An interesting fact: Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev is the Guinness Book of Records record holder. There he is recorded as "The most awarded person in the world." In the 1991 edition, his list includes 15 orders and 18 medals of the USSR, as well as 29 medals and 49 orders of foreign states. At the same time, which is typical, Brezhnev was no longer awarded posthumously, but some insignia were completely taken away. During perestroika, in particular, Leonid Ilyich was deprived of the Order of Victory, the highest military award of the USSR, as well as the Polish Order of Military Valor.
The funny popular nickname of the second Ilyich is not the only reaction of the common people to the love for medals and orders of the first person. According to one tale, Brezhnev had to wear a tunic weighing 6 kilograms because of the awards. No one, of course, weighed his awards. But such a tunic itself would indeed be more than weighty. It was physically impossible to wear it, so Leonid Ilyich did not wear all his medals at the same time. As a rule, it was limited to "Golden Stars", "Hammer and Sickle", signs of Lenin's awards and sometimes slats of orders.
Brezhnev's awards presented at his funeral. Photo: Vladimir Akimov, RIA Novosti
Brezhnev also had such awards that were established specifically for him. In October 1981, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Leonid Ilyich's stay in the CPSU, a sign was introduced with the name, as you might guess, "50 years of being in the CPSU." The Central Committee solemnly presented the badge to the Secretary General, which he himself commented as follows: “As for me, receiving this honorary badge, I feel understandable excitement. And not just excitement, but a feeling of deep gratitude to the great party of Lenin. Two months later, by the way, there was a kind of record. Brezhnev celebrated his 75th birthday, and for this holiday he received thirteen different awards from eight states at once.
In addition to state awards, Brezhnev received many departmental ones. In 1977 he received a membership card of the Union of Journalists of the USSR. Together with him, Brezhnev also got another badge: Leonid Ilyich received the right to wear a badge confirming membership. And Leonid Ilyich received a number of awards more than once, and much more often than others. For example, only Marshal Zhukov became the Hero of the Soviet Union four times besides Brezhnev. And together with the award of the Hero of Socialist Labor, he turned out to be the owner of five Golden Stars at once, and no one was awarded such an honor except him.
The number of foreign awards of Leonid Brezhnev is impressive. According to various estimates, it ranges from five to seven dozen. Among them are orders and medals of Argentina, Afghanistan, Guinea, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, East Germany, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Yemen, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Romania. Some of them were established several centuries ago, many are awarded even now.
| Monument in Novorossiysk | ||
| Bronze bust in Dneprodzerzhinsk | ||
| In Moscow, on the grave near the Kremlin wall | ||
| Bust in Moscow | ||
| Bust in Vladimir | ||
| Near the Kremlin wall (view 2) | ||
| Memorial plaque in Dneprodzerzhinsk | ||
| Memorial plaque in Dnepropetrovsk | ||
| Memorial plaque in Moscow (old) | ||
| Memorial plaque in Dneprodzerzhinsk (2) | ||
| Memorial plaque in Dneprodzerzhinsk (3) | ||
| Memorial plaque in Dneprodzerzhinsk(4) | ||
| Memorial plaque in Moscow (new) | ||
| Memorial plaque in Kursk |
Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Marshal of the Soviet Union.
Born on December 6 (19), 1906 in the village of Kamenskoye, Yekaterinoslav district, Yekaterinoslav province, now the city of Kamenskoye (in 1936-2016 - Dneprodzerzhinsk) of the Dnepropetrovsk region of Ukraine, in the family of a metallurgist worker. Russian. From the age of 15 he began his working life. After graduating from the Kursk land management and reclamation technical school in 1927, he worked as a land surveyor in the Kokhanovsky district of the Orsha district of Belarus, in the Kursk province and in the Urals - head of the district land department and deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Bisertsky district council, first deputy head of the Ural regional land administration. In 1923 he joined the Komsomol. Member of the CPSU (b) / CPSU since 1931. After graduating from the Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical Institute in 1935, he worked as an engineer at the Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical Plant.
In October 1935 - October 1936, L.I. Brezhnev served in active military service: cadet of the Transbaikal armored school, political instructor of the tank company of the 14th mechanized corps in the Transbaikal military district.
From October 1936 to May 1937 he worked as the director of the Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical College. In May 1937, L.I. Brezhnev was elected deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Dneprodzerzhinsk City Council for construction and municipal services. Since May 1938 - head of the department of Soviet trade, and since February 1939 - secretary for propaganda of the Dnepropetrovsk regional committee of the CP (b) of Ukraine.
From the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, L.I. Brezhnev - in the army, sent to political work. Deputy Head of the Political Directorate of the Southern Front (06/28/1941-16.09.1942), Deputy Chief of the Political Directorate of the Black Sea Group of Forces (8.10.1942-1.04.1943), Head of the Political Department of the 18th Army (1.04.1943-9.05.1944), Deputy Chief of the Political Directorate 4th Ukrainian Front (05/09/1944-05/12/1945), head of the political department of the 4th Ukrainian Front (05/12/1945-07/09/1945). He did a lot of organizational and political work directly in formations, units and subunits to mobilize personnel to solve combat missions.
At the Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow on June 24, 1945, Major General Brezhnev L.I. took part as a commissar of the combined regiment of the 4th Ukrainian Front (commander of the combined regiment - Guard Lieutenant General, Hero of the Soviet Union A.L. Bondarev). Initially, he continued to serve in the Red Army: head of the political department of the Carpathian military district (07/09/1945-07/18/1946). July 18, 1946 transferred to the reserve.
