Labour Orders
Order Badge of Honour
Established November
25, 1935. It was awarded to citizens for achievements in
production, research, and social activity as well as for the promotion
of economic, scientific, technological, and cultural ties between
the USSR and other countries. It was also awarded for significant
contributions to basic and applied research.
The award consists
of an oval shield in solid silver edged with gilded oak leaves.
In the center of the shield are a man and woman holding
red enameled banners with the inscription "Workers of all
Countries, Unite!" in gilt Cyrillic letters. The award
also has the letters "CCCP" underneath the inscription
as well as a red enameled star between the banners. The
bottom of the award has the inscription "Insignia of Honour".
The award is suspended form a pentagonal ribbon that is
a very light orange color with a 3mm dark orange stripe on each
edge.
Over 1,000,000 Order Badges of Honour have been issued.
On December 28, 1988, the Order Badge of Honour was replaced
with the Order of Honour. The Order of Honour differs from
the Order Badge of Honour in the lower portion of the medal. The
inscription "Insignia of Honour" is replaced by a gilt
hammer and sickle in the Order of Honour. The Order of Honour
has been awarded 400 times.
Order of the Red Banner
of Labour
Established September
7, 1928. It is awarded for outstanding service in labour
to the USSR in the areas of production, science, culture, literature,
art, education, and health care.
The award consists of a
solid silver geared wheel with white enamel between the spokes
of the wheel. Around the edge of the wheel is the inscription
"Workers of all Countries, Unite!" The center
of the wheel is a medallion with a ring of gilt oak leaves with
the image of a dam and blue enameled water. On top of the
dam is a gilt hammer and sickle. The medallion is topped
with a red enameled banner edged in silver gilt with the inscription
"CCCP" in gilt. The lower part of the award contains
ears of wheat bound in the center with a red enameled star. The
medal is suspended by a pentagonal ribbon that is light blue with
a 3mm dark blue stripe on each edge.
It has been awarded
over 800,000 times.
Order of Labour Glory
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class
Established January
18, 1974. It was awarded to workers and foremen in industry,
transport, construction, and other areas of manufacture for highly
efficient work on a specific project and for 
innovations, inventions, or ideas that
lead to greater efficiency. It was also awarded to teachers
for major achievements in the education of children and young
people.
The 3rd Class award consists of a solid silver geared
wheel with the inscription "Labour Glory" around the
circumference. The center of the wheel shows the construction
of a new plant superimposed by the hammer and sickle. At
the top of the award is a red enameled star edged in silver gilt
and at the bottom are gilded ears of wheat bound with a red enameled
banner with the letters "CCCP" in gilt. The medals
is suspended by a pentagonal ribbon with equally sized grey and
yellow stripe. The grey stripe is solid with a 2mm yellow
stripe on the edge. The yellow stripe is divided by three
2mm red stripes separated by two 2mm yellow stripes. The
2nd Class award differs from the 3rd Class award in that the hammer
and sickle are in silver gilt and the background of the construction
is in blue enamel. The grey side of the ribbon is the same
as the 3rd Class award, but the yellow side contains two 3mm red
stripes in the center separated by a 2mm yellow stripe. The
1st Class award is made entirely of silver gilt except for the
geared wheel and the construction scene. The background
of the construction is in red enamel. The grey side of the
ribbon is the same as the other classes, but the yellow side contains
a single 5mm red stripe in the center.
Over 500,000 of the
Orders have been issued.
Order of the October Revolution
Established October
31, 1967. It is awarded to citizens and to other countries
for a significant contribution to the establishment and consolidation
of Soviet power, for valour displayed in combat against enemies
of the Soviet State, and for strengthening peace between peoples.
It can only be presented once.
The award consists
of a 43mm silver gilt star with red enameled arms and gilded beams
of light radiating from between the arms of the star. In
the center of the star is a solid silver pentagon showing the
Soviet cruiser "Aurora". Above the ship is a red
enameled banner with the inscription "October Revolution"
in gilt Cyrillic letters. Below the ship is a solid gold
hammer and sickle. The award is suspended by a pentagonal
red ribbon with five narrow blue stripes separated by narrow red
stripes.
It has been issued over 100,000 times.
Order of Friendship of
Peoples
Established December
17, 1972. The Order is awarded to citizens and other countries
for outstanding service in the promotion of cooperation and friendship
between peoples and in the strengthening of peace.
The award
consists of a solid silver star with red enameled arms and a gilt
outline of a second star within the arms. Between the arms
of the star are gilded rays of light. In the center of the
star is ring of silver shaking hands with the USSR State emblem
in gilt in the center of the ring on a white enameled background.
Around the emblem is the inscription "Friendship Among
Peoples" and green enameled laurel branches. Between
the lower arms of the star is a small red enameled banner with
the inscription "CCCP" in gilt Cyrillic letters. The
award is suspended from a pentagonal red ribbon with two narrow
yellow stripes in the center as well as a 4mm green stripe to
the right and a 4mm blue stripe to the left of the red. On
the edges of the ribbon are 1.5mm white stripes.
The award
has been issued 10,000 times.
Order for Personal Courage
Established December
28, 1988. The order is awarded to civilians of the USSR
for courage and valour in the rescue of human life, for fighting
crime and natural disasters, or for emergencies involving the
risk of life.
The award consists of a solid silver gilt
star with a ring of silver oak leaves seen between the arms of
the star. In the center of the star is a white enameled
shield with a dark enameled oval medallion that contained the inscription
"For Personal Courage" in gilt Cyrillic letters. Above
the inscription is a red enameled star with a gilt hammer and sickle
and below the inscription is a red enameled banner with the letters
"CCCP" in gilt. The award is suspended by a pentagonal
red ribbon with three 2mm white stripes on the edges separated
by two 2mm red stripes.
It has been issued 400 times.
