Death mask of I.V. Stalin
		On the grave near the Kremlin wall
		On the grave (view 2)
		Bust in Mirny
		In Digora (North Ossetia)
		Bust in the museum of the city of Sumy
		Image in the Tsey Gorge
		Bust in the museum of the city of Putivl
		Bust in Vladikavkaz
		Bust in s. Elkhotovo
		Bust in Art. Zmeyskaya
		Memorial plaque in Vologda
		Bust in Vladimir
		Memorial plaque in Makhachkala

Stalin (Dzhugashvili) Iosif Vissarionovich - Secretary Central Committee All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), Moscow.

Born on December 6 (18), 1878 (official date long time was considered December 9 (21), 1879) in the city of Gori, Gori district, Tiflis province (now the Shida Kartli region, Georgia) in the family of a handicraft shoemaker. In 1894 he graduated from the Gori Theological School and entered the Tiflis (now Tbilisi) Orthodox Seminary, from which he was expelled in 1899 for revolutionary activities, went underground, became a professional revolutionary. Member of the RSDLP/VKP(b)/CPSU since 1898.

During the underground revolutionary activity repeatedly arrested and exiled.

At the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets on October 26 (November 8), 1917, I.V. Stalin was elected to the first Soviet government as People's Commissar for Nationalities (1917-1922); at the same time in 1919-1922 headed the People's Commissariat state control RSFSR, reorganized in 1920 into the People's Commissariat of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection (RKI).

During the period civil war and foreign military intervention of 1918-1920 I.V. Stalin carried out a number of responsible assignments of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) and the Soviet government: he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council (RVS) of the Republic, one of the organizers of the defense of Petrograd, a member of the PBC of the South, West, Southwestern fronts, representative of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee in the Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense.

After the end of the Civil War, he participated in the struggle of the party for the restoration National economy, for the implementation of the new economic policy, for strengthening the alliance of the working class with the peasantry.

After the death of V.I. Lenin, from January 1924 I.V. Stalin participated in the development and implementation of the policy of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, plans for economic and cultural construction, measures to strengthen the country's defense capability and carry out foreign policy parties and Soviet state.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 20, 1939 for exceptional services in organizing the Bolshevik Party, creating the Soviet state, building a socialist society in the USSR and strengthening friendship between peoples Soviet Union awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the award of the Order of Lenin. After the establishment on May 22, 1940 Golden medal"Hammer and Sickle", I.V. Stalin was awarded this insignia for number 1.

On May 6, 1941, Stalin assumed the duties of Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR (since 1946 - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR). Since the beginning of the war he has been Chairman State Committee Defense, People's Commissar of Defense and Supreme Commander of all the Armed Forces of the USSR.

On the second day of the war, June 23, 1941, I.V. Stalin became a member of the Headquarters of the High Command, and on June 30, 1941, he headed the emergency wartime body formed - the State Defense Committee (GKO). From July 10, 1941 I.V. Stalin began to lead the Stavka Supreme High Command, from July 19, 1941 he served as People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, and on August 8, 1941 he was appointed Supreme Commander Armed Forces of the USSR. In the hands of I.V. Stalin, all the fullness of the state, party and military power. March 6, 1943 I.V. Stalin was awarded the military rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 26, 1945 to the Marshal of the Soviet Union Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich, who led the Red Army in the difficult days of defending our Motherland and its capital Moscow, who with exceptional courage and determination led the fight against Nazi Germany, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the medal " Golden Star».

June 27, 1945 I.V. Stalin was awarded the highest military rank - Generalissimo of the Soviet Union.

As head of the Soviet government I.V. Stalin took part in the Tehran (from November 28, 1943 to December 1, 1943), Crimean (from February 4 to February 11, 1945) and Potsdam (from July 17 to August 2, 1945) conferences of the leaders of the three powers - the USSR, the USA and Great Britain .

AT post-war period he continued to hold the post of People's Commissar of Defense (from 03/15/1946 - Minister Armed Forces) until March 3, 1947. The post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (since 03/15/1946 - the Council of Ministers) of the USSR held until his death.

I.V. Stalin died on March 5, 1953 at the Near Dacha in the Kuntsevsky District of the Moscow Region (now part of Moscow). He was buried in Moscow on Red Square. From March 9, 1953 to October 31, 1961, the sarcophagus with the body of I.V. Stalin was next to the sarcophagus of V.I. Lenin in the Mausoleum. On the night of October 31 to November 1, 1961 to decision XXII Congress of the CPSU, the remains of I.V. Stalin are buried next to the Mausoleum.

