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Category: Russia & USSR

The People’s Artist of the USSR Medal

The People’s Artist of the USSR Medal was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union for exceptional achievements in arts.

The People’s Artist of the USSR Medal (or Наро́дный арти́ст СССР, Narodný artist SSSR in Russian) was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. The title was introduced in 1936, replacing the earlier title of “People’s Artist of the Republic“.

The title was bestowed for exceptional achievements in the performing arts. Its recipients included many of the most acclaimed composers, dancers, singers, film and theatre directors, and actors of every Soviet republic.

Each Soviet Republic and the Autonomous Republics had a similar award held previously by virtually every receiver of the higher title of People’s Artist of the USSR.

Honorees were afforded certain privileges and would often receive commissions from the Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union. Accordingly, artists and authors who expressed criticism of the Communist Party were seldom granted such recognition, if not outright censored.

The first recipients of the title (6 September 1936) were Konstantin Stanislavski, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, Ivan Moskvin, Antonina Nezhdanova, Boris Shchukin, Kulyash Baiseitova, and some other actors. In all, there were 1006 recipients of the award.

The People’s Artist of the USSR Medal Design

The medal was made of tombac and its shape was quadrangular with twisted corners. It measures 22.5 by 23.5 mm.

The central part is occupied by the inscription “Наро́дный арти́ст СССР” and, below, the hammer and sickle symbol. Both the symbol and inscription are embossed, with convex letters.

The medal is suspended to a single red silk fringe measuring 18 mm by 21 mm with an attached metallic buckle decorated with bay laurel leaves.

The People’s Doctor of the USSR Medal

The People’s Doctor of the USSR Medal was established in 1977 and awarded for worthwhile contributions to public health improvement. 

The People’s Doctor of the USSR Medal (or Медаль Народный врач СССР, Narodnyj vrač SSSR in Russian) was established on 25 October 1977 by Leonid Brezhnev and awarded for worthwhile contributions to public health improvement. The title was officialized on the n°44/1977 issue of Supreme Soviet’s official journal. Its regulation was later modified and completed by the Supreme Soviet’s decree of 22 August 1988.

The honorary title was conferred by the Supreme Soviet’s presidency on behalf of the Ministry of Health. A diploma of the Supreme Soviet’s presidency was given to those who were appointed People’s Doctor jointly with the medal and its concerning certificate. The title could be bestowed to individual medical doctors and nurses but also to health care structures as general hospitals, sanatoriums, maternity wards, or preventive medicine centers. The awarded people or structures were selected for their worthwhile contributions to public health improvement, for their peculiar skills and expertise, and for having proved abnegation and high moral qualities in their duties fulfillment.

Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the title was replaced by that of Meritorious Doctor of the Russian Federation.

The People’s Doctor of the USSR Medal Design

The medal was made of tombac and its shape was quadrangular. It measures 22.5 by 23.5 mm.

The central part is occupied by the inscription “Медаль Народный врач СССР” on three lines and below, on the left, the Bowl of Hygieia medical symbol and, on the right, a bay laurel branch. Symbols and inscriptions were embossed, with convex letters.

The medal is suspended to a single red silk fringe measuring 18 mm by 21 mm with an attached metallic buckle decorated with the hammer and sickle symbol.

The USSR Marshal’s Star

The Marshal’s Star (or маршальская звезда in Russian) is a badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the Soviet Union.

The Marshal’s Star (or маршальская звезда in Russian) is a badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the Soviet Union (and then the Russian Federation). Officially their names have changed, depending on what ranks received the right to wear them, and are known as the large marshal’s star and the small marshal’s star.

Marshal’s stars were first awarded to the marshals and admirals of the fleet of the Soviet Union. In time, smaller stars were awarded to “marshals of an arm of service” and “chief marshals of an arm of service”, admirals of the fleet, and later generals of the army of the Soviet armed forces.

On the death of the recipient, the award is returned to the diamond fund for re-use. Approximately 200 of this type of marshal’s star were produced.

