Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan explained

Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Image Size:	150px
Image Caption:	The 1987–1992 version of the award
Awarded For:	Heroic feats in service to the Afghan state and society
Type:	Highest degree of distinction
Eligibility:	Afghan and foreign citizens
Status:	No longer awarded
Established:	August 9, 1986
Lastawarded:	1988
Total Awarded:	16

The title Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (Pushto; Pashto: افغانستان دیموکراتیک جمهوریت اتل) was the highest distinction in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, awarded to both citizens of the Afghanistan and other states who have performed heroic deeds in the name of defending the gains of the Saur Revolution, freedom, territorial integrity and independence of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan or who have made an outstanding contribution to strengthening the defense of the Afghan state. It was awarded alongside the and the .^{[1] [2] [3]}

Notable recipients

Single award

• Colonel Abdul Ahad Momand – Cosmonaut and Aviator (Awarded in 1988)^[4]
• Sher Zamin – Afghan Air Force pilot, the first ever recipient of the award
• Lieutenant Colonel Faiz Muhammad – Former commander of the 444th Commando Battalion. Served as Minister of Tribal Affairs in 1980, was assassinated by Jalaluddin Haqqani during a meeting with tribal elders that same year (posthumously awarded in 1986)^[5]
• General Mohammad Najibullah – Director of KhAD and President of Afghanistan from 1987 to 1992
• Major General Ahmaduddin (posthumously)
• Lieutenant General Faiz Muhammad^[6]
• Lieutenant Said Habib – Sarandoy
• Lieutenant Muhammad Juma – Sarandoy
• 37th “Hero” Commando Brigade

Two times awarded

• General Rashid Dostum – Afghan Army
• Brigadier General Mohammed Barat^[6] – Afghan Air Force

Foreign recipients (all single awards)

• Valeri Polyakov – Soviet Cosmonaut (Awarded in 1988)^[7]
• Vladimir Lyakhov – Soviet Cosmonaut (Awarded in 1988)^[8]

See also

• Order of the Red Banner
• Hero of the Soviet Union
• Amir Amanullah Khan Medal

Sources

1. Web site: Награды Афганистана. Государственный выставочный зал истории войны в Афганистане. 31 October 2016. 14 October 2019. 2019-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20191020162649/http://afgan-zal.ru/2016/10/31/awards/. live.
2. Web site: Боевые награды Афганистана. Белорусский государственный музей истории Великой Отечественной войны. 18 February 2016. 14 October 2019. 2019-08-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20190802233829/http://www.warmuseum.by/index.php/2012-03-07-02-56-35/387-boevye-nagrady-afganistana. live.
3. Web site: د افغانستان دموکراتیک جمهوریت د انقلابی شورا د رئیسه هیأت ١٣٦٥/٥/١٨ نیټی د (١١٤)ګڼی فرمان د افغانستان دموکراتیک جمهوریت د اتل لقب او د هغه د مقرری د تصویبولو په هکله. . 9 August 1986. 23 January 2020. 2020-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20200823192339/http://old.moj.gov.af/Content/files/OfficialGazette/0601/OG_0626.pdf. live.
4. Web site: Осовик К.. Моманд Абдул Ахад. Герои страны. 14 October 2019. 2017-09-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20170917030954/http://warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=2289. live.
5. Устинов Г.. Москва. 38. 25–26/72. Первые Герои республики. Журнал «Новое время». 1986.
6. Web site: Боевые награды Афганистана . 2023-08-14 . www.warmuseum.by.
7. Web site: Симонов А.. Поляков Валерий Владимирович. Герои страны. 14 October 2019. 2005-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20051226041300/http://warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=871. live.
8. Web site: Симонов А.. Ляхов Владимир Афанасьевич. Герои страны. 14 October 2019. 2013-01-13. https://archive.today/20130113180634/http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1312. live.