Bust I.V. Stalin installed in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War on the Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow. The exposition of the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has a stand dedicated to I.V. Stalin. In the year of the 60th anniversary of the Victory Soviet people over Nazi Germany monuments to I.V. Stalin were installed in the cities of Mirny (Yakutia), Digora ( North Ossetia). Name I.V. Stalin in 1933-1956 wore Military Academy armored and mechanized troops of the Red Army.

Museums dedicated to the life and work of I.V. Stalin, were previously opened and are currently operating in Narym ( Tomsk region), Solvychegodsk ( Arhangelsk region), Rzhev (Tver region), Gori (Georgia).

I.V. Stalin was a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (1919-1952), the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU in (1952-1953), a member of the Executive Committee of the Comintern (1925-1943), a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (since 1917), the Central Executive Committee of the USSR (since 1922), a deputy of the Supreme Council of the USSR of the 1st-3rd convocations.

Awarded 3 Orders of Lenin (12/20/1939; 06/26/1945; 12/20/1949), 2 Orders of Victory (07/29/1944; 06/26/1945), 3 Orders of the Red Banner (11/27/1919; 12/13/1930; 06/04/1944) , Order of Suvorov 1st degree (06.11.1943), medals "XX years of the Red Army" (1938), "For the defense of Moscow" (06/20/1944, "For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" (1945) ), "For the victory over Japan" (1945), "In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow" (1947), the Order of the Red Star of the 1st degree of the Bukhara People's Socialist Republic(08/18/1922). Awarded foreign awards: Order of the Tuva Arat Republic (1943); the title of Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic with the award of the Order of Sukhe Bator and the Gold Star medal (12/17/1949), the Order of Sukhe Bator (1945), the MPR medal "For the Victory over Japan" (1945), the medal "25 Years of the Mongolian people's revolution"(1946); Czechoslovak orders of the White Leo I degree (1945), White Lion "For Victory" I degree (1945), 2 Military Crosses of 1939 (1943; 1945).

Compositions:
Works, vol. 1-13, M., 1949-51 ;
Questions of Leninism, 11th ed., M., 1952;
On the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 5th ed., M., 1950. - (M.: "Kraft +", 2002.);
Marxism and questions of linguistics, M., 1950;
Economic problems of socialism in the USSR, M., 1952.

The original version of the biography was compiled by N.V. Ufarkin

Sources

On December 27, 1938, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was established. However highest degree labor distinction appeared much earlier. As early as July 27, 1927, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted a resolution establishing the title of Hero of Labor. It was assigned to the leaders of socialist construction, with a long production experience. In the case of exceptional services to the Soviet state, a petition was initiated to award the Hero of Labor with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

According to the decision of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR dated January 2, 1928, the first Heroes of Labor were the worker of the Vladimir textile factory " Paris Commune» N. A. Bushuev, who worked at this enterprise for 50 years and prevented an explosion in the boiler room; modeler of the Borisoglebsk car repair plant V. M. Fedorov - for numerous rationalization proposals and forty years of work experience; teacher from the city of Vilyuysk P. X. Starovatov - for success in pedagogical work; teacher from the Tatar ASSR M. Kurbangaleev - for compiling more than 50 textbooks in the Tatar language.

In total, 1014 people were awarded the title of Hero of Labor in 1928–1938.

The Hero of Labor was awarded a diploma of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR with a description of his merits and benefits were established.

The newly established title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to persons who achieved particularly great success in various areas national economy, science, art and culture, contributing to the growth of the power and glory of the USSR.

First, the Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded the Order of Lenin and a special diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. On May 22, 1940, the Hammer and Sickle gold medal was also established, with which the Heroes of Socialist Labor were awarded additionally - in addition to the Order of Lenin and the diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The Hammer and Sickle gold medal also had the shape five pointed star. A sickle and a hammer are superimposed on the Star. On the back - the inscription "Hero of Socialist Labor" and the number of the medal. The author of the sketch of the Hammer and Sickle medal was the artist S. A. Pomansky.

Twice the Heroes of Socialist Labor were provided with the establishment of a bust in their homeland, and with the third award - in Moscow.

On December 20, 1939, in connection with the 60th anniversary of his birth, I. V. Stalin was awarded the first title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

The second Hero was the outstanding gunsmith V. A. Degtyarev, who headed the first in the USSR design department for the development small arms. V. A. Degtyarev created many samples of light and heavy machine guns - aviation, tank, anti-aircraft, as well as other types of weapons. During the Great Patriotic War, this weapon, improved and modernized by the designer, did a good job. Soviet soldiers and partisans.

