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Very nice!

Grant - No problem. Would you be interested in posting photos here of your less common cuff titles?

Grant, There is a thread on the WAF DDR forum that has a rather extensive list: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244737&highlight=cuff+titles Kevin

Yes, They are illustrated as fantasy items in on of my reference books. However they have been around so long that they have become collectable in their own right even thought they are known not to have existed in the DDR time.

Grant - A very nice selection of new finds. I've been looking for an inexpensive example of the fake Stasi arm patches and cuff title as well. Kevin

I should mention that several senior party and military leaders, most notably, Erich Honecker, were avid hunters. Here is a link that shows some of the associated member documents for a hunter I believe lived in East Berlin: http://www.jagdkultur-hobusch.de/index.php?id=5-1-2-0-0

Yes, There was a hunting association in East Germany that I believe was called the Jagdgesellschaft der DDR. I have several medals simular to yours, but without ribbons, for hunting with dogs. I picked them up at the "Hunt Shop" in East Berlin's Alexanderplatz in the late 80s before the fall of the wall.

Also here is an English Wikipedia article I helped put together a few years ago that provides more background on the KdA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Groups_of_the_Working_Class

Stogieman - It's the Medaille für ausgezeichnete Leistungen in den Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (KdA) or roughly in English; Medal for Distinguished Achievements in the Battle Groups of the Working Class. Established in 1965 the medal was awarded for special achievement in the management of units of the KdA during training. It was given for increasing the combat readiness of units as well as for excellence in the care and maintenance of military equipment and technology. It could be given repeatedly. The award of the medal includes a certificate and a cash prize for individuals. The medal was awarded by the Minister of the Interior and head of the German People's Police on the 1st of May and the 7th of October, the Day of the Republic. The medal is worn on the upper left chest of the distinctive KdA uniform. The later versions of the medal are common as are most KdA medals. However it's harder to find examples where the enamel of flag is not degraded around the edges.

Doc - It's not Volksmarine, but rather the DDR version of the Red Cross = Deutsches Rotes Kreuz der DDR (DRK der DDR), a civil agency. It's the flag for the Red Cross lifeguard service, I believe it was called the Water Rescue Service = Wasserrettungsdienst (WRD des DRKs der DDR). Still it's an impressive flag. Here is a short history in German of the Wasserrettungsdienst. Established on 8 February 1950 it was initally the responsibility of German Sports Committee but later transferred to the DRK DDR: Am 8. Februar 1950 wurde der damalige "Deutsche Sportausschuss" offiziell mit der Bildung eines Wasserrettungsdienstes beauftragt. Nach anfänglich guter Arbeit stellte sich jedoch heraus, dass sich die Aufgaben des Wasserrettungsdienstes zu sehr von denen der demokratischen Sportbewegung abgrenzten. In Erkenntnis der Wichtigkeit des Wasserrettungsdienstes für die Sicherheit der Bevölkerung erfolgte die Eingliederung des Wasserrettungsdienstes als Spezialeinheit in das Deutsche Rote Kreuz der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (WRD des DRKs der DDR). Im Laufe der vergangenen Jahre ist der Wasserrettungsdienst zu einer notwendigen Spezialeinheit geworden und konnte durch selbstlosen Einsatz viele Menschen vor dem Tode des Ertrinkens bewahren. Wie seit dem Bestehen des Wasserrettungsdienstes, so wird es auch in Zukunft die vornehmste Aufgabe aller Rettungsschwimmer sein, ihre ganze Kraft für die Erhaltung von Leben und Gesundheit unserer Menschen einzusetzen und dafür Sorge zu tragen, dass ein Missbrauch des Wasserrettungsdienstes im politischem Sinne nie mehr eintreten kann. Source: http://www.dlrg-magdeburg.de/aktuelles/1990-historisches.htm Kevin

Double post.

I believe Torsten was Artillery.

Gordon, As I recall these hat covers and bands were removable. Unfortunately this is not my area of expertise; I'm mostly focused on NVA Para and Volksmarine as well as medals, shoulder boards and insignia. There is a thread on the hats many years back on the WAF NVA forum: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201621&highlight=KD You might enquire there and get a more informed response. Here is the main page: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=64 Now if you want to talk about the elusive Volksmarine U-Boat badge, well I could talk all day about that. Kevin

Last but not least here is a link to an excellent site which describes the KD & Regulierers in German as well as photos of equipment: http://www.militarypolice.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=135