From August 30, 1946, L.I. Brezhnev - 1st secretary of Zaporozhye, from November 22, 1947 - 1st secretary of the Dnepropetrovsk regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. From June 26, 1950 - 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova. From October 25, 1952 to March 5, 1953 - Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
Since August 1953 - again in military service. From March 5 to May 21, 1953 Brezhnev L.I. - Head of the political department of the Naval Ministry of the USSR. From May 21, 1953 to February 27, 1954 - Deputy Head of the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet Army and Navy. Since February 1954 - in reserve.
From February 6, 1954 - 2nd, and from August 6, 1955 - 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan. Since March 6, 1956, Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and candidate member of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee. From June 29, 1957 - Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU. During this period, on behalf of the Central Committee, he dealt with the development of heavy industry and construction, the development and production of the latest military equipment and weapons, equipping the Soviet Armed Forces with them, and the development of astronautics.
Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 17, 1961 "for outstanding services in the creation of samples of rocket technology and ensuring the successful flight of Soviet man into outer space" Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.
From May 7, 1960 to July 15, 1964, L.I. Brezhnev - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Simultaneously with June 22, 1963 - Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
At the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU on October 14, 1964, L.I. Brezhnev was elected First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and approved as Chairman of the Bureau of the CPSU Central Committee for the RSFSR.
Since April 8, 1966, L.I. Brezhnev - General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, simultaneously from June 16, 1977 - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 18, 1966 "for outstanding services to the Communist Party and the Soviet state in communist construction, in strengthening the country's defense capability and great services in the fight against the Nazi invaders at the front during the Great Patriotic War in connection with the 60 birthday anniversary" Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 18, 1976 "for outstanding services to the Communist Party and the Soviet state in communist construction, active, fruitful work to strengthen peace and security of peoples, for a great personal contribution to the cause of victory over the Nazi invaders in the Great Patriotic War war, in strengthening the economic and defense power of the Soviet Union and in connection with the 70th anniversary of his birth, "Marshal of the Soviet Union was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second Gold Star medal.
Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 19, 1978 "for outstanding services to the Communist Party and the Soviet state in strengthening the economic and defense power of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War and in the post-war period, for tireless work in the struggle for peace and in connection with the day birth" was awarded the Order of Lenin and the third medal "Gold Star".
Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 18, 1981 "for outstanding services to the Communist Party and the Soviet state in strengthening the economic and defense power of the Soviet Union, a great personal contribution to achieving victory over the Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic War, restoration and further development of the national economy of the USSR in the post-war period, tireless activity in the struggle for peace, for the fruitful leadership of communist construction and in connection with the 75th anniversary of his birth "was awarded the Order of Lenin and the fourth Gold Star medal.
L.I. Brezhnev L.I. was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 3rd-10th convocations (1950-1982).
L.I. Brezhnev died on November 10, 1982. He was buried in Moscow on Red Square near the Kremlin wall. There is a granite bust on the grave.
Military ranks:
Brigadier Commissar (June 1941)
colonel (12/15/1942),
major general (2.11.1944),
lieutenant general (08/04/1953),
army general (03/22/1974),
Marshal of the Soviet Union (05/07/1976).He was awarded eight Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Bohdan Khmelnitsky 2nd Class, Orders of the Patriotic War 1st Class, Red Star, medals, numerous foreign orders. Honorary citizen of the city of Dnepropetrovsk (1979).
On February 20, 1978, he was awarded the highest Soviet military order "Victory", but the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by its Decree of September 21, 1989, canceled the Decree of 1978 on awarding Leonid Brezhnev. order "Victory", as contrary to the statute of this order.
He was awarded the international Lenin Prize "For Strengthening Peace Among Nations" (1973), the Lenin Prize for Literature (1979).
Bronze bust of L.I. Brezhneva L.I. installed in the city of Dneprodzerzhinsk. On September 16, 2004, a monument to L.I. Brezhnev. Monuments have also been erected in Moscow and Vladimir. Name L.I. Brezhnev from 1982 to 1988 wore the city of Naberezhnye Chelny (Tatar ASSR), areas in Moscow and Dneprodzerzhinsk. His name was given to the Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant, the Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant Production Association, the Novorossiysk Cement Plant, and the Atommash Volgodonsk Production Association. All denominations were canceled in 1988. In Moscow, on the house in which he lived, and in Kursk, on the building in which he studied, memorial plaques were installed.
Compositions:
Leninsky course: Speeches and articles. T. 1-9. M., 1973-1983;
Memories. M., 1983.
A complete list of L.I. Brezhnev.
