Ehrentitel VORBILDLICHER KRAFTFAHRER

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen, I've had this pin marked as ehrennadel vorbildlicher kraftfahrer for some time with being able to pin down what it represents exactly. Some references I find on the net refer to it as being an MdI pin but there is never an indication of why it was awarded. It would appear that awards with this name "vorbildlicher kraftfahrer" were given out as pins, table medals and pennons. From the pieces I see, it appears to be auto related and probably as a good driver. I am searching for as much information on these awards as I can. It is too dark to take a picture of my pin so I amgoing to use a picture from Andre Huskin's site for this illustration. It is the same as my pin.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Ehrennadel vorbildlicher kraftfahrer

A table medal from a private firm.

[Gordon Craig]

A wimple for the NVA.

[Ralph P]

Gordon - Interesting thread. I have not seen any of the items you have posted before. I find the table medallion in the case to be interesting.

[Gordon Craig]

Ralph,

The company that awarded the cased medallion, SDAG WISMUT was a mining company and would have used a number of truck drivers. The vehicles depicted in the centre of the medallion would indicate this award was for them. Here is a brief comment on the company.

"The SAG/SDAG Wismut was a uranium mining company in East Germany producing 230,400 tonnes of uranium between 1947 and 1990. In 1991, it was transformed into the Wismut GmbH owned by the state of Germany which is now responsible for the recultivation of the former mining and milling areas. The head office of the SDAG Wismut / Wismut GmbH is in Chemnitz-Siegmar."

[Mike G.]

Gordon,

Great thread. The medallion indeed appears to be military, yet in appearance one would without delving further into the aspects of it, mistake it to be civilian. I think you are correct in believing it to be presented for exemplary driving. I wonder if it was awarded on an individual basis or to a section or unit? The fact there is a wimpel associated to it gives cause to think this might possibly be an award presented to a section or unit, that is then displayed in a case in the units common room where all can share and take pride in the achievement. I've never before seen the medallion nor the wimpel.

Thank you for sharing. Hope more can be learned about this award now that you have let it be known it exists.

[Ralph P]

Thanks Gordon.

[AR-11]

gentlemen,
I want to try a little recall:
the "Vorbildlicher Kraftfahrer" was given out by the "Verkehrs-Sicherheits-aktiv"s. There was the (Traffic-Safety-Actives) in every company, combine, ministry, administration-level etc. They took over the continuing education and traffic training of all employees there. (However, they were not to be mistaken for driving schools. Driving schools were specially and belonged- imho- to the "Kombinat Kraftverkehr"- "combine- motor-traffic"). If it came to traffic accidents in which employees were involved, there were evaluations with possible (disciplinary) consequences.

"Vorbilicher Kraftfahrer" a employee could become, if he was suggested and then confirmed from Verkehrssicherheits-Aktive.

The "vorbildlicher Kraftfahrer" was not belonged to a special vehicle. One just had to be a driver in daily traffiic and user of a car; no matter if it was a private car or a firm car.

AR-11, Dirk

[Mike G.]

Dirk,

Thanks for the clarification. So the award is basically a civilian award that could be awarded to most any entity that had drivers associated to it, inclusive of military organizations, such as the Grenztruppen referenced on the award Wimple?

Gordon,

I missed your followup post. Sorry. We must have posted at the same time.
I misunderstood and initially thought the medallion and the wimple were related to one another in the context they were presented to the same entity and for the same achievement. I now understand they are not.

Did the Icons (vehicle in this case) change in the award dependent upon the organization to whom the award was being presented? You indicated the vehicle in the example you posted was specific to the Mining Firm. Are there then other examples of this same medal, which have different Icons in them.

I'm thinking this Excellent Driving award also serves as a Safe Driving award, and can be loosely interpreted?

Gordon - very educational.

[Gordon Craig]

Michael,

All very interesting questions. With Dirk's post perhaps I can do some more research and find some answers.

Dirk,

Thanks a lot for educating us about these awards.

Regards.,

Gordon