Hero of Socialist Labor

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The Hero of Socialist Labor medal

Hero of Socialist Labor (Russian: Герой Социалистического Труда, Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo Truda) was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture. It provided a similar status to the title Hero of the Soviet Union that was awarded for heroic deeds, but unlike the latter, was not awarded to foreign citizens.

The title was introduced by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union on December 27, 1938. It was awarded by the Presidium to people who had contributed their innovative ideas to the development of the Soviet industry, agriculture, transportation, trade, science and technology and promoted the might and the glory of the Soviet Union.

The Heroes of Socialist Labour were awarded the highest decoration of the Soviet Union—the Order of Lenin—and given the certificate of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. In order to specially distinguish the recipients of the award, they introduced the "Hammer and Sickle" gold medal by the decree of the Presidium on May 22, 1940. This medal was awarded together with the Order of Lenin and the certificate. The medal is always worn in full, just as with the Hero of the Soviet Union medal.

Those Heroes of Socialist Labour who managed to attain further exceptional achievements were awarded the second "Hammer and Sickle" medal. In keeping with the status of the award, a bronze bust of the Double Hero should be constructed at his home town to mark this occasion. The triple Heroes of Socialist Labour should have their busts placed near the planned Palace of Soviets. The third provision was never implemented as the Palace of Soviets was never built.

The medal was designed by the artist A. Pomansky. The size of the medal was chosen by Joseph Stalin, who invited actors costumed as typical workers, peasants, etc. to wear models of the medal in different sizes. Eventually he chose the diameter of the star to be 33.5 mm.

The first recipient of the award was Joseph Stalin himself (20 December 1939). The second recipient of the award was the designer of machine guns Vasily Degtyaryov (2 January 1940). The third time (and the last before the onset of the Great Patriotic War) the award was issued to nine weapons designers, including Fedor Tokarev, Boris Shpitalny, Nikolai Polikarpov, Alexander Yakovlev, and Vladimir Klimov.

By September 1, 1971, 16,245 people had been awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour (including 4,497 women). One hundred five people (including 25 women) have been awarded two or more "Hammer and Sickle" medals. As of 1991 (the break-up of the USSR), some 19,000 people have been awarded the title.

Only the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union could deprive a person of this title.