Gordon, I did a quick look at some of my references. An NVA KD solder in field uniform as well as the motorcycle with an R insignia your are talking about is illustrated in Color Plate A of the Gordon Rottman's, Warsaw Pact Ground Forces. I've also run across a reference in the EGA East German Army Dictionary published by Bonner Druck- und Verlagsgesellschaft, 3rd Edition 1984: Military Police / Kommandantendienste (KD) The tasks here are those of the military police in the West. Up to 1967, competence was restricted to the Ministry of National Defense and the appurtenant garrison area of Strausberg. They functioned at parades as control sentries. After 1967, the "Kommandantendienste" took over the functions of military police in all military districts. These functions include patrol duty. The military units of a garrison, in their area of jurisdiction, monitor the behavior of officers, NCOs, and enlisted men and see to it that the directives of the base commander are obeyed. The military police also provide traffic control sentries ('Regulieter'). Men of the military police wear white leather equipment (belt, shoulder strap, holster and cap band). The front of their steel helmets is emblazoned with he letters KD in black on a yellow background. The Kommandantendienste is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the East German Army (EGA).

Gordon, The Kommandantendienst (KD) in the NVA were a special service roughly equivalent to MPs. I believe they also served as couriers. I don't know of any particular Waffenfarben for the KD. According to Klaus Wather's Uniformeffekten the Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen with the R and the motorcycle is also for the KD. There were also Regulierers that wore special helmet covers and an armband with an R. If memory serves these were not true MPs, but rather soldiers detailed to traffic control duties. The Soviet Army had a simular arrangement.

Hauptman - It's a great later Bronze VVO. However, after years of collecting US Medals, my advice is to buy the medal based on it's merits not on the story. This may not be the case with your medal, but often a compelling story is meant to increase the sale value of a medal. Without documentation a story is just a story. And how likely would it be that someone fleeing East Germany would have the presence of mind to bring a DDR state order over with them, especially if they escaped over the Wall.

There is an extensive thread on items of the Rotfrontkamperbund on the Wehrmacht Awards DDR forum: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385975 Kevin

Dan - I didn't see the link in your post, so here it is: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388683

I had a friend bring me the book from Germany this week and it is excellent. I'm still in the Chapter about the 1950's, but basically the FRD was responsible for maintaining parachutes and aircraft survival equipment for the Air Force as well as conducting parachute, rescue and safety equipment training for pilots and aircrew. It's like a combination of the US Parachute Rigger, Jumpmaster and Airborne School black hat. I believe there were small detachments of the FRD at every LSK airfield.

Rimless Brotherhood in Arms medals are more desirable because they are older, the later ones have a small raised rim on the front side of the medal.

Joerg - Thanks for the background on the Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen. I've looked for information on Fallschirm- and Rettungsdienst on the internet and there is not much. From what I've found they were responsible for maintaining parachutes and survival equipment for Air Force flight personnel as well as conducting parachute training. I'm waiting on a book from Germany on the FRD, its an autobiography, "Kameradschaft am Fallschirm. Mein Weg zum Leiter des Fallschirm- und Rettungsdienstes der LSK/LV der Nationalen Volksarmee" by Horst Schöll. Kevin

Joerg - Thanks for your comments on the GST Badge. Do you mind if I ask another question on the Fallschirm Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen that was worn on the lower left arm of the dress uniform until 1986? Some believe the type shown below was only worn by the Air Force Fallschirmdienst, while the 40. Fallschirmjägerbataillon wore a slightly different one with a "gull wing" at the bottom of the parachute. Others believe the the one shown below was for non-parachute qualified members of the 40th. Do you know who wore this Dienstlaufbahnabzeichen? Kevin

Joerg - Those are some outstanding photos. Especially the first one since it's the first time I've seen the GST Fallshirmsportleistungsabzeichen worn on the NVA uniform.

I talked to Ralph today and he is pleased with all of your positive comments about the first book. Over the last few months he has been kind enough to show me drafts of some of the chapters in the second book. He covers the Stasi sponsored Sports Club Dynamo extensively and has a chapter devoted exclusively to the Stasi Wachregiment "Feliks Dzierzynski". If memory serves he also covers the Stasi Juristische Hochschule (JHS) in Potsdam. These are all areas where there is no in depth research in English. They combine high quality images of insignia with never before published photos from private collections, all complemented with an engaging text in English. Ralph in getting close to finishing this second book. But says he needs more sales on the first book to justify printing the second. So if you have been holding off on buying the first book now is the time to do so. I have a feeling that in the not too distant future Ralph's book is going to be like Paul McDaniel's The Comprehensive Guide to Soviet Orders and Medals. Out of print and available only at a prohibitively expense price. Paul's book is hard to find under $200. Kevin