State awards of the USSR:
4 medals "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union (12/18/1966 - No. 11320, 12/18/1976 - No. 97 / II, 12/19/1978 - No. 5 / III, 12/18/1981 - No. 2 / IV)
Hammer and Sickle Medal of the Hero of Socialist Labor (06/17/1961)
8 orders of Lenin (2.12.1947 - No. 66231, 18.12.1956 - No. 281153, 17.06.1961 - No. 344996, 18.12.1966 - No. 382246, 2.10.1971 - No. 401096, 18.12.1976 - No. 425869, 12/19/1978 - No. 432408, 12/18/1981 - No. 458500)
Order "Victory" (02/20/1978 - No. 20), the award was canceled by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on 09/21/1989
2 orders of the October Revolution (03/14/1979 - No. 58256, 12/18/1980 - No. 87064)
2 Orders of the Red Banner (03/27/1942 - No. 23636, 05/29/1944 - No. 8148/2)
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 2nd class (05/23/1945 - No. 1182)
Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (09/18/1943 - No. 11025)
Order of the Red Star (03/16/1943 - No. 102567)
medal "For Military Merit"
Medal "For the Defense of Odessa"
Medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus"
medal "For the liberation of Warsaw"
Medal "For the Capture of Vienna"
Medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
medal "For the restoration of ferrous metallurgy enterprises of the south" medal "For the development of virgin lands"
medal "In memory of the 250th anniversary of Leningrad"
medal "In memory of the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv"
medal "40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
medal "50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
medal "60 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Medal "For Valiant Labor. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of V.I. Lenin"
Medal of the laureate of the Lenin Prize (20.04.1979)
Honorary weapon - personalized checker with a golden image of the State Emblem of the USSR (12/18/1976)Foreign awards:
Argentina Award:
Order of the May Revolution 1st class (1974)
Award of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan:
Order of the Sun of Freedom (12/16/1981)
Awards of the People's Republic of Bulgaria:
3 Gold Stars of the Hero of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (8.09.1973, 12.1976, 12.1981)
3 Orders of Georgy Dimitrov (09/08/1973, 12/1976, 12/1981)
medal "100 years of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke" (1978)
medal "30 years of the Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria" (1974)
medal "90th anniversary of the birth of G. Dimitrov" (1974)
medal "100 years since the birth of G. Dimitrov" (1982)
Awards of the Hungarian People's Republic:
2 Orders of the Banner of Hungary with diamonds (12/17/1976, 12/18/1981)
Awards of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
Gold Medal of the Hero of Labor of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (12/21/1981)
Order of Ho Chi Minh 1st degree (12/21/1981)
Order of the Golden Star (07.1980)
Award of the Republic of Guinea:
Order of Independence (02.1961)
Awards of the German Democratic Republic:
3 Gold Stars of the Hero of the German Democratic Republic (12/13/1976, 12/18/1979, 12/18/1981)
3 orders of Karl Marx (10.1974, 12.18.1979, 12.18.1981)
Big Star of the Order of Friendship of Peoples with diamonds (12/13/1976)
medal "For Merit in Strengthening the GDR" (1979)
Indonesian awards:
2 stars and badge of the Order of the Star of Indonesia, 1st class (1961, 1976)
Award of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen:
Order of the Revolution October 14 (09.1982)
Award of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea:
Order of the State Banner of the 1st degree (19.08.1982)
Awards of the Republic of Cuba:
Gold Star of the Hero of Cuba (12/15/1981)
Order of José Marti (01/29/1974)
Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (12/15/1981)
Order of Playa Giron (12/15/1976)
medal "20 years of the assault on the barracks of Moncada" (1973)
medal "20 years of the Revolutionary Armed Forces" (1976)
Awards of the Lao People's Democratic Republic:
Gold Star of the Hero of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (12/15/1981)
Gold Medal of the Nation (12/15/1981)
Awards of the Mongolian People's Republic:
2 Gold Stars of the Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic (12/14/1976, 12/1981)
4 Orders of Sukhbaatar (1966, 1971, 12/14/1976, 12/1981)
medal "30 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol" (1969)
medal "40 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol" (1979)
medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Revolution" (1971)
medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Army" (1971)
medal "30 years of Victory over Japan" (1975)
Republic of Peru Award:
Order of the Sun of Peru, 1st class (06.1978)
Awards of the Polish People's Republic:
Grand Cross of the Order "Virtuti Militari" (07/21/1974, award canceled 07/10/1990)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, 1st class (1976)
star and badge of the Order of Merit of Poland, 1st class (12.1981)
Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 2nd class (1946)
medal "For the Oder, Neisse, Baltic" (1946)
medal "Victory and Freedom" (1946)
Awards of the Socialist Republic of Romania:
Order of the Star of Romania, 1st class (11/24/1976)
Order "Victory of Socialism" (12.1981)
Finnish award:
star and badge of the Order of the White Rose 1st class (12/16/1976)
Awards of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic:
3 Gold Stars of the Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (05/05/1970, 10/29/1976, 12/16/1981)
4 orders of Klement Gottwald (05/05/1970, 10/29/1976, 05/1978, 12/16/1981)
Order of the White Lion "For Victory", 1st class (1946)
star and badge of the Order of the White Lion with chain (02.1973)
2 Military Crosses 1939 (1945, 1947)
medal "For bravery before the enemy" (1945)
Military commemorative medal (1946)
Dukel Commemorative Medal (1960)
medal "20 years of the Slovak National Uprising" (1964)
medal "50 years of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia" (1971)
medal "30 years of the Slovak National Uprising" (1975)
medal "For strengthening friendship in arms" 1st degree (1980)
Ethiopian Socialist Award:
Order of the Star of Honor (10.1980)
Awards of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:
Order of the Star of Yugoslavia, 1st class (1962)
Order of Liberty with Diamonds (1976)Awards of international and public organizations
medal of the laureate of the International Lenin Prize "For the strengthening of peace between peoples" (06/12/1973)
F. Joliot-Curie Gold Medal of Peace (11/14/1975, from the World Peace Council)
medal of the State Prize named after K. Gottwald (03.1975)
O. Gan UN Peace Gold Medal (09.1977)
Karl Marx Gold Medal (11/16/1977, from the Academy of Sciences of the USSR)
medal of the laureate of the G. Dimitrov Prize (23.11.1978)
Gold medal of the International Prize for Peace "Golden Mercury" (10/13/1980)
badge "50 years of being in the CPSU" (from the Central Committee of the CPSU) (1981)
Gold medal of the World Federation of Trade Unions (15.02.1982)
4.3 (85%) 4 votes
1. Hero of Socialist Labor under No. 9995 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 344996 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 06/17/1961)
