To the 90th anniversary of the title Hero of the Soviet Union
Three times Hero of the Soviet Union Guard Major I. N. Kozhedub and twice Hero of the Soviet Union Guard Major K. A. Evstigneev
90 years ago, on April 16, 1934, by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, a new honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union was established - the highest degree of distinction. The title was awarded for personal or collective merits associated with the accomplishment of a heroic feat both in war and in peacetime.
Hero of the Soviet Union
It is curious that the provision for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was established only on July 29, 1936.
The first decree of the Central Election Commission of the USSR on awarding the title of Heroes of the Soviet Union was signed on April 20 of 1934. This high award was given to Soviet pilots who showed courage and courage in rescuing the crew of the Chelyuskin icebreaker, who was in distress in the Arctic Ocean. A total of 7 people were awarded: Anatoly Lyapidevsky, Mikhail Vodopyanov, Ivan Doronin, Nikolai Kamanin, Sigismund Levanevsky, Vasily Molokov, Mauritius Slepnev. The eighth recipient was the famous Soviet test pilot Mikhail Gromov. He was awarded for setting a world record for flight distance.
The first Heroes of the Soviet Union (from left to right): S. A. Levanevsky, V. S. Molokov, M. T. Slepnev, N. P. Kamanin, M. V. Vodopyanov, A. V. Lyapidevsky, I. V. Doronin . 1934
It was followed by other Soviet pilots and polar explorers: Valery Chkalov, Alexander Belyakov and Georgy Baidukov. In November 1938 for the first time such women were honored with the same rank as pilots Valentina Grizodubova, Polina Osipenko and Marina Raskova. They were presented to the rank of making a non-stop flight from Moscow to the Far East.
Among the first recipients were many Arctic researchers. The most popular of them were four polar explorers: the head of the North Pole research station (SP-1) I. D. Papanin, radio operator E. T. Krenkel, oceanographer P. P. Shirshov and astronomer-magnetologist E. K. Fedorov .
The first award of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for military exploits took place on December 31, 1936. This award was awarded to 11 commanders of the Red Army who took part in the Spanish Civil War. Among the internationalist warriors of that time, the ace pilot, Major S. I. Gritsevets, who shot down about 40 enemy aircraft in Spain and at Khalkin Gol, and the ace pilot, Major G. P. Kravchenko, who fought in China and at Khalkin Gol, became famous. . The pilots became the first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union.
Portrait (future twice Hero of the Soviet Union) of the commander of the 22nd Fighter Aviation Regiment, Major Grigory Panteleevich Kravchenko (1912-1943) during the battles on the Khalkhin Gol River. Test pilot. In China, he shot down about 10 enemy aircraft and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. On February 22, 1939, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin. After the establishment of the “Gold Star” special distinction, he was awarded medal No. 120. He distinguished himself in battles with the Japanese on the river. Khalkin-Gol: pilots of the 22nd air regiment destroyed more than 100 enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground. Kravchenko himself, from June 22 to July 29, conducted 8 air battles, shot down 3 aircraft personally and 4 in the group, including the famous ace Major Marimoto. He took part in two assault strikes on enemy airfields, in which 32 enemy aircraft were destroyed under his command, on the ground and in the air. On August 29, 1939, Major Kravchenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (medal No. 1/II) for the second time. He and Sergei Ivanovich Gritsevets became the first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union. In addition to Kravchenko himself, 13 more pilots of the 22nd IAP were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, 285 people were awarded orders and medals, and the regiment became Red Banner. In the Soviet-Finnish war he commanded an air group, then a brigade. During the Great Patriotic War he was commander of an air division. Killed in battle with the Germans on February 23, 1943.
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated October 25, 1938, 22 commanders and 4 Red Army soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for military merit and military valor in the battles near Lake Khasan.
