Hero-Cities on the map of Russia

The term “hero city” appeared for the first time in the Order of the Supreme Commander dated May 1, 1945; it was used to name Leningrad, Sevastopol, Odessa and Stalingrad – the cities that were defended with exceptional heroism in the years of the Great Patriotic War. At that time it meant not an officially awarded title, but the emphasis of their important contribution to the resulting victory and the heroical role of its defenders. The participants of the defense of these cities were given specially established medals.

In 1965, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the title Hero City of the USSR was given to six cities: besides these already named in the 1945 order, it was given to Kiev and Moscow and also to the Hero Fortress Brest. In 1973 this title was given to Novorossiysk and Kerch, in 1974 to Minsk, in 1976 to Tula. In the year of the fortieth anniversary of the Victory (1985) the title of a Hero City was awarded to Smolensk and Murmansk.