Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany
After the establishment of the German Democratic Republic the new country prohibited the wearing of all pre-1945 German awards and created a new system of various decorations that was inspired by those of the USSR.[1][2]
After German reunification, wearing of East German decortions was not forbidden with exception of those breaking the ordre public, as such are considered especially all decorations of
- The Ministry for State Security,
- Border Troops,
- Volkspolizei,
- Combat Groups,
- Free German Youth (FDJ). [3]
Titles
Hero of the German Democratic Republic
"Hero of the German Democratic Republic" (German: Held der DDR), the highest honorary title in East Germany, originated on 28 October 1975 and rewarded both soldiers and civilians. Those who received the title enjoyed many benefits, such as free public transport. A yearly ratio was intended that limited up to 10 title assignments. It was awarded for "extraordinary achievements and earnings/services the hero acts for the GDR, for their development and all-round stabilization, for which international acknowledgement and authority achieved as well as for its safe military protection".
Those who became Held der DDR also automatically qualified for the Karl Marx Order. The decoration was supposed to be returned to the state upon the recipient's death. In all nine awards to seven people were made:
- Heinz Hoffmann – 28 November 1975 & 28 November 1980.
- Friedrich Dickel – 1 December 1975.
- Erich Mielke – 1 December 1975 & 28 December 1983.
- Leonid Brezhnev – 13 December 1976.
- Sigmund Jähn – 21 September 1978.
- Valery Bykovsky – 21 September 1978.
- Willi Stoph – 9 July 1984.
- Erich Honecker – 25 August 1987
Hero of Labour
The Hero of Labour (German: Held der Arbeit) was awarded for "particularly outstanding, innovative activity, in particular in the fields of industry and agriculture, which traffic or the trade rendered or by scientific discoveries or technical inventions special services around the structure and the victory of socialism and by this activity the national economy and thus growth and the reputation of the German Democratic Republic promoted". In addition, the recipient would get receive a 10,000 East German Mark award.
Order and Medals
Order
| Order | Ribbon bar |
Name (English/German) | Date of creation |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Held der DDR |
1975-10-28 | Heroic feats in service to the East German state and society. | |
 |
 |
Karl Marx Orden |
1953-05-05 | For exceptional merit in relation to ideology, culture, economy, and other designations. Additionally, citizens of other countries could also be awarded the order. |
 |
 |
Vaterländischer Verdienstorden |
1954-05-21 | Awarded for special services to the state and to society |
 |
Banner der Arbeit |
1954-08-04 | Outstanding achievements of many years which stabilized and strengthened the country, and in particular for high results of working in the national economy. | |
 |
Nationalpreis der DDR |
1949 | For scientific, artistic, and other meritorious achievement. | |
_BAR.png){kind=small}  |
Stern der Völkerfreundschaft |
1959-08-20 | For exceptional merit in contributing to the "understanding and friendship between nations and preservation of peace". | |
 |
   |
Blücher Orden |
1965-10-13 | Award for valor in time of war; never awarded. |
Military decorations
| Medal | Ribbon bar |
Name (English/German) | Date of creation |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
(Hans Beimler Medaille) |
1956-05-17 | Fighting in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Republicans. | |
 |
Scharnhorst-Orden |
1966-02-17 | Contributed in a major way to the betterment of the DDR Principles of Ideology | |
   |
February 17, 1966 | The medal was granted in three classes:
| ||
|
|
August 1, 1974 | |||
|
|
   |
(Verdienstmedaille der Nationalen Volksarmee) |
1956-06-01 | The medal was granted in three classes:
|
   |
{Medaille der Waffenbrüderschaft) |
1966-02-17 | The medal was granted in three classes:
| |
    |
(Medaille für treue Dienste in der Nationalen Volksarmee) |
1956-06-01 |
| |
 |
(Medaille für vorbildlichen Grenzdienst der Grenztruppen der DDR) |
1953 | For exemplary performance and personal commitment in securing the state border of the GDR |
References
- ↑ Medals of East Germany
- ↑ East German Medals
- ↑ Bernzen, Enno; Feder, Klaus H.: Das Tragen von Auszeichnungen der DDR im vereinten Deutschland. In: Deutsch-deutsche Rechts-Zeitschrift (DtZ) 1995
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaterländischer Verdienstorden. |