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The gold medal "Hammer and Sickle", the badge of the Hero of Socialist Labor, was established
By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, dated May 22, 1940, "On additional insignia for Heroes of Socialist Labor," the Hammer and Sickle medal was established as the highest degree of distinction for citizens awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
This medal was introduced for the first time in Soviet history, and it was awarded to individuals who had made significant contributions to the restoration of the country's economy. These individuals were presented with a diploma, badge, and other valuable gifts as a recognition of their achievements.
"Hero of Labor", an honorary title in the Soviet Union and the Union republics, was approved on July 27, 1927 by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. The procedure for awarding and the benefits due (pensions, housing, and other benefits at the discretion of republican leadership) were formalized in law. The decision to award was made by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, based on the recommendation of either the All-Union Central Committee or the presidiums of the central executive committees of Union republics and the councils of trade unions in those republics. Awardees were given a diploma, whose form and text were approved in November 1928 by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee.
On December 27, 1938, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, which expanded the benefits granted to individuals for their exceptional service in the fields of national economy, culture, and science. These individuals were awarded the Order of Lenin and a diploma from the Presidium. In 1940, the addition of the Hammer and Sickle medal to the award allowed the Heroes of Socialist Labor to be distinguished from other recipients of the Order of Lenin.
The Hammer and Sickle medal was made of 950-carat gold. The artist S.A. Pomansky designed the award. The medal features a five-pointed star with smooth, dihedral rays on one side, in the center of which are embossed a sickle and a hammer. On the reverse side, there is an inscription reading "Hero of Socialist Labor". The award is worn on the left chest, above other orders and medals from the USSR.
The first Hammer and Sickle medal was presented to Stalin on December 12, 1939. Over 20,000 individuals have received this medal throughout its history.
In 1991, the title of Hero of Socialist Labor was discontinued. The last presentation of the Hammer and Sickle took place on December 21st, 1991 to Kazakh opera singer and educator Bibigul Tulegenova.
Lit.: Постановление ЦИК и СНК СССР «О Героях Труда» от 27 июля 1927 года // Исторические материалы [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://istmat.org/node/22905; Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР от 27 декабря 1938 года «Об установлении высшей степени отличия – звания Героя Социалистического Труда» // Российское историческое общество. Электронная библиотека исторических документов [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://docs.historyrussia.org/ru/nodes/131203-ob-ustanovlenii-vysshey-stepeni-otlichiya-zvaniya-geroya-sotsialisticheskogo-truda-ukaz-ot-27-dekabrya-1938-g#mode/inspect/page/1/zoom/4; Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР от 22 мая 1940 года «О дополнительных знаках отличия для Героев Социалистического Труда» // Российское историческое общество. Электронная библиотека исторических документов [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://docs.historyrussia.org/ru/nodes/131204-o-dopolnitelnyh-znakah-otlichiya-dlya-geroev-sotsialisticheskogo-truda-ukaz-ot-22-maya-1940-g; Ахманаев П. В., Грехов Л. Н. Герой Социалистического Труда // Большая российская энциклопедия: научно-образовательный портал [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://bigenc.ru/c/geroi-sotsialisticheskogo-truda-52787e/?v=9503836; Ахманаев П. В. Советская наградная система. М., 2014; Савин А. И. От звания «Герой Труда» к званию «Герой Социалистического Труда». К вопросу о моральном поощрении трудовой деятельности в Советской России в начале 1920-х – первой половине 1930-х годов // Исторический курьер. 2023. № 1(27). С. 65–77.
Based on the materials of Presidential Library:
Герои Социалистического труда. В центре – Кожевин В. Г.: [фотография]. [1981?];