Order of the Red Banner of Labour

The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was a state decoration awarded in the Czechoslovak Republic and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic under Government Regulation No. 24/1955 Coll. It was conferred for exceptional merits gained through a life’s work, and through long-standing, tenacious, selfless and exemplary work in key areas of the economic, scientific or cultural development of socialism, imbued with devotion to one’s profession. It was shaped like a cogwheel decorated at the bottom with linden branches. A staff with a flying red banner rose from the branches. Against the background was a sheaf of ears of grain, on which a red five-pointed star was placed. The President of the Republic conferred the order on the proposal of the government, exceptionally also posthumously. One recipient of the order was, for example, Ostrava mayor Josef Kotas.