Order of the Red Star
The Order of the Red Star ( Russian О́рден Кра́сной Звезды́ / Orden Krasnoj Svesdy) was a Soviet military award .
It was introduced on April 6, 1930 and awarded to soldiers of the Red Army and the Soviet Navy for “outstanding service in the course of defending the Soviet Union in peace and war” . The first recipient in September 1930 was General Wassili Blücher , who later fell victim to the " Great Terror " as Marshal .
The Order of the Red Star was one of the most common awards given by the Soviet Army and was awarded three million times to two million soldiers. It was also awarded as an award for long service until it was replaced by a special service award , the “For Impeccable Service” medal .
Description and way of carrying
The award consisted of an enamelled, red, pentagonal Soviet star made of silver with a centered image of a soldier with a rifle. Under the soldier there was the abbreviation " СССР "; around him the motto of the “ Communist Manifesto ” “Workers of all countries unite” in Russian. On the lower part of the star there was a hammer and sickle .
The medal is worn in its original size on the right chest. The strap buckle was dark red with a silver stripe straight down the middle.
