The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Decorations · Soviet orders

Order of the Red Banner: History, Grades and Collector’s Guide

Founded 16 September 1918 (Soviet Russia); re-established for the USSR on 1 August 1924
Awarded for Military feats; in the Second World War for heroic acts or sustained combat merit
Long service From mid-1944 also for 20 years’ service in the armed forces
Awarded until 1991
In the collection No pieces currently available

The Order of the Red Banner was the first order created by the Soviet state, during the Civil War. Through the Second World War it remained one of the principal awards for bravery, and from 1944 it also marked long service.

What Was the Order of the Red Banner?

According to Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, the order was founded on 16 September 1918 by the Soviet Russian government and re-established for the USSR on 1 August 1924. During the Second World War it honoured both individual heroic acts and sustained merit in combat. From mid-1944 it was also given for twenty years’ service, so many examples are long-service awards rather than combat awards.

Who Awarded It, and Which Documents Go With It?

The award was recorded in the order book. Repeat awards were marked with numerals on the order, and the serial number identifies the award.

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.
  • Combat or long service: the document tells you which, and it matters for the history of the piece.
  • Early types from the 1920s and 1930s are rarer and more often copied.

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

Two Red Banners can look identical yet tell completely different stories: one for a single act of courage, the other for twenty years in uniform. Only the paperwork tells them apart.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Order of the Red Banner founded?

On 16 September 1918.

Was it given for long service?

Yes, from mid-1944, for 20 years’ service.

Was it awarded after the war?

Yes, until 1991.

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