Ok, Here is the Kampforden article that I promised earlier in the week. It took a bit longer than I expected to translate the references and and then write a comprehensive article based on them. If you find errors please let me know so I can correct them. Feel free to post examples of your medals.
Kampforden “Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland” / Battle Order “For Merit to the People and Fatherland”
The Battle Order “For Merit to the People and Fatherland” was established into three classes by the Council of Ministers of the DDR on 17 February 1966. It was awarded for outstanding service and merit in enhancing the combat power and combat readiness of the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee), performing tasks to ensure the safe protection of the state border of the DDR and the strengthening and improvement the socialist national defense.
The medal was awarded for:
The medal could be awarded to:
The medal was originally known as the “Order of Defense of the Socialist Fatherland” (“Orden Schutz der sozialistischen Heimat”) but was later changed to its current name.
The medal was bestowed in three grades; bronze, silver and gold. Each grade of the medal could be awarded to an individual more than once. A higher grade of the medal could be awarded before a lower grade. The award comes with a document and a financial allowance. No financial allowance was given to organizations, troop units and/or institutions.
Since 1978 the medal had been given by the Minister of National Defense on the occasion of the Day of the Republic, 7 October, the anniversary of the National People's Army, 1 March, the day of Border Troops of the DDR, 1 December, or immediately after the achievement.
Medal Description
These medals were made by VEB Präwema in Markneukirchen, East Germany. The medal has the form of a pentagon and is bronze, silver and gold in color depending upon the grade. The largest diameter is 40 mm (1.57 inches).
On the front a smooth star with five is raised five pointed star. In the center of the star is a red enameled polished medallion with the coat of arms of the National People's Army, surrounded by the words “FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WORKER’S AND FARMER’S STRENGTH" („FÜR DEN SCHUTZ DER ARBEITERUND-BAUERN-MACHT") and two branches of laurel. Around the medallion is a 1 mm (1/32 inch) wide white enameled edge. On some versions of the medal the white enamel has a grayish tint.
The surfaces around the five pointed star has a granulated/pebbled hammered appearance. The flat reverse of the medal was smooth until 1973, but after that date there are at least five different variations to include smooth, granulated/pebbled, rough, and waffle-like checkered.
Before 1973 the gold and silver medals were made of gilded sliver and silver respectively. Since 1973 all of the medals were made of non-ferrous bronze metal. There is some question about the marking on the gilded silver, Gold medals. Feder indicates that normally DDR medals of this type have stamps with a half moon and 900 reflecting the silver content. But he has seen only two examples of this medal and couldn’t provide an accurate description of the application of the silver content stamp.
The medal is worn on the upper left side of the chest.
Ribbon Suspension/Ribbon Bar
The medal suspended from an angular five sized (trapezoid) ribbon with a gold field. On this field are woven three 3.5 mm (0.14 inch) wide red-brown longitudinal stripes (four yellow stripes, three red-brown stripes). Feder indicates that a version of the medal was made with yellow-red stripes were produced as an award for wartime merit. The ribbon bar is rectangular with a pair of miniature 22 mm (.87 inch) metal upward pointing crossed daggers in gold, silver or bronze depending upon grade. Before 1973 the ribbon bar was 27 x 13 mm (1.06 X 0.51 inches) after 1973 it was 24 x 13 mm (.94 X 0.51 inches).
References:
Frand Bartel, Auszeichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Militärverlag der DDR. 1979
Günter Taunz, Orden udne Medaillen; Staatliche Ausceichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, VEB Bibliographisches Institut Leipzig, 1983
Klaus & Uta Feder, Auszeichnungen der Nationalen Volksarmee der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Münz Galerie, 1994
DDR-Handbuch: Auszeichnungen, S. 8. Digitale Bibliothek Band 32: Enzyklopädie der DDR, S. 1165 (vgl. DDR-HB, S. 133) (c) Bundesministerium des Innern
Kampforden “Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland” / Battle Order “For Merit to the People and Fatherland”
The Battle Order “For Merit to the People and Fatherland” was established into three classes by the Council of Ministers of the DDR on 17 February 1966. It was awarded for outstanding service and merit in enhancing the combat power and combat readiness of the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee), performing tasks to ensure the safe protection of the state border of the DDR and the strengthening and improvement the socialist national defense.