The fact that, following the head of the party and the state, it was the weapons engineer who became the Hero of Socialist Labor was not an accident. Realizing that the war was approaching, the country led the rearmament of the army, aviation and navy.

Soon this title was awarded large group designers, engineers and scientists working in defense industry. The titles of heroes were given to aircraft designers N. N. Polikarpov, A. S. Yakovlev, A. A. Mikulin, the oldest Soviet gunsmith, the creator of manual automatic weapons F. V. Tokarev, the creator of rapid-fire aircraft guns B. G. Shpitalny, mathematician and mechanic, Academician S. A. Chaplygin.

On October 29, 1940, the creators of new types of artillery pieces V. G. Grabin, I. I. Ivanov and M. Ya. Krupchatnikov became Heroes of Socialist Labor. All three are pupils of the F. E. Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy - outstanding scientists and designers.

During the Great Patriotic War, the creators of weapons were the first among those who were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

In 1941, it was assigned to the People's Commissar aviation industry A. I. Shakhurin, director of one of the aircraft factories A. T. Tretyakov, deputy people’s commissar of the tank industry, creator of heavy tanks “KB” and “IS” Zh. Ya. Kotin, creator of attack aircraft and bombers, aircraft designer S. V. Ilyushin, director Leningrad plant named after S. M. Kirov I. M. Saltsman, in hardest time and in short term who organized the mass release various kinds weapons.

On November 6, 1943, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor” was published in the newspapers. commanding staff and ordinary workers railway transport, generals, officers and enlisted personnel railway troops". The awards were awarded to 127 people, including three women: A. N. Aleksandrova, the senior switchman of the military operation department of the Kalinin Railway, A. P. Zharkova, the duty officer at the station of the Kirov Railway, and E. M. Chukhnyuk, the locomotive driver of the depot Belarusian railway.

It was also handed over to P.F. Krivonos, one of the founders of the Stakhanov movement on the railways of the USSR, who by that time had become the head of the North-Donetsk Railway. But although millions Soviet people during the war years, they worked selflessly in the rear, bringing victory closer, only 201 people were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

After the war main task was the restoration of the national economy. The Nazis inflicted enormous material damage on our country: more than 70 thousand cities and villages were turned into ruins, more than 31 thousand enterprises were decommissioned, agriculture was ruined. It was necessary to rebuild the cities and villages, factories and factories destroyed by the enemy, to restore bridges and tunnels, railways and power lines.

Colossal efforts were needed to overcome all the post-war difficulties. And the people found the strength to revive the country. Inspired by the Great Victory, the peoples did everything possible to quickly heal the wounds inflicted by the war. Hundreds of workers were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. There were especially many of them among collective farmers, state farm workers, specialists and organizers of agricultural production. Just as before the Great Patriotic War the main characters were gunsmiths, after the war the threat of famine forced grain growers and winegrowers, milkmaids and livestock breeders to rise to the shield.

Among them were many Heroes of the Soviet Union, who became famous on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. Among them are the famous organizers and leaders of advanced farms V. I. Golovchenko, K. P. Orlovsky, P. A. Trainin. Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Socialist Labor, General of the Army I.M. Tretyak is especially worthy - he is the only military leader who has shown outstanding organizational skills in Peaceful time and proved to be, among other things, an excellent business executive.

Vasily Ivanovich Golovchenko, a driver of a self-propelled artillery mount, especially distinguished himself in the battles for a bridgehead near the city of Erchi on the bank of the Danube. The crew of his self-propelled gun destroyed a tank, a self-propelled gun, two anti-tank guns and 130 Nazis. Then, breaking into railway station, V. I. Golovchenko set fire to 3 enemy tanks. The driver was wounded, but after the battle he refused to go to the medical battalion and continued to fight. For this, V. I. Golovchenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Demobilized from the army, Vasily Ivanovich worked as a tractor driver, and then as a combine operator. In just one suffering, he harvested wheat and barley from 537 hectares, threshed more than 10 thousand centners of grain, for which he received the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

Kirill Prokofievich Orlovsky belonged to the older generation. During the Civil War, he was commander partisan detachment in Belarus, then fought in Spain, during the Great Patriotic War he became a commander partisan brigade. For skillful leadership, courage and heroism shown in the fight against the fascist invaders, Kirill Prokofievich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In one of the last battles, K.P. Orlovsky was seriously wounded: one arm was torn off, the other was severely crippled, he was almost completely deaf. In the summer of 1944, he returned to his native village Myshkovichi and was elected chairman of the collective farm - completely destroyed and plundered by the invaders. The long-term selfless work of K. P. Orlovsky has borne fruit - the Rassvet collective farm has become one of the best farms in Belarus, and its chairman was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

Medal "Hammer and Sickle" - badge special distinction in the USSR, which was awarded Hero of Socialist Labor along with the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin and a letter from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR The award was established on May 22, 1940 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The Hammer and Sickle medal was made of 950 gold in the form of a five-pointed star with smooth dihedral rays on the obverse. In its central part there are embossed hammer and sickle. The distance from the center of the star to the top of the beam is 15 mm, and the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the star is 33.5 mm. Hammer and sickle size from handle to top point- respectively 14 and 13 mm.

