Hero of Socialist Labor
Encyclopedia
Hero of Socialist Labour (Russian
: Герой Социалистического Труда, Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo Truda) was an honorary title in the Soviet Union
and other Warsaw Pact
countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture. It provided a similar status to the title Hero of the Soviet Union
that was awarded for heroic deeds, but unlike the latter, was not awarded to foreign citizens.
The title
was introduced by the decree
of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
on December 27, 1938. It was awarded by the Presidium to citizens who contributed to the development of the Soviet industry
, agriculture
, transport
ation, trade
, science
and technology
and promoted the might and the glory of the Soviet Union
.
At first, Heroes of Socialist Labour were awarded the highest decoration
of the Soviet Union
—the Order of Lenin
—and a certificate from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. To distinguish the Heroes from other Order of Lenin recipients, the "Hammer and Sickle
" gold medal
was later introduced by decree of the Presidium on May 22, 1940, to accompany the Order of Lenin and the certificate. Like the HSU Gold Star Medal
, this medal is always worn in full.
Heroes of Socialist Labour who attained further exceptional achievements were awarded a second "Hammer and Sickle" medal and bronze
bust
s of the Heroes were to be constructed in their home towns to mark the occasion. Thrice Heroes of Socialist Labour were to have their busts placed near the planned Palace of Soviets
, but this was never implemented as the Palace of Soviets was never built.
The medal was designed by the artist A. Pomansky.
The first recipient of the award was Joseph Stalin, awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
in December 20, 1939, but he never wore the medal, as he did not feel worthy of the award. The second recipient of the award was the designer of machine gun
s Vasily Degtyaryov (2 January 1940). The third time (and the last before the onset of Operation Barbarossa
) the award was issued to nine weapons designers, including Fedor Tokarev
, Boris Shpitalny, Nikolai Polikarpov
, Alexander Yakovlev
and Vladimir Klimov
. Post 1945 recipients include Mikhail Kalashnikov
, Emilian Bukov
, Alexander Tselikov
, Dmitri Shostakovich
, Nikolai Afanasiev, German Korobov and Peter Andreevich Tkachev
.
By September 1, 1971, 16,245 people had been awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour (including 4,497 women). One hundred and five people (including 25 women) have been awarded two or more "Hammer and Sickle" medals. As of 1991 (the break-up of the USSR), some 19,000 people have been awarded the title.
Only the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the Soviet Union could deprive a person of this title.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Герой Социалистического Труда, Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo Truda) was an honorary title in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and other Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture. It provided a similar status to the title Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
that was awarded for heroic deeds, but unlike the latter, was not awarded to foreign citizens.
The title
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
was introduced by the decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets . This body was of the all-Union level , as well as in all Soviet republics and autonomous republics...
on December 27, 1938. It was awarded by the Presidium to citizens who contributed to the development of the Soviet industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
ation, trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and promoted the might and the glory of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
At first, Heroes of Socialist Labour were awarded the highest decoration
State decoration
State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
—the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
—and a certificate from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. To distinguish the Heroes from other Order of Lenin recipients, the "Hammer and Sickle
Hammer and sickle
The hammer and sickle is a part of communist symbolism and its usage indicates an association with Communism, a Communist party, or a Communist state. It features a hammer and a sickle overlapping each other. The two tools are symbols of the industrial proletariat and the peasantry; placing them...
" gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
was later introduced by decree of the Presidium on May 22, 1940, to accompany the Order of Lenin and the certificate. Like the HSU Gold Star Medal
Gold Star
The Gold Star medal is a special insignia that identifies recipients of the title "Hero" in the Soviet Union and its communist allies, and several post-Soviet states.-Soviet origin:...
, this medal is always worn in full.
Heroes of Socialist Labour who attained further exceptional achievements were awarded a second "Hammer and Sickle" medal and bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
s of the Heroes were to be constructed in their home towns to mark the occasion. Thrice Heroes of Socialist Labour were to have their busts placed near the planned Palace of Soviets
Palace of Soviets
The Palace of the Soviets was a project to construct an administrative center and a congress hall in Moscow, Russia, near the Kremlin, on the site of the demolished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour...
, but this was never implemented as the Palace of Soviets was never built.
The medal was designed by the artist A. Pomansky.
The first recipient of the award was Joseph Stalin, awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets . This body was of the all-Union level , as well as in all Soviet republics and autonomous republics...
in December 20, 1939, but he never wore the medal, as he did not feel worthy of the award. The second recipient of the award was the designer of machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s Vasily Degtyaryov (2 January 1940). The third time (and the last before the onset of Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
) the award was issued to nine weapons designers, including Fedor Tokarev
Fedor Tokarev
Fedor Vasilievich Tokarev was a Russian weapons designer and deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1941 to 1950. Outside the former Soviet Union he is best known as the designer of the Tokarev TT-30 and TT-33 self-loading pistol and the Tokarev SVT-38 and SVT-40 self-loading rifle, both...
, Boris Shpitalny, Nikolai Polikarpov
Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov
Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov was a Soviet aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer, known as "King of Fighters". He designed the I-15 series of fighters, and the I-16 Ishak "Little Donkey" fighter....
, Alexander Yakovlev
Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev
Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev was a Soviet aeronautical engineer. He designed the Yakovlev military aircraft and founded the Yakovlev Design Bureau. -Biography:...
and Vladimir Klimov
Vladimir Klimov
Vladimir Klimov is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the early 1970s. He won a bronze medal in the K-4 10000 m event at the 1971 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Belgrade.-References:**...
. Post 1945 recipients include Mikhail Kalashnikov
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Lieutenant General Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov is a Russian small arms designer, most famous for designing the AK-47 assault rifle, the AKM and the AK-74.-Early life:...
, Emilian Bukov
Emilian Bukov
Emilian Bukov was a Soviet Moldavian writer and poet, recognized with the State Prize of the Moldavian SSR and honorary title of People's Writer of the Moldavian SSR . Bukov was also awarded the Hero of Socialist Labour in 1979 for his work, the Order of Lenin medal twice and the Order of the Red...
, Alexander Tselikov
Alexander Tselikov
Alexander Ivanovich Tselikov was a Soviet metallurgist, industrial machines designer, academician , and Hero of Socialist Labor ....
, Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
, Nikolai Afanasiev, German Korobov and Peter Andreevich Tkachev
Peter Andreevich Tkachev
Peter Andreevich Tkachev was a Russian weapons engineer for TsNIITochMash. He is known to have worked on and modifiy various weapons such as the AO-38, AO-46, AO-62 and AO-63 assault rifles as well as developing the Balanced Automatics Recoil System used on the AK-107.-Projects:* AO-38* AO-46*...
.
By September 1, 1971, 16,245 people had been awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour (including 4,497 women). One hundred and five people (including 25 women) have been awarded two or more "Hammer and Sickle" medals. As of 1991 (the break-up of the USSR), some 19,000 people have been awarded the title.
Only the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets . This body was of the all-Union level , as well as in all Soviet republics and autonomous republics...
of the Soviet Union could deprive a person of this title.