Gordon Craig

The right hand side.

The left hand side, as viewed, of the document showing the award.

Next is the award document and cover for the 1985 award. You will no doubt notice that the award document is dated 1984. Obviously this type of award was being given out before the 1985 year used in the Large Medals book. First the front of the document cover. The covers are also painted in the same manner as the medal case.

The case is still made of wood but instead of imitation leather the cases for these awards was painted the same colour as the 1964 issue. This paint melts in any heat at all and the cases always feel tacky and still togther when closed. The two halves need to be pried apart to open it.

The reverse of the award. The back is now dished instead of flat but still shows the rivet for the attachment of the red star on the front.

A closeup of the medal portion. The hammer and torch are not in relief but at the same hight as the national colours.

Now on to the 1985 issue award.

The case is made of wood and cover with dark red, almost maroon, imitation leather.

The obverse of the award. It is flat and only the rivet holding the red star in place on the front is visible to mar the plain surface. Note that the ribbon has the 1980s type of pin attached to it.

A close up of the front of the medal. The centre is done in cold enamel. The hammer and torch are in relief above the country colours. The red star is slightly crooked as it is riveted to the body of the award.

While adding a Bronz Order of Labour to my inventory list today I spent some time comparing the cased ones I have and I would like to discuss them here. There are four main categories of The Order of Labour listed in the Large Medals Book; the 1953, 1954, 1964 and the 1985 issues. I have decided to follow the authors years of issue although what I will post differs slightly from these years. As the topic description says, I am going to review the Order of Labour in Bronz for the years 1964 and 1985. The Large Medals Book states that 51,462 of the Order of Labour in Bronz were issued but does not break it down into separate years. Therefore, while this fairly large figure covers (possibly) all the issues of this grade there would be fewer of each different main category as well as those listed by year because of major changes in design or construction. First we will start with the 1964 issue;

Paul R. The simple answer to your question is no. There were no special boards for DDR Cosmonauts. Cheers, Gordon

The back of the holder for this document.

Here is a picture of the OKLEV?L (diploma) presented with the badge awarded for excellent service. It was presented on the 24th anniversary of the liberation of Hungary by the Red Army. It is not unusual to find awards awarded on this date. Note the date at the bottom; 1969 ?prilis 4. The annual parade held in Budapest to celebrate the Liberation was always held on this date.

A closer compariosn of the two badges. The 5 year badge is vaulted and considerably thicker than the later type award which is flat.

The exterior of the case of the badge awarded for excellent service.

This MUNK?SŐR award has been discussed before and the reasosn for its award were also discussed. I thought it would be interesting to display the award and show how the case and badge itself changed over time. The original reason for awarding this badge was for 5 years service to the prople in the MUNK?SŐR . As such, it was awarded in a two piece dark red plastic case with this inscription on the top across one corner with a picture of the badge, in gold, above the script. At a future date the badge was awarded for excellent service in the MUNK?SŐR. I'll post pictures of the badges in their cases to illustrate the difference in both. The badge that was awarded for 5 years service was a much more impressive, and better finished, badge but remainde exactly the same in designs and diametre. It is probabaly worth mentioning here that the marks on the top of the interior of the badge on the viewers left were created by me. Plastic cases of this era had a thin foam material between the artificial silk lining and the hard surface of the case. Over the years, this foam often disintegrates leaving the white lining to separate from the case. I tried my good old solution "superglue" to correct this problem and it did fasten the cloth to the interior of the top but also stained the cloth badly. I am still looking for a solution to this problem and if anyone has found a way to glue the cloth back into place with out the glue showing through the cloth I'd be very interested to hear about it! Regards, Gordon

The exterior of these cases.

A different style of case. Darker plastic case and darker flocked interior. The quality of the badges in both types of cases remains high.

The exterior of these cases

Time to add some more info. A while back I acquired some cased A V?LLALAT KIV?L? BRIG?DJA and A V?LLALAT KIV?L? IFJ?S?GI BRIG?DJA awards. Since they came in two different types of cases I bought the four of them. The cases themselves are basically the same design. What varies is the colour and externa; finish of the cases as well as the interior colour. I'll posty comparison pictures of the two types of cases below. Regards, Gordon

Christian, Thanks for posting the link to the pictures of the air museum. Looks like they have added more planes on display both inside and outside since I was there last. I last tried to visit in July of 1999, shortly after the bombing stopped, but the museum was closed when I drove out to it. It really is well worth a visit but being at the airport it is not easy for visitors to get to it. Regards, Gordon

Ulsterman, I've done a sysnopsis in the past. Perhaps I can find it one of these days! (hint, hint) Cheers, Gordon

Side view of the cap.

Front view of the cap.