The reverse of the award has a smooth surface and is bounded along the contour by a protruding thin rim. In the center of the medal in raised letters is written: "Hero of Socialist Labor". The size of the letters in the words "Hero" and "Labor" is 2x1 mm, and in the word "Socialist" - 1.5 x 0.75 mm. The height of the medal number located in the upper beam is 1 mm.

The medal is connected by means of an eyelet and a ring to a gilded metal block, which is made in the form of a rectangular plate, with frames at the top and lower parts. Its height is 15 mm, and its width is 19.5. Slots stretch along the base of the block, and its inner part covered with red silk moiré ribbon. On the reverse side of the block there is a threaded pin with a nut for attaching the award to clothing.

The title of Hero of Socialist Labor as the highest degree of labor distinction

It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on December 27, 1938. The title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to persons who had shown labor heroism, made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production and contributed to the rise of the national economy, science, culture, the growth of the power and glory of the Soviet Union.

On May 14, 1973, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in new edition. In the charter of the medal, the possibility of re-delivery was planned - for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less than those for which the recipient had already been awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Such a gentleman was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second Hammer and Sickle medal, and in commemoration of his labor exploits built in the homeland of the hero bronze bust with a corresponding inscription, which was recorded in the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the award.

Hero of Socialist Labor, who already has two gold medals "Hammer and Sickle", for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, which are no less significant than the previous ones, can be again awarded a medal"Golden Star".

The highest degree of distinction - the title of "Hero of Socialist Labor" was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 27, 1938. The same Decree approved the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

On May 22, 1940, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On additional insignia for Heroes of Socialist Labor", the Hammer and Sickle gold medal was established [For a description of the Sickle and Moloch gold medal, see the section "Medals of the USSR"].

The Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 14, 1973 approved the Regulations on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor in a new edition. This Regulation reads:

"one. The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is the highest degree of distinction for merits in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction.

2. The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to individuals who have shown labor heroism, who, through their especially outstanding innovative activity, have made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production, contributed to the rise of the national economy, science, culture, the growth of the power and glory of the USSR.

3. The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

4. The Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded: highest award USSR - Order of Lenin; badge of special distinction - the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle"; Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

5. Hero of Socialist Labor for new outstanding achievements in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less than those for which he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, is awarded the Order of Lenin and the second gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" and in commemoration of his labor exploits is being built a bronze bust of the Hero with a corresponding inscription, installed in his homeland, which is recorded in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the award.

6. The Hero of Socialist Labor, who was awarded two gold medals "Hammer and Sickle", for new outstanding services in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction, no less significant than the previous ones, can be again awarded the order Lenin and the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle".

7. When a Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal, he is simultaneously presented with a letter of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR along with the order and medal.

8. In the event that the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, then in commemoration of his labor and heroic deeds, a bronze bust of the Hero with a corresponding inscription is erected, 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.

9. Heroes of Socialist Labor enjoy the benefits established by law ... "

The first Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor took place on December 20, 1939. By this Decree, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded to I.V. Stalin. With the establishment of the Hammer and Sickle gold medal, he was awarded this insignia for No. 1.

The famous designer of small arms Degtyarev V.A. became the second Hero of Socialist Labor in our country. This title was awarded to him by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 2, 1940.

Among the first to be awarded the high title of Hero of Socialist Labor were aircraft designers Polikarpov N.P., Yakovlev A.S., small arms designer F.V. Tokarev, aircraft weapons designer B.G. , Krupchatnikov M. Ya., Ivanov I. I., designers of aircraft engines Mikulin A. A., Klimov V. Ya. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 28, 1940), TsAGI professor Chaplygin S. A. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1941), the designer of one of the samples of jet weapons Kostikov A. G. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 28, 1941).

During the Great Patriotic War, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was one of the first to be awarded to the People's Commissar of the Aviation Industry A.I. Shakhurin, his deputies P.V. of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 8, 1941), tank designer Zh. Ya. Kotin, director of the Kirov Plant in Leningrad I. M. Zaltsman (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 19, 1941) and aircraft designer Ilyushin S. V. (Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 25, 1941).