The USSR Marshal’s Star Design

The medal is a gold five-pointed star with smooth diagonal rays on the front side. In the center is a platinum, five-pointed star with diamonds. The diameter of the gold star is 44.5 millimeters (1.75 in) and the platinum stars are 23 millimeters (0.91 in) in diameter. The star has a depth of 8 millimeters (0.31 in).

The marshal’s star has a triangular eyelet in the upper beam which is connected to an oval eyelet measuring 14 millimeters (0.55 in). The diamonds in the center have a total weight of 2.62 carats and in the rays, there are 25 diamonds weighing a total of 1.25 carats. Between the edges of rays are 5 diamonds weighing a total of 3.06 carats. 

A Marshal of the Soviet Union’s star used a red satin ribbon suspension; ribbons for marshals of a branch varied accordingly: gold for artillery, light blue for aviation, burgundy for armored troops, crimson for engineers, blue for signals, and turquoise for the navy.

The armed forces of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation wear two insignia around neck when in parade uniform. There are two different sizes of stars. In 2013, new shoulder insignias were instituted for generals of the army, fleet admirals, and generals of the army. These insignias have one large marshal’s star on the board similar to the style worn by Soviet generals from the early 1970s through 1997.

The Imperial Order of Saint Anna

The Order of Saint Anna is an Order established by Karl Friedrich in 1735 to honor his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great.

The Order of Saint Anna (or Орден Святой Анны in Russian) is an Order of Chivalry and Holstein ducal established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, on 14 February 1735, in honor of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia.

Originally, the Order of Saint Anna was a dynastic order of knighthood, but between 1797 and 1917 it had dual status as a dynastic order and as a state order. Membership of the Order was awarded for a distinguished career in civil service or for valor and distinguished service in the military.

The Order of Saint Anna entitled recipients of the first class to hereditary nobility, and recipients of lower classes to personal nobility. The motto is “Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem” (or “To those who love justice, piety, and fidelity“) and its festival day is 3 February (N.S. 16 February).

The Order continued to be awarded after the revolution and is today awarded by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna as a continuation of the pre-Revolutionary order. Although it’s been approved for wear with the military uniform by the Russian Federation, it’s not recognized by some members of the Romanov Family Association.

The Imperial Order of Saint Anna Design

The insignia of the Order is a forged silver star with a red cross in its center surrounded by red enameled rim bearing Latin motto “Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem” (or “To Those Loving Justice, Devoutness, Loyalty“). This motto is adopted from initial letters of the name and family of the Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna: A.I.P.F. (“Anna, Imperatoris Petri Filia” or “Anna, Daughter of Emperor Peter”). An image of Saint Anna is situated on the white enameled field bordered with gold edging; blue cipher made of initial letters of the motto is situated at the reverse on the white enameled field.

The badge of the Order, first class, is a grand gold red enameled cross with gold edging, with gold ornamental decorations between its arms measuring 52×52 mm worn on a 100-110 mm wide sash over the left shoulder and attached to the right hip, together with a multi-rayed eight-pointed silver forged or cloth star (95 mm in diameter approximately) worn on the right breast.

The second class has the shape of a smaller size cross (44×44 mm approximately) and was worn as a neck award on a 45 mm wide red ribbon with yellow stripes at its edges. The third class has the shape of a smaller size cross (35×35 mm approximately) and was worn either on the left side of a breast suspended from a 22 mm wide red ribbon with yellow stripes at its edges, or in a buttonhole. When awarded for combat, it was worn on a bow as a special distinction to distinguish between military and civil divisions. For the fourth class, the badge had a shape of a crowned cross borne on the pommel of an edged weapon, together with a silver-tasseled sword-knot of the ribbon of the Order.

The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir

The Order of Saint Vladimir is an Imperial Russian order established by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir.

The Order of Saint Vladimir (or орден Святого Владимира in Russian) is an Imperial Russian order established between September and October 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus’. The order was awarded in four degrees for continuous civil and military service.

