ehrentitle

And the reverse. Notice the way the screw post is mounted, it is pressed into the body of the badge. Newer badges have screw like post soldered to the badge. A number of these restrike badges (as well as medals) were made by the original manufacturer just before and a few years after the fall of the wall from the orignial dies. All of the restrikes have the screw like post.

Here is an example of a badge from the 1960-63 period (Klassifizierrungabzeichen dur Funkorter der Luftstreitkrafe).

Reverse - The main difference, besides signs of use and age, is the pinback. On the medal to the left there is a locking device for the pin which is not present on those on the left.

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 -

The various books mentioned here (that I didn't have) are on their way. My request for airmail shipping often gets downgraded to slower post. So I should live so long.

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

Thanks . . . off to ABE books now

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

Usualy private purchased in "Voentorg" shops by Soviet Army senior officers up to Podpolkovnik (Lt Col).

Also worn by enlisted and NCO from ceremonial units (Rota pochetnogo karaula)

And officers in small ranks - if they father was general - can weaar it too.

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

Bartel & Karpinski is a decent "basic" book (came out in 1979 in the Bad Old Days) but is mainly illustrated in black and white. It's all I've ever had as a DDR reference.

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

Thanks . . . off to ABE books now

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

Thanks!

I do have band II of Klaus Walther's Uniformeffekten Spezialkatalog. I have not been able to find the band I after several years of looking!

I will keep an eye out for the other book you mentioned! Thanks for the info

Paul

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

It's cast iron and was made in Germany and shipped over by the original owner. It's approx. 8" X 10" and weighs 4 pounds 9 ounces. The original owner painted it with a heat treat aluminum finish which looks great.

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

Those are nice!!! I do have a couple of TraPo Tunics with the Schutzpolizei patches(the pics are too blurry to post!). How difficult were the Abschnitzbevollmachtiger patches to find? I would love to find some tunics with this particular patch.

Thank you again for your help and clarification. Also, thanks to everyone who helped to make this a very informative thread(to me anyway).

I do have a lot of books referencing the military aspect of the DDR, yet I have yet to find the same books for the Police side of the house. I will start a new thread with another mystery tunic.

Regards

Paul

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