After the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945, during the period of restoration of the destroyed national economy of our country and its further development, for outstanding labor successes, especially in the field Agriculture, some Heroes of Socialist Labor were awarded the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle".

The first Heroes of Socialist Labor, awarded the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 17, 1950, were women cotton growers Bagirova Basti Masim kyzy and Gasanova Shamama Makhmudali kyzy.

Soon the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" was awarded to cotton growers Annarov A., Tursunkulov X., Kakabaev A., Toyliev I., tobacco grower Svanidze P.P., chairman of the collective farm, which achieved high rates in the collection of cotton and rice yields, Kim P., tea growers Kupunia T. A., Rogava A. M., milkmaids of the state farm "Karavaevo" Barkova U. S., Grekhova E. I., Ivanova L. P., Nilova A. V. and others.

The second gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" was also awarded to well-known foremen of tractor brigades Angelsh-na P. N. and Gitalov A. V., chairmen of collective farms Generalov F. S., Beshulya S. E., Burkatskaya G. E., Dubkovetsky F. I., Ismailov K., Urunkhodzhaev S., Ovezov B., Ersaryev O., noble collective farmers and collective farmers - masters of high yields Vishtak S. D., Diptan O. K., Kayoazarova S m Blazhevsky E. V., Bryntseva M. A., well-known combine operators Gontar D. I., Bai-da G. I., Braga M. A., karakul growers Kuanyshbaev Zh. and Balimanov D., foreman of viticulturists Knyazeva M. D. and others.

In industry, the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" was awarded to the head of the construction of the Volgograd hydroelectric complex Alexandrov A.P., the head of the coal mine Bridko I.I., the famous electric welder Ulesov A.A. and others.

The second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" was awarded to prominent party and government officials, as well as outstanding Soviet scientists. Among them are comrades A. N. Kosygin, A. P. Kirilenko, D. A. Kunaev, M. A. Suslov, D. F. Ustinov, academician S. P. Korolev, honorary academician VASKHNIL Yuriev V. Ya., full member of VASKHNIL breeder V. S. Pustovoit, famous aircraft designers Mikoyan A. I., Yakovlev A. S., Sukhoi P. O. and others.

Total by the beginning of 1977 in our country high rank Hero of Socialist Labor was awarded 18,287 Soviet citizens, of which over a hundred people were awarded two medals "Hammer and Chamois".

For outstanding services to the state in the field of science and technology, in the management of individual branches of industry, a number of prominent Soviet scientists and production organizers were awarded three gold medals "Hammer and Sickle". Among them are Academicians I. V. Kurchatov, M. V. Keldysh, A. P. Aleksandrov, Ya. B. Zeldovich, K. I. Shchelkin, B. L. Vannikov, one of the organizers of the defense industry of the USSR, and A. Tupolev, aircraft designers. P., Ilyushin S. V. and others. Three gold medals "Hammer and Sickle" were awarded to the noble chairman of the cotton-growing collective farm Kham-rakul Tursunkulov.

For great services to our socialist Motherland, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 6, 1967, a number of benefits were established for the Heroes of Socialist Labor.

In accordance with this Decree, Heroes of Socialist Labor have the right to:

To establish by him personal pensions of federal significance in relation to the conditions determined by the Regulations on Personal Pensions. This right is also enjoyed by the families of the deceased Heroes of Socialist Labor, who were previously granted a pension on other grounds;

To provide living space in accordance with established standards in the first place;

To pay for the living space occupied by them and their family members in the amount of 50 percent of the rent calculated at the rates established for workers and employees;

When living in houses owned by them as personal property, to a discount on building and land rent tax or agricultural tax in the amount of 50 percent of the established rates;

To pay for the additional space they occupy up to 15 sq. meters in a single size;

Personal free travel once a year (round trip) by rail - in soft cars of fast and passenger trains, water transport- in class I cabins (category I seats) of express and passenger lines, by air or intercity motor transport;

Personal free use of intracity transport (tram, bus, trolleybus, subway, water crossings), and in countryside- buses of intra-district lines;

To receive, at the conclusion of a medical institution, an annual free voucher to a sanatorium or rest home [Issuance of free vouchers to the Heroes of Socialist Labor is carried out at their place of work (service), and to non-working pensioners - by the bodies that assigned the pension];

For extraordinary maintenance by entertainment and public utilities, cultural and educational institutions.