According to Russian laws on nobility, people who were awarded the Order of Saint Vladimir had the rights of hereditary nobility until the Emperor’s decree of 1900 was issued. After this, only three first classes of the Order gave this right.

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, pretender to the Russian throne, and Head of the Russian Imperial House continued to award the Russian Imperial Order of Saint Vladimir, but this is disputed by historians and by some members of the Romanov Family Association.

In 1957, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Patriarch of Moscow’s restoration in Russia, an Order of Saint Vladimir was created by the Russian Orthodox Church. The order is to be awarded to priests and nuns of the Orthodox church for their service to the Soviet Union and later Russia.

The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir Design

The insignia of the Order is a red enameled cross pattée with black enameled borders, and a black enameled central disc bearing a crowned red and ermine mantle with the monogram of Saint Vladimir. The insignia is worn on a sash by the first degree, on a necklet by the second and third degrees, and on a chest ribbon by the fourth degree.

A four-pointed star is superimposed upon a four-pointed gold star, with a golden cross pattée and the letters “CPKB” between the arms of the cross on a black enamel background at the center surrounded by the motto of the order “Benefit, Honour and Glory“.

The Imperial Order of the White Eagle

The Order of the White Eagle (О рден Бе лого Орла) is an Imperial Russian Order established by Emperor Nicholas I of Russia in 1831.

The Order of the White Eagle (or О рден Бе лого Орла in Russian) is an Imperial Russian Order established by Emperor Nicholas I of Russia in 1831. A recipient of the Order was granted the title Knight of the Order of the White Eagle.

The white eagle had been associated with Poland even prior to statehood, first appearing on the Polish Coat of Arms in the 13th century. The original Order of the White Eagle (or “Order Orła Białego” in Polish) was established by King Władysław I in 1325. After the Third Partition of Poland in 1795, the Order briefly disappeared along with the Polish monarchy. The order was resurrected in 1807 by Napoleon I in his short-lived Duchy of Warsaw. When the Congress of Vienna divided the Polish lands among Prussia, the Austrian Empire, and the Russian Empire in 1815, the Order was officially “annexed” by Nicholas I on 17 November 1831 and became part of the Russian Imperial honors system.

The Imperial Order of the White Eagle Design

The Russian design of the Order featured significant alterations compared to its Polish predecessor.

The badge was struck in gold and decorated with red enamels. On the obverse, the original red maltese cross and white eagle were reduced in size and superimposed over the double-headed eagle of the Russian Empire. The reverse featured the original Polish badge design, superimposed over the Russian imperial eagle. The star now featured the Russian royal crown.

On 25 January 1832, a blue ribbon and sash were introduced.

The Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky

The Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire created in memory of Saint Alexander Nevsky.

The Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire first awarded by Empress Catherine I of Russia on 1 June 1725 and created in memory of the deeds of Saint Alexander Nevsky, patron Saint of Saint Petersburg to award to distinguished Russian citizens who had served their country with honor, mostly through political or military service.

The introduction of the Order was envisioned by Emperor Peter I of Russia (r. 1682–1721) for rewarding military bravery in battle, however he died before he could create it. It was first awarded on the occasion of the wedding of Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna of Russia and Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp in 1725.

The Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky was abolished after the 1917 Russian Revolution, along with all other orders and titles of the Russian Empire. It was revived in 1942 by the Soviet Union as a purely military decoration and renamed it the more secular Order of Alexander Nevsky. The heads of the Russian Imperial House in exile have continued to award the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

The Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky Design

The star of the Order is an eight-point silver star, each arm composed of clusters of five individual smooth rays with braided borders. It measures 92 mm (w) x 92 mm (h) and weighs 80.6 grams. Its obverse features, in the center, the crowned Latin monogram of St. Alexander on a white enamel roundel, surrounded by the Order’s motto “ZA TRUDY I OTECHESTVO” (or “For Labours and Fatherland“) on a red enamel background with two green laurel branches crossed and crowned. The reverse bears a central pin assembly.

