1960s Medal Bar Set

[FranzJoseph]

Hello gentlemen,

Just thought I'd show you my latest purchase, a medal bar awarded to a Hauptmann/Major in the late 1960s, and it has the old style pin and catch. I also have the 20 year service medal and gold verdienst, but I forgot to take photos

As you probably can't see due to my terrible photo taking, the 10 year service medal has a 900 stamp, which is a very nice touch. Anyway, there is some oxidation on the medals, particularly on the bronze verdienstmedaille, which I have pictured. What is the best way to clean this up? I've read online about vinger/salt solutions and lemon to clean it off, but I wanted to get some opinions first.

The set:


Front of the bronze verdientsmedaille:


900 stamp (though it looks like a smudge in this photo, it is there):


On a tunic:


Please let me know what you think about sorting out the oxidation, as I don't want it to get any worse!

Also, I've been meaning to ask, would a Major every be caught wearing a Leistungabzeichen? I have one, but I don't know if it would be appropriate for this tunic.

[comune1aclasse]

Hi FranzJoseph,

please do not polish the medals!!! Leave the original oxidation/Patina on it!! that is it what makes them "original"....it's their "history"!

As for the Militärsportabzeichen: This badge as been released in November 1968 by the Ministry of Defence with the "Ordnung über das Militärsportabzeichen der Nationalen Volksarmee" and issued for the first time in April 1969.

Before this badge there were the "Sportabzeichen der DDR" (class I, II and III) and further on from 1966 to 1968 the "Kampfsportnadel der Nationalen Volksarmee" in bronce, silver and Gold

Cheers,

Alex

[comune1aclasse]

FranzJoseph,

looking again at your medal bar I noticed that the medal for 15 years "Treue Dienste" (Gold) is in the shape issued since 1972.
You can recognize this by the detail of the national coat of arms in the flag. It is circled by a groove.

Alex


P.S. The white stains in the "D", "R", "O", "A", "E", "N" letters might be rests of old polish paste.... I think that a dry toothbrush will do it. Don't do it with a wet brush otherwise you'll risk to "reactivate" that old crusty polish paste. I don't want to give you my advices as a "must do", this is only my guess and what I would do.

[tony james]

I agree with Alex . leave the medals alone.don't clean / polish them .

[FranzJoseph]

Will ongoing oxidation not damage the medal? It is a little worse than my pictures reveal...I have another medal for factory workers which left untouched and now it's in a very sorry state. And thank you for the information comune1aclasse! What about a Leistungsabzeichen? Would that be appropriate for this tunic?

Also, I got a bit of information from the seller today about the medals:

"His service was in the tank forces and began in the early years of the former NVA. His last rank was Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant) The relatives of the former owner preferred that his service was not known, that is why I also did not get the certificates! I think he was at the Ministry of National Defense in Straussberg near Berlin!"

How interesting

[comune1aclasse]

Hi FranzJoseph,

The Leistungsabzeichen der NVA has been released and issued since the very first days of the existing of the Nationale Volksarmee. It was given to all military for achievements in the political and military drill and so on.... It was for Enlisted Men, NCO, Warrant Officers and Officers.
So now we are at the Point of your interest: Officers.
The regulation says to Officers but only till their function as a Kompaniechef and a Major (which is your case) could have likely been a Kompaniechef.
So I would say "yes" for a Leistungsabzeichen, unless it's a period one! Not a modern 1980s made!!! please!

here are some pictures of the Sportabzeichen I mentioned in my previous post which I have in my collection.

First the Sportabzeichen in its early 50s issue:




than in the issue 1956-1965:





Unfortunately I do not own any Kampfsportnadel

[comune1aclasse]

To answer your question if ongoing oxidation will damage the medal I can only post the pictures of a 1960s Medal bar that I own and on which you can clearly see what oxidation looks like when untouched.
I have this bar for 2 or 3 years by now and I can assure you that it has never changed. I love the original Patina that it sports!!













Alex

[comune1aclasse]

And furthermore this one:





Cheers,

Alex

[tony james]

As long as your medals aren't stored / kept in a damp humid area the damaging oxidation should stop. also do a search on ebay.de under " NVA urkunde " and you can usually find a leistungen urkunde for a major.

[FranzJoseph]

Hi gentlemen,

Thanks for the responses. Tony, thanks for the tip!

comune1aclasse, what a lovely medal bar, that numbered KVP is just beatiful! I might try and clean some of the dirt off with a brush as you suggested and maybe a little cloth, but I'll try and preserve that patina of age. Don't want it too look to corroded for display!

I wish my camera could capture the 900 mark as well as yours...I think my mark is much smaller!

Thanks for the advice on the Leistungen! What characteristics differentiate a late 60s/early 70s one such as the one I would need? I will probably use just that badge above the pocket, as I don't want to poke any additional holes for a qualispange...would the Leistung suffice alone?

Cheers,

FranzJoseph

[comune1aclasse]

FranzJoseph,

the differences between early, mid early and late Leistungsabzeichen are mainly in the construction of it.
Bartel's catalogue makes a list of 8 different types!!!!
As a simplified reference we can say that basically early types did not sport a national coat of arms in the flag and were numbered, then they added the national coat of arms but did not number them anymore.
Since they added the coat of arms you can find them either with the sign (hollow) of the minting die (earlier pieces) or a flat back (later pieces).
Another characteristic that distinguishes the newer Leistungsabzeichen from the older ones is the material used, the quality of the bronce finish and the type of pin.
Attached is a picture that I put together showing roughly the differences I mentioned above.
In my opinion for your Major you should find a Leistungsabzeichen that has a finish like the early types and a pin of type "b".
The right position of this badge between 1960 an 1972 is on the middle of the left breast pocket.





Cheers,

Alex

[Ralph P]

Great thread and discussion. Very nice to see other early DDR award medals in collections.

[FranzJoseph]

Thanks comune1aclasse,

I will be on the look out for a period appropriate Leistungsabzeichen! Thank you for the placement chart, I never knew the NVA placed badges on the left pocket, other than in the early days.

Thanks,

FranzJoseph

[babybabes]

Hej guys,

What do you think about this bar? It seems to me that the KVP and the grenztruppen medals don't belong to the same time area

The number on the KVP medal is 005097.

Is it something that can be genuine or just a weird assemblage?

[comune1aclasse]

Hi babybabes,


The Medaille für Treue Dienste in der KVP was released in 1954 and awarded until march 1956, when the NVA was created, to all people belonging to the armed Units of the DDR for at least 5 years.

The Medaille für Vorbildlichen Grenzdienst was released in its first issue in 1953. In 1956 the medal has been redesigned, so basically we can talk about a 1st pattern and a 2nd pattern. Yours is a 2nd pattern.
This medal had no relevant changes in its design till the end of the DDR; the only differences are in the bronce finish and the color of the ribbon. Older issues had a darker green.

The Verdienstmedaille der Grenztruppen der DDR was released in 1977. Again differences between early pieces and later pieces can be found in the Color of the ribbon (darker for early ones); the design of the wreath of the national coat of arms (older pieces have a thinner design) and the bronce finish (later pieces have that shiny almost kitsch finish).
Due to the finish quality and the ribbon color yours looks to be an older piece.

Obviously the owner of These medals was in the Grenztruppen.
So if this guy has the KVP Treue Dienste and supposing he has been awarded it in 1956 he must have been in service since 1951, by the time he was awarded the Verdienstmedaille der Gt der DDR (let him be one of the first recipients) in 1977 he already had 26 years of service!!

In my opinion there are missing some classes of the Medaille für Treue Dienste in der Nationalen Volksarmee ....

Cheers,

Alex