bust of Admiral Nakhimov over a wreath of leaves bound in the center with a hammer and sickle all in gold. Around the bust is the inscription "Admiral Nakhimov" in gold. When the screw-back award is not being worn, it may be replaced by an orange ribbon with a 5mm black center stripe and a 2mm black stripe on each edge. The 2nd Class award is similar to the 1st Class except that it is made entirely of silver. Instead of rubies, the arms of the star are red enamel and the medallion is not enameled. When not being worn, it may be replaced by an orange ribbon with two 5mm black stripes placed 2mm from the edges.

The 1st Class award has been issued 80 times and the 2nd Class 467 times.

Order of Ushakov 1st and 2nd Class

Established March 3, 1944. It is awarded to naval officers for success in the planning, execution, and

support of naval operations that achieved victory over a numerically superior enemy, crushed an enemy offensive, or ensured successful operations that inflicted serious damage on the enemy.

The 1st Class award consists of a 51mm solid platinum star with a large silver anchor in the center. Over the anchor is a gold and blue enameled medallion with the bust of Ushakov and a wreath of leaves at the bottom bound in the center by a hammer and sickle. Around the medallion is a silver ship's chain and around the bust is the inscription "Admiral Ushakov" in gold Cyrillic letters. When the screw-back award is not being worn, it may be replaced by a white ribbon with a 5mm blue center stripe and a 2mm blue stripe on each edge. The 2nd Class award is similar to the 1st Class award except that the award is solid gold with the anchor and the inscription in the medallion in silver. The 2nd Class award may be replaced by a white ribbon with two 5mm blue stripes placed 2mm from the edges.

The 1st Class award has been issued 47 times and the 2nd Class 467 times.

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