Awards and badges of the DRK der DDR

[HPL2008]

Following up on my other threads on Red Cross-related material, I'd like to present some awards and badges of the the East German Red Cross, i.e. the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz der DDR.

The DRK was re-founded in the GDR on 23 October 1952. Initially, it was simply called "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz" [German Red Cross] like its counterpart in the FRG. The addendum "der DDR" [of the GDR] was only added to its name in October 1966, at which time the letters "DDR" were also added to the organisation's emblem.

Let's start with some basic membership badges. Here are three early membership badges (without the "DDR") and a later one (with the "DDR"). The third photo shows them together with a uniform patch. The early pre-1966 badges come in a large (31.5 mm) and small (14 mm) size, both of which can be found with screwback- and pin assemblies; the later badges come in small (16 mm) size only:

[HPL2008]

A Dienstabzeichen für Schwestern [duty badge for nurses]. These can be found in some minor variations (with a smooth or pebbled reverse, of flat and slightly convex shape):

[HPL2008]

Longtime active membership in the DRK was honored by the Treueabzeichen des DRK der DDR, which literally translates as "Badge of Faithfulness of the DRK of the GDR".

Instituted in 1971, this long service award was first bestowed the following year on the occasion of the organization's 20th founding anniversary. It came in three grades: Bronze was for 10 years, Silver for 20 years and Gold for 30 years of active service. From 1972 to 1982, the badges were enamelled, from 1982 to 1986 painted and coated with transparent polyester and finally, from 1986 to the end of the GDR, painted only.

Left to right: Bronze (painted), Silver (enamelled), Silver (polyester-coated), Gold (painted):

[HPL2008]

The Leistungsabzeichen "Bereit zur medizinischen Sicherung der Landesverteidigung" [Proficiency Badge "Ready for the Medical Safeguarding of National Defense"] - a name stylistically reminiscient of similiar Soviet badges - was instituted in 1967. A very common award, this badge was not exclusive to Red Cross personnel, but could be attained by any citizen of the GDR of at least 14 years of age.

It came in the three grades of Bronze, Silver and Gold, depending on the level of qualification. The requirements were:

• Bronze - General first aid training (6 hours)
• Silver - Basic Red Cross training (45 hours)
• Gold - Basic air defense training (20 hours) and specialized training (54 hours)

The badge was awarded in large numbers and for more than two decades and thus can be found in a number of variations. Over time, quality declined here as well, from enamelled to polyester-coated to painted only.

Here are some examples.

Top row: Bronze badges, from left to right: enamelled, enamelled, polyester-coated, painted.
Center row: Silver badges, from left to right: enamelled, enamelled with a darker silver finish, polyester-coated, polyester-coated.
Bottom row: Gold badges, from left to right: enamelled, painted.

[HPL2008]

The lowest organisational level of the East German DRK was the Grundorganisation [Basic Organisation], of which roughly 14,000 existed. The next higher levels were the Stadtbezirkskomitees, Kreiskomitees and Bezirkskomitees [City Quarter-, County- and District Committees].

Units that distinguished themselves could be awarded the title of Vorbildliche Grundorganisation [Exemplary Basic Organisation]; as a visible sign of this honor, an associated badge was presented as well. However, this was symbolic in nature and by no means a wearable unit award: Only one such badge was presented to each decorated collective.

For subsequent repeated awards, pendants with the year of the award were added to the badge. Known years are: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Here are two badges with, respectively, the pendants for 1976 and 1977. Early badges are painted and covered in transparent lacquer, later ones - like the ones seen here - are polyester-coated. (All such polyester-coated badges turn rather unsightly with age, as the coating yellows and often cracks.)

[HPL2008]

Like its West German counterpart, the East German DRK also ran water- and mountain rescue services.

Here are some examples of the qualification badge for the Wasserrettungsdienst [Water Rescue Service] or WRD for short.

The badge came in a large-size and a small-size version (exact measurements for both sizes varied slightly over the years). The letters "WRD" at the base of the small-size badges were replaced by "DDR" in 1966 and, as usual, manufacture was simplified and the quality declined over the years. The small-size badge top left is an early specimen (enamelled, with "WRD" and gaps between the rope and the life saver), the one at the bottom is the last model (painted, with "DDR" and solid with no gaps):

[HPL2008]

Apart from the basic qualification badge, there was also an Ehrennadel des Wasserrettungsdienstes [Honor Pin of the Water Rescue Service] awarded to individuals and collectives for special achievements.

