Bundesrepublik Flood Service Medal 2002

[TacHel]

(Einsatzmedaille Fluthilfe 2002) Awarded to members of the German armed forces, of foreign armed services, of civilian rescue forces and to foreign citizens who assisted with the flood disaster relief efforts in Germany in the summer of 2002. It was approved for wear by the Minister of Defence but was created by the Ministry of the Interior. The medal is awarded in the same class to all German soldiers regardless of rank. It is the only type of its kind in the German awards system. Some German federal states created their own flood medals for its citizens, but the Flood Service Medal 2002 is the only federally created flood relief decoration in Germany.

[JPL]

Thanks for this Frank.

Perhaps Canada should look at a similar medal to reward CF pers and civilians who deploy each year to such places as Manitoba, etc. during flood season...

Jean-Paul

[Paul R]

Have any Americans received this medal yet?

[TacHel]

Thanks for this Frank.

Perhaps Canada should look at a similar medal to reward CF pers and civilians who deploy each year to such places as Manitoba, etc. during flood season...

Jean-Paul

I've seen members of my squadron receive provincial table medals with matching lapel pins from Saskatchewan and Manitoba for special services in assisting during floods and forest fires, but that's it. I very much doubt you'll see anything else.

[TacHel]

Have any Americans received this medal yet?

I looked but couldn't find any info or list about potential foreign recipients.

[Paul R]

Thanks for looking. :)

[fregatte]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-3881-0-68212500-1326813723.jpghere is my son. he wears it on the dress uniform

[fregatte]

(Einsatzmedaille Fluthilfe 2002) Awarded to members of the German armed forces, of foreign armed services, of civilian rescue forces and to foreign citizens who assisted with the flood disaster relief efforts in Germany in the summer of 2002. It was approved for wear by the Minister of Defence but was created by the Ministry of the Interior. The medal is awarded in the same class to all German soldiers regardless of rank. It is the only type of its kind in the German awards system. Some German federal states created their own flood medals for its citizens, but the Flood Service Medal 2002 is the only federally created flood relief decoration in Germany.

no it is not. there was the flutmedaille 1962 which was awarded by three states, Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein.

[Paul R]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-3881-0-68212500-1326813723.jpghere is my son. he wears it on the dress uniform

That is a great photo! What did he do to assist in the flood?

[TacHel]

no it is not. there was the flutmedaille 1962 which was awarded by three states, Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein.

Hallo fregatte, I think you might've misunderstood. The Einsatzmedaille Fluthilfe 2002 is the only federally created and bestowed medal of its kind.

The 3 you mention were not federal awards.

Great picture!! You must be very proud! :)

[Megan]

Correct. While there are several ‘flood medals’ awarded by federal states, this is the only federally-created flood relief medal in the German honours system. It was instituted on 20 September 2002 by the joint efforts of the Federal Minister of the Interior Otto Schily and the then Federal Minister of Defence Peter Struck[1], and awarded to those who assisted in flood disaster relief efforts in Germany in the summer of 2002

[1] Gemeinsamer Erlass des Bundesministers des Innern und des Bundesministers der Verteidigung über die Stiftung der Einsatzmedaille Fluthilfe 2002

[fregatte]

hi,

you are right, I skipped the FEDERALLY. and my son was in officers boot camp in Ploen at the time and his company was at the river oder for 4 days hauling sandsacks to the dykes. it worked.

and yes off course I am proud.

regards

juergen

[Elvis]

Hallo Frank,

hello to all.

I like to show the "military version in box" left side

and

the "civilian version in box" right side.

Hope you enjoy it.

These items are also for swap.

[Megan]

Is the actual medal different for civilian and military awards, or is it just that you get a ribbon bar or a lapel pin depending on which you are?

[JensF.]

Following the flood of the river Elbe this year, the following german states instituted flood relief medals just a couple of days ago:

Germany (federal): Einsatzmedaille "Fluthilfe 2013"
Brandenburg: Hochwassermedaille des Landes Brandenburg 2013

Sachsen: Sächsischer Fluthelfer-Orden 2013

More states will follow in the next weeks.

Edited July 15, 2013 by JensF.

[Megan]

So a new Federal one and two (so far) state ones?

[JensF.]

Yep. So far. And it seems I will be entitled at least to the saxonian one too as I volunteered for the flood relief at the beginning of June too.

Here the official "Stiftungserlaß" for the new (federal) Einsatzmedaille "Fluthilfe 2013":

http://www.buzer.de/gesetz/10767/index.htm

Edited July 15, 2013 by JensF.

[JensF.]

And a first information (in german) about the saxonian medal:

http://www.sz-online.de/sachsen/tillich-stiftet-fluthelfer-orden--2616141.html

[JensF.]

Here are some photos I took in and around the city of Torgau in Saxonia during the flood in June 2013 showing the crisis management center in the city with representatives of all relief organisations including the dutch army which joined the flood relief too while being on a training area some kilometers away. "Super Puma" Helicopter from the German Federal Police with sandbags and finally the river Elbe, which had a width of almost 1 km instead of about 200 m usually and its water level was about 7,5 m higher than it should be during this time of the year. We were all lucky that the dikes hold off these masses of water!

Edited July 21, 2013 by JensF.

[JensF.]

Next one: Niedersachsen.

-Hochwassermedaille 2013 des Landes Niedersachsen

http://www.stk.niedersachsen.de/aktuelles/presseinformationen/beschluss-der-landesregierung-ueber-die-stiftung-der-hochwasser-medaille-2013-des-landes-niedersachsen-116945.html

[JensF.]

And the first photos! The flood medal of Saxony:

http://naturgefahren.sachsen.de//fluthelferorden.htm

[claudio2574]

This is the Sachsen Hochwasser 2002, given to an Italian. I know him personally.

[JensF.]

Well done! I am recommended for the 2013 medal too.

[Megan]

Now to try and source images of all these fascinating 'flood medals' for my site...

[JensF.]

Saxonia:

The medal is being produced by the company PräWeMa in Markneukirchen which produced a large part of the former GDR medals too. If you look closely at the flood medal posted by Claudio, you will recognize the pin. Its the same as used for GDR (DDR) medals in the past. It seems they still have huge amounts of these pins on stock.

Edited August 3, 2013 by JensF.