Bundesrepublik My first...

[webr55]

Gentlemen,

I have never bought GDR stuff before. But sometimes you find the one-of-a-kind item you've got to have. Well, I found mine:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[Grant Broadhurst]

WOW that is a BIG ribbon bar !

Do you know who it belonged to ?

[webr55]

Yes, I ID'd the wearer through a photo. But maybe someone would like to guess??

Edited May 14, 2006 by webr55

[Paul R]

Now that is a bar! It is a shame that someone removed the "jewels" from that Ehrenspange zum Vaterl?ndischen Verdienstorden! Despite this, the bar is a one of a kind item! Nice find!

Nice array of foreign medals and very hard to find East German medals!

Is that a ribbon bar for a Soviet Order of the Red Star!?!?!? (3rd row, far left!)

He must have been a higher level admiral!

[webr55]

Now that is a bar! It is a shame that someone removed the "jewels" from that Ehrenspange zum Vaterl?ndischen Verdienstorden! Despite this, the bar is a one of a kind item! Nice find!

Nice array of foreign medals and very hard to find East German medals!

Is that a ribbon bar for a Soviet Order of the Red Star!?!?!? (3rd row, far left!)

He must have been a higher level admiral!

Yes, I think that is the Red Star. I haven't been able to identify all those ribbons, I'm not sure what the foreign ones are.

Paul, your guess isn't bad...

BTW, the zirkonia jewels on the Ehrenspange are still there!

Chris

Edited May 14, 2006 by Paul R

[webr55]

Ok, so these are the ribbons - I think. Some I cannot recognize at all, especially those in the 4th row. Can anyone help?

1) Ehrenspange zum Vaterl?ndischen Verdienstorden

2) Vaterl?ndischer Verdienstorden in Gold

3) Vaterl?ndischer Verdienstorden in Silber

4) Scharnhorst-Orden

5) Kampforden f?r Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland in Gold

6) Kampforden f?r Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland in Silber

7) Kampforden f?r Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland in Bronze

8) Orden des Roten Sterns (UdSSR)

9) Ehrentitel Verdienter Angeh?riger der Nationalen Volksarme

10) Erinnerungsmedaille 20. Jahrestag demokratische Bodenreform (1965) [??]

11) Verdienstmedaille der Nationalen Volksarmee in Gold

12) Polonia Restituta, Kommandeur mit Stern (Polen)

13) ??

14) ??

15) Verdienstmedaille der Nationalen Volksarmee in Silber

16) Ehrenzeichen der Deutschen Volkspolizei

17) Verdienstmedaille der Deutschen Post in Gold [??]

18) Medaille f?r Treue Dienste in der Seeverkehrswirtschaft in Gold

19) Medaille f?r Treue Dienste in der Seeverkehrswirtschaft in Silber

20) Medaille f?r Treue Dienste in der Seeverkehrswirtschaft in Bronze

21) Medaille f?r vorbildlichen Grenzdienst [??]

22) Ehrentitel Verdienter Werkt?tiger des Bereiches der haus- und kommunalwirtschaftlichen Dienstleistungen der DDR [??]

23) Medaille der Waffenbr?derschaft in Gold

24) Verdienstmedaille der Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse in Gold

25) Verdienstmedaille der Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse in Bronze

26) ??

27) Medaille f?r ausgezeichnete Leistungen in landwirtschaftlichen Produktionsgenossenschaften [??]

28) Jubil?umsmedaille ?60 Jahre Rote Armee? (UdSSR)

29) Jubil?umsmedaille ?30 Jahre Bulgarische Volksarmee? (Bulgarien) (1974)

30) Jubil?umsmedaille ?50 Jahre Volksarmee? (Mongolei) (1971)

31) Orden der Freundschaft der Nationen (UdSSR)

32) Medaille zur St?rkung der Waffenbr?derschaft 1. Klasse (CSSR) (1970)

33) Medaille der Waffenbr?derschaft in Gold (Ungarn) (1979)

34) Medaille der Waffenbr?derschaft (Bulgarien) (1975)

35) Medaille f?r 20 Jahre Treue Dienste in der Nationalen Volksarmee

36) Medaille f?r 15 Jahre Treue Dienste in der Nationalen Volksarmee

37) Medaille f?r 10 Jahre Treue Dienste in der Nationalen Volksarmee

38) Medaille f?r 5 Jahre Treue Dienste in der Nationalen Volksarmee

39) Medaille f?r Treue Dienste in der Kasernierten Volkspolizei

Edited May 14, 2006 by webr55

[webr55]

Ok, ok, so here he is: This bar belonged to

Admiral Wilhelm Ehm

Chief of the People's Navy 1959-61 and 1963-87.

