Russia (USSR) Badge of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour ND (june 1943 - early 1950s)

Russia (USSR) Badge of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour ND (june 1943 - early 1950s)
49.38g. Ag 0.925. 47×37 mm. Type 3, Variant 7. Instituted by decree of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Council of People’s Commissars on 7 September 1928; officially approved on 15 December 1928. The statute was amended in 1936, 1943, 1947, and fully revised on 28 March 1980. Awarded for outstanding achievements in labour, production, science, culture, education, public service, and strengthening the defense and economy of the USSR. Recipients included Soviet citizens, enterprises, organizations, cities, and — in exceptional cases — foreign individuals or institutions. The order was worn on the left side of the chest, after the Order of the Red Banner. The decoration consists of a silver gear-shaped badge with a red-enameled banner inscribed “СССР” above a golden wreath of oak leaves encircling industrial motifs — a dam, railway, and river — overlaid with a gilt hammer and sickle. Around the gear rim runs the motto “Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!” (Proletarians of all countries, unite!). Below is a red-enameled five-pointed star. The ribbon is dark blue with narrow blue edge stripes. Designed by V. Kupriyanov (1928 type) and later revised by V. Golenecki (1935 type). The first Order No. 1 was awarded to the Krasny Putilovets (Kirov) Plant in Leningrad. Early personal recipients included aviation mechanics Fedotov, Shelagin, and Kvyatkovsky for their participation in the 1928 rescue of the Italia airship expedition. Before World War II more than 8,000 awards were made; during the war — about 21,500 to industrial and civilian workers. By 1991, over 1.2 million decorations had been issued, making it one of the most widely awarded Soviet orders for labour merit.