History

This was the highest award of the USSR, and was established on April 6, 1930. It is was conferred for exceptional achievements in revolutionary efforts, labour activities, defence of the homeland, establishing friendship and cooperation, fostering peace, and other outstanding activities completed for the Soviet government.

This Order can be conferred upon individual citizens, institutions, establishments, unions, military units, ships, federal republics, oblasts and okrugs,(administrative divisions), and different population centres (towns, cities, regions). Foreign institutions, individuals, and establishments may also be awarded the Order of Lenin.

Prior to the beginning of the Second World War, the Order of Lenin was awarded approximately 7,000 times. During the war, approximately 41,000 were awarded. For a Partisan Commander to earn an Order of Lenin during the war, he had to perform one of the following tasks; destroy a large railroad center; demolish a railroad station; capture at least 10 railroad trains; liberate at least 5,000 men from a POW camp; destroy 10 railroad trains with military equipment; capture an enemy supply point; capture at least 500 horses belonging to the German Fascist Army; destroy 10 enemy tanks; capture 1,000 rifles or 150 machine guns or 20 heavy mortars. However, in the second half of the war they were awarded for lesser achievements as well. From June 4, 1944 until September 14, 1957, the Order of Lenin was awarded for 25 years of service, and starting in the 1950s, it could be awarded for long service in civilian careers as well.

In total, there were over 460,000 Orders of Lenin awarded prior to the break up of the USSR.

There are six types of the Order of Lenin, which differ in either design, composition, size or the method/stye of wear. The Type I or the "Tractor" Lenin is distinguished in part by its screw back construction. The serial numbers are in the upper 600 range. It was awarded from May 23, 1930 until September 27, 1934. This decoration is composed of eight pieces and should sound hollow when tapped. The mint mark Goznak is stamped below the screwpost.

The first people awarded the "Hero of the Soviet Union" were provided with the "Tractor" Lenins in the low 500 range. These decorations are very rare due to their scarcity.

This Type is the most likely to be faked, and can often be identified because they are not hollow or made from eight pieces. They are also often crude in their manufacturing.