The medal was awarded for:
- Defense of the socialist education of youth
- Troop leadership in the field
- Education and training
- Personal preparedness
- Maintenance and repair of technical equipment and armament and the development of military technology
- Development of military science
- Missions are of great benefit in support of the development and protection of socialism in the GDR
- To strengthen the arms of the socialist fraternity brother armies
The medal could be awarded to:
- Members of the National People's Army, Border Troops of the DDR (Grenztruppen der DDR), Ministry for State Security (Ministerium für Staatssicherheit), People’s Police (Volkspolizei), Battle Groups of the Working Class (Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse) and Civil Defense (Zivilverteidigung).
- Organizations, troop units or institutions of National People's Army, Border Troops of the DDR (Grenztruppen der DDR), Ministry for State Security (Ministerium für Staatssicherheit), People’s Police (Volkspolizei), Battle Groups of the Working Class (Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse) and Civil Defense (Zivilverteidigung).
- Individuals who are not members of the above organizations as well as collectives associated with the above organizations.
- Foreign military personnel.
The medal was originally known as the “Order of Defense of the Socialist Fatherland” (“Orden Schutz der sozialistischen Heimat”) but was later changed to its current name.
The medal was bestowed in three grades; bronze, silver and gold. Each grade of the medal could be awarded to an individual more than once. A higher grade of the medal could be awarded before a lower grade. The award comes with a document and a financial allowance. No financial allowance was given to organizations, troop units and/or institutions.
Since 1978 the medal had been given by the Minister of National Defense on the occasion of the Day of the Republic, 7 October, the anniversary of the National People's Army, 1 March, the day of Border Troops of the DDR, 1 December, or immediately after the achievement.
Medal Description
These medals were made by VEB Präwema in Markneukirchen, East Germany. The medal has the form of a pentagon and is bronze, silver and gold in color depending upon the grade. The largest diameter is 40 mm (1.57 inches).
On the front a smooth star with five is raised five pointed star. In the center of the star is a red enameled polished medallion with the coat of arms of the National People's Army, surrounded by the words “FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WORKER’S AND FARMER’S STRENGTH" („FÜR DEN SCHUTZ DER ARBEITERUND-BAUERN-MACHT") and two branches of laurel. Around the medallion is a 1 mm (1/32 inch) wide white enameled edge. On some versions of the medal the white enamel has a grayish tint.
The surfaces around the five pointed star has a granulated/pebbled hammered appearance. The flat reverse of the medal was smooth until 1973, but after that date there are at least five different variations to include smooth, granulated/pebbled, rough, and waffle-like checkered.
Before 1973 the gold and silver medals were made of gilded sliver and silver respectively. Since 1973 all of the medals were made of non-ferrous bronze metal. There is some question about the marking on the gilded silver, Gold medals. Feder indicates that normally DDR medals of this type have stamps with a half moon and 900 reflecting the silver content. But he has seen only two examples of this medal and couldn’t provide an accurate description of the application of the silver content stamp.
The medal is worn on the upper left side of the chest.
Ribbon Suspension/Ribbon Bar
The medal suspended from an angular five sized (trapezoid) ribbon with a gold field. On this field are woven three 3.5 mm (0.14 inch) wide red-brown longitudinal stripes (four yellow stripes, three red-brown stripes). Feder indicates that a version of the medal was made with yellow-red stripes were produced as an award for wartime merit. The ribbon bar is rectangular with a pair of miniature 22 mm (.87 inch) metal upward pointing crossed daggers in gold, silver or bronze depending upon grade. Before 1973 the ribbon bar was 27 x 13 mm (1.06 X 0.51 inches) after 1973 it was 24 x 13 mm (.94 X 0.51 inches).
References:
Frand Bartel, Auszeichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Militärverlag der DDR. 1979
Günter Taunz, Orden udne Medaillen; Staatliche Ausceichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, VEB Bibliographisches Institut Leipzig, 1983
Klaus & Uta Feder, Auszeichnungen der Nationalen Volksarmee der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Münz Galerie, 1994
DDR-Handbuch: Auszeichnungen, S. 8. Digitale Bibliothek Band 32: Enzyklopädie der DDR, S. 1165 (vgl. DDR-HB, S. 133) (c) Bundesministerium des Innern
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