DDR Banner of Labor medal

[Eric Gaumann]

Does this look legit? Or can somebody tell me what era it's from? I'm assuming it's an 80s version but I don't have a scan of the reverse yet.
From my limited knowledge of DDR medals I think it's a step or two up from the common 'service' type medals.

[Ken Jasper]

Based solely on the photo, I think it is good. The ribbon bar is the secpnd version.

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Eric,

You are right, it looks like a 80ies model. 3rd Class.

The Order of the Banner of Labour was the lowest from the only 5 GDR ORDERS available to the East Germans:
- Order of Karl Marx
- Order of the Friendship of people (3 classes)
- the Fatherland´s Order of Merit (4 classes)
- the Order for Merit to the people and the Fatherland (3 classes, only military)
- Order of the Banner of Labour
The 6th Order, the Military Merit Order of the GDR was only given to Foreigners.

The Banner of Labour was normally only given if somebody had already a nice collection of Medals. The GDR had plenty of dec´s but if somebody had an Order it was a bit special.
Ther earlier Models are quite rare. If You want a 1st model with engraved number You can pay about 1000 bucks for it.

Best regards

Daniel

[Eric Gaumann]

Ah, so it's an actual Order? Das ist sehr cool! I like how they incorporate both the state colors and the soviet red on the ribbon. Thanks for the info, Daniel.
Now did the East Germans also award a small breast-star shaped order? Isn't that the Order of the Friendship of people?

[Daniel Krause]

You are right,

the Order of the Star of the peoples Friendship had 3 classes

- Silver Star of the Order
- Golden Star of the Order
- Grand Star of the Order (had a sash and a Star)

This Order was very rarely awarded to East Germans, normally it was a kind of Diplomatic Order. Unfortunately I have no pic of that Order available.

Best regards

Daniel

[Ken Jasper]

hi spiess,

Just curious. Why didn't you include the Scharnhorst-Orden in your list?

[Eric Gaumann]

Yes, and I was gonna....

Show a pic of this neat little medal, also: Blücher Orden für Tapferkeit.
Now I gotta go look up Scharnhorst....

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Ken,

You are right, my mistake, I forgot the Scharnhorst-Orden, the highest military Order of the GDR......(I shouldnt try to think after a 26 hour shift at work )

Hi Eric,


ojeojeoje, You want a Scharnhorst? Quite expensive! Take care, there are also fakes around!

A Blücher-Orden!! Yours? The Blücher Order for bravery (3 classes) and the Blücher Medal for bravery (2 classes) were instituted and produced in 2 batches, but never issued. It was planned in advance of a possible war. After the Breakdown of the GDR some Dec´s found their way to the markets...

Best regards

Daniel

[Eric Gaumann]

Bluecher medal

Really?!?!?! Not issued except for a war that never happened? That's interesting.

That would make it the equivalent of the Drittes Reich Kreigesverdienst Kreuz? Or the EK?

I find it cool that despite the overwhelming Soviet influence on the armed forces that the NVA managed to keep alive some of the old names and traditions: like Bluecher, Scharnhorst, shooting cords and sports badges (and lots of medals).

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Eric,

Thats really quite interesting. The GDR military was a mixture of the "old times" and the communist influence. They kept what was usable and what fits in the picture and on the other side they completely rejected everything what was "out of the frame"

The most interesting point on the Blücher-Order is, that they even used a cross!

Best regards

Daniel