2. Order of Lenin - 3 pcs.
3. medal "For the defense of Odessa"
4. medal "For the capture of Warsaw"
5. medal "For the capture of Vienna"
6. medal "For valiant labor in the Second World War 1941-1945"
7. medal "For the victory over Germany 1941-1945"
8. medal "For the restoration of ferrous metallurgy enterprises of the south" (1951)
9. medal "For the development of virgin lands" (1956)
10. medal "In memory of the 250th anniversary of Leningrad" (1957)
11. medal "40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1957)
12 medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (1965)
13. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 11230 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 382246 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/18/1966)
14. Order of the October Revolution - 2 pcs. (1967)
15. medal "50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1967)
16. medal “For Valiant Labor. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (1969)
17. medal "30 years of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (1975)
18. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 97 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 425869 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/18/1976)
19. honorary weapon - personalized checker with a golden image of the State Emblem of the USSR (12/18/1976)
20. medal "60 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1977)
21. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 5 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 432408 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/19/1978)
22. Order "Victory" (Decree of the PVS of the USSR on February 20, 1978).
23. Medal of the laureate of the All-Union Lenin Prize (04/20/1979)
24. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 2 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 458500 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/18/1981)
25. medal "In memory of the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv" (1982) Argentina:
Order of the May Revolution 1st class (1974)
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA):
Order of the Sun of Freedom (1981)
People's Republic of Bulgaria (NRB):
Gold Star Hero of the NRB - 3 awards (1973, 1976, 1981)
Order of Georgy Dimitrov - 3 awards (1973, 1976, 1981)
medal "100 years of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke" (1978)
medal "30 years of the Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria" (1974)
medal "90th anniversary of the birth of G. Dimitrov" (1974)
medal "100 years since the birth of G. Dimitrov" (1982)
Hungarian People's Republic (HPR):
Order of the Banner of Hungary with diamonds - 2 awards (1976, 1981)
honorary veteran of the Krasny Chepel plant
Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV):
Gold medal of the Hero of Labor of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1982)
Order of Ho Chi Minh 1st class (1982)
Order of the Golden Star (1980)
Republic of Guinea:
Order of Independence (1961)
German Democratic Republic (GDR):
Gold Star of the Hero of the GDR - 3 awards (1976, 1979, 1981)
Order of Karl Marx - 3 awards (1974, 1979, 1981)
order "Big Star of Friendship of Peoples" with diamonds (1976)
medal "For Merit in Strengthening the GDR" (1979)
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Indonesia:
star and badge of the Order of the Star of Indonesia, 1st class - 2 awards (1961, 1976)
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen:
Order of the Revolution October 14 (1982)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (PRC):
Order of the State Banner of the 1st degree (1976)
Republic of Cuba:
Gold Star of the Hero of Cuba (1981)
Order of José Marti (1974)
Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (1981)
order "Playa Giron" (1976)
medal "20 years of the assault on the barracks of Moncada" (1973)
medal "20 years of the Revolutionary Armed Forces" (1976)
Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR):
Gold Star of the Hero of the Lao PDR (1981)
Gold Medal of the Nation (1982)
Mongolian People's Republic (MPR):
Gold Star of the Hero of the MPR (1976)
Gold Star of the Hero of Labor of the MPR (1981)
Order of Sukhbaatar - 4 awards (1966, 1971, 1976, 1981)
medal "30 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol" (1969)
medal "40 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol" (1979)
medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Revolution" (1971)
medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Army" (1971)
medal "30 years of Victory over Japan" (1975)
Republic of Peru:
Order of the Sun of Peru, 1st class (1978)
Polish People's Republic:
Grand Cross of the Order "Virtuti Militari" (21 July 1974)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, 1st class (1976)
star and badge of the Order of Merit of Poland, 1st class (1981)
Cross of Grunwald, 2nd class (1946)
medal "For the Oder, Neisse, Baltic" (1946)
medal "Victory and Freedom" (1946)
Honorary metallurgist of the plant "Guta-Warsaw"
Honorary Builder of the Katowice Iron and Steel Works (1976)
Socialist Republic of Romania:
Order of the Star of Romania, 1st class (1976)
Order "Victory of Socialism" (1981)
Finland:
star and badge of the Order of the White Rose 1st class (1976)
Order of the White Rose with chain (1976)
Czechoslovak People's Republic:
Gold Star of the Hero of Czechoslovakia - 3 awards (05/05/1970, 10/26/1976, 12/16/1981)
Order of Klement Gottwald - 4 awards (1970, 1976, 1978, 1981)
Order of the White Lion "For Victory", 1st class (1946)
star and badge of the Order of the White Lion with chain (1973)
Military Cross 1939 - 2 awards (1945, 1947)
medal "For bravery before the enemy" (1945)
Military commemorative medal (1946)
Dukel Commemorative Medal (1960)
medal "20 years of the Slovak National Uprising" (1964)
medal "50 years of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia" (1971)
medal "30 years of the Slovak National Uprising" (1975)
medal "For strengthening friendship in arms" 1st degree (1980)
Socialist Ethiopia:
Order of the Star of Honor (1980)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:
Order of the Star of Yugoslavia, 1st class (1962)
Order of Liberty (1976)
As a result, such a picture is obtained. L.I. Brezhnev had 44 orders, 22 medals and 14 Gold Stars of foreign countries. The total amount is exactly 80 awards.
