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**ehrentitle** · 11-26-2009, 01:11 PM

Michael - Your are indeed correct. However it is possible that the Ehrentitel Fliegerkosmonaut der DDR Medal which has a cornflower blue ribbon is on the far left of the second row if the Ehrentitel Verdienter Militaerflieger der DDR comes before it in precedence. However without color this would be hard to confirm.

**ehrentitle** · 11-26-2009, 01:17 PM

Here is a closeup of the ribbon bar:

**Christophe** · 11-26-2009, 01:35 PM

Thanks Kevin, for the better pic.
The second ribbon seems to have two very narrow white lines...

Have a look at the following image...

Cheers.

Ch.

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sj.JPG (66.6 KB, 65 views)

**ehrentitle** · 11-26-2009, 01:45 PM

Christophe - I believe the photo you have posted was taken before he went into space, as none of his later higher DDR and Soviet decorations are show.

**Mike G.** · 11-26-2009, 01:45 PM

Kevin, I agree. I think this picture is one taken before he earned the Kosmonaut Order.

**ehrentitle** · 11-26-2009, 02:03 PM

These are the ribbons I believe are on the closeup of the ribbon bar that I posted belonging to General Jähn:

Karl-Marx-Orden
Scharnhorst Orden
Verdienter Anghoriger der Nationalen Volksmaree
Ehrentitel Verdienter Militaerflieger der DDR
Ehrentitel Fliegerkosmonaut der DDR (?)
Verdienste Medaille der NVA - Silber
Verdienste Medaille der NVA – Bronze
Unknown - Civil ?
Unknown - Civil ?
Medaille der Waffenbrüderschaft – Gold
Medaille der Waffenbrüderschaft – Silber
Jubiläumsmedaille “30 Jahre Nationale Volksarmee”
Medaille fur treue Dienste in der NVA – 20 Jahre
Medaille fur treue Dienste in der NVA – 15 Jahre
Medaille fur treue Dienste in der NVA – 10 Jahre
Medaille fur treue Dienste in der NVA – 5 Jahre

**Mike G.** · 11-26-2009, 02:37 PM

This may help.

Frankly, I have never quite comprehended how the medal for Verdienter Militaeflieger der DDR could rank in precedence over the Verdienter Kosmonaut der DDR, but a ribbon chart in the back of one of my reference sources suggests this is the case. Of interest, is that inside the book, the actual picture of the Kosmonaut medal precedes that of the Pilot medal. So there was and is confusion on my part. If in fact it can be confirmed the ribbon in question depicted in the second row following the Pilot medal is in fact the Kosmonaut medal, then clearly that would clear up the confusion, as surely Sigmund Jaehn would be expected to know how to wear his own awards and decorations.

Here is the chart to which I make reference:

Attached Files

DSC_0187-Web.jpg (85.5 KB, 64 views)

**redjames2004** · 11-27-2009, 09:58 AM

Hello there, A very interesting thread on Sigmund Jahn's various tunic and ribbon bar changes along his promotions! Jahn was DDR's first comosnaut. When did Jahn went up into space on Soviet Vostok rocket? 1978 or 1981? My take is 1978. I will check on Jahn's Wikipedia page. Thanks James

**ehrentitle** · 11-27-2009, 10:09 AM

26 August - 3 September 1978

**redjames2004** · 11-27-2009, 10:54 AM

Hi Kevin, Yes, I am correct on the year Jahn went up into space with Soviet comosnauts. Thanks for verifying on my opinion! Thanks,James

**Mike G.** · 11-27-2009, 12:38 PM

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

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ontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="******45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style>  </style> I want to clarify something that has now popped up on the forum a couple of times pursuant to Cosmonaut Sigmund JAEHN being the only Cosmonaut in the whole of the DDR.

While it is true he was the only DDR Cosmonaut to have actually flown on a mission, he was actually one of two East German Air Force Pilots selected and trained for the DDR cosmonaut Sojus 31 Space Station mission. Were something adverse to have occurred preventing JAEHN from flying the scheduled “Lift-off” date; the other Cosmonaut – Eberhard KOELLNER would have flown in his stead.

Also, there were several Cosmonaut medals produced, and interestingly, they varied a little in size, as well as how the script “Flieger – Kosmonaut Der DDR” appeared on the reverse. Two of the medals were actually inscribed “Aug 16 1978 – Sep 3 1978” on the reverse pursuant commemoration of the DDR Sojus 31 Cosmonaut program. Interestingly the inscription on each is also different. On one medal, the inscription is set into the medal. On the other, it is raised.

The medals were approved Mar 3<sup>rd</sup>, 1978 well in advance of the occurrence of the mission. JAEHN was also awarded the Hero of the DDR and the Karl-Marx Order at the same time he was awarded the Cosmonaut medal, and received East German Mark 25,000.00 for the latter two awards.

**ehrentitle** · 11-27-2009, 01:56 PM

Michael - That's quite right, folks tend to forget Koellner. Unfortunately history is never fair and today Koellner is just a footnote while Jähn is internationally known (especially after the Movie Goodby Lenin!) and is respected in united Germany as Germany's first astronaut to travel into space.

**ehrentitle** · 11-27-2009, 02:29 PM

Here is a photo from Pg 82 of Erlebnis Weltraum that shows then Lieutenant Colonels Jähn and Koellner with Generals Hoffman and Keßler after receiving the Ehrentitel Verdienter Militaerflieger der DDR. As I recall Jähn was picked over Koellner because his mastery of Russian was better.

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