RE: East German Tri-Fecta

[Mike G.]

East German Tri-Fecta:

A). Medaille fuer Teilnahme an den bewaffneten Kaempfen der deutschen Arbeiterklasse in den Jahren 1918-1923.

B). Medaille fuer Kaempfer gegen den Faschismus 1933-1945.

C). Hans Beimler Medaille.

These three medals, together as a set, represent the three Communist Anti-Fascist medals that were commissioned in the early 50s and presented to eligible East German recipients that served in the very early German Workers Socialist (Communist) Party movement between the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> and 3<SUP>rd</SUP> decades of the 20<SUP>th</SUP> Century.

To complete the set required the acquisition of what I call the “Mercedes Benz” medal (Hans Beimler medal). Even though relevant to order of precedence this medal places last to the other two - of the three, it is the most rare, and also unfortunately, the most costly. Upon subsequent posting of the picture of the medal’s reverse, it will be more clear why I call it the Mercedes Benz medal.

Order of precedence for the three medals are as referenced above (A, B and then C). The photo is reverse order.

[Mike G.]

RE: Medal for participation in the armed fights of the German working class in the y

A). Medal for participation in the armed fights of the German working class in the years 1918-1923.

The medal was commissioned August 15, 1957. It was authorized for presentation to members of the German Working Class “Socialist Party” who actively participated in armed conflict in the years 1918-1923 against similarly armed reactionary and military forces, comprised of Fascist Groups or Organizations. Examples of some of the armed conflicts are: Spartacus Uprising, January 1919; Kapp Putsch, and Communist Revolt in the Ruhr, March 1920; and the Hitler Putsch, November 1923.Also eligible were similarly qualified members of the German Working Class “Socialist Party” who actively participated as anti-reactionary and anti-fascist fighters in the First World War of 1914 - 1918.

[Mike G.]

Medal for participation in the armed fights of the German working class in the years

Medal's Reverse:

[Mike G.]

Medal for fighters against fascism 1933-1945 with

B). Medal for fighters against fascism 1933-1945 with.

The medal was commissioned February 22, 1958. The medal was presented to individuals who had taken part and distinguished themselves in the fight against the fascist Nazi Regime, and after 1933, to those taking part as part of the International Brigade, in the anti-fascist resistance movement and liberation struggle of the Spanish people in the Spanish Civil War. The eligible recipient had to demonstrate that he still held these convictions after 1945, and fully supported the German “Socialist” Worker’s Party in East Germany.

[Mike G.]

RE: Medal for fighters against fascism 1933-1945 with

Medal's Reverse:

[Mike G.]

Hans Beimler medal

C). Hans Beimler medal.

The Hans Beimler medal was commissioned May 17, 1956. The medal was presented to individuals who demonstrated loyal service in the struggle for national liberation by the people of Spain, by service in the “International Brigade” during the Spanish Revolution 1936 – 1939.

[Mike G.]

RE: Hans Beimler medal

Medal's Reverse: "Mercedes Benz" Medal.

As one can now see, there appears on the reverse, a star very similar in appearance to that used by the famous German Luxuary Car Automobile Manufacturer.

[redjames2004]

Hey Mike, Nice DDR medal sets from East Germany's early days!!!!! Is this anti-facscist medal made of silver? I noticed that the anti-fascist medal looked like a silver medal. I know most DDR medals before 1966 was made of .900 silver. I have a NVA medal made of .900 silver in my collection. Also I own a nice mid-1950s KVP True Service medal in its original box along with original ribbon bar. This medal I got directly from Germany has serial number on its reverse. You have such nice East German non-military medal sets!!!! James

[Mike G.]

Hi James,

All three of these medals have a silver content in them, although what the ratio is to other alloys is unclear. Although these medals are as you observed, not NVA specific, they were in fact none-the-less, worn by a lot of the senior NVA Officer's that were part of the NVA early on, such as KESSLER, HOFFMAN and STOPH, just to name a few.

Congratulations on your KVP True Service medal. They are certainly of better quality than later produced medals.

[Ralph P]

Hey Mike...thanks for the education and well made thread. I have never seen the Hans Beimler medal front or back. I also see the colors used on the medal very interesting. Thanks...

[Mike G.]

The Hans Beimler medal is definitely an anomaly. In addition to the peculiar Non-Germanic color (Purple) used in the ribbon, a close inspection of the ribbon will disclose it is uncharacteristically off balance, and in contradiction to the German propensity for perfection. This becomes more apparent when the ribbon is mounted with other ribbons in a ribbon bar.

You will note that the Black, Gold and Red vertical stripes on the left side of the medal, instead of being in reverse order on the right side to give balance, remain in the same sequential order. Very strange all the way round.

[Roy Queen]

That is a very nice set of DDR awards! The Beimler award certainly stands out not only in color, but also in rarity. I would imagine not many of these were awarded as compared to the other two.

[torstenbel]

very nice set of medals and well worth bringing back to the top for the newer forum members to see...(like myself...).. Cheers, Torsten.

[Soviet]

A). Medal for participation in the armed fights of the German working class in the years 1918-1923.

Wow !

Where can I find one of those ?

[Mike G.]

Well this is weird.

I didn't bring this thread back to the top.

Actually, all I did was post a link to it to Roy QUEEN's thread. How this popped up I don't know. Not what I intended. Sorry.

Please if you will, refer back to Roy's thread and the link I posted there. I wish to keep his thread active and ongoing.

In the interim, I'm gonna have to go back and research what I did wrong that caused this thread to pop up the way it did. Not very "Cricket".