Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration ...

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (russian: Президиум Верховного Совета, Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was a body of state power in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).Gold Star medal The title Hero of the Soviet Union (russian: Герой Советского Союза, translit=Geroy Sovietskogo Soyuza) was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for ...

Supreme Soviet of the USSR The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( rus, Верховный Совет Союза Советских Социалистических Республик, r=Verkhovnyy Sovet Soyuza Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respubl ...

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (russian: Президиум Верховного Совета, Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was a body of state power in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).housing list with 50% rent reduction, tax exempt and an additional in living space. * Annual round-trip first class airline ticket * Free local public transportation * Free annual visit to

sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...

or rest home * Medical benefits * Entertainment benefits

History

In total, during the existence of the USSR, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to 12,777 people (excluding 72 stripped of the title for defamatory acts and 13 awards annulled as unwarranted), including twice – 154 (9 posthumously), three times – 3 and four – 2. Ninety-five women were awarded the title. Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union, 44 people are citizens of foreign states. The great majority of them received it during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

(11,635 Heroes of the Soviet Union, 101 twice Heroes, three thrice Heroes, and two four-time Heroes). Eighty-five people (28 posthumously) were awarded the title for actions related to the Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1979 until 1989. The first recipients of the award were the pilots

Anatoly Liapidevsky Anatoly Vasilyevich Lyapidevsky (russian: link=no, Анатолий Васильевич Ляпидевский; 23 March 1908 – 29 April 1983) was a Soviet aircraft pilot and one of first people to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Un ...

(certificate number one),

Sigizmund Levanevsky pl, Zygmunt Lewoniewski , birth_date = , death_date = , birth_place = St. Petersburg, Russian empire , death_place = Arctic Ocean , image_size = , allegiance = , branch = Soviet Army before 1925Soviet Air Force ...

,

Vasily Molokov , birth_date = , death_date = , birth_place = Irininskoye, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire , death_place = Moscow, USSR , placeofburial = , placeofburial_label = , placeofburial_coordinates = , allegiance = , branch ...

,

Mavriky Slepnyov Mavriky Trofimovich Slepnyov (russian: Маврикий Трофимович Слепнёв; – 19 December 1965) was a Soviet polar aviator who was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union. Early life Slepnyov was born at June 15 (27), 1896 in Yamsk ...

,

Nikolai Kamanin Nikolai Petrovich Kamanin (russian: Никола́й Петро́вич Кама́нин; 18 October 1908 – 11 March 1982) was a Soviet aviator, awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1934 for the rescue of SS ''Chelyuskin'' crew fro ...

, Ivan Doronin, and Mikhail Vodopianov, who participated in the successful aerial search and rescue of the crew of the steamship '' Cheliuskin'', which sank in

Arctic The Arctic ( or ) is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, N ...

waters, crushed by ice fields, on 13 February 1934.

Valery Chkalov Valery Pavlovich Chkalov ( rus, Валерий Павлович Чкалов, p=vɐˈlʲerʲɪj ˈpavləvʲɪtɕ ˈtɕkaləf; – 15 December 1938) was a test pilot awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union (1936). Early life Chkalov was bo ...

, who made the first-ever Trans-polar flight, was awarded the title on 24 July 1936.

Valentina Grizodubova Valentina Stepanovna Grizodubova (russian: Валенти́на Степа́новна Гризоду́бова, uk, Валентина Степанівна Гризодубова ''Valentyna Stepanivna Hryzodubova''; in Kharkov – 28 April 199 ...

, a female pilot, was the first woman to become a Hero of the Soviet Union (2 November 1938) for her international women's record for a straight-line distance flight.

Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya Zoya Anatolyevna Kosmodemyanskaya ( rus, Зо́я Анато́льевна Космодемья́нская, p=ˈzojə kəsmədʲɪˈmʲjanskəjə; September 13, 1923 – November 29, 1941) was a Soviet partisan. She was executed after acts of s ...

, a

Soviet partisan Soviet partisans were members of resistance movements that fought a guerrilla war against Axis forces during World War II in the Soviet Union, the previously Soviet-occupied territories of interwar Poland in 1941–45 and eastern Finland. The ...

, was the first woman to become a Hero of the Soviet Union during World War II (February 16, 1942), posthumously. In addition, over 100 people received the award twice. A second Hero title, either Hero of the Soviet Union or Hero of Socialist Labour entitled the recipient to have a bronze bust of his or her likeness with a commemorative inscription erected in his or her hometown. Fighter pilots Aleksandr Pokryshkin and

Ivan Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub ( Russian: Иван Hикитович Кожедуб; Ukrainian: Іван Микитович Кожедуб; 8 June 1920 – 8 August 1991) was a Soviet World War II fighter ace. Universally credited with over 60 solo vic ...

were three times Heroes of the Soviet Union. A third award entitled the recipient to have their bronze bust erected on a columnar pedestal in Moscow, near the

Palace of the Soviets The Palace of the Soviets (russian: Дворец Советов, ''Dvorets Sovetov'') was a project to construct a political convention center in Moscow on the site of the demolished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The main function of the pa ...

