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Category: Russia & USSR

The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR

The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR was a Soviet military order created in 1974 in three classes.

The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR (or Орден За службу Родине в Вооружённых Силах СССР in Russian) was was a Soviet military order created on October 28, 1974 and awarded in three classes for excellence to military personnel. It’s also known as the Order for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR.

The Order was awarded to soldiers of the Soviet Army, Navy, of Border or Internal Troops for achievements in combat and political training, for maintaining high combat readiness and developing new military equipment; for high performance in service; for the successful fulfillment of special command tasks; for courage and dedication displayed during the performance of military duties; for other services to the nation while serving in the Armed Forces.

The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR was divided into three classes, first, second and third, the first class being the highest.

Recipients of all classes had the right to priority in the choice of living quarters, yearly free round trip personal travel, free personal use of all types of urban passenger transport, free vouchers to a sanatorium or rest home and a 15% increase in pension.

The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR Design

The Order consisted of two 58mm by 58mm four pointed stars crossed at a 90° angle, the top star having the vertical and horizontal points. The rear star was enameled light blue with gilt edges and two crossed convex oxidized silver rockets pointing towards the upper left and upper right. The rockets’ nose cones and tail sections were gilded.

The top star was made up of diverging rays, at its center, a circular medallion containing a convex five pointed star within an oak wreath on a blue background, surrounded by a white enameled ribbon with the inscription: “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” (За службу Родине в ВС СССР) on the sides and top, and the image of the hammer and sickle at the bottom. The central medallion was superimposed over an oxidized silver anchor and wings protruding from the top, bottom and both sides. The Order weighed 64,5 grams.

The three classes of the Order:

  • 1st class – top four pointed star and central five pointed star were gilded;
  • 2nd class – top four pointed star was silver and the central five pointed star was gilded;
  • 3rd class – top four pointed star and central five pointed star were silver.

The Order of Friendship of Peoples

The Order of Friendship of Peoples (or Орден Дружбы народов in Russian) was an order of the Soviet Union established on December 17, 1972.

The Order of Friendship of Peoples (or Орден Дружбы народов in Russian) was an order of the Soviet Union established on December 17, 1972 and awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military units and administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnic and international friendship and cooperation, for economical, political, scientific, military, and cultural development of the Soviet Union.

It was established on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Soviet Union and abolished in December 1991.

The Order of Friendship of Peoples Design

The design of order was created by Alexander Zhuk.

The Order of the October Revolution

The Order of the October Revolution is the second-highest Soviet Order, created for the 50th anniv. of the October Revolution.

The Order of the October Revolution (or Орден Октябрьской Революции in Russian) is the second-highest Soviet order and was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was conferred upon individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil.

The Order was awarded to the citizens of the USSR and foreign citizens, soviet enterprises, establishments, organizations and other groups of workers, the military units and formations, as well as republics, krais, regions, cities and towns and for the revolutionary activity, a major contribution to the formation and consolidation of the Soviet rule, outstanding services in the building of socialism and communism, for a particular courage demonstrated during the struggle with the enemies of the Soviet state, outstanding merits in the strengthening of the country’s defense system, for the active development and intensification of the friendly relationships between the Soviet Union nations and other states, for the peace consolidation between the nations.

The re-awarding of the Order was rare. In total there have been over 100.000 holders of the Order of the October Revolution.

The Order of the October Revolution Design

The insignia of the Order is a red star with golden rays between the arms badge.

At the centre of the badge was a pentagon bearing the image of the cruiser Aurora participating in the October Revolution. Above this was a red flag bearing the words “October Revolution” (Октябрьской Революции). A Hammer and Sickle emblem was placed at the bottom.

The badge was worn on the left chest with a red ribbon bearing five blue stripes at the center.

The Medal To a Partisan of the Patriotic War

The Medal to a Partisan of the Patriotic War was a World War II Soviet paramilitary award established in 1943.

The Medal to a Partisan of the Patriotic War (or Медаль Партизану Отечественной войны in Russian) was a World War II Soviet paramilitary award established in two classes on February 2, 1943 to recognize the fortitude and courage of the partisans on the home front in their struggle to free the Soviet Motherland of the Nazi invaders far behind enemy lines.