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[Guest Rick Research]

That is SUCH a bizarre combination (barracks police... simultaneously in the navy etc etc etc ) and in such WEIRD mixed order with foreign awards before DDR ones that I wouldn't have believed it without seeing it!

Here's side by side for easier comparison:

[attachmentid=39446]

The first one in row 4 is Polish Order of Polonia Rstituta-Commander with Star. The two following it are so weird that the colors have been improvized by sewn on strips, which suggests something-s unobtainable!!!

The last one in row 8 is Mongolian 50th Anniversary Of The People's Army 1971

[Paul R]

Definately a once in a lifetime DDR bar! I still cannot see the zirkonia! They must have superb clarity!

[Guest Rick Research]

Have you got any biographical details on Ehm?

Belated congratulations--should have said that up front!

[webr55]

Thanks for the info, I'll update the list!

I have a biographical article about Ehm. Here are some basics:

He was born in 1918 during the final days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in Pola near Triest. After WW1, his family moved to Bohemia, where they lived in Czechoslovakia until the German occupation. Ehm was then drafted into the Wehrmacht and became Oberfunker (NCO) in the Nachrichtentruppe. So, unlike other DDR military leaders, he was not a former "anti-fascist" fighter.

He was in the Kurland army in 1945, then Russian POW, released 1947. Entered SED 1948, and 1950 (as Oberkommissar/1st Lt.) in Hauptverwaltung Seepolizei (HVS), the forerunner of the People's Navy (therefore naval barracks' police!). Rose quickly to deputy chief of staff of the People's Navy (founded in 1956) and as such to Kapit?n zS in 1957.

In 1959, it came as a big surprise to many that he (being just 41) was chosen by his predecessor Waldemar Verner as the new chief of the People's Navy, with promotion to Konteradmiral. From 1961-63, he was granted leave to attend the Naval Academy in Leningrad. Apparently, he was never really satisfied with his military knowledge, earning a (non-honorary!) PhD in 1978 at the age of 60!

He made Vizeadmiral in 1964, deputy minister of defence in 1972, Admiral in 1977. In 1987, he retired on his own will.

As far as I know, he is still alive.

Edited May 15, 2006 by webr55

[Guest Rick Research]

Hmmm.... so technically, by nationality he was either

1) born "Yugoslav" or

2) a "Czech national"

and not a GERMAN at all!!!

Makes me think of the movie "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" and

"incorrect background, Comraid."

[webr55]

Hmmm.... so technically, by nationality he was either

1) born "Yugoslav" or

2) a "Czech national"

and not a GERMAN at all!!!

Makes me think of the movie "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" and

"incorrect background, Comraid."

Yes, correct observation! Even after reading this fairly long article on him, it is still not totally clear to me why he rose to such heights.

BTW, what is that badge he is wearing on his right side?

Edited May 15, 2006 by webr55

[Guest Rick Research]

That is a Soviet academy badge-- if you can zoom in and get a scan so the shield bearing the school name is legible, that will identify which one. It dates from the 1970s-80s from the looks of it, so could either be a "BBMY" naval command school or something like the Frunze Military Academy for general staff officers.

[webr55]

Sorry, can't do any better than this. Don't have the original pic.

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[Gerd Becker]

Thats a great named bar, Chris You rarely see these pop up in this quality nowadays.

Edited May 15, 2006 by Gerd Becker

[Ulsterman]

very nice!!

Any attempt to contact him at all?

[webr55]

After more than two years, a second bar of Ehm sold on ebay recently. According to the seller, this bar was made in 1986. It has the Karl-Marx-Orden on top - awarded to Ehm in 1983:

[webr55]

Only a tiny pic of the back:

[webr55]

There are a couple of other awards added here, among them:

- a second Red Star Order

- a "Banner der Arbeit" 1st cl. after the Red Star

- "Verdienter Seemann" at the end of row #4

- there is a device on the first ribbon in row #8 - the Friedrich-Engels-Preis for scientific merit. - This ribbon was on the first bar too, but without device.

More about the two obscure foreign - probably Latin American - orders here.

[webr55]

Found a third bar of Ehm's, on display on his uniform at the Hamburg Museum of Naval History. This one is shorter than the others, probably only with his most important awards. The last ribbon is the medal for 30 years Nationale Volksarmee (1986).

 

[Claudius]

This is the first time I've come across this tread.  Boy-o-boy, Ehms really earned a heap of fruit salad in his lifetime!