, but the palace was never built. After his release from serving a 20-year sentence in a Mexican prison for the assassination of

Leon Trotsky Lev Davidovich Bronstein. ( – 21 August 1940), better known as Leon Trotsky; uk, link= no, Лев Давидович Троцький; also transliterated ''Lyev'', ''Trotski'', ''Trotskij'', ''Trockij'' and ''Trotzky''. (), was a Russian ...

,

Ramón Mercader Jaime Ramón Mercader del Río (7 February 1913 – 18 October 1978),Photograph oMercader's Gravestone/ref> more commonly known as Ramón Mercader, was a Spanish communist and NKVD agent, who assassinated Russian Bolshevik revolutionary Leon Tr ...

moved to the Soviet Union in 1961 and as Ramon LopezPhotograph o
Mercader's Gravestone
/ref> was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Hero of the Soviet Union medal "for the special deed" by KGB head

Alexander Shelepin Alexander Nikolayevich Shelepin (; 18 August 1918 – 24 October 1994) was a Soviet politician and security and intelligence officer. A long-time member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, he served as First Depu ...

. The only individuals to receive the title four times were Marshal

Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( rus, Георгий Константинович Жуков, p=ɡʲɪˈorɡʲɪj kənstɐnʲˈtʲinəvʲɪtɕ ˈʐukəf, a=Ru-Георгий_Константинович_Жуков.ogg; 1 December 1896 – ...

and

Leonid Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev; uk, links= no, Леонід Ілліч Брежнєв, . (19 December 1906– 10 November 1982) was a Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964 and ...

. The original statute of the Hero of the Soviet Union, however, did not provide for a fourth title; its provisions allowed for a maximum of three awards regardless of later deeds. Both Zhukov and Brezhnev received their fourth titles under controversial circumstances. Namely, Zhukov was awarded a fourth title in direct violation of the statute. He was awarded the fourth time "for his large accomplishments" on the occasion of his 60th birthday on December 1, 1956. There is some speculation that Zhukov's fourth Hero medal was for his participation in the arrest of

Lavrentiy Beria Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria (; rus, Лавре́нтий Па́влович Бе́рия, Lavréntiy Pávlovich Bériya, p=ˈbʲerʲiə; ka, ლავრენტი ბერია, tr, ; – 23 December 1953) was a Georgian Bolsheviks ...

in 1953, but this was not entered in the records. Brezhnev's four awards further eroded the prestige of the award because they were all birthday gifts, on the occasions of his 60th, 70th, 72nd and 75th birthdays. Such practices halted in 1988 due to a decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which formally ended it. By the 1970s, the award had been somewhat devalued. Important political and military persons had been awarded it on the occasions of their birthdays rather than for any immediate heroic activity. All Soviet

cosmonaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...

s, starting from

Yuri Gagarin Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin; Gagarin's first name is sometimes transliterated as ''Yuriy'', ''Youri'', or ''Yury''. (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. T ...

, as well as foreign citizens from non-capitalist countries who participated in the Soviet space program as cosmonauts, received Hero award for each flight, but no more than twice. Apart from individuals, the title was also awarded to twelve cities ( Hero City) as well as the fortress of

Brest Brest may refer to: Places *Brest, Belarus **Brest Region **Brest Airport **Brest Fortress * Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria * Břest, Czech Republic *Brest, France ** Arrondissement of Brest **Brest Bretagne Airport ** Château de Brest *Br ...

(

Hero-Fortress Hero Fortress ( Russian: крепость-герой, ''krepost'-geroy'') is the honorary title awarded in 1965 to the Soviet Brest Fortress in Brest, Belarus, (previously part of the Byelorussian SSR) for the defence of the frontier stronghold du ...

) for collective heroism during the War.

Later recipients

The last recipient of the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" was a Soviet diver, Captain of the 3rd rank Leonid Mikhailovich Solodkov on 24 December 1991 for his leadership and participation in a series of unprecedented extreme depth diving experiments. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, this title was succeeded in Russia by the title " Hero of the Russian Federation", in Ukraine by "

Hero of Ukraine Hero of Ukraine (HOU; uk, Герой України, ''Heroi Ukrainy'') is the highest national title that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the President of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as ...

" and in Belarus by "

Hero of Belarus Hero of Belarus ( be, Герой Беларусі, Łacinka ''Hieroj Biełarusi''; russian: Герой Беларуси, Geroj Belarusi) is the highest title that can be bestowed on a citizen of Belarus. The title is awarded to those "who perfor ...

". Azerbaijan's successor order is that of

National Hero of Azerbaijan The National Hero of Azerbaijan ( az, Azərbaycan milli qəhrəmanı) is the highest Hero (title), national title in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The title was named on 25 March 1992, and the "Qizil Ulduz" Medal awarded as a sign of receiving this t ...

and Armenia's own hero medal is that of

National Hero of Armenia National Hero of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի ազգային հերոս, translit=Hayastani azgayin heros) is the highest title in Armenia. The law on the title was signed by President Levon Ter-Petrosyan on 22 April 1994. It is awarded "for o ...

