DDR Can you identify this?

[Stogieman]

I don't really collect DDR but this was extremely cheap and I just couldn't resist the splash of red enamel! But what is it?

[Hauptmann]

Hi Rick,

That's the basic medal of the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (Battlegroups of the Working Class). These were civilians who received military training so in the event WWIII broke out they would then act as reserves for the regular Army. If you go to my thread:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8727&st=0

Posts #2 thru #9 (no idea why the picture coding came out and the pics moved from where they should have been... happened during the site improvements) you'll see these from the basic award you have (I need a better example at some point) up through the higher grades, some with their award documents and folders.

Hope this helps.

Dan

[Stogieman]

Hi Dan, thanks for the assistance. I have only a few DDR pieces, I always felt that the quality was somewhat lesser than many other fraternal socialist allies of the CCCP. Most of what I have is in groups awarded to Security people in other countries. Watch for an updated Minister Pankov thread in the Bulgarian Socialist Forum to see a rather nice little DDR award & document. Again, thanks for the help!

[ehrentitle]

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.

Edited March 28, 2010 by ehrentitle

[ehrentitle]

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