The badge of the order is a Maltese cross with red enamels and finely detailed Romanov imperial eagles in each quadrant. It measures 54.35 mm (w) x 60.31 mm (h) and weighs 31.6 grams. The obverse bears a central applique with an expertly hand-painted depiction of Alexander Nevsky mounted on a white horse, inside a stylized, hand-etched Gold ring. The reverse has central applique consisting of a white enameled medallion bearing a hand-painted monogram of Alexander Nevsky.

The ribbon is a red silk sash.

The Imperial Order of Saint Catherine

The Order of Saint Catherine is an award of Imperial Russia established in 1714 by Peter the Great for his marriage to Catherine I of Russia.

The Order of Saint Catherine (or Императорский Орден Святой Екатерины in Russian) is an award of Imperial Russia established on 24 November 1714 by Peter the Great on the occasion of his marriage to Catherine I of Russia. The Order was, for the majority of the time of Imperial Russia, the only award for women.

The order was under the patronage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of the Empress. Peter the Great personally bestowed the insignia of the Order upon Empress Catherine on the Empress’ name day, making her Grand Mistress of the Order. No further members were inducted until 1726 and Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (who died in 1928) was the last Grand Mistress of the Order.

The award was bestowed in two classes:

  • Dame Grand Cross, and
  • Dame Lesser Cross.

Every Russian Grand Duchess was conferred the Grand Cross of the Order at her christening (or at her marriage into the Romanov family), and Princesses of the Imperial Blood were invested upon attaining their majority at 18. The 12 Dames Grand Cross were typically female members of foreign ruling houses, and the Dames Small Cross were all women of the highest nobility.

The Imperial Order of Saint Catherine Design

The badge of the Order is a cross with a large medallion set in the center of it.

On the obverse is depicted the order’s patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria, holding a large white cross, the symbol of her martyrdom. In the four quadrants formed by the cross are written the initials, “D.S.F.R.” (“Domine Salvum Fac Regem”, or “God Save the Tsar“). The Badge was attached to the riband, a sash of scarlet moiré with silver edges embroidered with the inscription: “За Любовь и Отечество” (“Za Lyubov’ i Otechestvo”, or “For Love and the Fatherland”).

The star is a medallion set on a silver, eight-pointed star with rays and encrusted with diamonds. On the obverse of the red medallion, in the center, is depicted the wheel of Saint Catherine (symbol of her martyrdom) surmounted by a cross. Encircling the medallion is the motto of the order.

On 24 December, the feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the members of the Order would wear the robes and the insignia and go in procession from the Imperial Chapel to a banqueting hall (usually the Hall of Saint Catherine in the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow) specially prepared for the occasion. The coloring and decoration of the hall incorporate those of the Order.

The Medal for the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War

The Medal for the Victory over Germany was established in 1945 to denote military participation in the victory over Nazi Germany.

The Medal “For the Victory Over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945” was a military decoration of the Soviet Union established on May 9, 1945 to denote military participation in the victory of the Soviet armed forces over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War.

It was awarded to all military and civilian personnel of the Red Army, of the Navy and of the troops of the NKVD who were directly involved on the different fronts of World War II. Award of the medal was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The Medal "For the Victory Over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Design

The medal was 32mm in diameter, circular and made of brass, with a raised rim on both sides. It was worn on the left side of the chest.

On its obverse, the left profile bust of Joseph Stalin in the uniform of a Marshal of the Soviet Union, along the upper circumference of the medal, the relief inscription “OUR CAUSE IS RIGHTEOUS”, along the lower circumference of the medal, the relief inscription “WE ARE VICTORIOUS”. On the reverse, at the bottom, a small five pointed star, along the medal circumference, the relief inscription “FOR VICTORY OVER GERMANY”, in the center, the relief inscription on three rows “IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1941–45”.