, both modeled on the Soviet one.

Heraldry

File:IvanSmelov-VOSSTANIYA.jpg, Hero of Soviet Union obelisk of Saint Petersburg. File:Sevastopol-COA.gif, Coat of arms of the Hero-City of

Sevastopol Sevastopol (; uk, Севасто́поль, Sevastópolʹ, ; gkm, Σεβαστούπολις, Sevastoúpolis, ; crh, Акъя́р, Aqyár, ), sometimes written Sebastopol, is the largest city in Crimea, and a major port on the Black Sea ...

File:Coat of arms of Volgograd city.svg, Coat of arms of the Hero-City of

Volgograd Volgograd ( rus, Волгогра́д, a=ru-Volgograd.ogg, p=vəɫɡɐˈɡrat), formerly Tsaritsyn (russian: Цари́цын, Tsarítsyn, label=none; ) (1589–1925), and Stalingrad (russian: Сталингра́д, Stalingrád, label=none; ) ...

File:Coat of Arms of Kyiv 1969-1995.svg, Coat of arms of the Hero-City of

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...

(1957) File:Flag of Tula.png, Flag of the Hero-City of Tula Image:Kerch coat.svg, Coat of arms of the Hero-City of

Kerch Kerch ( uk, Керч; russian: Керчь, ; Old East Slavic: Кърчевъ; Ancient Greek: , ''Pantikápaion''; Medieval Greek: ''Bosporos''; crh, , ; tr, Kerç) is a city of regional significance on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of t ...

Image:Coat of Arms of Odessa.svg, Coat of arms of the Hero-City of

Odesa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrati ...

Philately

File:Brest (timbre soviétique).jpg, Hero-Fortress of Brest File:Moscou (timbre soviétique).jpg, Hero-City of

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

File:The Soviet Union 1969 CPA 3727 stamp (World War II Hero First Lieutenant of the Guard Aleksandr Kosmodemyansky).jpg, Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant Alexander Kosmodem'yanskii File:The Soviet Union 1969 CPA 3800 stamp (Sergey Gritsevets and Fighter Planes).jpg, Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Sergey Ivanovich Gritsevets File:Voennaia marka Matrosov 60 kop.jpg, Hero of the Soviet Union

Alexander Matrosov Alexander Matveyevich Matrosov (russian: Алекса́ндр Матве́евич Матро́сов, ba, Шәкирйән Юныс улы Мөхәмәтйәнов, uk, Олександр Матвійович Матросов; February 5, 1924 ...

File:Pav-1976-stamp.jpg, Hero of the Soviet Union

Lyudmila Pavlichenko Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko, (russian: Людми́ла Миха́йловна Павличе́нко; uk, Людмила Михайлівна Павличенко (romanized: Lyudmyla Mykhailivna Pavlychenko), ; 10 October 1974) was a So ...

File:Stamp Hero of the Soviet Union.jpg, 2009 Russian stamp commemorating the Hero of the Soviet Union award.

Notable recipients

Single award

*

Hamazasp Babadzhanian russian: Амазасп Хачатурович Бабаджанян , native_name_lang = , image = Hamazasp Babadzhanian 4.jpg , image_size = , alt = , caption = , birth_date = , death_date = , birth_place = ...

– future Chief Marshal of the Tank and Armored Troops, for actions near Stanislav * Oleg Babak – last posthumous recipient to die in the line of duty. * Mikhail Devyataev – escaped from a forced-labor camp at

Peenemünde Peenemünde (, en, " Peene iverMouth") is a municipality on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is part of the ''Amt'' (collective municipality) of Usedom-Nord. The commu ...

with crucial intelligence on

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

rocket programs. * Andrei Durnovtsev – pilot who dropped the

Tsar Bomba The Tsar Bomba () ( code name: ''Ivan'' or ''Vanya''), also known by the alphanumerical designation "AN602", was a thermonuclear aerial bomb, and the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created and tested. Overall, the Soviet physicist Andrei ...

*

Yuri Gagarin Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin; Gagarin's first name is sometimes transliterated as ''Yuriy'', ''Youri'', or ''Yury''. (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. T ...

– first human to fly in space. *

Pavel Grachev Pavel Sergeyevich Grachev (russian: Па́вел Серге́евич Грачё́в; 1 January 1948 – 23 September 2012), sometimes transliterated as Grachov or Grachyov, was a Russian Army General and the Defence Minister of the Russian Fed ...

– division commander in Afghanistan. * Ivan Kharchenko – neutralized more than 50,000 explosive items during and after World War II. *

Viktor Kibenok Viktor Nikolaevich Kibenok ( ua, Віктор Миколайович Кібенок, russian: Виктор Николаевич Кибенок; 17 February 1963 11 May 1986) was a Chernobyl firefighter who was posthumously awarded the title He ...

– First responding firefighter to the Chernobyl Disaster. Later died of radiation sickness. * Valentin Kotyk – Youngest recipient (age 14). Posthumously awarded after being killed in combat during the

Great Patriotic War The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltics), and Sou ...