Heroes of Socialist Labor are an example of labor dedication and heroism, devotion to their homeland, to the cause of building a communist society in the USSR, and enjoy the honor and respect of the Soviet people.

And in many ways it is similar. Both titles had similar provisions, insignia, the procedure for presentation and awarding, 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 position on the title were established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 27, 1938. The text of the provision read that “the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to persons who, through their particularly outstanding innovative activities in the field of industry, agriculture, transport, trade, scientific discoveries and technical inventions showed 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 regulation also established that “the Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded: the highest award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin; Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The term "hero of labor" appeared as early as 1921, when hundreds of the best workers of Petrograd and Moscow were named that way. This term was found in newspapers, was affixed on certificates of honor awarded to advanced workers, and in 1922 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, by 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 (as the government was called) of July 27, the title "Hero of Labor" was established, which could be awarded to "persons with special merits" and who worked for hire for at least 35 years. This title was awarded by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR or union republic, who presented the recipient with a special certificate of the CEC, 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, as well as the Hero of the Soviet Union, while initially special sign Heroes of Socialist Labor also had no distinctions. Such a sign - the gold medal "Sickle and Hammer" - was established by decree of May 22, 1940 "On additional insignia for Heroes of Socialist Labor." As in similar document on the title of Hero of the Soviet Union of 10/16/1939, 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 his bronze bust was being built in the homeland of the twice Hero of Socialist Labor, and in honor of the Hero of Socialist Labor three times the bust is installed near the Palace of Soviets, which was then under construction in Moscow and unfinished. At the same time, the Order of Lenin at that time was awarded only at the first award with the Hammer and Sickle medal.

Thirty years later, on the eve of the 50th anniversary October revolution, noted with great pomp, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by decree of September 6, 1967, established a number of benefits for the Heroes of Socialist Labor, Heroes of the Soviet Union and gentlemen of all three degrees Order of Glory. The list of benefits was expanded by the 30th anniversary of the Victory by decree of April 30, 1975 and is still valid, confirmed by law 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 regulation determined that “the title of Hero of Socialist Labor is the highest degree of distinction for merit in the field of economic and socio-cultural construction” and “is awarded to persons who have shown labor heroism, their especially outstanding labor activity made a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of social production, contributed to the rise of the 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 existed since 1940 (no more than 3 times in total), was removed, but this step remained unused: no one became Hero of Socialist Labor four times. At the same time, the regulation introduced the procedure for awarding the Order of Lenin with each award of the Hammer and Sickle medal. The latter was clearly done under the then party and state leaders, who loved to adorn themselves with all sorts of awards. The regulation also approved that if the Hero of Socialist Labor is at the same time the Hero of the Soviet Union, then a bronze bust is also being built in his homeland, as if he were twice the 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 second presentation of the Hammer and Sickle medal was again canceled, which was last change provisions on the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Three years later, in 1991, this title was permanently abolished along with the award system of the USSR.

A special insignia of the Hero of Socialist Labor is the Hammer and Sickle gold medal, 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 an 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 eye through which, with the help of a ring, the medal is attached 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 I. V. Stalin, for which artists were invited to the Kremlin in typical clothes of collective farmers, workers, etc. with models of the Hammer and Sickle medal of various sizes. Appearance The medal turned out to be so successful and complete that after decades 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 "Gold 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 assignment 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 at that time did not occupy any government posts(during the war years, he had 5 of them at the same time). He was awarded the highest degree of distinction on his 60th birthday. During his lifetime, this was the first and only case of conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor for the anniversary.

Then, for almost 10 years, this purely peaceful award was awarded solely for merits in the creation and implementation of new types of weapons or for labor heroism during the war years. So, the second Hero of Socialist Labor after I.V. Stalin, according to the decree of 02/01/1940, was V.A. ), still (!) in service with the Russian army.

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

It must be said that in 1945 I. 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 after that he never put it on. But he wore the Hammer and Sickle medal without removing it both on his famous jacket and on the tunic 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 Group took place by decree on 10/28/1940. For the first time, 9 well-known weapon designers immediately received diplomas, the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle medal. Among them were F. V. Tokarev, the creator of the TT pistol and the SVT self-loading rifle; B. G. Shpitalny, the designer of the “super-rapid” ShKAS aircraft machine gun and the ShVAK aircraft gun; the “king of fighters” N. N. Polikarpov, a brilliant aircraft designer who had just served his term as a “saboteur”; the 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 pieces: M. Ya. Krupchatnikov, V. G. Grabin, the creator of the most powerful 57-mm anti-tank gun in the world, piercing through german tank, and I. I. Ivanov, author of heavy siege weapons, who at the beginning of the same year hacked the Mannerheim Line.