It came in the usual three classes of Bronze, Silver and Gold and basically consisted of the qualification badge with an additional laurel wreath (a half-wreath for the Bronze and Silver grades and a full wreath for the Gold grade).

Bronze, Silver and Gold grade pins, all in late versions:

[HPL2008]

A cloth version of the qualification badge was used on the work- and water sports clothing worn on duty. Here are some examples.

Top left: First model (used until 1966), top right: second model (1966 - 1972), bottom left: third model (1972 - 1990).

The chevrons seen bottom right were worn below the third model badge and identified the wearers qualification level and/or age:

First system (1972 - 1982):
Red-and-blue chevron: Successfully completed specialist training and qualification for single duty
Blue chevron: Successfully completed specialist training

Second and final system (1983 - 1990):
Red chevron: For lifeguards over 18 years of age. 1 chevron = Stufe I [level I], 2 chevrons = Stufe II [level II]
Red-and-blue chevron: Lifeguard of 16 - 18 years of age. 1 chevron = Stufe I [level I], 2 chevrons = Stufe II [level II]
Blue chevron: Lifeguard below 16 years of age

[HPL2008]

There was also a "Junger Rettungsschwimmer" ["Young Lifeguard"] badge in a metal and cloth version.

Shown below in the top row are two of the cloth badges in the second (1972 - 1990) version. Note that the aforementioned blue chevron is included in the design of the patch, as the youth organisation members who wore this badge were all below 16 years of age.

At bottom is the Allgemeines Rettungsschwimmerabzeichen [General Lifeguard Badge]:

[HPL2008]

Out of the water and up the hill... Let's move on to the Bergrettungsdienst [Mountain Rescue Service] or BRD for short. Somewhat amusingly, it was re-named Bergunfalldienst [Mountain Accident Service] (BUD) in 1973 when someone finally noticed that the acronym was inappropriate as "BRD" was also the abbreviation for Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Federal Republic of Germany].

The BRD/BUD originally had three different qualification badges (plus special badges for instructors). The badge for personnel with rock training [Felsausbildung] had a rope border, the one for winter training [Winterausbildung] had two crossed skis and the combined qualification badge for those with both rock- and winter training [Fels- und Winterausbildung] had both elements. Same as the WRD qualification badge, these badges, too, came in a large and a small size as well as in a cloth version for mountain-/work clothing.

Top, from left to right: Small-size stickpin badges for Winterausbildung, Felsausbildung and Fels- und Winterausbildung. Bottom: small-size pinback badge for Felsausbildung:

[HPL2008]

In 1969, the concept of three different qualification badges was dropped in favor of retaining only a single model of the qualification badge (the one with rope and skis). In 1980, the elaborate large-size badge (also known as a Dienstabzeichen, i.e. duty badge) was replaced by a simpler design which was much easier and cheaper to produce (and far less attractive).

The standard qualification badge in the second-model large-size version and the small-size version; "BRD" has now been replaced with "DDR":

[HPL2008]

By the way, I found a nice chronicle on the history of the mountain rescue services in the eastern Erzgebirge mountains on eBay. Note the cover illustration:

[HPL2008]

Like the WRD, the BRD/BUD also awarded an Ehrennadel in bronze, silver and gold. It was instituted in 1968.

Here are late examples of the silver and gold grade:

[HPL2008]

The Hauskrankenpflegedienst des DRK [Visitung Nurse Service of the DRK] was established on 1 March 1954. It, too, had its special award, the Pflegedienstspange [Nursing Service Clasp], which was instituted in 1966 in three grades: Bronze was for 125 hours of work, Silver for 250 hours and Gold for 500 hours.

Seen below are all three grades:

[HPL2008]

In 1986, the clasp was down-sized. Seen below are the old and the new model clasp in the Bronze grade (together with a Pflegedienst patch). Approximate measurements are 54 mm x 20 mm for the older model and 40 mm x 13 mm for the new model. Note that the old model is enamelled, while the new model is painted: