ehrentitle

KG Silver service medals. The medal on the left purchased in Berlin in 1990, the two on the right purchased in the last couple of years.

Thanks for sharing your collection. Kampfgruppen and VOPO medals and badges some of the most affordable of East German collectables. I'll try to post a couple of examples of varations of medals to illustrate your comments. Kevin

second page -

Here is another example -

And the second page -

As promised here is a scan -

I ran across another DDR Medal reference that I have, I photocopied it when I was stationed in Berlin in the late 80s. The original had color plates of all of decorations and insignia. Unfortunately I do not believe it is commercially available. Here is the title: Auszeichnungen der Warschauer Pakt Staaten, Teil 1 Auszeichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republic, Stand 1985, numbered 1252. It is broken down into six sections: State Awards - Orden, Preise, Ehrentitel, Medaillen Non-state Awards- Bewaffneten Organe, Gesellschaftlichen Organisationen. It has a forwared that has a narrative in German about DDR awards as well as extracts of regulations and an order of presidence. I'll try to post a couple of scans of pages. Kevin

Ed - Did you find the book? If so what do you think of it? Kevin

Thanks much. Kevin

I always thought that the soldiers on this postcard were actually lucky having been captured in early 1915. They probably would not have survived the war otherwise. Kevin

Here is my contribution, a post card I picked up in a Berlin flea market in the late 80s - Kevin

Paul - If you ever want to get rid of some DDR stuff make room for more Soviet you know where to go.

Paul, Very nice! Is there anything that you don't collect? Kevin

If this is a basic book, then the advanced one is still waiting to be written. There isn't much out there on DDR medals beyond a couple of books that Paul has already listed. Yes the majority of photos are black & white, but it still has great value because you get a good idea of what the orignial awards looked like. Unfortunately its a bit hard to find. Kevin

Ed - No problem, love...and envy the high end DDR Medals you have posted lately. Kevin

Auszeichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Milit?rverlag der DDR Frank Bartel/J?rgen Karpinski, Berlin 1979. No ISBN Milit?rische Abzeichen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Klaus Feder/J?rgen Wagner/Ralf Swoboda, Milit?rverlag der DDR. Berlin 1988. ISBN 3-327-00523-0

The "Red" and "Black" books published in the DDR, both must haves for the serious DDR insignia collector.

Here it is front and back -

You would probably get better responses if you posted these questions on one of the two DDR insignia forums - DDR Militaria Discussion Forum - http://militaria.gunboards.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=11 DDR Forum on Wehrmacht-awards.com - http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=64

There is an E-bay seller kirks_east_german_surplus which from time to time offers a CD with both Band I & II of Klaus Walther's Uniformeffekten Spezialkatalog for about $20 plus postage. Kevin

They were made of aluminum, I have a high quality cast amuminum copy which is much thinner than the original. It also has drilled holes in each corner for mounting. Kevin

There are two essential sets of books for VoPo collectors- Klaus Walther's Uniformeffekten Spezialkatalog Band I which covers all MdI organizations (police, customs, etc...) The best color illustrated insignia reference, but hard to find in the US and expensive in German. I have Band II which covers the NVA and Stasi and it is worth its weight in gold. Geschichte der Deutschen Volkpolizei Band I & II published by VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, Berlin 1987. It's the history of the VoPo with photos. You see these for sale on US E-bay now and again

Jacshirt Patches & Cuff Title -

Here they are, first Uniform patches -

I've not been able to find more detail. But I suspect it might be the difference between a local policeman and the county sheriff or the state patrol who have a more regional (area) responsibility. I'm scanning my set of uniform patches and will have then posted shortly.