The first class was awarded to partisans, to leaders and organizers of partisan units, for outstanding achievements in organizing the guerrilla movement, for bravery, heroism and outstanding achievements displayed in the partisan struggle in the occupied territories of our Soviet Motherland far behind the Nazi lines. The second class was awarded to partisans, to leaders and organizers of partisan units, for personal distinction in combat, in the execution of orders and command assignments, for active support of the guerrilla struggle against the Nazi invaders.

The medal’s statute was amended by a further decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on February 26, 1947. Medals to a Partisan of the Patriotic War could be awarded posthumously, along with their relevant award certificates which are transferred to the families for safekeeping and as a memento.

The Medal To a Partisan of the Patriotic War Design

The medal measured 32mm in diameter. It’s a circular medal, the first class struck in silver, the second class struck in brass.

Their identical obverses bore the left bust profiles of Lenin and Stalin, the latter being the closer and slightly to the right. A 3mm wide relief ribbon ran along the entire circumference of the medal, at its very bottom, a relief five pointed star bearing a hammer and sickle and bisecting the inscription “USSR” («СССР»), on the remainder of the ribbon, the relief inscription “To a Partisan of the Patriotic War” («Партизану Отечественной войны»). On their also identical reverses, the relief inscription in three lines “For our Soviet Motherland” («За нашу Советскую Родину»), above the inscription, the relief image of the hammer and sickle.

The medal  was secured by a ring through the medal suspension loop to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount covered by an overlapping 24mm light green silk moiré ribbon with a 2mm wide red central stripe for the first class and a blue stripe for the second.

The Order of Victory (USSR)

The Order of Victory was the highest military decoration awarded for World War II service in the Soviet Union, and one of the rarest made.

The Order of Victory (or Орден Победа in Russian) was the highest military decoration awarded for World War II service in the Soviet Union, and one of the rarest orders in the world.

The Order of Victory was awarded only to Generals and Marshals for successfully conducting combat operations involving one or more army groups and resulting in a “successful operation within the framework of one or several fronts resulting in a radical change of the situation in favor of the Red Army.” The Order has only been awarded twenty times to twelve Soviet leaders and five foreign leaders, with one revocation (that of Leonid Brezhnev, revoked posthumously in 1989 for not meeting the requirements for the award).

The order was also bestowed to top commanders of the Allied forces. Every order was presented during or immediately after World War II. Unlike all other Soviet orders, the Order of Victory had no serial number on it, the number was only mentioned in the award certificate. After a holder of the Order of Victory died, the award was to be given back to the state.

The Order of Victory Design

The Order of Victory measures 72 mm in diameter and is made out of platinum in the form of a pentangular star with rays between the arms.

On October 25, 1943, artist A. I. Kuznetsov, who was already the designer of many Soviet orders, presented his first sketch to Stalin. The sketch of a round medallion with portraits of Lenin and Stalin was not approved by the Supreme Commander. Instead, Stalin wanted a design with the Spasskaya Tower in the centre. Kuznetsov returned four days later with several new sketches, of which Stalin chose one entitled “Victory”. On the 5th of November a prototype was finally approved.

The star is studded with 174 diamonds weighing a total of 16 carats (3.2 g), while the arms of the star are made out of ruby. In the center of the star is a silver medallion, with the Moscow Kremlin wall, the Spasskaya Tower, and Lenin’s Mausoleum depicted in gold surrounded by bands of laurel and oak also colored in gold. The laurel and oak are bound with a red banner. The sky in the background is inlaid with blue enamel.

Against the sky, the letters “СССР” (USSR) appear in gold centered on the top of the medallion, while the word “Победа” (Victory) is displayed on the red banner at the bottom. The total mass of the order is 78g, which consists of 47g of platinum, 2g of gold, 19g of silver, 25 carats of ruby and 16 carats of diamond.

Instead of being made at a mint, each Order was made in a jeweler’s workshop. The ribbons of various Soviet orders have been combined to create the Order Ribbon. The total length of the ribbon is 44 mm and it is mostly worn on the field uniform.

The Order of Nakhimov

The Order of Nakhimov is a military decoration of the Russian Federation established during World War II and bestowed to naval officers.

The Order of Nakhimov (or Орден Нахимова in Russian) is a military decoration of the Russian Federation established during World War II, bestowed to naval officers for outstanding military leadership and named in honor of Russian admiral Pavel Nakhimov (1802–1855).

