"Guess this Medal"

[Mike G.]

Wow. Bang on Right !!!

Congratulations Dag. That was excellent. I actually expected that I was going to have to throw some hints out there to narrow it down just a bit. No questions asked, and you nailed the event & the person. The country of origin for this medal of course was the DDR. The dates on the medal (which incidentally appear on the reverse) were specific to the time of the flight, stay at the space station, and then return home.

Okay, I am currently at the office (the away from my office, office), which means I can't at this very moment post the "Write-up" and accompanying photos relevant this particular medal. I think it will be of interest to all, particularly the DDR side of the house, as I've observed on other Forums much mis-information about this medal (Presumably based upon conjecture but passed on as fact). So if everyone can wait just a wee bit, I will soon be home and the followup will then be addressed. I'll discuss the medal and some interesting facts, as well as post some relevant photos.

Again, I wish to congratulate Dag, both for participating and also on guessing this correctly right off the starting block. To me anyway, very impressive.

[Dag]

Wow. Bang on Right !!!

Congratulations Dag. That was excellent. I actually expected that I was going to have to throw some hints out there to narrow it down just a bit. No questions asked, and you nailed the event & the person. The country of origin for this medal of course was the DDR. The dates on the medal (which incidentally appear on the reverse) were specific to the time of the flight, stay at the space station, and then return home.

Okay, I am currently at the office (the away from my office, office), which means I can't at this very moment post the "Write-up" and accompanying photos relevant this particular medal. I think it will be of interest to all, particularly the DDR side of the house, as I've observed on other Forums much mis-information about this medal (Presumably based upon conjecture but passed on as fact). So if everyone can wait just a wee bit, I will soon be home and the followup will then be addressed. I'll discuss the medal and some interesting facts, as well as post some relevant photos.

Again, I wish to congratulate Dag, both for participating and also on guessing this correctly right off the starting block. To me anyway, very impressive.

Thanks for the compliment. It was actually the date (the duration of the mission) which gave it away (at least for me).
It was actually the end of the summer school holiday so when we went back to school we had something to talk about in various lessons (Russian language, German language (essay), art). It seems to be stuck in my grey matter and the names just came up.

[Mike G.]

Okay, I’m back. The medal to which Dag is making reference is of course, the Flieger-Kosmonaut der DDR. (Cosmonaut of East Germany):

It was Created March 1978.

The medal was then awarded to Cosmonaut Major General (Dr.) Sigmund JAEHN, for the Aug 26 – Sep 3, 1978 joint Soviet/DDR Flight on Sojus 31 to the Russian Space Station Sojus 6. However, he was not at that time yet a General. He was a young Oberstleutnant.

What might be of a bit of a surprise to many on this board, is that contrary to poplular belief, not one - but several of these medals were produced. What is true however, is that only one was ever actually awarded. That is the one awarded to General JAEHN.

Incidentally, the one awarded to Major General JAEHN was engraved on the reverse with the dates of the flight. Of interest, is that a second similar medal was subsequently produced, in a slightly smaller size, with the dates of the flight on the reverse of the medal this time “Raised” instead of etched. Not sure if this one also was given to him, or reserved for the East German Museum in Dresden that was overseen by Gen. HOFFMAN himself. I suspect it was for the latter.

Note: In addition to the subsequent medal being produced in a slightly smaller size, the ribbon too was produced in a slightly smaller size.

Now, here in all its spendid glory, is the medal (In living color this time):

[Mike G.]

Here is the one example (Reverse with the inscription "Etched".

[Mike G.]

Here is another example, Reverse, this time with the inscription "Raised".

[Mike G.]

Here is our Hero of the DDR when it all happened:

[Mike G.]

And here he is again, this time a Major General.

[Mike G.]

Dag,

As the winner, you are now entitled to post the next example (pin, badge or medal). If you have something you would like to post, but cannot yet do so, I or anyone else would be very glad to post it for you, along with any additional photos at the conclusion of the contest, if you desire. You also have the option of passing the right as winner to post the next example, to another member. It is your decision.

[Ralph P]

I just got the chance to view the last round and Mike I liked the way you posted your clue and then all of the sudden Dag...BAM nailed it...

Also...Dag I like how you knew about the dates to solve Mike's clue. And thanks for joining the thread and adding your knowledge...

So now I will be eagerly waiting for the next round from Dag...

[Ralph P]

Note: Guess this Medal commerical break...

I want to take a moment of your time to reflect on the success to date and interest of this thread. Seeing the amount of replies and views shows that members and visitors are enjoying the posts and are having fun in the process. For the folks viewing this thread, continue to come back and see what's new on the thread and the Communist Bloc forum and remember you too can join the thread at any time. For those participating, keep them posts coming!!!

The continued success of this thread and for that matter the Communist Bloc forum has been and will continue to be YOU the forum members.

So with that, lets get back to the game and play Guess this Medal.

Thanks...Ralph Pickard

This quick break...has been brought to you by the Wehrmacht-awards.com...

[MH184]

Ralph and guy's,

Being as Dag is more than likely in his bed over here in the UK. It's early o'clock here now, I thought I'd just bring up this badge as Ralph has the document for one and ask what do we know about it ?

I knew I had one Ralph, I hope you don't mind me popping it on here, as Dag too could probably shed some light on it also.

Kr

Marcus

[MH184]

Reverse of FDJ badge.

[Ralph P]

Hey Marcus...you have me at a complete disadvantage...You waited to post this until I was not home for a few days...Bugger...

Well...let me start this round by saying this is an FDJ badge, early issue and serial numbered...

[Mike G.]

Hey, it ain't past my bedtime yet.

Okay,

I’m pretty sure this came up in a preceding thread awhile back. If memory serves me right, we learned that this badge is one of a total of five variants. And we agreed that these badges could actually be worn on active duty military uniforms, even though they were achieved and received when the recipient was still in the FDJ.

The badges:

<O</OOctober of 1949, the Central Council of the FDJ decided it wanted a good knowledge badge. This badge was to be awarded based upon the applicant showing or demonstrating knowledge through a written report authored by the recipient. Initially the badge was produced only in Bronze and Silver. In February of 1950 the first example of one in Gold was produced.

The example you posted Marcus is either an example of the very first type, or third type. It is difficult to discern due to the fact there is nothing by which to ascertain size. If it is the larger one of that specific design, then it is of the very first type produced. Otherwise, it would be the third variation. The second variation had the year 1955 on it. Initially, the first production badges were serial numbered – another indicator your badge is of the 1<SUP>st</SUP> production type.

The fourth production 1962 type had the bust of Karl Marx on it. And the last production type produced in 1976 had the busts of Marx, Engel and Lenin appearing inside a book in front of the FDJ flag.<O</O

[MH184]

Nice one Mike !

Well the funny thing is Ralph and I were talking about these and the very fact he has citation for one and we thought these must be hard to obtain to an extent and low and behold now it seems I have two (I think I have posted these before....I can't remember now).

The one I posted earlier on inspection appears to be a worn gold one, the other example I have is bronze and rather than solid it's a 'hollow' back of stamped out version.

Yes these appear to be larger than the later examples, but not as large as the 1955 dated version (it looks a little elongated compared to mine, due to the addition of the date) I have a picture of. I think these must be first type badges between 1950-55.

Kr


Marcus