Order of the Red Star

The Order of the Red Star (Russian: Орден Краснoй Звезды) was a military decoration of the Soviet Union. It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 6 April 1930[1] but its statute was only defined in decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 5 May 1930.[2] That statute was amended by decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 7 May 1936,[3] of 19 June 1943,[4] of 26 February 1946, of 15 October 1947, of 16 December 1947[5] and by decree No 1803-X of 28 March 1980.[6]

Order of the Red Star
The Order of the Red Star (obverse)
TypeSingle-grade order
Awarded forGreat contribution to the defense of the USSR in war and in peacetime and for ensuring public safety
Presented bythe  Soviet Union
EligibilitySoviet military personnel
StatusNo longer awarded
Established6 April 1930
First awardedSeptember 1930
Last awarded19 December 1991
Total3,876,740
Ribbon of the Order of the Red Star
Reverse of the Order of the Red Star
Lieutenant colonel Anatoly Lebed wearing his three Orders of the Red Star earned in Afghanistan (Photo from Russian Def Min)
Afghanistan veteran Igor Vladimirovich Vysotsky wearing his Order of the Red Star and other awards on civilian attire
1946 Soviet 60 kopek stamp bearing the Order of the Red Star

Award statute

The Order of the Red Star was awarded to soldiers of the Soviet Army, Navy, border and internal security forces, employees of the State Security Committee of the USSR, as well as NCOs and officers of the bodies of internal affairs; to units, warships, associations, enterprises, institutions and organizations; as well as to military personnel of foreign countries:[6]

  • for personal courage and bravery in battle, for the excellent organization and leadership in combat that contributed to the success of our troops;
  • for successful operations of military units and formations which resulted in the enemy suffering considerable casualties or damage;
  • for outstanding service in ensuring public safety and the security of the State Border of the USSR;
  • for courage and valour displayed during the performance of military duties, or, in circumstances involving a risk to life;
  • for exemplary performance of special command tasks and other outstanding deeds committed in peacetime;
  • for great contribution in maintaining the high combat readiness of troops, excellent performance in combat and political training, in the mastery of new combat equipment and other services associated with strengthening the defensive might of the USSR;
  • for merit in the development of military science and technologies used in training of the Armed Forces of the USSR;
  • for merit in strengthening the defence capabilities of the socialist community.[6]

The Order of the Red Star is worn on the right side of the chest and when in the presence of other orders of the USSR, placed immediately after the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class.[4] If worn in the presence of Orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.[7]

Long service award

The Order of the Red Star was also used as a long service award from 1944 to 1958 to mark fifteen years of service in the military, state security, or police. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 14 September 1957[8] emphasised the devaluation of certain Soviet high military Orders used as long service awards instead of their originally intended criteria. This led to the joint 25 January 1958 decree of the Ministers of Defence, of Internal Affairs and of the Chairman of the Committee on State Security of the USSR establishing the Medal "For Impeccable Service" putting an end to the practice.

Award description

The Order of the Red Star is a red enamelled 47mm to 50mm wide (depending on the variant) silver five pointed star. In the center of the obverse, an oxydised silver shield bearing the image of an erect soldier wearing an overcoat and carrying a rifle, along the shield's entire circumference, a narrow band bearing the Communist motto in relief, "Workers of the world, unite!" (Russian: «Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!»), the band below the soldier bore the relief inscription "USSR" (Russian: «СССР»). Below the shield, the hammer and sickle also of oxydised silver. The otherwise plain reverse bore the maker's mark and the award serial number. The Order was attached to clothing by a threaded stud and screw attachment.[2]

When the order wasn't worn, a ribbon could be worn in its stead on the ribbon bar on the left side of the chest. The ribbon of the Order of the red Star was a 24mm wide silk moiré dark red with a 5mm wide central silver stripe.[4]

Noteworthy recipients (partial list)

The Order of the Red Star was awarded 6 times to 5 people, 5 times to more than 15 people, four times to more than 150 people, three times to more than 1,000 people. Below is a short partial list of such multiple recipients:

Six times
  • Colonel Philip Petrovich Onoprienko
  • Colonel Peter Petrovich Panchenko
  • Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Vasilevich Silantyev

Five times
  • Colonel Konstantin Ivanovich Malkhasyan
  • Major General Ivan Nikiforovich Stepanenko
  • Colonel Alexey Petrovich Yakimov

Four times

Three times

Twice

Singles

Units

In 2015 the Order of the Red Star award awarded to Ukrainian army units were removed as part of a removal of Soviet awards and decorations from Ukrainian military units.[15]

References
  1. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 6, 1930" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 6 April 1930. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  2. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 5, 1930" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 5 May 1930. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  3. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1936" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 7 May 1936. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  4. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 19, 1943" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 19 June 1943. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  5. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 16, 1947" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 16 December 1947. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  6. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 28, 1980 No 1803-X" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 28 March 1980. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  7. "Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 7, 2010 No 1099". Russian Gazette (in Russian). 7 September 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  8. "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 14, 1957" (in Russian). Legal Library of the USSR. 14 September 1957. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  9. "Marcus Simon A. 1912g.r." Ministry of Defence – Russian Federation. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  10. Rhodes, Richard (1996). Dark Star – The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 93. ISBN 978-0684824147.
  11. Rhodes, Richard (1996). Dark Star – The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 388. ISBN 978-0684824147.
  12. "Солженицын Александр Исаевич, Орден Красной Звезды :: Документ о награде :: Память народа". pamyat-naroda.ru.
  13. "Nobel Prize in Literature 1970". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  14. "К 50-летию Победы: События, Воспоминания, мнения" [To the 50th anniversary of Victory: Events, Memories, Opinions] (PDF) (in Russian). Russian Academy of Sciences. 1995. Retrieved 20 April 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №646/2015" [Ukaz President of Ukraine No. 646/2015] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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