Initially, there were no additional awards for the title; only the issuance of a certificate from the Central Executive Committee of the USSR was provided. However, the pilots who saved the polar explorers in the Bering Sea were also awarded the Order of Lenin. All subsequent Heroes of the Soviet Union also received this order, but at the legislative level this rule was enshrined only in 1936 with the adoption of the Regulations on the title of Hero. By decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of August 1, 1939, another sign of special distinction was established for the Heroes of the country - the Gold Star medal.
Since 1939, Heroes of the Soviet Union have been awarded the Order of Lenin (the highest award of the USSR), the Gold Star medal - established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 1, 1939, and a certificate of honor from the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. The possibility of re-awarding citizens was also provided for, which was not determined initially.
The heroes of the Soviet Union, who performed the heroic feat for the second time, were awarded the second Gold Star medal, while a monument was erected in the hero’s homeland - a bronze bust. When twice awarding the Hero of the Soviet Union with the third Gold Star medal, the bronze bust of this man was planned to be installed on a pedestal in the form of a column located in the capital of the Palace of Soviets, whose construction in Moscow began in the 1930s. At the same time, with the start of the Great Patriotic War, all work on the construction site was stopped, and the construction of the Palace of Soviets was never resumed. For this reason, busts three times Heroes of the Soviet Union began to put in the Kremlin.
The author of the sketch of the golden star of the Hero of the USSR was Stalin’s personal architect Miron Ivanovich Merzhanov (Migran Oganesovich Merzhanyants).
Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union
The description of the new medal was finally approved by a decree of 16 of October 1939 of the year. This award was a five-pointed star made of gold, the rays of the star on the front side were smooth and two-sided, on the back side there was an inscription "Hero of the USSR". The medal with the help of a ring and an ear was connected to a rectangular gilded plate that was covered with red moire ribbon. On the reverse side of this plate there was a threaded pin with a nut, designed to attach the medal to clothing. The location of the Gold Star medal was determined on 19 June 1943. The medal was supposed to be attached to clothes on the left side of the chest, being located above all other orders and medals.
In total, before the start of the Great Patriotic War in the USSR, 626 people were awarded the high title of Hero, of which 5 people were re-awarded the Gold Star medal. Including, for military exploits in providing international assistance in China - 14 people, Spain - 59 people, for heroism shown in defending the state border at Lake Khasan - 26, on the river. Khalkhin Gol - 70, during the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939 - 1940. – 412 people. Also 45 pilots and aviation navigators, scientists and researchers of the Arctic and Far East, participants in high-latitude expeditions.
The first twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Major Sergei Ivanovich Gritsevets, was the most successful Soviet air ace of the late thirties, who, according to official data, shot down about 40 enemy aircraft. Participant in the Spanish Civil War from June to October 1938 as commander of a fighter squadron. During his 116 days on Spanish soil, Captain S.I. Gritsevets had to take part in 57 air battles, winning, according to official data, 30 personal victories and 7 in the group. On February 22, 1939, “for the exemplary fulfillment of special tasks of the Government to strengthen the defense power of the Soviet Union and for the heroism shown,” Major Gritsevets was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the Order of Lenin.
Participant in the battles on the Khalkhin Gol River from June to August 1939 as commander of a separate aviation group of I-153 fighters. During 69 days of fighting, Major Gritsevets completed 138 successful combat missions, shooting down 12 enemy aircraft and performed an amazingly daring feat of courage: he saved the commander of the 70th Aviation Fighter Regiment, Major V. M. Zabaluev, who was shot down by the Japanese. In front of the Japanese eyes, seventy kilometers behind the front line, Major Gritsevets landed in the steppe, loaded Zabaluev into his I-16 and successfully delivered him to the airfield. On August 29, 1939, “for exemplary performance of combat missions and outstanding heroism shown during combat missions,” Gritsevets was awarded the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union. September 16, 1939 Major S.I. Gritsevets died in a plane crash when his plane was hit by another fighter on the runway.