*

Vladimir Konovalov Rear Admiral Vladimir Konstantinovich Konovalov, Владимир Константинович Коновалов ( – 29 November 1967) was a Soviet Navy distinguished submarine commander during World War II. Born as Vulf Kalmanovich Konov ...

– submarine commander; sank the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

ship

Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 174616 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, and e ...

. *

Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya Zoya Anatolyevna Kosmodemyanskaya ( rus, Зо́я Анато́льевна Космодемья́нская, p=ˈzojə kəsmədʲɪˈmʲjanskəjə; September 13, 1923 – November 29, 1941) was a Soviet partisan. She was executed after acts of s ...

– the first woman awarded the title during World War II. * Alexander Krivets – participant in the Soviet partisan movement during World War II, commander of the Shchors partisan detachment. *

Matvey Kuzmin Matvey Kuzmich Kuzmin ( rus, Матве́й Кузьми́ч Кузьми́н, p=mɐˈtvʲej kʊˈzmʲin; 3 August 1858 – 14 February 1942) was a Russian peasant who was killed in World War II. He was posthumously the oldest person to be named ...

– oldest recipient; led a Nazi division to an ambush in Malkino. * Nikolai Kuznetsov – intelligence officer responsible for the kidnappings and assassinations of several high-ranking Nazis. * Lydia Litvyak – World War II fighter pilot and the world's top female ace. * Alexander Marinesko – the most successful Soviet submarine commander in terms of gross register tonnage (GRT) sunk. *

Alexander Matrosov Alexander Matveyevich Matrosov (russian: Алекса́ндр Матве́евич Матро́сов, ba, Шәкирйән Юныс улы Мөхәмәтйәнов, uk, Олександр Матвійович Матросов; February 5, 1924 ...

– posthumously awarded for blocking an enemy machine-gun with his own body. * Nikolai Melnik – Soviet pilot known for placing radiation sensors at the Chernobyl's Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 4, during the 1986 explosion. *

Aliya Moldagulova Aliya Nurmuhametqyzy Moldagulova (Russian: Алия Нурмухамбетовна Молдагулова, Kazakh: Әлия Нұрмұхамедқызы Молдағұлова/Äliia Nūrmūhamedqyzy Moldağūlova; 25 October 1925 – 14 January 19 ...

– sniper who led her brigade after suffering high casualties * Pore Mosulishvili – Soviet Soldier and member of the Italian resistance. *

Ivan Panfilov Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov (russian: Иван Васильевич Панфилов; – 18 November 1941) was a Soviet general and a posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union, known for his command of the 316th Rifle Division during the defense of Mo ...

– Soviet general. Killed in action during the Battle of Moscow. The

8th Guards Rifle Division The 8th Guards Motor Rifle Panfilov Division (russian: 8-я гвардейская Панфиловская дивизия; ) originally the 316th Rifle Division, is a motorized infantry division of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic. Formed ...

of the Red Army was named in his honor. *

Lyudmila Pavlichenko Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko, (russian: Людми́ла Миха́йловна Павличе́нко; uk, Людмила Михайлівна Павличенко (romanized: Lyudmyla Mykhailivna Pavlychenko), ; 10 October 1974) was a So ...

– highest scoring female sniper. *

Yakov Pavlov Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov (russian: Я́ков Федо́тович Па́влов; 17 October 191728 September 1981) was a Soviet Red Army soldier who became a Hero of the Soviet Union for his role in defending the eponymous "Pavlov's House" duri ...

– commanded the defenders of the building named after him in Stalingrad. * Vladimir Pravik – Firefighter that responded to the Chernobyl Disaster, and later died of radiation sickness. *

Nikolay Pukhov Nikolay Pavlovich Pukhov (; –March 28, 1958) was a Soviet Army colonel general and a Hero of the Soviet Union who commanded troops during World War II. Pukhov fought in World War I as a junior officer, afterwards joining the Red Army and fight ...

– Colonel General in World War II and the first commander of the 8th Tank Army. *

Endel Puusepp Endel Puusepp (russian: Эндель Карлович Пусэп; 1 May 1909 – 18 June 1996) was a Soviet bomber pilot of Estonian origin, who completed over 30 nighttime strategic bombing campaigns during World War II. He was a recipient of th ...

– Soviet World War II bomber pilot. *

Otto Schmidt Otto Yulyevich Shmidt, be, Ота Юльевіч Шміт, Ota Juljevič Šmit (born Otto Friedrich Julius Schmidt; – 7 September 1956), better known as Otto Schmidt, was a Soviet scientist, mathematician, astronomer, geophysicist, statesm ...

– scientist and explorer of the

Arctic The Arctic ( or ) is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, N ...

. *

Ivan Sidorenko Ivan Mikhailovich Sidorenko (russian: Ива́н Миха́йлович Сидоре́нко; 12 September 1919 – 19 February 1994) was a Red Army officer and a Hero of the Soviet Union, who served during World War II. He was one of the top Sov ...

– One of the top snipers of World War II, with over 500 kills. *

Richard Sorge Richard Sorge (russian: Рихард Густавович Зорге, Rikhard Gustavovich Zorge; 4 October 1895 – 7 November 1944) was a German-Azerbaijani journalist and Soviet military intelligence officer who was active before and during Wo ...

