East German - but what is it?

[Garulfo]

30 years

[Garulfo]

35 years

[Garulfo]

Since we're on the topic of the Kampfgruppen, lets see if we can keep this thread going for awhile. If you have additional medals, awards, pins etc. unique to the Kampfgruppen, please post them.

Here is one I have. Unfortunately, I can't find a reference to it in either of the two very good and informative medals books I have. So I don't know its true purpose, production date or anything else. Sellers on ebay always tend to misrepresent their wares, so I won't comment further about it, as I don't have access to factual information.

The head-bust appears to be that of Ernst Thalmann - who is more commonly associated with the FDJ.

Any help out there would be welcomed - Garulfo

Apparently this badge is known as " Qualifizierierungsabzeichen für Kommandeure der Kampfgruppen" and was institued in 1984.

[Garulfo]

kampfgruppe uniform

[Garulfo]

merit medals

[Garulfo]

long service medals

[Mike G.]

RE: Response from GARULFO

Apparently this badge is known as " Qualifizierierungsabzeichen für Kommandeure der Kampfgruppen" and was institued in 1984.

Garulfo: Thanks for the clarification. That is what it was proported to be when auctioned by the Seller. But you never know, so I thought I'd ask, particularly since I can't find a reference to it in any of my books.

Nice Kampfgruppen display you have there - Hat, Tunic and sets of medals, awards, badges and pins.

[J Howland]

Now that I think about it, I can recall having seen one photo several years ago of what was supposed to be a KG chorale and the singers were wearing much sharper looking tunics than the normal uniforms seen in virtually 100% of their shots.

Jim

P.S.: The "bester" badge with the DDR protractor & hammer symbol on the flag under a liberal coating of cheeesy acryllic was, I think, the last version of that badge. They ditched the graded badges (bronze, silver, gold), probably for economy reasons. The earliest marksman badges, by the way, bore numbers in enamelled circles to indicate degree and there seem to be quite a number of potential combos of badge colors and numbers...

[Garulfo]

Now that I think about it, I can recall having seen one photo several years ago of what was supposed to be a KG chorale and the singers were wearing much sharper looking tunics than the normal uniforms seen in virtually 100% of their shots.

Jim

P.S.: The "bester" badge with the DDR protractor & hammer symbol on the flag under a liberal coating of cheeesy acryllic was, I think, the last version of that badge. They ditched the graded badges (bronze, silver, gold), probably for economy reasons. The earliest marksman badges, by the way, bore numbers in enamelled circles to indicate degree and there seem to be quite a number of potential combos of badge colors and numbers...

You are right about the "bester" badge, it's the last version introduced in 1984.

[MH184]

A couple more :

[MH184]

Note the above pic is devoid of a numeral ?

And here's another I have a silver grade in this also, all common on the Berlin flea markets for a couple of Euro's or so.

Kind regards,

Marcus

[John F.]

Marcus:

Nice awards...why did I know that you would have one with its packet? I am assuming these are early variants.

John

[MH184]

Hi John,

(sorry I didn't get back to yesterday on the cell phone, I'll speak to later this weekend my friend)

I believe the 'numbered' bottom badge is slightly earlier the above badge around the inception period (design there off really) I would expect, or deduce from the 'enamel' there's not much in them really and it's difficult to date as I don't have any info really on these, the later shiny ones are obvious of course.

Like the Bester badges you can spot differences on the back, pimpled, non-pimpled, semi-hollow, pin types etc etc I relate this to extent to 'age determination' but the traits don't follow all the badges and tinnies simultaneously......a different ball game to Third Reich

Kind regards,

Marcus


Just reading through the thread again, Jim has put it in better words than me

[MH184]

Any idea's on this one ? I think it's related to a medal perhaps and is just larger than a normal 'ribbon' (single bar) with a pin attachment on the reverse.

Kind regards,

Marcus

[MH184]

I'm just going through a few douments, it's unissued but may be of interest.