War period
Most of the awards occurred during the Great Patriotic War - more than 90% of the total number of awarded persons. The first during the war - on July 8, 1941, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union were awarded to the pilots of the 158th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 7th Fighter Corps of the Air Defense M.P. Zhukov, S.I. Zdorovtsev, P.T. Kharitonov, who committed ramming enemy aircraft on the outskirts of Leningrad.
In total, more than 11 thousand people became Heroes of the Soviet Union during the war years. Moreover, over 100 of them became twice Heroes of the Soviet Union. Three times Heroes of the Soviet Union were air marshals, famous military aces I. N. Kozhedub and A. I. Pokryshkin, as well as Marshal S. M. Budyonny. Only 2 people were four times Heroes of the Soviet Union: Marshal G.K. Zhukov and Marshal L.I. Brezhnev.
Hero of the Soviet Union, platoon commander of the reconnaissance company of the 19th Guards Mechanized Brigade (8th Guards Mechanized Corps, 1st Guards tank Army, 1st Ukrainian Front) Guard Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Nikolaevich Podgorbunsky (1916 - 1944). She began her combat career in the infantry on the Kalinin Front. In the summer of 1943, Senior Lieutenant Podgorbunsky, at his own request, was transferred to reconnaissance - appointed platoon commander of the brigade's reconnaissance company. In the offensive battles of August 1943, he proved himself to be a brave and competent reconnaissance commander. By the fall of 1943, Podgorbunsky had a large number of successful reconnaissance raids behind enemy lines. In the brigade he was nicknamed “Intelligence Genius.” On December 27, in the battles for the city of Kazatin, Podgorbunsky’s reconnaissance group on two T-34s with troops on armor, a total of 29 people, bypassed the enemy defenses and was the first to break into the city from the rear. The scouts rushed through the streets, destroying enemy firing points along the way, crushing them with tracks and shooting enemy personnel from machine guns. Having smashed eight guns and destroyed up to a hundred enemy soldiers and officers, they broke out onto the station square. The tankers shot at the train that was approaching for loading, in one of the cars of which there were staff officers of the tank division. The sappers blew up the exit arrows and cut off the enemy's escape routes. Several trains remained at the station, one of which was with prisoners of war and civilians sent to Germany. While the scouts were causing panic in the city, a tank regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Boyko approached its outskirts. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 10, 1944, for the exemplary fulfillment of command assignments and the courage and heroism shown in battles with the Nazi invaders of the guard, senior lieutenant Vladimir Nikolaevich Podgorbunsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. On August 19, 1944, during a reconnaissance raid behind enemy lines, Podgorbunsky’s group was ambushed. The commander was wounded in the leg; during evacuation to the hospital, the car came under fire and he was killed.
In the total number of Heroes of the Soviet Union, there was a place for 95 women, one of whom - cosmonaut S. E. Savitskaya - became the only woman who received the “Hero” twice. In addition, 44 was awarded the title of Hero of a foreign citizen, including the only foreign woman, A. T. Kzhivon, who was an ordinary submachine gunner in the Polish division of T. Kosciuszko. She was honored with this award posthumously, 11 November 1943 of the year.
At the same time, more than 100 people at various times and for completely different reasons were deprived of this high rank. In fairness, we note that some of them were subsequently reinstated in rank. For 13 people Decrees on conferring such a high rank were canceled due to an unreasonable presentation of the award. At the moment, for one reason or another, the 73 man has been deprived of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (overwhelmingly for criminal offenses).
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov (in the foreground, 1900-1982) at the Victory Parade. Behind Chuikov are: on the left - Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Danilovich Sokolovsky (1897 - 1968), on the right - Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General of Artillery Vasily Ivanovich Kazakov (1898 - 1968). June 24, 1945
Peaceful time
In the post-war years, the exploits of the Soviet people were associated with the development of the latest technology, penetration into space, protection of state interests and borders, and fulfillment of international duty. Among the test pilots who stood at the origins of the development of Soviet jet aviation were Heroes of the Soviet Union G. Ya. Bakhchivandzhi, M. I. Ivanov, M. L. Gallai, I. E. Fedorov, I. T. Ivashchenko, G. A Sedov, G.K. Molosov and many others. For example, military test pilot P. M. Stefanovsky, during his 30-year service in aviation, mastered 317 types of aircraft and made 13,5 thousand flights.