– Soviet spy, reported from Japanese information the exact date that

Operation Barbarossa Operation Barbarossa (german: link=no, Unternehmen Barbarossa; ) was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during the Second World War. The operation, code-named after ...

would begin. *

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretar ...

– General Secretary of the

Communist Party A communist party is a political party that seeks to realize the socio-economic goals of communism. The term ''communist party'' was popularized by the title of ''The Manifesto of the Communist Party'' (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ...

(1922–1953) and Head of Government as Prime Minister of the USSR (1941–1953). * Leonid Telyatnikov – Head of the fire department at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant *

Valentina Tereshkova Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova ( rus, Валентина Владимировна Терешкова, links=no, p=vɐlʲɪnʲˈtʲinə vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvnə tʲɪrʲɪʂˈkovə, a=Valentina Tereshkova.ogg; born 6 March 1937) is an engine ...

– first woman to fly in space. * Michael Tsiselsky – Soviet naval pilot during World War II. * Zhambyl Tulaev – soviet sniper, killed 313 German soldiers. *

Dmitriy Ustinov Dmitriy Fyodorovich Ustinov (russian: Дмитрий Фёдорович Устинов; 30 October 1908 – 20 December 1984) was a Marshal of the Soviet Union and Soviet politician during the Cold War. He served as a Central Committee se ...

– Marshal of the Soviet Union and Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union from 1976 until his death in 1984. * Vasily Zaytsev – sniper who killed 225 at the Battle of Stalingrad; his achievements are dramatized in the film ''

Enemy at the Gates ''Enemy at the Gates'' (''Stalingrad'' in France and ''L'Ennemi aux portes'' in Canada) is a 2001 war film directed, co-written, and produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud, based on William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book '' Enemy at the Gates: The Batt ...

''. *

Viktor Zholudev Viktor Grigoryevich Zholudev ( Russian: Ви́ктор Григо́рьевич Жо́лудев; 22 March 1905 – 21 July 1944) was a Red Army major general and posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union. Zholudev fought in the 1929 Sino-Soviet c ...

– posthumously awarded for leadership during

Operation Bagration Operation Bagration (; russian: Операция Багратио́н, Operatsiya Bagration) was the codename for the 1944 Soviet Byelorussian strategic offensive operation (russian: Белорусская наступательная оп ...

Two times awarded

*

Ivan Bagramyan Ivan Khristoforovich Bagramyan,; russian: Ива́н Христофо́рович Баграмя́н, link=no also known as Hovhannes Khachaturi Baghramyan; russian: Оване́с Хачату́рович Баграмя́н, link=no ( – 2 ...

– Marshal of the Soviet Union *

Konstantin Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (Xaverevich) Rokossovsky ( Russian: Константин Константинович Рокоссовский; pl, Konstanty Rokossowski; 21 December 1896 – 3 August 1968) was a Soviet and Polish officer who bec ...

– Marshal of the Soviet Union and Commander of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Front during World War II. *

Hazi Aslanov Hazi Aslanov ( az, Həzi Əhəd oğlu Aslanov; russian: Ази Агад оглы Асланов; commonly described as Azi Aslanov and A. A. Aslanov,Aleksander A. Maslov, David M. Glantz, ''Fallen Soviet Generals: Soviet General Officers Killed i ...

– Major General of armored troops during World War II. * Talgat Bigeldinov – Il-2 during World War II and the only Kazakh who was twice awarded the title. *

Vasily Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov (russian: link=no, Васи́лий Ива́нович Чуйко́в; ; – 18 March 1982) was a Soviet military commander and Marshal of the Soviet Union. He is best known for commanding the 62nd Army which saw h ...

– General largely responsible for the victory at Stalingrad and attacking Berlin. *

Oleksiy Fedorov Oleksiy Fedorovych Fedorov ( uk, Олексій Федорович Федоров, russian: Алексей Фёдорович Фёдоров, ''Aleksey Fyodorovich Fyodorov;'' 30 March 1901 - 9 September 1989), was one of the leaders of Soviet p ...

– organized underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Ukraine. * Dmitry Glinka – flying ace with over 50 shootdowns *

Aleksei Leonov Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov. (30 May 1934 – 11 October 2019) was a Soviet and Russian cosmonaut, Air Force major general, writer, and artist. On 18 March 1965, he became the first person to conduct a spacewalk, exiting the capsule during th ...

– cosmonaut who made the world's first spacewalk in 1965. *

Vasily Petrov Vasili, Vasily, Vasilii or Vasiliy ( Russian: Василий) is a Russian masculine given name of Greek origin and corresponds to ''Basil''. It may refer to: *Vasili I of Moscow Grand Prince from 1389–1425 *Vasili II of Moscow Grand Prince fr ...

– Major who lost both hands during the second World War. *

Pyotr Klimuk Pyotr Ilyich Klimuk ( be, Пётр Ільіч Кліму́к; russian: Пётр Ильич Климу́к; born 10 July 1942) is a former Soviet cosmonaut and the first Belarusian to perform space travel. Klimuk made three flights into space. ...