The Order was awarded in two classes to officers of the Navy for outstanding achievements in the development, implementation and prosecution of naval operations resulting in the successful repelling of an opponent’s offensive or for active fleet operations that caused considerable damage to the enemy while conserving fleet assets.

The Order first class was awarded 82 times, including twice to naval units, such as the 1st torpedo-boat brigade of Sevastopol and the 1st Red Banner torpedo-boat brigade of the Baltic Fleet. The Order second class was awarded 469 times, including twice to naval units.

Following the 1991 dissolution of the USSR, the Order of Nakhimov was retained unchanged by decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation № 2424-1 of March 2, 1992 but it was amended to its present form, a ribbon mounted single class Order.

The Order of Ushakov Design

The Order of Ushakov is a 40 mm wide blue enamelled silver cross pattée, seven silver rays of increasing size protrude from the center between each cross arm.

The Order of Nakhimov 1st class was of multi part construction consisting of a gold five pointed star displaying radiant rays (the bottom arm pointing straight down, a silver five pointed star with each arm ending in a naval sea anchor, its upper arm pointing straight up with the rays of the gold star protruding between its arms). A central gold medallion is covered with dark enamel and the gold left profile relief image of the bust of admiral Nakhimov over two laurel branches at the center of the medallion.

Above the head and along the medallion’s upper circumference is the inscription in gilt letters “ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV” (АДМИРАЛ НАХИМОВ). The hammer and sickle bisected the laurel branches on the central medallion. Five triangular red rubies were affixed to the silver star, one on each arm pointing out from the central medallion’s outer edge.

On the reverse of the silver star, a threaded screw and a 33 mm in diameter nut arrangement for attachment to clothing. The maker’s (mint) mark was located at the upper part of the gold star’s reverse, the award serial number was hand etched in the lower part. The Order of Nakhimov 2nd class was of two part construction and made entirely of silver with red enamel in lieu of rubies.

The only noticeable difference between the Soviet and early Russian Federation variants was the abrogation of the hammer and sickle from the latter.

The Order and Medal of Ushakov

The Order of Ushakov is a military decoration of the Russian Federation bestowed to command grade naval officers for outstanding leadership.

The Order of Ushakov (or Орден Ушакова in Russian) is a military decoration of the Russian Federation bestowed to command grade naval officers for outstanding leadership. The Order is named in honor of admiral Fyodor Ushakov (1744–1817) who never lost a battle and was proclaimed patron saint of the Russian Navy.

The order was established in two classes during World War II by the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 3, 1944. Following the 1991 dissolution of the USSR, the Order of Ushakov was retained unchanged by the Decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation. The Decree amended the Order to its present form, a ribbon mounted single class Order.

The Order of Ushakov Design

The Order of Ushakov is a 40 mm wide blue enamelled silver cross pattée, seven silver rays of increasing size protrude from the center between each cross arm. The Order’s 1st class was of multi part construction consisting of a five pointed star struck from platinum, an oxidized silver anchor and chain secured to the platinum star with four rivets, and a circular central medallion struck from gold.

On the obverse and superimposed on the anchor is the relief image of admiral Ushakov. The background is covered in dark blue enamel and around the admiral’s head is the inscription in gilt letters “ADMIRAL USHAKOV” («АДМИРАЛ УШАКОВ»). Below him, laurel and oak branches are bisected by the hammer and sickle.

The central medallion was secured to the platinum star by two rivets and surrounded by a gilt rope. On the reverse, a threaded screw and a 33 mm in diameter nut arrangement for attachment to clothing. 

The only noticeable difference between the Soviet and early Russian Federation variants was the abrogation of the hammer and sickle from the latter.

The Order of Glory (USSR)

The Order of Glory is a military decoration of the Soviet Union awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the Red Army.

The Order of Glory (or Орден Славы in Russian) is a military decoration of the Soviet Union awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the Red Army as well as to aviation junior lieutenants, for bravery in the face of the enemy and established by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on November 8, 1943.

The Order of Glory, which was modeled closely after the Tsarist Cross of St. George, was divided into three distinct classes. A soldier would initially be recommended for the order’s lowest class, while subsequent distinct acts of valor could result in the soldier being recommended for the order’s two remaining classes. Soldiers who received each of the order’s three classes were referred to as a “Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory” (“полный кавалер ордена Славы”). 2,656 Red Army soldiers would attain Full Cavalier status.

