DDR Medal for Participants in the Armed Struggle of the German Working Class 1918-23

[Megan]

Medaille für die Teilnahme an den bewaffneten Kämpfen der deutschen Arbeiterklasse 1918-23

Does anyone know the date of institution or terms of award, please?

[Gordon Craig]

Megan,

This award was instituted on 15.08.1957. Sorry but I can not comment on the terms of the award. 1957/158 awards were 28mm in diametre; 1959/1960 awards were 24mm in diametre. Idon't know what the difference was in the 1961-1989 awards and the previous ones was but I'll look in my books and see what I can find.

Regards,

Gordon

Edited January 18, 2011 by Gordon Craig

[Greg Collins]

Gordon,

Insofar as I know- and I'm using one of Frank Bartel's books as a reference- the primary difference is the size of the ribbon suspension.

[Gordon Craig]

Greg,

My reference says the difference in the 1961-1989 and the earlier ones is that the hyphen between the years is longer and has straight ends. The medal Megan posted has slanted ends on the hyphen between the years. It is also very possible that the suspension varied over time but I have no reference to that. The pin on Megan's medal also has the early type ball catch on the pin.

Regards,

Gordon

[Arthur R]

Megan,

I found an article on this medal on the German Wikipedia. As far as my very inadequate German allows me to translate it, it appears that the medal was awarded to those who fought in the armed struggle of the German working classes against reactionaries and militarism, in the interests of peace, democracy and socialism, during the period 1918-23, or to those who had actively opposed World War I. They must also have displayed an anti-reactionary and anti-fascist attitude during the National Socialist period 1933-45.

I'd say this was a belated campaign gong for the 'Spartacists' and other communist organisations which tried to seize power in the years following WW I, and who were put down by the Freikorps.

The inscription on the obverse translates as "Fighter against Reaction 1918-1923", while the reverse translates as "For freedom, peace and socialism."

[Greg Collins]

OK, went back to the books, as well as the collection, and was able to find the following: according to Frank Bartel's "DDR Spezialkatalog 1949-1990", the medal itself will always come in at 32.3 mm diameter. The ribbon (spangen) will always be 11.5 mm tall BUT, on the first type (1957-58) will be 28 mm wide (long). On the 2nd type (1959-60) the ribbon will be 24 mm wide (long). The third type (1961-80) is the same as the second, except for the fastening method. Of course, the method of fastening shown on Megan's is of the first type.

Here's my 3rd type, with ribbon bar (note fastener on image of reverse):

[Greg Collins]

And a detail of the front:

[Greg Collins]

The back:

[Greg Collins]

And a detail of the back. It goes without saying that the overall quality of the medal was best with the first type- this seems to be the story with all DDR medals.

[Gordon Craig]

Greg,

Thanks for the correction to my post. I guess I read what Bartel had to say incorrectly about the 28mm versus the 24mm band. He does however say that the medals from 1961 on had the longer hyphen and square ends (164c). We are both using the same issue of Frank Bartel's book for our reference. The medal you posted seems to make this incorrect as it has the hyphen with the slanted ends. It is possible that someone changed the medal. The clasp on your band is the second type not the third type and probably dates from the mid 60s.

The next question is "Did all versions of this medal have the flag done in enamel?" A lot of medals were produced with paint instead of enamel in the later years of the DDR for economic reasons.

Regards,

Gordon

[Greg Collins]

Gordon,

Some of the problems often encountered with DDR awards stem from the fact that, unlike other eastern block countries, medals and badges weren't made at a national mint but, rather, jobbed-out to a private manufacturer... often with several manufacturers producing the same badge/medal/order. And yes, I've seen many examples of "part substitution"- such as when an older medal is held by a newer clasp- it's what they had lying around at the time. So there are often differences in paint/enamel colour, clasping mechanisms, finish, etc.. Determining a fake from an original can be daunting, at times, unless you're aware of the degrees of variance of some areas and those areas that don't vary. I'm fortunate to have a relationship with both Frank Bartel and Ralph Pickard who, invariably, help me out when I'm stumped.

[Megan]

Thanks, folks :)