– Cosmonaut, former head of the

Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center The Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC; Russian: Центр подготовки космонавтов имени Ю. А. Гагарина) is a Russian training facility responsible for trai ...

. *

Vladimir Kokkinaki Vladimir Konstantinovich Kokkinaki (russian: Владимир Константинович Коккинаки; – 6 January 1985) was a test pilot in the Soviet Union, notable for setting twenty-two world records and serving as president of the ...

– Famous test pilot and record breaker. *

Vladimir Komarov Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov ( rus, Влади́мир Миха́йлович Комаро́в, p=vlɐˈdʲimʲɪr mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪtɕ kəmɐˈrof; 16 March 1927 – 24 April 1967) was a Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and cosmonaut. ...

– Cosmonaut, second award posthumous after his death onboard

Soyuz 1 Soyuz 1 (russian: Союз 1, ''Union 1'') was a crewed spaceflight of the Soviet space program. Launched into orbit on 23 April 1967 carrying cosmonaut colonel Vladimir Komarov, Soyuz 1 was the first crewed flight of the Soyuz spacecraft. Th ...

. *

Sydir Kovpak Sydir Artemovych Kovpak ( uk, Сидір Артемович Ковпак; russian: Си́дор Арте́мьевич Ковпа́к, ), (June 7, 1887December 11, 1967) was one of the partisan leaders of the Soviet partisans in Ukraine during t ...

– partisan leader in Ukraine. * Boris Safonov – World War II naval pilot and flying ace *

Nelson Stepanyan russian: Нельсон Георгиевич Степанян , native_name_lang = , image = Нельсон Георгиевич Степанян.jpg , image_size = , alt = , birth_date = , birth_place = Shushi, Elisa ...

– World War II ground-attack pilot. * Vladimir Solovyov – Cosmonaut, former director of

Mir ''Mir'' (russian: Мир, ; ) was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to&n ...

and last man on Salyut 7. *

Amet-khan Sultan Amet-khan Sultan ( Crimean Tatar: Amet-Han Sultan, Амет-Хан Султан, احمدخان سلطان; Russian: Амет-Хан Султан; 20 October 1920 – 1 February 1971) was a highly decorated Crimean Tatar flying ace in the Soviet ...

– World War II fighter ace and test pilot. *

Semyon Timoshenko Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (russian: link=no, Семён Константи́нович Тимоше́нко, ''Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko''; uk, Семе́н Костянти́нович Тимоше́нко, ''Semen Kostiantyno ...

– military commander and senior professional officer of the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...

, Marshal of the Soviet Union and People's Commissar of State for National Defense.

Three times awarded

*

Semyon Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonnyy ( rus, Семён Миха́йлович Будённый, Semyon Mikháylovich Budyonnyy, p=sʲɪˈmʲɵn mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ bʊˈdʲɵnːɨj, a=ru-Simeon Budyonniy.ogg; – 26 October 1973) was a Russian ca ...

– Military Commander, 1st Cavalry Army in the Civil War and later of the Army Cavalry Commands, also Marshal of the Soviet Union and from 1937 to 1940, Commanding Officer, Moscow Military District. *

Ivan Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub ( Russian: Иван Hикитович Кожедуб; Ukrainian: Іван Микитович Кожедуб; 8 June 1920 – 8 August 1991) was a Soviet World War II fighter ace. Universally credited with over 60 solo vic ...

– highest-scoring Soviet fighter pilot * Alexander Pokryshkin – World War II fighter pilot

Four times awarded

*

Leonid Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev; uk, links= no, Леонід Ілліч Брежнєв, . (19 December 1906– 10 November 1982) was a Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964 and ...

– First Secretary, later General Secretary, of the CPSU (1964–82), and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1964–82), also awarded one Hero of Socialist Labour; this last feat was the subject of numerous

Russian jokes Russian jokes (russian: link=no, анекдоты, anekdoty, anecdotes) are short fictional stories or dialogs with a punch line, which commonly appear in Russian humor. Russian joke culture includes a series of categories with fixed settings and ...

. Also Marshal of the Soviet Union. *

Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov ( rus, Георгий Константинович Жуков, p=ɡʲɪˈorɡʲɪj kənstɐnʲˈtʲinəvʲɪtɕ ˈʐukəf, a=Ru-Георгий_Константинович_Жуков.ogg; 1 December 1896 – ...

– Military commander and politician credited with many of the most significant Soviet victories of World War II, Commander of the First Belorussian Front and Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Foreign recipients (all single awards)

*

Abdul Ahad Momand Abdul Ahad Momand (; born 1959) is a Afghan-German and former Afghan Air Force aviator who became the first, and currently only, Afghan citizen to journey to outer space. He became one of Soyuz TM-6 crew members and spent nine days aboard the M ...

– first Afghan cosmonaut *

Ahmed Ben Bella Ahmed Ben Bella ( ar, أحمد بن بلّة '; 25 December 1916 – 11 April 2012) was an Algerian politician, soldier and socialist revolutionary who served as the head of government of Algeria from 27 September 1962 to 15 September 1963 ...

