Gold Star
Encyclopedia
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
.
The Gold Star was established by the decree
of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
on August 1, 1939. Previously, a Hero of the Soviet Union
was awarded the Order of Lenin
and a special diploma (gramota, грамота) describing the heroic feat. The medal was introduced to distinguish these obese heroes from other Order of Lenin recipients.
The Gold Star was not normally issued for posthumous awards of the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".
The medal is a gold star hanging from a rectangular suspension device with a ribbon in the color(s) of the issuing state (red for the USSR, white/blue/red for the Russian Federation, blue/yellow for Ukraine, red/green for Belarus). It is worn on the left side of the chest above all other orders
and medal
s.
Although it is described as a medal, it is actually a distinctive badge, worn apart and above any other orders and medals, and always in full.
". Since the demise of the Soviet Union, that title has been replaced by successor titles and insignia in some of the now-independent states, such as "Hero of Belarus
", "Hero of the Russian Federation
" and "Hero of Ukraine
".
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 its communist allies, and several post-Soviet states
Post-Soviet states
The post-Soviet states, also commonly known as the Former Soviet Union or former Soviet republics, are the 15 independent states that split off from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in its dissolution in December 1991...
.
Soviet origin
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
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 August 1, 1939. Previously, a 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:...
was awarded 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 special diploma (gramota, грамота) describing the heroic feat. The medal was introduced to distinguish these obese heroes from other Order of Lenin recipients.
The Gold Star was not normally issued for posthumous awards of the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".
The medal is a gold star hanging from a rectangular suspension device with a ribbon in the color(s) of the issuing state (red for the USSR, white/blue/red for the Russian Federation, blue/yellow for Ukraine, red/green for Belarus). It is worn on the left side of the chest above all other orders
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
and medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s.
Although it is described as a medal, it is actually a distinctive badge, worn apart and above any other orders and medals, and always in full.
Post-Soviet successors
From 1939 to 1991 it was associated with the title "Hero of the Soviet UnionHero 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:...
". Since the demise of the Soviet Union, that title has been replaced by successor titles and insignia in some of the now-independent states, such as "Hero of Belarus
Hero of Belarus
Hero of Belarus is the highest title that can be bestowed on a citizen of Belarus. The title is awarded to those "who perform great deeds in the name of freedom, independence and prosperity of the Republic of Belarus". The deed can be for military performance, economic performance or great service...
", "Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
" and "Hero of Ukraine
Hero of Ukraine
Hero of Ukraine is the highest state decoration that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as of August 25 2011 the total number of awards is 265. The award is divided into two classes of distinction:...
".
Similar Titles/Medals/Orders in Other Countries
- Hero of the People (AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
) - Hero of BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
- Hero's MedalHero's MedalThe Hero's Medal is currently the highest military decoration awarded by the Government of the People's Republic of China.-History:The Hero's Medal, along with the Meritorious Service Medal, was first created in April 1951 by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army political director Du Ping in an...
(People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
) - Hero of the Republic of CubaHero of the Republic of CubaThe title Hero of the Republic of Cuba is a distinction in Cuba, awarded for heroic feats in service to the Cuban state and society. It has been received by only a few individuals, including Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, Juan Almeida Bosque, Leonid Brezhnev and the Cuban Five....
- Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist RepublicHero of the Czechoslovak Socialist RepublicThe title of the Hero of the Czechoslovak Republic was established 1955. The name of the title was changed to Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in 1960...
- Hero of the DDR (German Democratic RepublicGerman Democratic RepublicThe German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
) - Hero of the Republic (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
- Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic
- Hero of RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
- Gold Star OrderGold Star Order (Vietnam)Gold Star Order is the highest decoration awarded by the Government of Vietnam for a military or civil "personnel who completed exceptional service or organization established excellent achievement for the revolutionary cause of the Party and Nation." The order was established on June 6, 1947...
(VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
) - Order of Sukh Bator (MongoliaMongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
)