So, before the start of the Great Patriotic War, only 11 people became Heroes of Socialist Labor. The next assignment took place during the war. Hammer and Sickle medal was awarded supervisor TsAGI Academician S. A. Chaplygin, the organizer of the testing of combat aircraft. 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. Dementiev and P. A. Voronin, as well as the director of the aircraft factory in Kuibyshev, which produced Il-2 attack aircraft, A. T. Tretyakov. According to the decree of September 19, 1941, Zh. Ya. Kotin, who created the most powerful KV tank in the world (“Klim Voroshilov”) and I. M. Saltsman, 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 People's Commissar of Armaments D. F. Ustinov, 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 state and party leaders. Among those awarded were 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 people's commissars(SNK) I. V. Stalin and members of the GKO People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs V. M. Molotov, People's Commissar for Internal Affairs L. P. Beria and member of the Committee for the Restoration of the National Economy A. I. Mikoyan. Besides. The heroes were a member of the military council of the front L. M. Kaganovich, the people's commissar of ferrous metallurgy I. F. Tevosyan, the people's commissar of the coal industry V. V. Vakhrushev, the director of Uralmash B. G. Muzrukov, the director of the Chelyabinsk "Tankograd" Yu. E. Maskarev, the creator fighter S. A. Lavochkin, the future twice Hero of Socialist Labor. It should be noted that almost all of them put on military uniforms during the war years, becoming generals overnight.

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

In 1944, the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, People's Commissar of the Tank Industry V. A. Malyshev, who had the nickname "Prince of Tankogradsky", People's Commissar oil industry I. K. Sedin, the creator of the most powerful howitzers in the world F. F. Petrov, as well as the mute and disenfranchised head of the Soviet state Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the elderly M. I. Kalinin, by that time the seventh year left without his wife, thrown by Stalin into the camp allegedly for "counter-revolutionary activities."

In June 1945, the title of Hero of the Socialist Group was awarded to the creator of the famous PPSh assault rifle, mortar designer B.I. Shavyrin, the world-famous aircraft designer A.N. Dukhov (both of them became Heroes of Socialist Labor three times), M. V. Khrunichev and Fomin, director of the Kovrov Arms Plant.

At the same time, the Hammer and Sickle medals were awarded to large group prominent scientists - for the first time since the awarding of 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, an 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 assignments for the front.

A year after the victory, the last "rollback" began - a return to pre-war repressions. Was demoted three times Hero of the Soviet Union, arrested and convicted twice Hero of the Soviet Union Commander-in-Chief Air force chief marshal aviation A. A. Novikov and other military leaders, regardless of merit, titles and awards. Together with A. A. Novikov, one of the first Heroes of Socialist Labor, People's Commissar for the Aviation Industry of the war years, A. I. Shakhurin, was also convicted with deprivation 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).

In the early 1940s, awards were given to the creators of weapons systems, in the late 1940s to the creators of atomic weapons, as well as to agricultural workers, who had been in a complete "corral" from the first days of Stalin's collectivization (1929). So, 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 P. N. Angelina, then known throughout the country, the organizer of the first women's tractor brigades even before the start of the war.

In 1949, the gold medals of the Hero of Socialist Labor were awarded for the first and last time to schoolchildren: Tajik pioneer Tursunali Matkazilov for harvesting a record cotton harvest and Georgian pioneer Natela Chelebadze for growing and harvesting 6 tons tea leaf. A year later, the first agricultural workers appeared - twice Heroes of Socialist Labor, collective farmers-cotton growers from Azerbaijan B. M. Bagirova and Sh. M. Gasanova. The assignment of the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to collective farmers under Stalin became an annual event and so plentiful 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 the Socialist Group 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 awarding of the second Hammer and Sickle medal took place; the first to receive such an honor were the organizers of the Soviet nuclear project»Former People's Commissar for Armaments of the USSR B. L. Vannikov and 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 became the Hero chemical industry M. G. Pervukhin, who in 1957 briefly headed the entire nuclear industry of the USSR. In the same year, another twice Hero of Socialist Labor appeared - the director of the famous Uralmashzavod, B. G. Muzrukov, who was awarded this title for the production of equipment for the nuclear industry and new tanks. In 1951, all the listed scientists and organizers of the "atomic project" also received the second Hammer and Sickle medal.