– first president of

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

* Zachari Zachariev – International Brigades pilot under pseudonym Turk Halil Ekrem, awarded 30 December 1936 * Georgi Ivanov – first Bulgarian cosmonaut *

Todor Zhivkov Todor Hristov Zhivkov ( bg, Тодор Христов Живков ; 7 September 1911 – 5 August 1998) was a Bulgarian communist statesman who served as the ''de facto'' leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB) from 1954 until 1989 ...

– Communist president of Bulgaria *

Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov ( bg, Александър Панайотов Александров) (born December 1, 1951) is a retired Bulgarian cosmonaut. He is the second Bulgarian to have flown to space, behind Georgi Ivanov. Biography ...

– second Bulgarian cosmonaut * Vladimir Zaimov – Soviet spy in Bulgaria, awarded on the 30th anniversary of his death in 1972 * Fidel Castro – leader of the Cuban communist government * Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez – first African descendent and Cuban

cosmonaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...

* Josef Buršík – for heroism during the liberation of

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...

, awarded on 21 December 1943, after the

occupation of Czechoslovakia Occupation commonly refers to: *Occupation (human activity), or job, one's role in society, often a regular activity performed for payment *Occupation (protest), political demonstration by holding public or symbolic spaces *Military occupation, th ...

he gave the award back * Otakar Jaroš – for heroism in the Battle of Sokolovo, posthumously awarded on 17 April 1943 as the first foreign soldier *

Ján Nálepka Ján Nálepka (20 September 1912 in Smižany, Austria-Hungary – 16 November 1943 in Ovruch, German-occupied Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union) was a Slovak captain who organized and led an anti-fascist Slovak partisan detachment in the Soviet Uni ...

( Slovak) – awarded in memoriam on 2 May 1945 *

Vladimír Remek Vladimír Remek (born 26 September 1948) is a Czech, formerly Czechoslovak, politician and diplomat, as well as a former cosmonaut and military pilot. He flew aboard Soyuz 28 from 2 to 10 March 1978, becoming the first and only Czechoslovak in ...

– first Czech in space and first cosmonaut who wasn't a citizen of the Soviet Union or United States * Antonín Sochor – for heroism during the liberation of

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...

, awarded on 21 December 1943 *

Ludvík Svoboda Ludvík Svoboda (25 November 1895 – 20 September 1979) was a Czech general and politician. He fought in both World Wars, for which he was regarded as a national hero,

– communist president of Czechoslovakia and army general, commander of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps *

Gustáv Husák Gustáv Husák (, , ; 10 January 1913 – 18 November 1991) was a Czechoslovak communist politician of Slovak origin, who served as the long-time First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia from 1969 to 1987 and the president o ...

( Slovak) – communist president of Czechoslovakia * ( Rusyn) – for heroism during the liberation of

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

, awarded in memoriam on 10 August 1945 * Richard Tesařík – for heroism during the liberation of

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...

, awarded 21 December 1943 *

Abdel Hakim Amer Mohamed Abdel Hakim Amer ( arz, محمد عبد الحكيم عامر, ; 11 December 1919 – 13 September 1967) was an Egyptian military officer and politician. Amer served in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and played a leading role in the m ...

– Egyptian military officer, and member of the Free Officers movement * Gamal Abdel Nasser – One of the two principal leaders of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, and President of

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

(1956–1970) *

Jean-Loup Chrétien Jean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien (born 20 August 1938) is a French retired ''Général de Brigade'' (brigadier general) in the ''Armée de l'Air'' (French air force), and a former CNES spationaut. He flew on two Franco-Soviet space missions a ...

– first French cosmonaut (later served as a NASA astronaut) * Marcel Albert – decorated World War II fighter pilot ( Normandie-Niemen) * Jacques André – decorated World War II fighter pilot ( Normandie-Niemen) *

Roland de la Poype Roland Paulze d'Ivoy de la Poype (28 July 1920 – 23 October 2012) was a Second World War fighter ace, a member of the Normandie-Niemen fighter group that fought on the Soviet front. He was also a plastic industry pioneer and founder of the Ant ...

– decorated World War II fighter pilot ( Normandie-Niemen) * – decorated World War II fighter pilot ( Normandie-Niemen) *

Sigmund Jähn Sigmund Werner Paul Jähn (; 13 February 1937 – 21 September 2019) was a German cosmonaut and pilot who in 1978 became the first German to fly into space as part of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos programme. Early life Jähn was born on 13 Fe ...

– the first German cosmonaut *

Walter Ulbricht Walter Ernst Paul Ulbricht (; 30 June 18931 August 1973) was a German communist politician. Ulbricht played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and later (after spending the years of Nazi rule in ...

– East German leader *

Erich Honecker Erich Ernst Paul Honecker (; 25 August 1912 – 29 May 1994) was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from 1971 until shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. He held the posts ...

– East German leader *

Erich Mielke Erich Fritz Emil Mielke (; 28 December 1907 – 21 May 2000) was a German communist official who served as head of the East German Ministry for State Security (''Ministerium für Staatsicherheit'' – MfS), better known as the Stasi, from 1957 u ...

