DDR Medal Bar

[Grant Broadhurst]

Hi Guys ,

Here is my first medal bar , comments welcome !

National People's Army Medal of Merit - Bronze

Medal for Long Service - National People's Army 15 ,10 & 5 Years.

[Grant Broadhurst]

Back :

[Grant Broadhurst]

Close up of the silver :

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

Fifteen years of service and only a bronze Medal of Merit - shame!

[Paul R]

Fifteen years of service and only a bronze Medal of Merit - shame!

Still, a rare set! I have yet to add a bar to my collection!

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

While this may look like a bar for an under achiever that does not necessarily follow. It could represent only part of the awards worn by one individual. It could well be the lower bar for a larger set with more awards worn above it. Always nice to see a ribbon bar preserved and added to a collection.

Regards,

Gordon

[Ulsterman]

Ehrlich?

I was under the impression that DDR medal bars were limited to only 4 awards in most circumstances?

What were the regs?

[Grant Broadhurst]

Nice Picture thanks for showing it !

[Gordon Craig]

Ulsterman,

The only time awards were restructed to four was when you were wearing a shirt and no tunic. Then only four ribbons could be worn on your ribbon bar. At different times the number of awards worn on one bar changed from a maximum of four to a maximum of six. Also, how multiple awards were worn also changed over the course of the DDR. I have that all written up some where and if I can find it I'll post it here. Not sure that I have a soft copy with me. Getting ready for family company to arrive on Friday but will try and find time to post something on the regs on wearing awards on medal bars tomorrow.

Cheers,

Gordon

Edited May 16, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[speedytop]

Hi,

it is difficult to explain here.

In German we say: "Im Prinzip ja, aber..." (In principle yes, but...)

4 awards in a row is correct.

Only 4 awards in one row, the highest, and not more than 4, is for the "Gro?er Gesellschaftsanzug"", the uniform with the aiguillette.

For the parade are allowed 8 awards in two rows, original awards.

As "Interimsspange" you can wear more, but only 4 in a row, maximal 4 rows.

And now, but...

The "Minister der Nationalen Verteidigung" can allow some more

Here you can see the VVO (Gold) on top, and 12 awards in two rows.

It is a Generalleutnant, commander of an officers school.

In my collection are 4 bars of this General, only 4 awards in a row, the awarded originals!

Regards

Uwe

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

SPEEDYTOP has done a great job in reducing a complex subject to a few words. A lot less words than it would take me. To add to his description and to some of my own comments lets look at some regs over the years of the DDR.

The following drawings are based on regulations as printed in DV 010/0/005. These drawings do not hold true for all forms of dress in that specific period. I am trying to indicate what was probably the most awards worn in any single row of a medal bar and how it changed over time.

Lest start with the 50s;

Edited May 17, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

Now an Interimspange for the 50s.

[Gordon Craig]

Now lets move on to the 60s.

[Gordon Craig]

Now lets leap ahead to the 80s which is the era that most collectors are familiar with. At least as far as pictures of awards being worn goes. This drawing points out what UWE said re the Gesellschaft in wear on parade. It also shows how the IS would have been worn with this uniform.

Edited May 17, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

More uniform/award configurations from the 80s.

[Gordon Craig]

Now a couple of photographs that point out the "but" part of what Uwe said. First one is of Oberst der VP a.D. Hans Kohoutek.

[Gordon Craig]

Next, Generals and Admirals doing their own thing at an award ceremony in the 80s.

[Grant Broadhurst]

Thanks for showing these pics Gordon , i,m surprised these guys didn't fall over with the weight !!!

[Ulsterman]

wow!

Thanks for the information!

You know a synopsis of this would be a great little article for a medal journal somewhere out there (hint hint).

[Gordon Craig]

Ulsterman,

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

Cheers,

Gordon