Republic of Cuba Who Actually MADE Cuban Awards?

[Taz]

Was the question of Cuban awards made in the GDR ever cleared up? I have yet to see any hard evidence that this was the case, let alone where they are made after 1990.

The similarities are there but the suspensions are shorter and the Medals smaller in diameter than GDR awards. In honesty I have no doubt that Cuban Industry was and is, very capable of producing their own awards if need be.

The knowledge of producing high quality Orders and Medals is not the problem looking at the Early and Batista era awards for example. The problem would most likely arise with the number of awards required.

Anyway just so little still known right now, thanks for the promt reply.

Regards Eddie.

[Stogieman]

Hi Eddie, we know some silver was used, but where/when is still unclear. There's a Liberacion 1.kl. kicking around that is clearly gilded silver.... but only the one example has been noted thus far.

If you comb through the threads on Ministry of The Interior LSM's you'll see some that are most definately using an East German mount as opposed to the usual Cuban one. The ribbons seem different as well. Now, having seen these examples we still have no idea. Made in DDR? Assembled in Cuba? So little clear detail/facts thus far.

[Guest Rick Research]

Also, I remember an Order of Ana Betancourt posted some time back (I think it was that one) that had a long pin on the back of the miserable tiny DDR style bent prongs/pinback for the ribbon which we thought at that point was going to indicate that ORDERS had that extra feature, while mere medals didn't-- and yet I don't remember another one turning up on ANY other Order.

These needlessly complicated multi-part HEAVY Orders are all hanging off that tiny little DDR style pin--which is attached only by the 2 tiny prongs jammed through the ribbon and bent onto the suspension pin's base. These things must have FALLEN OFF all the time, if actually worn much by recipients.

We're always going to have a real tough time ever dating any of these since nothing was serial numbered. Cloth ribbons versus lawn furniture strapping "ribbons," various types of DDR pin catchs... that's about it, so far.

[Taz]

I've just posted another E-mail to the Staatliche M?nze Berlin. It was before the fall of the wall, the VEB M?nze der DDR. Maybe they will have the time, to at least reply.

So if I am correct the assumption that Cuban awards were made in the GDR ,or at least the parts relies on the few GDR style pins and suspension fixings we have seen so far.

Regards Eddie.

[Guest Rick Research]

The style of 5 sided ribbon suspension and the pin assembly suggests that-- but maybe just copy-cat the way Fidelista generals' insignia apes the Moscow model and so on.

On the other hand, the IDIOTIC straight pins on the back of non-ribboned awards is like nothing I've ever seen before, and I can't iamaagine any self-respecting Foreign Comrade Maker (even at lowest of low bids) thinking such flimsy construction was a good idea.

We won't know until

Afterwards

[Taz]

Still awaiting confermation right now but the VEB PR?WEMA in Markneukirchen seems a likely candidate if Cuban awards or parts of, were made in the ex GDR.

Apparently Orders and Medals of many brother and socialist aligned states were made there, Angola, Sudan, Albania and Cuba. Some Soviet awards also.

I'm awaiting a reply with interest.

Regards Eddie.

[Taz]

Still awaiting confermation right now but the VEB PR?WEMA in Markneukirchen seems a likely candidate if Cuban awards or parts of, were made in the ex GDR.

Apparently Orders and Medals of many brother and socialist aligned states were made there, Angola,

Sudan, Albania and Cuba. Some Soviet awards also.

I'm awaiting a reply with interest.

Regards Eddie.

I recieved this reply today from Frau Federlin the current manager of the firm.

der VEB Praewema hat f?r die Armeen verschiedener "sozialistischer Bruderstaaten" gearbeitet. Ob wir auch f?r Kuba Medaillen bzw. Orden gefertigt haben, ist heute leider nicht mehr nachvollziehbar. Tut uns leid, dass wir Ihnen nicht behilflich sein k?nnen.

Just to roughly translate, "VEB Praewema worked for different socialist brother states" however she couldn't confirm that Cuba was amongst them.

Regards Eddie.

Edited December 5, 2007 by Taz

[Guest Rick Research]

Soooo....

they've destroyed ALL their records? They've... destroyed all their dies? They've... fired every single worker who was there under the DDR?

And what is it they DO, nowadays?

[Taz]

Soooo....

they've destroyed ALL their records? They've... destroyed all their dies? They've... fired every single worker who was there under the DDR?

And what is it they DO, nowadays?

Seems like it Rick

The link below is from the firm as it is today. They make amomgst other things Medals

for the Fire service as you can see.

http://www.kellerlogo.de/html_files/praewe...z_feuerwehr.htm

Regards Eddie.

[Guest Rick Research]

Welllll....

assuming that was NOT the

"drop dead we can't be bothered with weirdos who collect junk from those days" brush-off letter (we Imperialoids were amazed at how much "destroyed in 1945" official records magically appeared safe and sound where they had always been, in 1991 )

then that would SUGGEST

that we need not worry about Klietmann-style massive fakery using the old stamping tools, ho ho.

On the other hand, SOMEBODY was still making the 2006 Cuban Armed Forces Jubilee medal so... who and where, then?

But for "crosssing off" this company, at least as far as future manufacture goes. That is a GREAT relief.

[Ulsterman]

Oh no-they know all right. I can remember exactly what I was doing at work @ 25 years ago and it wasn't that exciting....and my memory isn't that good . They'll have docs going back @ 20 years or so, they have to keep most stuff 13 years for tax purposes alone and you'd better bet they have the trademark/copyrights to their designs on file somewhere. They just don't want any embarrassment.

Another way to approach them is as a scholar, inquiring about other nations (I'd like to know about Ethiopia) and promising cash for interviews.

[Taz]

Guys, don't right the firm off just yet!!!.

Another Mail recieved from Gabriele Federlin today

wir haben inzwischen heraus gefunden, dass mit gro?er Wahrscheinlichkeit ein Abzeichen hier gefertigt wurde. Sollte ich zuf?llig eines finden, gebe ich Nachricht. Auch Ihnen frohe Feiertage.

Just says that its almost certain that an "abzeichen" was made there and if she finds one she will let me know.

Not sure if it was a badge, Order or Medal right now though or if it was just the one or more to follow. I was very pleased with this as she took the trouble to ask around for me.

Regards Eddie.

[Ulsterman]

very cool! I take it all back!

p.s. could you ask her about Ethiopia?

[Taz]

very cool! I take it all back!

p.s. could you ask her about Ethiopia?

Sure,

Angola, Sudan and Albania were the ones previously mentioned, why not Ethiopia as well. There were a lot of socialist Brother States at that time

Eddie.

[Ulsterman]

Angola?! Tell us more, more!! :jumping:

[Taz]

Well not really much to add, a guy mentioned that he owned medals from these countries that were made in the DDR , no evidence to prove it one way or the other though.

It's seems likely now though, no new information yet.

Regards Eddie.

PS: Maybe one of the Ricks would like to move this discussion to a new thread?

[Guest Rick Research]

The other "manufacturing suspect nation" I've heard is Czechoslovakia....

[Taz]

This Commemerative Medal for "comrade" Augustino Neto was made in Cuba (1970-80)

Pity there is no suspension on this example.

Regards Eddie