DDR My Humble Collection of DDR Awards

[Hauptmann]

Hmmmm, very cool! Love all your new additions Vic. But think that's terrific that those boards are Reichsbahn. Had I only known. But hey, at least now I know what to look for. And quite a bit of info on the swallows nests. That would be even more cool if the green is police since you have a good sized police collection now.

Well done on all counts!!!!

Oh, out of curiosity how does the back of the banner look? Didn't know if it was an early or later type.

Keep on truckin' my friend. Gotta get em' all!

Dan

[Gordon Craig]

Order of Victory,

I should have congratulated you on the nice new additions to your collection.

Regards,

Gordon

[order_of_victory]

Hi Dan,

Heres a pic of the backside what do you think

Order of Victory

[order_of_victory]

Having started you down this path I should have responded sooner. Very close on the Swallows Nests. The white was worn by members of the NVA Orchestrer, Musikkorps and Spielmannszuge. Green could be for either polizei or Border Guard. I am taking a guess here but the green looks too light for Border Guard. I would be more inclined to say it was for polizei. If it is for polizei the fringed ones woul be worn by Wchtmeisterdienstgrade des zentralen Orchesters der MdI and Leiter der Spielmannszuge (im Dienstgrad Unterleutnant bis Hauptmann) in den VP-Bereitschaften.

On to the shoulder board. Not STASI. Could be either Reichsbahn or Post but I haven't taken the time to look through my reference material to identify it but probably Reichsbahn.

Cheers,

Gordon

Hi Gordon

Thanks for the additional information but I am not vrery well versed on the different braches of German Army etc so what exactly is Reichsbahn

Regards,

Order of Victory

[order_of_victory]

Hi Dan,

Yes police swallows nests, I am building quite a collection of police items

I am not quite sure what Reichsbahn means but its obviously somthing good and thank you for passing them my way

Order of Victory

[Paul R]

Reichsbahn- WW2 German Rail System. I dont think that the East Germans would use the term "Reichs" for anything, especially pertaining to any govt services.

[order_of_victory]

Reichsbahn- WW2 German Rail Systen

Thanks Paul

So does that make them TR not DDR or was it the same under East German

Order of Victory

[Paul R]

I have just looked back, to the board. It is an officer for the DDR Volunteer Fire Police.

Paul

[ehrentitle]

Reichsbahn- WW2 German Rail System. I dont think that the East Germans would use the term "Reichs" for anything, especially pertaining to any govt services.

The DDR kept the name Reichbahn for their rail system after WWII, see this Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Reichsbahn_of_the_GDR It explains why the DDR kept the Reichbahn name. It's an interesting read, especially the part about the DR running the rail system and S-Bahn in West Berlin. I remember the Berlin Duty Train was pulled by a DR engine.

Kevin

[Paul R]

Thanks Kevin!! I learn something new everyday. I am surprised that they would keep the name!!!

[Hauptmann]

Hi Dan,

Heres a pic of the backside what do you think

Order of Victory

Hi Vic,

Well, I just checked all three of mine. Your example seems to have a much less pebbled background than mine. Mine all have the later bent over type pin catches. I can't tell for sure if your's has the barrel catch (early) or the intermediate type.

But from what I see on the pic I suspect your's is earlier than any of mine... just can't tell which type. Can you do a better shot of the pin and catch?

Perhaps Gordon can also pop in on these. I've heard that the earliest ones had "really nice" enamels compared with the later pieces. But to be honest I love them all! Great Orders, very nice cases, and generally for low prices... can't ask for much more than that.

Dan

[order_of_victory]

Hi Vic,

Well, I just checked all three of mine. Your example seems to have a much less pebbled background than mine. Mine all have the later bent over type pin catches. I can't tell for sure if your's has the barrel catch (early) or the intermediate type.

But from what I see on the pic I suspect your's is earlier than any of mine... just can't tell which type. Can you do a better shot of the pin and catch?

Perhaps Gordon can also pop in on these. I've heard that the earliest ones had "really nice" enamels compared with the later pieces. But to be honest I love them all! Great Orders, very nice cases, and generally for low prices... can't ask for much more than that.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Mine has a barrel catch and complety smooth back of the medal

It seems to have what I would call typical USSR thick type enamle

Order of Victory

[order_of_victory]

Thanks to Kevin and Paul for supplying losts of info on the shoulder boards

Order of Victory

[Hauptmann]

Hi Dan,

Mine has a barrel catch and complety smooth back of the medal

It seems to have what I would call typical USSR thick type enamle

Order of Victory

Hi Vic,

Sounds to me like one of the earlier ones!!!! Ya did great on it my friend! May you be as lucky with the other two!!!!

Dan

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

This is a medal that I haven't spent much time studying. However, in other orders that I have studied, the smooth backed ones are normally of an earlier vintage than the pebble backed ones.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

I have just looked back, to the board. It is an officer for the DDR Volunteer Fire Police.

Paul

Paul,

I should have checked my rank charts before saying anything about the boards. I agree. Feurewehr boards for sure.

Regards,

Gordon

[Ferdinand]

You've got a nice collection OoV!

One thing that struck me was the irregularity in the mounting of the ribbons. Left over right, right over left... Is there any logic in this? (DDR is not my 'area'.)

Auke

[order_of_victory]

You've got a nice collection OoV!

One thing that struck me was the irregularity in the mounting of the ribbons. Left over right, right over left... Is there any logic in this? (DDR is not my 'area'.)

Auke

Hi Auke

Glad you like it

I must say I have noticed it before, but now you mention it I can see it I dont know the answer but may be one of our more learned members may be able to explain it

Order of Victory

[Hauptmann]

Hi Auke

Glad you like it

I must say I have noticed it before, but now you mention it I can see it I dont know the answer but may be one of our more learned members may be able to explain it

Order of Victory

Hi Gents,

Here's the scoop on the ribbons. When the left part of the ribbon all but covers the right one that's generally for non-military forces like police, etc. Whereas the ones with the right part of the ribbon all but covering the left are for the military services.

Dan

Edited May 9, 2007 by Hauptman

[order_of_victory]

Hi Gents,

Here's the scoop on the ribbons. When the left part of the ribbon all but covers the right one that's generally for non-military forces like police, etc. Whereas the ones with the right part of the ribbon all but covering the left are for the military services.

Dan

Thanks for the explanation Dan

Order of Victory

[Ferdinand]

Thanks Dan!

Auke