Lessing Medal
The Lessing Medal was an official Ministerial Award in the GDR. It was in memory of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and was awarded at the final examination in schools as special recognition for outstanding performance with very good social and extra-curricular work. The award was instituted on the 28th April 1950 and was awarded until 1990. At first it only exist in a first class, then in three classes, and finally in two classes.
The Lessing medal was a highly acclaimed in the GDR. It was awarded upon the completion of the 10th Class of polytechnic high school, or the 12th Class of Advanced High School and was recognized with a grade of "pass with distinction". In addition, some community involvement and a partisan attitude was needed. The candidates had to be proposed by the teacher, approved by the school principal and the District School Board. For the award of the Lessing Medal in Gold all subjects of the certificate had to have achieved the grade of "very good". For the Lessing Medal in Silver two subjects could also be in a"good" standing. The highest level needed confirmation by the Ministry of National Education , securing favourable treatment in universities and training companies. The award was presented on the 7th of October, the Day of the Republic , during a solemn flag ceremony and was awarded to former students.
Appearance and Wearing
The Lessing medal in its first form was a non-portable medal 46.5 mm in diameter and of brown Böttgersteinzeug , of which only a few examples are known. No picture of this award is available. (Bartel uses different dates than some other references. His will be used from here on - 1952-57)
The second form of the medal, also non-portable, had a diameter of 32 mm and consisted of silver-gilt, silver or a Bronzlackierung and was presented in a case. It was the only form that was presented in three classes. On the obverse was a left-looking head relief of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and the inscription: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing . With the case and medal the Laureates also received simultaneously a 16 mm diameter miniature pin, which could be worn on the lapel. They were the same class as that awarded. The top of the case contained an identical likeness of the medal, but without inscription. (1957-72 - Bartel’s #944b & 944c)
The third form of the medal that was created, which was awarded only in the gold and silver level, showed the same obverse as its predecessor. The miniature was no longer given in favour of a newly created blue ribbon related clasp 25 mm in width. In the centre a 3 mm wide vertical band in black, red and gold is woven. 2 mm away from the edge on both sides there was a 1 mm wide vertical bar woven, white-gray for the silver level and for the gold level it is yellowish. The reverse has, shown in very large letters, a three-line inscription: FOR / EXCELLENT / SERVICES . This saying is surrounded by the legend: GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC above and MINISTRY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION below. (1972 ? - Bartels 943d)
The Lessing Medal was an official Ministerial Award in the GDR. It was in memory of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and was awarded at the final examination in schools as special recognition for outstanding performance with very good social and extra-curricular work. The award was instituted on the 28th April 1950 and was awarded until 1990. At first it only exist in a first class, then in three classes, and finally in two classes.
The Lessing medal was a highly acclaimed in the GDR. It was awarded upon the completion of the 10th Class of polytechnic high school, or the 12th Class of Advanced High School and was recognized with a grade of "pass with distinction". In addition, some community involvement and a partisan attitude was needed. The candidates had to be proposed by the teacher, approved by the school principal and the District School Board. For the award of the Lessing Medal in Gold all subjects of the certificate had to have achieved the grade of "very good". For the Lessing Medal in Silver two subjects could also be in a"good" standing. The highest level needed confirmation by the Ministry of National Education , securing favourable treatment in universities and training companies. The award was presented on the 7th of October, the Day of the Republic , during a solemn flag ceremony and was awarded to former students.
Appearance and Wearing
The Lessing medal in its first form was a non-portable medal 46.5 mm in diameter and of brown Böttgersteinzeug , of which only a few examples are known. No picture of this award is available. (Bartel uses different dates than some other references. His will be used from here on - 1952-57)
The second form of the medal, also non-portable, had a diameter of 32 mm and consisted of silver-gilt, silver or a Bronzlackierung and was presented in a case. It was the only form that was presented in three classes. On the obverse was a left-looking head relief of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and the inscription: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing . With the case and medal the Laureates also received simultaneously a 16 mm diameter miniature pin, which could be worn on the lapel. They were the same class as that awarded. The top of the case contained an identical likeness of the medal, but without inscription. (1957-72 - Bartel’s #944b & 944c)
The third form of the medal that was created, which was awarded only in the gold and silver level, showed the same obverse as its predecessor. The miniature was no longer given in favour of a newly created blue ribbon related clasp 25 mm in width. In the centre a 3 mm wide vertical band in black, red and gold is woven. 2 mm away from the edge on both sides there was a 1 mm wide vertical bar woven, white-gray for the silver level and for the gold level it is yellowish. The reverse has, shown in very large letters, a three-line inscription: FOR / EXCELLENT / SERVICES . This saying is surrounded by the legend: GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC above and MINISTRY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION below. (1972 ? - Bartels 943d)
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