Stalin's successor N. S. Khrushchev (since 1953) basically continued the Stalinist tradition of conferring the highest degree of distinction on the USSR, but also introduced some innovations. So, for example, in 1954, the first awarded for successful trial first in the world hydrogen bomb three times Heroes of Socialist Labor - all the same 6 people who were first awarded in 1949 for the creation of the atomic bomb. At the same time, together with them, their first medal "Hammer and Sickle" (from future three) was received by A. D. Sakharov. In the same year, there was another new trend: conferring 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 for his 60th birthday. Perhaps he simply repeated the experience of Stalin (1939). But the subsequent awards of Khrushchev with the second (1957) and third (1961) Hammer and Sickle medals were clearly “pioneer”: before him, none of the party leaders was not only three times, but twice a Hero. The assignment to him also 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 hunter of awards in chronology.

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

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

Khrushchev also introduced the practice of awarding the title of Hero of Socialist Labor to the Heroes of the Soviet Union, the first of which was the chairman of the collective farm from Belarus K. P. Orlovsky, former employee"bodies", a saboteur in the Spanish war and the 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. After 5 years, 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 been 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 civil position, but military rank Of course, no one took him away.

There was another innovation: already before the removal of Khrushchev (1964), the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was first awarded to a cultural worker - sculptor S. T. Konenkov. He was certainly a talented artist, but this appropriation was clearly part of the struggle against "abstractionism" that Khrushchev was then leading, and a method of maintaining "Soviet" art.

Under Khrushchev, the practice of conferring the title of Hero of Socialist Labor upon completion of major constructions, delivery of objects, projects, etc. The most famous award of this kind was the presentation of gold medals "Hammer and Sickle" to the creators of the Vostok rocket and space system in 1961. Twice became heroes chief designer S. P. Korolev and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR D. F. Ustinov, who oversaw rocket science. The heroes were a large group of designers, engineers, technicians and workers who participated in the preparation and implementation of the first manned flight into space, as well as party leaders who were involved in the launch of Vostok.

Among the latter was L. I. Brezhnev, who on the eve 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 “award rain” to unprecedented proportions, devaluing many awards. But the title of Hero of Socialist Labor still remained special honorary degree differences, despite the fact that Heroes from the nomenclature of the Central Committee of the CPSU appeared twice under him - almost all members of the Politburo, many secretaries of the Central Committee, etc., directors of large factories, etc. In addition to eight thrice Heroes of Socialist Labor who appeared under Khrushchev ( six listed nuclear scientists, Khrushchev himself and A. D. Sakharov - since 1962), Brezhnev awarded the third Hammer and Sickle medal to six more people: 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. Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan D. A. Kunaev - a case out of the ordinary. Thus, the number of three times Heroes of Socialist Labor reached 14; after that only one appeared, the 15th and last Hero three times.

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

And the party nomenclature received gold stars almost automatically: by the 60th or 70th anniversary of their birth. As a means of maintaining the Soviet system under Brezhnev, they decided Special attention draw on Soviet art. And in the late 1960s, the Heroes of Socialist Labor artists M. S. Saryan (1965) and A. Deineka (1969), composer D. D. Shostakovich (1966), writers M. A. Sholokhov and L. M. Leonov appeared (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. He was also three times Hero of Socialist Labor: G. M. Markov, Chairman of the Board of the Union of Writers of the USSR (who received both awards for "leading and guiding" activities). The heroes were the director of the Moscow Circus Mark Mestechkin and the outstanding clown Pencil (M. N. Rumyantsev). The 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 wished to award the prototype of the main character of the film (nine years after its release on the screens). 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 was awarded the Hammer and Sickle medal for the role of Stirlitz.

But there was also the opposite case: by a decree of January 8, 1980, the academician was deprived of the title of laureate of the Lenin and State Prize, all awards, including the title of Hero of Socialist Labor three times. Later, already during the years of "perestroika", all these awards and medals "Hammer and Sickle" 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, General of the Army I. M. Tretyak, and the commander of the Anti-Missile 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, as well as 14 out of 15 three times Heroes, appeared. Brezhnev's successors - Yu. V. Andropov, K. U. Chernenko and M. S. Gorbachev - continued to confer the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, but already, as it were, by inertia. Nevertheless, K. U. Chernenko, who served as head of state and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU for less than a year, managed to become during his reign the 15th in a row and the last Three Times Hero of Socialist Labor. Under M. S. Gorbachev, there were attempts to streamline the assignment of the title of Hero or "democratize" it. So, in particular, in 1990, the Hammer and Sickle medal was given to the national favorite, clown and great artist Yu. V. Nikulin. AT old 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 a Hammer and Sickle medal on his chest is surrounded by respect (according to at least, the rights and benefits of the 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 Socialist Labor did not have such a continuation.