The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Decorations · Soviet orders

Hero of the Soviet Union: History, Grades and Collector’s Guide

Title established 16 April 1934
Gold Star medal Introduced in 1939
Recipients 12,745 in total; 11,635 for the Second World War (IWM figures)
Multiple awards 101 twice, 3 three times, 2 four times (Zhukov and Brezhnev)
In the collection No pieces currently available

Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest honorary title of the USSR. From 1939 heroes received the Gold Star medal, which they wore above all other awards. Each star is numbered, and each number belongs to a named person, which makes this one of the best-documented decorations in the world, and one of the most faked.

What Was the Hero of the Soviet Union?

The title was established on 16 April 1934 and the Gold Star medal introduced in 1939. According to the Imperial War Museums, 12,745 people received the title, 11,635 of them for the Second World War. 101 received it twice, three people three times, and two, Georgy Zhukov and Leonid Brezhnev, four times. Heroes automatically received the Order of Lenin.

Who Awarded It, and Which Documents Go With It?

The title was conferred by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Heroes received a certificate (gramota) and the award was recorded in their order book. The IWM’s example, serial 5896, was awarded in 1944 to the airman Ivan Shenghur, which shows how a number leads to a person.

What Should Collectors Watch For?

  • Serial numbers on Soviet orders can be checked against the award record and the recipient’s order book; a missing or altered number is a warning sign.
  • Copies of the Gold Star are common; gold content, construction and the mint mark need expert examination.
  • Documents are themselves forged; the decree and the person must match.

Legal note. Trade in Soviet state awards is restricted in the Russian Federation, where buying and selling state decorations is a criminal offence, and export of historical items from Russia and other former Soviet states is controlled. Rules elsewhere differ; check the law in your country and in the country of origin before buying or shipping.

Collector’s Note

A Gold Star without its documents is a number waiting for a name. I never offer one without knowing whose it was.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was the title Hero of the Soviet Union established?

On 16 April 1934.

How many people received the title?

12,745, according to the Imperial War Museums.

Who received it four times?

Georgy Zhukov and Leonid Brezhnev.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the Soviet period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of political repression and war.

References & Further Reading