The following should be added to this list:
Marshal's Star with the rank of General of the Army
Marshal star with the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union (05/07/1976)
Prizes and other awards L.I. Brezhnev:
medal of the laureate of the International Lenin Prize "For the strengthening of peace between peoples" (06/12/1973)
F. Joliot-Curie Gold Medal of Peace (11/14/1975, from the World Peace Council)
O. Gan UN Peace Gold Medal (1977)
medal of the laureate of the G. Dimitrov Prize (23.11.1978)
Medal of the laureate of the All-Union Lenin Prize (04/20/1979)
Gold medal of the International Prize for Peace "Golden Mercury"
Karl Marx Gold Medal (1977, from the Academy of Sciences of the USSR)
badge "50 years of being in the CPSU" (from the Central Committee of the CPSU)
Gold medal of the World Federation of Trade Unions (15.02.1982)
Honorary titles:
Honorary citizen of the city of Dnepropetrovsk (21.08.1979);
Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (05/21/1981);
Honorary cadet of the 1st tank company of the armored school of the Trans-Baikal Military District (12/17/1981);
Honorary citizen of Kyiv (26.04.1982);
Honorary Citizen of Baku (09/24/1982);
USSR awards - 38 awards; awards of foreign states - 80 awards; awards - 8 awards; badge "50 years of being in the CPSU" - 1 award; Marshal's Stars - 2 awards; honorary weapons - 2 awards. The total number of awards is 131 units.
Many different independent sources write about the awards of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. And, oddly enough, each source names a different number of orders and medals. It just seems that the periodicals set themselves the goal of denigrating and trampling this lover of medals into the dirt, but do not set themselves the goal of calculating how many awards there were, in fact.
In some articles there were mentions of more than 200 awards of the Secretary General, someone wrote that he was awarded all the awards of the USSR, except for a set of Mother Heroine awards.
Conventionally, the awards of Leonid Ilyich would be better divided into 3 categories: received for the war, received in the period between the end of the war and ascension to the post of Secretary General, received at the post of Secretary General. So let's start counting.
Military awards of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev:
1. Order of the Red Star
2. Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 2nd class.
3. Order of the Red Banner - 2 pcs.
4. Order of the Patriotic War 1 step.
5. medal "For Military Merit"
6. medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus"
7. honorary weapon - inscribed Mauser (awarded in 1943)
From the above list it can be seen that the number of awards from Leonid Brezhnev is more than modest. Only 5 orders (including 2 orders of the Red Banner) and 2 medals.
After L.I. Brezhnev took the post of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1964, the flow of awards from him increased significantly. From the end of the war to the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Leonid Brezhnev earned the following awards:
1. Hero of Socialist Labor under No. 9995 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 344996 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 06/17/1961)
2. Order of Lenin - 3 pcs.
3. medal "For the defense of Odessa"
4. medal "For the capture of Warsaw"
5. medal "For the capture of Vienna"
6. medal "For valiant labor in the Second World War 1941-1945"
7. medal "For the victory over Germany 1941-1945"
8. medal "For the restoration of ferrous metallurgy enterprises of the south" (1951)
9. medal "For the development of virgin lands" (1956)
10. medal "In memory of the 250th anniversary of Leningrad" (1957)
11. medal "40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1957)
So, it is clear that from the moment the war ended until the beginning of 1964, when L.I. Brezhnev took the highest post in the country of awards, he significantly increased. The output is like this:
Orders - 4 pcs. (4 orders of Lenin)
Medals - 10 pcs. (including the medal of the Hero of Socialist Labor)
In 1964 L.I. Brezhnev takes an active part in the removal of N.S. Khrushchev, the then leader of the country and heads the secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPSU. During this period, and until his death in 1982, a real stream of awards fell on him.
1. medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (1965)
2. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 11230 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 382246 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/18/1966)
3. Order of the October Revolution - 2 pcs. (1967)
4. medal "50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1967)
5. medal “For Valiant Labor. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (1969)
6. medal "30 years of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (1975)
7. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 97 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 425869 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/18/1976)
8. honorary weapon - a nominal checker with a golden image of the State Emblem of the USSR (12/18/1976)
9. medal "60 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1977)
10. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 5 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 432408 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/19/1978)
11. Order "Victory" (Decree of the PVS of the USSR on February 20, 1978).
12. Medal of the laureate of the All-Union Lenin Prize (04/20/1979)
13. medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union under No. 2 with the award of the Order of Lenin under No. 458500 (Decree of the USSR PVS of 12/18/1981)
14. medal "In memory of the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv" (1982)
In total, the Secretary General earned over the years of his reign - 6 orders and 11 medals (including 4 medals of the Hero of the Soviet Union)
As you can see, from the above count, the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee has only 16 orders and 23 medals. Some sources give just such a figure, with the difference that there are 22 medals in their list. Since the sign of the All-Union Lenin Prize winner is also a prize medal, we will not include it. Let there be 22 medals.
The same "authoritative" sources claim that Brezhnev had 71 awards from foreign countries (42 orders and 29 medals). Let's try to calculate the actual number of his awards. For greater clarity, we will compile this list by country in alphabetical order.
