For many years, the highest award for any citizen of the USSR was the awarding of the title “Hero of the Soviet Union”. It was established in 1934 and was awarded for significant military exploits. Although in exceptional cases, it was possible to reward outstanding services in peacetime. Initially, only an honorary diploma of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR was supposed to be a distinction. However, in 1936, the Regulation was adopted, according to which those awarded the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" were also awarded the Order of Lenin, and in 1939 a medal called the "Golden Star" appeared, which became the hallmark of prominent people.
Also in 1939, a Decree was approved, according to which it became possible to repeatedly award the Hero of the Soviet Union award. For each degree relied on the Order of Lenin, certificate and Golden Star. Each owner of two medals was cast in his hometown with a bronze bust, while three times Hero of the Soviet Union was honored that his bronze bust was installed in the Kremlin. True, according to the decree of the Presidium, this was supposed to happen in the Palace of Soviets, but it was not completed. There were no restrictions on the number of medals. However, the largest number of Golden Stars in the history of the award is four. Four times Hero of the Soviet Union. Only two were awarded this honor: Marshals L.I. Brezhnev and G.K. Zhukov.
The title "Hero of the Soviet Union" was awarded for life. But there were cases when this decision was canceled due to unfounded submission. In addition, 73 people were stripped of their high rank. Although 55 of them still received their award back. 15 Heroes were repressed and shot, and only after a while most of them were rehabilitated and restored to the rank.
The first Heroes were eleven polar pilots who participated in the rescue of the Chelyuskin steamboat. The twentieth century was bloody for the Soviet Union. Citizens of the USSR participated in the Spanish Civil War, in the armed conflict in Mongolia, in the battles between Japan and the Red Army, in the Soviet-Finnish conflict. And this is only the first half
centuries. During these military operations, 626 people were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union award. And then came the time of the War … World War II. 11657 of its participants were awarded the highest award, 3051 people - posthumously. It is worth mentioning that the high rank was also given to foreign allies: Poles, Czechoslovakians, and French.
But even after the end of World War II, the country did not receive a lasting peace. Heroes of the war in Afghanistan continued the list of Heroes of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Union, the “Golden Star” received several outstanding people, after which the highest award ceased to exist. She was replaced by the title "Hero of the Russian Federation." However, you should not think that absolutely all Heroes of the Soviet Union were deprived of their rights and privileges. Yes, of course, “Hero of the Soviet Union” is the highest award of a great state. But if you think about it, it becomes scary. Indeed, in most cases, its receipt became possible only when thousands of people died. Is it not better that such awards be given as rarely as possible, so that there are no reasons for great feats?