– East German head of the Stasi * Flag_of_Germany_(1935–1945)

Fritz Schmenkel – German communist who deserted to Soviet troops in November 1941 and became a partisan, killed 22 February 1944, posthumously awarded 1964 *

Bertalan Farkas Bertalan Farkas (born August 2, 1949) is the first Hungarian Astronaut#Cosmonaut, cosmonaut, space exploration, space explorer and fighter pilot. Hungary became Timeline of space travel by nationality, the seventh nation to be represented in spac ...

– first Hungarian cosmonaut *

János Kádár János József Kádár (; ; 26 May 1912 – 6 July 1989), born János József Czermanik, was a Hungarian communist leader and the General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party, a position he held for 32 years. Declining health l ...

– Hungarian politician *

Rakesh Sharma Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, AC (born 13 January 1949) is a former Indian Air Force pilot who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. He is the only Indian citizen to travel in space, although ...

– first Indian cosmonaut * Primo Gibelli – Italian communist and Spanish Republican Air Force aviator, posthumous *

Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa ( mn, Жүгдэрдэмидийн Гүррагчаа; russian: Жугдэрдэмидийн Гуррагча, , born 5 December 1947) is a Mongolian cosmonaut and military leader. He was the first Mongolian and seco ...

– first Mongolian cosmonaut * Władysław Wysocki – Polish officer from the

battle of Lenino The Battle of Lenino was a tactical World War II engagement that took place on 12 and 13 October 1943, north of the village of Lenino in the Mogilev region of Byelorussia. The battle itself was a part of a larger Soviet Spas-Demensk offensi ...

* Juliusz Hibner – Polish communist and officer from the

battle of Lenino The Battle of Lenino was a tactical World War II engagement that took place on 12 and 13 October 1943, north of the village of Lenino in the Mogilev region of Byelorussia. The battle itself was a part of a larger Soviet Spas-Demensk offensi ...

*

Aniela Krzywoń Aniela Krzywoń (27 May 1925 – 12 October 1943) was a private in the "Emilia Plater" Independent Women's Battalion of the Polish People's Army during the Second World War and became the only woman in history who was not a citizen of the Soviet ...

– Polish soldier *

Mirosław Hermaszewski Mirosław Hermaszewski (; 15 September 1941 – 12 December 2022) was a Polish cosmonaut, fighter plane pilot, and Polish Air Force officer. He became the first, and at the time of his death in December 2022, the only, Polish national in spac ...

– first citizen of

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

to travel into space *

Dumitru Prunariu Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu (; born 27 September 1952) is a Romanian cosmonaut. He flew in space aboard Soyuz 40 spacecraft and Salyut 6 space laboratory. He teamed with the Soviet cosmonaut Leonid Popov. The backup crew was made of Romanian candida ...

– first Romanian cosmonaut *

Ramón Mercader Jaime Ramón Mercader del Río (7 February 1913 – 18 October 1978),Photograph oMercader's Gravestone/ref> more commonly known as Ramón Mercader, was a Spanish communist and NKVD agent, who assassinated Russian Bolshevik revolutionary Leon Tr ...

– assassinated

Leon Trotsky Lev Davidovich Bronstein. ( – 21 August 1940), better known as Leon Trotsky; uk, link= no, Лев Давидович Троцький; also transliterated ''Lyev'', ''Trotski'', ''Trotskij'', ''Trockij'' and ''Trotzky''. (), was a Russian ...

in 1940 * Rubén Ruiz Ibárruri – son of the Spanish communist leader Dolores Ibárruri Gómez, killed in the Battle of Stalingrad while fighting for the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...

*

Muhammed Faris Muhammed Ahmed Faris ( ar, محمد أحمد فارس, ''Muḥammad ʾAḥmad Fāris''; born 26 May 1951) is a Syrian military aviator. He was the first Syrian and the second Arab in space. Career Born in Aleppo, Syria, he was a pilot in the Sy ...

– first Syrian cosmonaut *

Phạm Tuân Phạm Tuân ( born 14 February 1947) is a retired Vietnam Air Force aviator and cosmonaut. He became the first Vietnamese citizen and the first person from an Asian country to fly in space when he launched aboard the Soyuz 37 mission as an I ...

– first Vietnamese cosmonaut

Notes

References

*

External links

Website dedicated to Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia

Hero of the Soviet Union
- an article on the title
Alley of Heroes
of the Soviet Union in Volgograd - history and photos
Legal Library of the USSR
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hero Of The Soviet Union Honorary titles of the Soviet Union Awards established in 1934 Awards disestablished in 1991 1991 disestablishments in the Soviet Union Civil awards and decorations of the Soviet Union Military awards and decorations of the Soviet Union Courage awards 1934 establishments in the Soviet Union Hero (title)

Overview

History

Later recipients

Heraldry

Philately

Notable recipients

Single award

Two times awarded

Three times awarded

Four times awarded

Foreign recipients (all single awards)

See also

Notes

References

External links