Meritorious document and medal in silver to STASI member...

[Ralph P]

Good day to everyone...I've posted two images of a document and medal in silver awarded to a STASI member in 1964. The Erich Mielke signature on the bottom right of the document is original and the back of the silver medal has a 900 mark at the very bottom. Ralph

[Ralph P]

Final part

Final part...

[Mike G.]

Hi Ralph,

Very nice Verdienstmedaille der Nationalen Volksarmee.

The fact the medal is 900 silver is particularly nice. Those are rare. Many times I've seen Urkunde dated similarly to the one you show (1964 for example), and the medal doesn't match. In this case it does. In 1968 they discontinued producing this particular medal in silver, and started using non-ferrous metal (Buntmetal).

I also am impressed with the signature, which is original - again very rare. All in all a very impressive collection. By any chance, did the medal and Urkunde come with a Cover? If so, it would be interesting to see it as well, given that this is Stasi. There has been much debate about Urkunde Covers (Jackets) and what type of seal should be on the front and what color they should be, for specific branches of the different Military Organs of the DDR. Still unclarified to date.

[Mike G.]

RE: Question to Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Question for you? By any chance do you have an Urkunde for the Ehrenteitel Verdienter Mitarbeiter der Staatsicherheite (State Security Honour Medal)? I've never seen an example of an actual Urkunde for this medal, which was the only one that was specific to the Stasi.

Also, photo evidence suggests this award was rarely presented. I've never seen it worn by anyone under the rank of General. Presumably, there were lesser ranked recepients of this award, and it would be interesting to see evidence of this, such as an Urkunde.

Any thoughts?

[Ralph P]

Mike to answer your question my friend...yes I do have a Ehrenteitel Verdienter Mitarbeiter der Staatsicherheit document and medal. At this time I am not ready to post either the document or the medal, but I will at a future date. But I will tell you that my document was presented to a STASI member in 1971 and has an original Mielke signature. In all my years in collecting STASI items I have held in my hands two STASI documents and two STASI medals...and you are right that both are rare items...unless you are buying one from Ebay with a starting price of one Euro. Also give me a few minutes and I will reply to your last question on what the document came in...Ralph

[Mike G.]

Hi Ralph,

Looking very much forward to seeing the Stasi Honour Medal Urkunde. I have a medal, but no Urkunde.

[Ralph P]

Hey Mike...I hope the below image assist you in your question of a cover jacket on what I posted. Also to follow on about who received the STASI document. I can say this for certainty that STASI members below the rank of a general officer did receive the award.

Ralph

[Mike G.]

Thanks for posting the Urkunde Jacket.

Most of the Jackets we see are of the generic type (Red in color with a gold in color staatswappen). This Urkunde Jacket is specific to the medal and urkunde.
Very nice indeed.