Notable Recipients

Here are five notable recipients of the Medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”:

  1. Joseph Stalin: As the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II, Joseph Stalin played a crucial role in guiding the country to victory over Nazi Germany. His leadership, strategic decisions, and mobilization of resources were instrumental in the Soviet Union’s success on the Eastern Front.

  2. Georgy Zhukov: Marshal Georgy Zhukov was one of the most prominent Soviet military commanders during World War II. He played a key role in several major battles, including the defense of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of Berlin. Zhukov’s tactical brilliance and leadership skills were vital to the Soviet victory over Germany.

  3. Vasily Zaytsev: Sergeant Vasily Zaytsev was a Soviet sniper who became famous for his remarkable marksmanship during the Battle of Stalingrad. He is credited with killing hundreds of enemy soldiers, including numerous German officers. Zaytsev’s exploits made him a symbol of Soviet resistance and contributed to the morale of Soviet troops.

  4. Lyudmila Pavlichenko: Sergeant Lyudmila Pavlichenko was one of the most successful female snipers in history. She recorded 309 confirmed kills during her service in World War II, making her one of the top snipers of the conflict. Pavlichenko’s courage and skill earned her widespread recognition and accolades, including the Medal “For the Victory over Germany”.

  5. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: While primarily known as a writer and dissident, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn also served as a captain in the Red Army during World War II. He was awarded the Medal “For the Victory over Germany” for his contributions to the war effort. Solzhenitsyn later gained international acclaim for his literary works, including “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” and “The Gulag Archipelago”.

The Hero of the Russian Federation Medal

The Hero of the Russian Federation Medal was established in 1992 and is the highest honorary title of the Russian Federation.

The Hero of the Russian Federation Medal (or Герой Российской Федерации in Russian) was established in 1992 and is the highest honorary title of the Russian Federation. It’s awarded to persons for “service to the Russian state and nation, usually connected with a heroic feat of valor”. Its recipients wear a golden star that identifies them.

The title “Hero of Russia” is a successor to Hero of the Soviet Union, which was established by Resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union of May 5, 1934. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russian Federation under president Boris Yeltsin retained a modified award.

The Hero of the Russian Federation Medal has been awarded more than 970 times since its establishment (440 times posthumously). 

The Hero of the Russian Federation Criteria

The title is bestowed by decree of the president of the Russian Federation and can be awarded to foreign citizens and both civilian and military personnel. The title can also be awarded posthumously if the heroic act costs the recipient his or her life.

Early recipients of the Hero of the Russian Federation Medal predominantly fell into two groups: participants in the Chechnya conflicts and cosmonauts. Many recipients were posthumously awarded the title, such as Major Denis Vetchinov, who was killed early in the 2008 South Ossetia War. This category also includes government officials who were assassinated, like Akhmad Kadyrov, the former governor of Chechnya. Kadyrov, a pro-Moscow leader, was killed in a bomb attack during the 2004 Victory Day parade in Grozny.

All Russian cosmonauts receive the Hero of the Russian Federation title following their space missions. Some cosmonauts, like Sergei Krikalev, have received both the Soviet and Russian hero titles, along with the Order of Lenin, for their distinguished service and achievements.

The Hero of the Russian Federation Medal Design

The insignia of the title is also called the “Gold Star” medal (медаль Золотая Звезда) and its design is similar to the Soviet Hero of the Soviet Union variant. It was created by the architect Miron Merzhanov.

The medal is a gold five-pointed star with smooth 15mm dihedral rays on the obverse. The otherwise plain reverse bears the prominent relief inscription in 2mm high letters “HERO OF RUSSIA” (Russian: “ГЕРОЙ РОССИИ”) at its center, in the upper portion, the award serial number in 1mm high numbers. 

The insignia is secured to a standard Russian square mount by a ring through the suspension loop. The mount is covered by a silk moiré tricolor ribbon of white, blue, and red.

The insignia is worn on the left side of the chest above all other medals and decorations and always in full size.