Argentina:
Order of the May Revolution 1st class (1974)
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA):
Order of the Sun of Freedom (1981)
People's Republic of Bulgaria (NRB):
Gold Star Hero of the NRB - 3 awards (1973, 1976, 1981)
Order of Georgy Dimitrov - 3 awards (1973, 1976, 1981)
medal "100 years of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke" (1978)
medal "30 years of the Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria" (1974)
medal "90th anniversary of the birth of G. Dimitrov" (1974)
medal "100 years since the birth of G. Dimitrov" (1982)
Hungarian People's Republic (HPR):
Order of the Banner of Hungary with diamonds - 2 awards (1976, 1981)
honorary veteran of the Krasny Chepel plant
Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV):
Gold medal of the Hero of Labor of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1982)
Order of Ho Chi Minh 1st class (1982)
Order of the Golden Star (1980)
Republic of Guinea:
Order of Independence (1961)
German Democratic Republic (GDR):
Gold Star of the Hero of the GDR - 3 awards (1976, 1979, 1981)
Order of Karl Marx - 3 awards (1974, 1979, 1981)
order "Big Star of Friendship of Peoples" with diamonds (1976)
medal "For Merit in Strengthening the GDR" (1979)
Indonesia:
star and badge of the Order of the Star of Indonesia, 1st class - 2 awards (1961, 1976)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (PRC):
Order of the State Banner of the 1st degree (1976)
Republic of Cuba:
Gold Star of the Hero of Cuba (1981)
Order of José Marti (1974)
Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (1981)
order "Playa Giron" (1976)
medal "20 years of the assault on the barracks of Moncada" (1973)
medal "20 years of the Revolutionary Armed Forces" (1976)
Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR):
Gold Star of the Hero of the Lao PDR (1981)
Gold Medal of the Nation (1982)
Mongolian People's Republic (MPR):
Gold Star of the Hero of the MPR (1976)
Gold Star of the Hero of Labor of the MPR (1981)
Order of Sukhbaatar - 4 awards (1966, 1971, 1976, 1981)
medal "30 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol" (1969)
medal "40 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol" (1979)
medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Revolution" (1971)
medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Army" (1971)
medal "30 years of Victory over Japan" (1975)
Republic of Peru:
Order of the Sun of Peru, 1st class (1978)
Polish People's Republic:
Grand Cross of the Order "Virtuti Militari" (21 July 1974)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, 1st class (1976)
star and badge of the Order of Merit of Poland, 1st class (1981)
Cross of Grunwald, 2nd class (1946)
medal "For the Oder, Neisse, Baltic" (1946)
medal "Victory and Freedom" (1946)
Honorary metallurgist of the plant "Guta-Warsaw"
Honorary Builder of the Katowice Iron and Steel Works (1976)
Socialist Republic of Romania:
Order of the Star of Romania, 1st class (1976)
Order "Victory of Socialism" (1981)
Finland:
star and badge of the Order of the White Rose 1st class (1976)
Order of the White Rose with chain (1976)
Czechoslovak People's Republic:
Gold Star of the Hero of Czechoslovakia - 3 awards (05/05/1970, 10/26/1976, 12/16/1981)
Order of Klement Gottwald - 4 awards (1970, 1976, 1978, 1981)
Order of the White Lion "For Victory", 1st class (1946)
star and badge of the Order of the White Lion with chain (1973)
Military Cross 1939 - 2 awards (1945, 1947)
medal "For bravery before the enemy" (1945)
Military commemorative medal (1946)
Dukel Commemorative Medal (1960)
medal "20 years of the Slovak National Uprising" (1964)
medal "50 years of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia" (1971)
medal "30 years of the Slovak National Uprising" (1975)
medal "For strengthening friendship in arms" 1st degree (1980)
Socialist Ethiopia:
Order of the Star of Honor (1980)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:
Order of the Star of Yugoslavia, 1st class (1962)
Order of Liberty (1976)
As a result, such a picture is obtained. L.I. Brezhnev had 44 orders, 22 medals and 14 Gold Stars of foreign countries. The total amount is exactly 80 awards.
The following should be added to this list:
Marshal's Star with the rank of General of the Army
Marshal star with the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union (05/07/1976)
Prizes and other awards L.I. Brezhnev:
medal of the laureate of the International Lenin Prize "For the strengthening of peace between peoples" (06/12/1973)
F. Joliot-Curie Gold Medal of Peace (11/14/1975, from the World Peace Council)
O. Gan UN Peace Gold Medal (1977)
medal of the laureate of the G. Dimitrov Prize (23.11.1978)
Medal of the laureate of the All-Union Lenin Prize (04/20/1979)
Gold medal of the International Prize for Peace "Golden Mercury"
Karl Marx Gold Medal (1977, from the Academy of Sciences of the USSR)
badge "50 years of being in the CPSU" (from the Central Committee of the CPSU)
Gold medal of the World Federation of Trade Unions (15.02.1982)
Honorary titles:
Honorary citizen of the city of Dnepropetrovsk (21.08.1979);
Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (05/21/1981);
Honorary cadet of the 1st tank company of the armored school of the Trans-Baikal Military District (12/17/1981);
Honorary citizen of Kyiv (26.04.1982);
Honorary Citizen of Baku (09/24/1982);
After the death of the Secretary General, his awards were handed over to the order storeroom of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. According to the inventory, the following number of awards were handed over:
five Gold Star Heroes,
16 orders of the USSR
18 medals of the USSR,
two marshal's stars with diamonds - a general of the army and a marshal of the Soviet Union, an honorary weapon with a gold image of the State Emblem of the USSR,
42 orders and 29 medals of foreign states.
