Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union are decorations from the former

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

that recognised achievements and personal accomplishments, both military and civilian. Some of the awards, decorations, and orders were discontinued after the

dissolution of the Soviet Union The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Declaration No. 142-Н of ...

, while others are still issued by the

Russian Federation Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

as of 2024. Many of the awards were simply reworked in the Russian Federation, such as the transition of

Hero of the Soviet Union The title Hero of the Soviet Union () was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. The title was awarded both ...

Hero of the Russian Federation Hero of the Russian Federation ( rus, Герой Российской Федерации, p=ɡʲɪˈroj rɐˈsʲijskəj fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨɪ), also unofficially called Hero of Russia ( rus, Герой России, p=ɡʲɪˈroj rɐˈsʲiɪ), is ...

, and

Hero of Socialist Labour The Hero of Socialist Labour () was an Title of honor, honorific title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries from 1938 to 1991. It represented the highest degree of distinction in the USSR and was awarded for exceptional achievem ...

Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation () is a state award of Russia. The title is awarded to citizens of Russia for special services in labour to the state and its people associated with the achievement of outstanding results in public, social ...

. A wide range of Soviet awards and decorations cover the extensive and diverse period of history from 1917 to 1991.

Honorary titles

Orders

Military orders

Military and civil orders

Civil orders

Military medals

General

Campaign medals

Second World War defensive campaign medals

Second World War offensive campaign medals

Civilian medals

Development/restoration campaigns

Maternity medals

Commemorative medals

Soviet Armed Forces jubilees

Second World War jubilees

Other commemorative medals

''Note: Several Soviet decorations were worn in full, so a

ribbon bar A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...

was not created. However, since the fall of the USSR, some medals have had ribbon bars created for them. An asterisk, *, denotes these medals. Awards not showing a ribbon are worn in full at all times.''

References

Sources

* Paul D. McDaniel, Paul J. Schmitt (1997). ''The Comprehensive Guide to Soviet Orders and Medals''. . * V.D. Krivchov (2003). ''AVERS No. 6 Definitive Catalog of Soviet Orders and Medals''. Moscow. * V.D. Krivchov (2008). ''AVERS No. 8 Definitive Catalog of Soviet Badges and Jetons 1917–1980''. Moscow.

External links

Mondvor Narod
�� A very detailed site on the topic of Soviet Orders and Medals
www.soviet-medals-orders.com
��A personal website by a collector from Switzerland, Oldrich Andrysek, presenting extensive collection of Soviet, Transdniestrian, Eastern European and some Mongolian awards with descriptions, images, news, reference materials of interest to phalerists and collections of soviet memorabilia. Well-illustrated, with exchange section and info on fraud. {{Decorations by country Soviet Union-related lists Natalist awards