An interesting wear of Soviet badges the STASI way.

[Ralph P]

Hey Mike this is Tony...that appears be the badge and yours is very nice. From what I have seen and read, that the early versions of that badge is worth a few bucks...

And about your web you tried to snarl me in yesterday...sorry I missed it...I was wearing a STASI black box over my head at the time and missed it...

[Gordon Craig]

Michael,


I am afraid that I must disagree with you identifying the badge in question as an SED badge. It is a badge from the Pionierorgaisation "Ernst Thalmann". Its correct full name is "Medaille fur hervorragende Arbeit in der Pionierorganization "Ernst Thalmann". It is also simply refered to as the "Seid Bereit" badge. If you look at the badge you will see these two words printed along the bottom of the badge. These two words were the standard answer to the Pionier Greeting which was "Fur Frieden und Sozialismus"/Seid Bereit" and the most common translation of this is "for peace and socialism/always ready". The the award document that comes with this badge that I have a photo of was signed by Egon Krenz as "vorsitzender der pionierorganization "ERNST THALMANN" a position he held from 1971 until 1974. Unfortunately I still can not post photos.

Regards,

Gordon

[Mike G.]

Hi Gordon,

It's okay to disagree. That is how things that are unclear get resolved. In this instance however, I'm not sure we are talking about the same badge and photograph.

We have very good, if not exceptional photos of both types of badges already posted in a very recent prior thread. John F. first posted an example of the Pioneer type, followed by a Post by Olivier, in which Olivier posted the complete "Boxed" set to include the miniatures. So we are familiar with it. We then compared it with the SED type and noted the differences, of which it turns out, there are many.

You commented the words "Seid Bereit" appear on the badge in this thread initiated by Ralph. On my 17inch Sony Monitor, they just aren't there. Perhaps we are getting threads or badges confused.
The major identifiers that are aparrent, indicate it to be SED as initially indicated by John F. They are:

a). There is no metal wreath outside of the flag. In other words, the flag is not encircled outside by a large metal wreath. If you look at the Pioneer badge examples (bronze, silver and gold) you will see there is a very large wreath that is outside the paremeters of the flag. It is so large, it cannot be missed. Its not on this badge that is on the Stasi Uniform about which this thread was initiated. This would indicate the badge to be SED.

b). There is a small enameled wreath inside of the flag, encircling the busts. That is as should be, if the badge is an SED Party badge. Again, the presence of this wreath inside the flag and around the bust (instead of the flag) indicates the badge to be an SED badge.

c). And finally, the two large words "Seid Bereit" are absent at the bottom of this badge. They are large enough, that if they were there, they would be apparent. So I am in agreement with "Eagle Eyes" John F. that his initial observation that the badge in question is indeed an SED Party Badge, is correct. I bow to his keen eyesight, and astute observation of being able to grasp the obvious, of which in this instance, I totally failed.

Here is a blowup (Sorry Ralph) of the photo / badge in question, to assist with a through c above.

[Gordon Craig]

Michael.

Sorry, I guess I didn't read the post well enough. Thanks for the enlarged picture of the badge. I'm still not sure that I agree it is an SED badge though. I went through my copy of Auszeichnungen und Abzeichen der SED and I could not find a bdge even close to the one pictured. That doesn't rule it out as an SED badge though. The badge I found that resembles the one in the picture the most, and it was not an exact match, was Bartels #2902a, which is an GDSF badge.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Mike G.]

Hi Gordon,

This is an SED Badge. And I'm certain it is an example of the type that is on the Stasi Tunic in question. There was a 4 Bust example (1st production type) and a 3 bust example (2nd production type); Stalin was the Bust that was removed.

The photo I'm posting is of the 3 Bust type. The official title for the two SED Party Badges is:
"Ehrennadel fuer 50 und 40 Jahre Mitgliedschaft in Arbeiterparteien", letztere in zeitlichen Varieanten.

Most probably the type that is on the Tunic is the 4 Bust example. I'm basing this assumption on the how the writing beneath the wreath extends on either side of the Busts. But for sure, it is one or the other.

[Gordon Craig]

Micahel,


If you are talking about the badge on the Generals left lapel I would agree. If we are talking about the badge next to the Russian badge with the sword, and that is the one I am refering to, then we differ there.

Regards,

Gordon

[Mike G.]

I knew we were on different railroad tracks.

Badge on left lapel.

I'll talk to the "Switchman" so this doesn't happen again.