Now let's calculate.
5 Gold Stars of the Hero were handed over (4 Stars of the Hero of the USSR and 1 Hero of Socialist Labor). Quantity matches.
16 orders of the USSR - coincides with the number of awards presented
18 medals of the USSR - in total, Brezhnev had 22 medals. What 4 medals did not pass relatives?
Two marshal stars - the same (stars of the army general and Marshal of the Soviet Union)
An honorary weapon - there is a personalized saber, but there is no award Mauser, which Leonid Ilyich received in 1943. Maybe he handed it over immediately after the war, or maybe his relatives left it as a keepsake. It's not clear yet.
42 orders and 29 medals of foreign states. The result is 71 surrendered awards. I counted 80. Something was taken away from Brezhnev after his death. Order "Victory" 21.09.1989 and Grand Cross of the Order "Virtuti Militari" 10 July 1990
If we count all the awards that the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich had, we get the following figure. USSR awards - 38 awards; awards of foreign states - 80 awards; awards - 8 awards; badge "50 years of being in the CPSU" - 1 award; Marshal's Stars - 2 awards; honorary weapons - 2 awards. The total number of awards is 131 units.
True, 2 awards were canceled after death, so at the moment the number of awards will be 129 units.
So the rumors about allegedly 200 orders and medals have no real basis, although the true number of awards is very close to the indicated number.
On November 10, 1982, Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, passed away.
Brezhnev became famous for his suppression of dissent, the fight against so-called parasitism, the accumulation of an unprecedented military arsenal of the country (which led to a depressing shortage of consumer goods), a permanent leadership apparatus (which caused widespread corruption and oppressive political stagnation), and also - addiction to awards and passionate kisses with associates.
Before stagnation and shortages, there was a short period of developed socialism - in the absence of abundance, citizens received goods and affordable entertainment and recreation at low prices, and medical services, education, public housing for use were completely free. How such extravagance was ensured is a separate acute issue, but the mass of ordinary citizens was extremely pleased.
Leonid Ilyich was born on December 19, 1906; His career was stubbornly progressive: from an ordinary land surveyor to being elected to the Central Committee of the CPSU (1956), membership in the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU, chairmanship of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, active participation in the conspiracy to remove General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev and taking his post in 1964. However, the farce enacted to plant the cult of the new leader of socialism rather shows the puppet nature of such a ruler, many historians talk about the actual omnipotence of the party apparatus, the KGB and the army elite.
Under Brezhnev, who served as Secretary General for 18 years, the political life of the country was mothballed, confirmed by the unshakable stability of the unusually conservative leadership of the USSR. Then they abandoned the rapid construction of communism in favor of the idea of developed socialism. The result of some Brezhnev's reforms was a temporary increase in the standard of living of the population. Almost 50 percent of the housing stock of the USSR was built, and people received apartments for free, albeit uncomfortable and very cramped. The aerospace, automobile, oil and gas and military industries developed well.
By the mid-70s of the 20th century, stagnation became obvious: the nomenclature of the party grew unthinkably due to the permanent composition, small dissidents appeared, and the obsession of the party members in full control over the intelligentsia was manifested in response. Dissent was suppressed by Brezhnev both in the USSR and in all states of the socialist camp. Is it really for this that Leonid Ilyich received prestigious medals from the governments of all socialist countries?
The development of dialogue with the West continued, which became tense after the participation of the USSR in African military events and the direct invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In those years, the defense capability of the Soviet Union reached such a level that the country's armed forces alone could withstand the combined armies of the entire NATO bloc. But having got involved in the arms race in the 1980s, the USSR began to spend colossal funds on it to the detriment of the civilian sectors of the economy, and a total deficit began.
Leonid Ilyich fell ill long before his death, suffered a coma, strokes and heart attacks. Then they started talking openly about the eccentricities of the Secretary General - love to kiss politicians hotly and "hang orders for himself." Rumor exaggerated the facts: Brezhnev was awarded all the orders of the USSR, except for the Order of the Mother Heroine, his tunic with awards weighed six kg (I wonder who weighed him). On November 26, 1986, the awards of Leonid Ilyich were transferred from his dacha to the order storeroom of the Presidium of the Supreme Council.
Having a list of deposited awards, an entry from the Guinness Book of Records (Progress Publishing House, 1991) and the results of investigations by amateur historians, Vecherka compiled a list of Leonid Ilyich's awards.
1. Soviet orders
On September 21, 1989, signed by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, a Decree was issued "On the abolition of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 20, 1978" On the awarding of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Chairman of the Council of Defense of the USSR Marshal of the Soviet Union Brezhnev L. I. Order of Victory. After all, they were awarded the status of only commanders for major victories on a frontal scale, to which Brezhnev had nothing to do, although in peacetime he was listed as a marshal. During his lifetime, Leonid Ilyich had 16 Soviet orders:
Eight Orders of Lenin, the Order of Victory (the award was canceled after death), two Orders of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 2nd Class, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, the Order of the Red Star.
It is a mistake to believe the myth that Leonid Brezhnev is the owner of the largest number of orders of Lenin. In the USSR, several military leaders and politicians also had 8 orders, and some - 9 orders of Lenin.