Military test pilot 1st class, deputy head of the Aircraft Testing Directorate of the Scientific Testing Institute of the Air Force, Major General of Aviation, Hero of the Soviet Union Pyotr Mikhailovich Stefanovsky (1903 - 1976)
First Hero of the Soviet Union nuclear submarine fleet became the commander of the submarine "Leninsky Komsomol", captain 1st rank L. G. Osipenko. For the conquest of the North Pole by the same submarine in the early 1960s, Rear Admiral A. I. Petelin, Captain 2nd Rank L. M. Zhiltsov, Engineer-Captain 2nd Rank R. A. Timofeev were also awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union . By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 23, 1966, for the successful completion of a group transoceanic transition underwater from Zapadnaya Litsa Bay (Murmansk region) to Krasheninnikov Bay (Kamchatka) through Cape Horn (South America), a group of Soviet submariners: Rear Admiral A . I. Sorokin, captains of the 2nd rank V. T. Vinogradov, L. N. Stolyarov, N.V. Usenko, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
On April 12, 1961, the whole world learned the name of the Soviet Yu. A. Gagarin, who made an orbital flight around the Earth. Over the next quarter century, 60 Soviet cosmonauts visited space. All of them are Heroes of the Soviet Union, and more than half of them were awarded this title twice.
Meeting of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union with cosmonauts. Sitting: M. V. Vodopyanov, M. T. Slepnev, N. P. Kamanin, A. V. Lyapidevsky, V. S. Molokov. Standing: V. F. Bykovsky, G. S. Titov, Yu. A. Gagarin, V. V. Tereshkova, A. G. Nikolaev, P.R. Popovich
It should be noted that national glory, love and honor of citizens “fell” on those who were awarded the title of Hero in the USSR. Portraits of the Heroes of the Soviet Union were printed in various newspapers, their names were known throughout the country. Someone could not even bear the burden and responsibility of such a burden of glory. In the USSR, a whole list of benefits was established for the Heroes of the Soviet Union; it was adopted on September 6 of 1967. The expansion of the list of benefits was made on 30 on April 1975, on the eve of the 30 anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The list of benefits provided for the payment to the Heroes of the Soviet Union of personal pensions of union importance, free travel on public transport, preferential payment for housing and a number of other benefits.
Over the entire existence of this title, his position has been repeatedly revised. In particular, in May 1973, a new Regulation was adopted, according to which, during repeated and subsequent assignments of the title to a citizen, in addition to the Gold Star medal, the Order of Lenin was also presented each time. And since August 1988, the re-awarding of the Heroes of the Soviet Union with the Gold Star medal has been canceled. Also in the second half of the 70 of the last century, the title began to be given to state and party leaders in connection with their national or personal anniversaries or holiday dates. Since 1988, such awards have also been canceled.
This honorary title was awarded until the collapse of the USSR. The total number of awards was 12.
Last in stories Soviet Union, the awarding of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union occurred on December 24, 1991 (the country ceased to exist on December 26, 1991). The last rank was awarded to Leonid Solodkov, a diving specialist, captain of the 3rd rank, who showed heroism and courage in carrying out a special command task during testing of new diving equipment.
In March 1992, another title was introduced in Russia - Hero of the Russian Federation, which became a full-fledged successor to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The Gold Star medal has also remained virtually unchanged.
Soviet military submariner, first commander of the first Soviet nuclear submarine K-3 (“Leninsky Komsomol”), Hero of the Soviet Union Leonid Gavrilovich Osipenko (1920 - 1997)
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