The order became defunct with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Order of Glory Design

The badge of the Order of Glory is a five-pointed star with a central medallion. The central medallion featured the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin, with a red enameled five-pointed star at its top and a red enameled scroll at the bottom bearing the word “GLORY” (СЛАВА). Laurel branches on each side along the medal circumference stopped just short of the red star.

The reverse had the Cyrillic inscription for “USSR” (СССР) within a ring with a raised rim. The award serial number was either stamped or engraved above the ring on the reverse of the star’s upper arm.

The order’s first class was made of 950 (23 karat) gold; the order’s second class was made of silver with a gilt central medallion and the order’s third class was made entirely of silver. The Order is suspended by a ring through the award’s suspension loop to a standard Russian pentagonal mount covered by a 24mm-wide silk moiré ribbon of St George.

The Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky (Орден Богдана Хмельницкого) was a Soviet award established in 1943 and named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky.

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky (or Орден Богдана Хмельницкого in Russian) was a Soviet award established on October 10, 1943 and named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, leader of the Ukrainian Cossack Hetmanate.

Zynoviy Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1595-1657) was a Polish–Lithuanian-born Hetman who led an uprising against the Commonwealth and its magnates (1648–1654) that resulted in the creation of a state led by the Cossacks of Ukraine.

The award was first established by the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR during World War II and discontinued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was awarded to Soviet Armed Forces personnel and often the members of the Ukrainian Front for their exceptional duty in combat operations that led to the liberation of Soviet territory.

The Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky was broken down into three different classes: 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class. The 1st class medal is awarded to army commanders, especially at the front, for successful direction of combat operations that led to the liberation of a region or town where they were successful in inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The 2nd class medal is awarded to corps, divisions, brigade or battalion commanders for a breach of a defensive enemy line or a raid into the enemy’s rear. The 3rd class medal is awarded to officers, partisan commanders, sergeants, corporals and privates of the Red Army and partisan units for outstanding bravery and resourcefulness leading to a battle victory.

The Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Design

The Order of Bogdan Khmelnytsky is a five-pointed star, made in the form of diverging rays, in the center a shield with the image of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, under star divergent silver rays.

The badge of the Order was designed by artist Alexander Pashchenko and measures 56 mm (1st and 2nd Class) and 45 mm (3rd Class). The materials are: 1st Class in gold 19,3g, silver 26,7g. Weight 42,0g. 2nd Class in gold 6,5g, silver 35,4g. Weight 43,9g. 3rd Class in silver 29,6g. Weight 32,0g.

The Order of Kutuzov

The Order of Kutuzov is a military decoration of the Russian Federation established during World War II and named after the Field Marshal.

The Order of Kutuzov (or Орден Кутузова in Russian) is a military decoration of the Russian Federation established during World War II and named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745–1813).

The Order was created to reward senior Red Army officers. During World War II, 669 Orders of Kutuzov 1st class were awarded. The Order 2nd class was awarded to 3,325 corps, division, and brigade commanders. The Order 3rd class was awarded to regimental commanders, their chiefs of staff, battalion and company commanders and was only established on February 8, 1943. Of this type, 3,328 3rd class orders were awarded.

Following the 1991 dissolution of the USSR, the Order of Kutuzov was retained unchanged in both design and statute by decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation No 2424-1 of March 2, 1992.

The Order of Kutuzov Design

The badge of the Order of Kutuzov is a 40mm wide silver cross pattée with gold rays protruding between its arms at an obtuse angle.

In the obverse, in the center is a silver medallion bordered by a wide white enameled band surrounded by a gilt laurel and oak wreath. The gold plated left profile bust of M.I. Kutuzov with the image of the Kremlin wall in the background. On the sides of the medallion’s white enameled band, the gilt inscription “Mikhail Kutuzov” («Михаил Кутузов»). The reverse is plain, the award serial number is inscribed on the reverse of the cross lower arm.

The Order of Kutuzov is suspended from a standard Russian pentagonal mount by a ring through the suspension loop. The mount is covered by an overlapping dark blue silk moiré ribbon with a central 5mm wide orange stripe.