2. Gold Soviet medals of the Hero
The titles of Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Socialist Labor were reinforced with gold medals along with the Order of Lenin. Four times Heroes of the Soviet Union were only Marshal Georgy Zhukov and Marshal Brezhnev. But the owner of five Gold Medals of the Hero was only Leonid Ilyich - along with four titles of the Hero of the Soviet Union and one - Hero of Socialist Labor.
4 Gold Hero Stars and 1 Gold Hammer and Sickle.
3. Soviet medals
In the inventory before the transfer of awards to the order pantry of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, there are only 18 medals. However, in the photographs, meticulous researchers found several medals unaccounted for in the act of surrendering medals. If you count them, you get 22 medals in total, and minus five Gold medals - 17:
Full list of Soviet Brezhnev medals:
"For Military Merit", "For the Defense of Odessa", "For the Defense of the Caucasus", "For the Liberation of Warsaw", "For the Capture of Vienna", "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945", "For the restoration of ferrous metallurgy enterprises of the South", "For the development of virgin lands", "In memory of the 250th anniversary of Leningrad", "In memory of the 1500th anniversary of Kiev", "40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", " 50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", "60 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", "20 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941 - 1945", "30 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941 - 1945", "For valiant work. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin"
4. Foreign awards.
It was not for nothing that Leonid Ilyich did not wear them on his tunic. Not only from convictions or political views - from such a pile of metal awards chain mail would have turned out, or even more than one. Let's arrange them in alphabetical order of the awarding countries. We publish a list of orders and medals that were awarded to Leonid Ilyich during his lifetime. In 1990, Poland canceled the awarding of Brezhnev with one order and a star, and other similar acts may have passed without publicity.
From Argentina Order of the May Revolution 1st class; from the Republic of Afghanistan Order "Sun of Liberty"; for the People's Republic of Bulgaria: three Gold Stars of the Hero of the NRB, three orders of Georgy Dimitrov, medal "100 years of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke", medal "30 years of the Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria", medal "90 years since the birth of G. Dimitrov", medal "100 years since G. Dimitrov's birthday"; for the Hungarian People's Republic two orders of the Banner of Hungary with diamonds; for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Gold Medal of the Hero of Labor of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Order of Ho Chi Minh 1st degree, Order of the Golden Star; for the Republic of Guinea Order of Independence; for the German Democratic Republic: three Gold Stars of the Hero of the GDR, three Orders of Karl Marx, the Order of the "Big Star of Friendship of Peoples" with diamonds, a medal "For Merit in Strengthening the GDR", two stars from Indonesia and two badges of the Order of the "Star of Indonesia" 1st class; for the Democratic People's Republic of Yemen Order of the Revolution of October 14, Order of the National Banner of the 1st degree from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; for the Republic of Cuba: Gold Star of the Hero of Cuba, Order of José Marti, Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Order of Playa Giron, medal "20 years of the assault on the Moncado barracks", medal "20 years of the Revolutionary Armed Forces", from the People's Democratic Republic of Laos: Gold Star of the Hero of the NDRL, Gold Medal of the Nation; for the Mongolian People's Republic: Gold Star of the Hero of the MPR, Gold Star of the Hero of Labor of the MPR, four orders of Sukhbaatar, medal "30 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol", medal "40 years of Victory at Khalkhin Gol", medal "50 years of the Mongolian People's Revolution", medal "50th Anniversary of the Mongolian People's Army", medal "30th Anniversary of the Victory over Japan"; for the Republic of Peru: Order of the Sun of Peru, 1st class; from the Polish People's Republic: star and badge of the Order of Virtuti Military 1st class (awarding canceled in 1990), star and badge of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland 1st class, star and badge of the Order of Merit of Poland 1st class, Cross of Grunwald 2nd class, medal " For the Oder, Neisse, Baltic", medal "Victory and Freedom"; for the Socialist Republic of Romania: order "Star of Romania" 1st class, order "Victory of Socialism", from Finland: star and badge of the Order of the White Rose 1st class, order of the White Rose with a chain; for the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic: three Golden Stars of the Hero of Czechoslovakia, four Orders of Klement Gottwald, Order of the White Lion "For Victory" 1st class, star and badge of the Order of the White Lion with a chain, two military crosses of 1939, medal "For bravery before the enemy", military commemorative medal (1946), Dukel commemorative medal (1960), medal "20 years of the Slovak National Uprising", medal "50 years of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia", medal "30 years of the Slovak National Uprising", medal "For Strengthening Friendship in Arms" 1st degree; for the Socialist Republic of Ethiopia: order "Star of Honor"; for the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Order "Star of Yugoslavia" 1st class, Order of Liberty with diamonds
5. Awards of different classifications.
Leonid Brezhnev was awarded the Lenin Prize for Literature for three pamphlets: Malaya Zemlya, Vozrozhdeniye, and Tselina, with a circulation of more than 15 million copies each. They were written by professional authors and journalists. The brochures were recommended for mandatory study in the school curriculum.
BREZHNEV. I thank my comrades from the bottom of my heart for the trust placed in me by conferring the military rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. I will do my best to justify this high rank and the confidence that the Politburo places in me as General Secretary and Chairman of the Defense Council. I just want to ask the comrades how it will be from the international point of view, will it not cause any rumors?
EVERYONE says that this is a completely normal thing, since you are the Chairman of the Defense Council and have the military rank of Army General.
BREZHNEV. We will not publish this in the press, just as the decision to award me the rank of army general was not published.
DECISION on conferring the military rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union Comrade L.I. Brezhnev is accepted unanimously.
