The Soviet Union's first and highest military decoration for extreme bravery

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before the Order of Lenin, there was the Order of the Red Banner. Established during the chaos of the Russian Civil War, this prestigious award recognized everything from legendary snipers to entire military units for extraordinary heroism on the battlefield.

Established on 16 September 1918 by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the Order of the Red Banner served as the highest military award of Soviet Russia and the USSR until the Order of Lenin was introduced in 1930. While the Order of Lenin could be granted for political or non-military achievements, the Red Banner remained a symbol of combat valor, often awarded for extreme heroism during operations. The All-Soviet version of this decoration was formally established for Red Army personnel via a decree issued on August 1, 1924.

The award's scope was remarkably broad. It was presented not only to individuals, such as the first recipient, Vasily Blyukher, on 28 September 1918, but also to ships, trains, cities, and even state enterprises. Units receiving the Order saw 'Red Banner' appended to their formal titles. The physical insignia was a silver badge featuring a white-enamelled design with a golden Hammer and Sickle, surrounded by wheat panicles and a Red Star. The badge's design featured a red flag displaying the motto 'Proletarians of all countries, Unite!' and the letters 'SSSR' at the base. Early versions were designed as screw-back pieces for easy attachment to clothing.

The prestige of the order was occasionally diluted by its use as a 'long service award' between 1944 and 1958, marking twenty or thirty years of service in the military or police. This practice was eventually ended by a 1958 decree that established the Medal 'For Impeable Service.' Despite this, the order's history is defined by intense combat, from the suppression of the 1921 Kronstadt naval rebellion to the pivotal battles of World War II, including the defense of Stalingrad. Notable recipients included the sniper Vasily Zaytsev, who earned his during the 1942 Stalingrad campaign. Even the notorious executioner Vasili Blokhin received the honor in 1941.

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