very nice find from the Fleamarket today

[Thälmannpionier]

But I disagree with you on a couple of points. Nothing serious. For example:
If the example you posted in Post #67 represents medals produced until 1990, then how can there be any examples of later produced medals such as the example you then post in Post #68 as the next one to follow? This I'm sure you will agree is confusing.

Also, you indicate the Later Production medal with 5 sided suspension ribbon was issued with the large intermisspange and large miniature medal affixed to the interimsspange. There were two variants of the large interimsspange. Both were issued with the three production runs of the medal that was issued without the 5 sided suspension ribbon.

Thanks for the Info
I agree it is confusing..but maybe the Site I was looking for the Information did not know the dates of the different changes that were made to the medal between 1971-1990



I was just refer to the miniature on the Interimspange,that the early miniature has a diameter of 15 mm and the later ones from 1971 onwards have the 10,5mm miniature on the Interimspange.My two Interimspangen measure exactly the same just the Size of the miniature is different.
cheers
Andreas

[Mike G.]

High Andreas,

No problem. Actually, from 1989 on, no new medals or medal variants for any of the different military organs of the DDR were issued. That was what was confusing to me regarding your post.

Badges on the other hand continued to be produced. Some new Reserve badges ( four) dated 1990 were released, and two new Academy badges dated 1990 were released. There may have been other badges as well, but they fail to come to mind.

Regarding the Interimsspange, you are correct. The type produced for the third production run for the medal, and for the fourth production run (medal with 5 sided ribbon) were identical in size. As you correctly noted Andreas, only the miniature medal on the interimsspange differed in size. You are correct.

Before anyone hits me over the head (I'm thinking of Ralph and Doug); yes, there was a new Stasi Medal that was actually produced and issued, and was supposed to be presented to members of the Stasi late 1989. However the Wall came down, and the plug was pulled so quickly on the Stasi, that the medal was never presented to anyone. I've seen a couple up for sale on ebay, but somewhere there must be a whole warhouse of these things. I bet former members of the Stasi have them all and every year award a few to each other, over a glass of Cognac of course.

[Thälmannpionier]

Before anyone hits me over the head (I'm thinking of Ralph and Doug); yes, there was a new Stasi Medal that was actually produced and issued, and was supposed to be presented to members of the Stasi late 1989. However the Wall came down, and the plug was pulled so quickly on the Stasi, that the medal was never presented to anyone. I've seen a couple up for sale on ebay, but somewhere there must be a whole warhouse of these things. I bet former members of the Stasi have them all and every year award a few to each other, over a glass of Cognac of course.

Thanks for your comment Michael
do you mean this one?...this anniversary badge was never presented to anyone
cheers Andreas

[Mike G.]

No. That's one of the ones I forgot. But I think the Stasi were in fact around already in 1949, and therefore for them, in 89, it may have been possible they could have received that 40 year badge. Anyone know?

How about it Ralph? Could it have been presented?

[Ralph P]

Hey all...well first...Andreas I stand corrected about your medal sorry about that... I was educated over the years to believe that all DDR medals awarded post Cold War that had a U shape hinge to be reproductions.

Second, in reference to the STASI 40 year anniversary badge, overall there were some badges that were presented because the production of these badges were already done by the time November 1989 came around when the MfS ended and was renamed to the AfNS. The Berlin AfNS headquarters was not ransacked until January 1990, so some senior AfNS members would have been presented a forty year badge. Even though the MfS did not exist anymore or at least by name.

One thing that is interested is that I have in my collection a forty year badge that was presented inside a case with a six coins that was given to Erich Mielke.

Hey Mike...I overall agree with you about the 1989 - 1990 medals, but I do know of a set of the STASI medals that were presented to at least one person...Erich Mielke. There could have been other very senior members presented the medals, but at this time I know of none and it would have been very limited.

[Thälmannpionier]

when the MfS ended and was renamed to the AfNS. The Berlin AfNS headquarters was not ransacked until January 1990, so some senior AfNS members would have been presented a forty year badge.

Hi Ralph

What does AfNS stands for please?I've never heard it before.
Thanks
Andreas

[torstenbel]

Amt für Nationale Sicherheit .. Cheers, Torsten (ebay german.militaria).

Hi Ralph

What does AfNS stands for please?I've never heard it before.
Thanks
Andreas

[Thälmannpionier]

Thanks,Torsten

[Mike G.]

The original post on the Police Honor Medal and the fact the one depicted had the eye that fastened the 5 sided ribbon to it molded as part of the medal, instead of the traditional separate wire affixed to it - got me to thinking. Were there other DDR medals made similarly?

So this weekend, I dug out every single DDR medal I have, and examined each, one by one. This was no small task. I've got a lot of "Friggen" DDR medals. A lot .

Anyway, to my surprise, I found a total of four different medals that were produced with the eye molded as part of the medal, instead of being produced the traditional way, which is die cast with a separate wire attached.

I then researched my medals books, one of which is the only one "Officially" accepted by the NVA, and confirmed that indeed, these medals were in fact produced with the eye die cast into the medal. The Police Honor Medal seems to have been produced both with a wire and with the eye die cast as part of the medal. The other 3 appear to have been produced only as a single unit - that is with the eye diecast as part of the medal.

I've not found any others, and could not find examples of any others in my books. But I certainly would be interested to know if members have medals not mentioned, that also have the eye die cast as part of the medal. It might prove worthwhile to compile a list of the medals made this way, so we are all familiar with them, since they are non-conforming to the normal production method. Please insure they are genuine, and not a reproduction piece such as is being currently marketed by a German Seller who goes by the handle "Truck Driver".

The four medals I found with the eye diecast as part of the medal are:

MdI Medaille Ehrenzeichen der Deutschen Volkspolizei.

NVA Kampforden fur Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland (All three levels; gold, silver and bronze).

NVA Ehrenzeichen der Armeesportvereinigung; and...

KAMPFGRUPPEN Erinnerungsmedaille 20 Jahre Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse

To show the difference from the traditional production method incorporating a separate "Wire", I'm first posting an example of a KVP Medaille fur Treue Dienste in der Kasernierten Volkspolizei as an example. It has the wire for the eye to which the 5 sided ribbon would then be attached.

Following that are closeups of the four medals I've found that have the eye diecast as part of the medal - One Police; two NVA and one Kampfgruppen. Again, I encourage members to post other examples if found. We need to know. Thanks.

KVP with wire eye:

[Mike G.]

MdI Medaille Ehrenzeichen der Deutschen Volkspolizei

[Mike G.]

NVA Kampforden fur Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland

[Mike G.]

NVA Ehrenzeichen der Armeesportvereinigung

[Mike G.]

KAMPFGRUPPEN Erinnerungsmedaille 20 Jahre Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse

[Thälmannpionier]

Here some more....

no high end or special medals but they have also die cast eye...

1. FDJ Hans Beimler Medal
2. 30.Jahrestag der Gründung und Festigung der DDR
3. NVA Reservisten Medal

cheers
Andreas

[Thälmannpionier]