History

The Order of the Red Banner of Labour of the USSR was established on September 7, 1928. This Order was conferred in recognition of exceptional labour contributions to the fields of production, science, culture, literature, art education, or health care. It was awarded to USSR citizens, establishments, enterprises, organizations, autonomous and united republics, krais, oblasts, okrugs, regions, cities, and other types of population centres. It may also be awarded to foreign citizens and establishments.

This Order superseded the Red Banner of Labour awards of the individual USSR republics, although some continued to award these individual awards until 1933. The Order was awarded roughly 8,000 times before the Great patriotic War, and 30,000 by the end of the war. After 1991, it had been awarded 1,260,000 times.

There are six types of the orders, and several variations within each type. All types depict a dam a gold plated hammer and sickle in the center, and all have the Cyrillic letters USSR.

Type V (short oval, five sided suspension) was awarded from the early 1960s until 1968. The dimensions of this decoration are 44-45mm in height and only 37mm in width. There are two variations.

Variation I has smaller dimensions, and a stacked makers mark on the reverse. The serial numbers range from 197,000 to 255,000. The lowest observed number is 197,966, and the highest is 254,774.

Variation II has a larger, curved makers mark. The serial number range from 250,000 to 365,000. The lowest observed number is 252,398 and the highest is 364,540.

The obverse Russian inscription translates to: "Workers of the World Unite!" and "USSR".