Collectors Guide to East German Awards and Medals

By James L. King

This book is the first in-depth reference on the subject of DDR awards and medals printed in English. Current and period source material has been researched, compiled, translated and interpreted, for the first time. It explains the many diverse rules and criteria that must have been met by individuals or groups in order to be eligible for a particular award or medal. This reference includes a complete description of the medal, its alloy composition, and accompanying ribbons and interim ribbons with the year of establishment and the total number of awards and medals bestowed. This book will be an invaluable resource for the novice or advanced collector of DDR awards and medals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781684563036

Book preview

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Copyright © 2019 James L. King

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2019

ISBN 978-1-68456-302-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68456-304-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68456-303-6 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Foreword

Contrary to possible initial impressions, this reference is not an effort to capitalize on previously written references on the same subject. Nor is it intended to point out errors of other authors. We owe a great deal of gratitude to authors, such as Bartel, Feder, Tautz, Karpinski, and others who have published very fine works. However, these aforementioned references are written in other languages other than English and use colored drawings instead of photos of the actual awards and medals in there, in many instances, multiple forms. Hopefully, this work will meet the requirements of the English-speaking DDR medal-collecting community.

Additionally, I want to acknowledge the support of my wife who took time to listen to my frustrations and ramblings about my work and who rejoiced as I passed various milestones. I especially appreciate the encouraging words and genuine interest she showed and without whose technical skills, this book would have taken two years instead of one. This book is dedicated to her; my number 1 son, David, who is a collector; my number 3 son, CJ, who told me, Dad, you need to write your book. You are not getting any younger, and of course, to the collecting community at large.

Chapter 1

Preis (Prizes)

Architekturpreis der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (Architecture Award)

Established January 29, 1976, the Architecture Award of the German Democratic Republic was awarded for outstanding city buildings and architectural achievements in the realization of the housing program, as well as in the preparation and management of other building tasks. The services must have been accomplished for the DDR. The prize is awarded to individuals and groups up to six members. It could be awarded repeatedly for new recognized service. A certificate and a monetary grant accompanied the award: for individuals, of 5.000 marks and for groups, up to 20.000 marks. In the instance of group awards, each member would receive a medal and certificate along with an even amount of the cash prize. The minister of construction bestowed the award on the Day of the Construction Worker on the fourth Sunday in June.

The medal is round, silver-plated, and has a diameter of 30 mm. On the front are symbolic buildings of a housing development, company and industrial construction, as well as the tools of the architect (compass, ruler/yardstick, and angle) represented. On the reverse is the national coat of arms of the DDR, and below them, the words, Architekurpreis der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, as well as a laurel branch. The medal is worn on a rectangular blue-banded clasp. The tape is closed on both sides with a vertical yellow stripe. Affixed in the middle of the clasp is a silver medal device of the national emblem. The interim clasp corresponds to the medal brace. From 1976 to 1989, 600 were produced. The initial production of 300 was made in buntmetall with a silver wash, and the final 300 were made in buntmetall with a nickel plate.

Outstanding City Buildings and Architectural Achievements

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Preis fur Kunstlerisches (Prize for Artisans)

Established May 18, 1955, the donated medal Prize for Artisans was awarded for exemplary cultural political achievement in the care, development, and demand of the artistic regeneration in and for the DDR, in addition to outstanding and trendsetting scientific research. The medal came in a first (silver) and second (bronze) class. The prize was awarded to individuals of the artistic community, for the commendable work of the artist, to the cultural functionaries, and to groups of the artistic community. The prize could be awarded in the same class only once. The medal came with a certificate and a monetary grant of 3.000 marks to an individual receiving a second-class (bronze) award and 5.000 marks for a recipient awarded the first class (silver) award. Groups were awarded up to 10.000 marks for the second-class award and up to 15.000 marks for the first-class (silver) award. In the case of group recognitions, the group, as a whole, would receive a medal and grant. Presentations were made by the minister of culture on May 1, the day of the International Struggle and Holiday of the Active Workers or the Workers’ Festival.

The round medal has a diameter of 35 mm. On the front, the stylized artistic folk symbol in the form of a tree of life is depicted. The tree of life is surrounded by the words, Preis fur Kunstlerisches Volksschaffen. A stylized dancing couple is shown on the back. The medal has a rectangular clasp with a light-gray ribbon covering it. The interim clamp corresponds to the medal. From 1956 to 1970, the first- and second-class medals were done in 900 silver or bronze respectively. These initial awards had year dates on the front. A total of 1,400 in silver and 1,000 in bronze were produced. From 1971 to 1972, this same form was used without the year date with 100 in silver and 250 bronze of this design made. From 1973 to 1989, both classes were made in buntmetall with a silver or bronze wash. A total of 600 in silver and 200 in bronze were made.

Prize for Artisans

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Cisinski-Preis

The Cisinski-Preis established July 28, 1956, was awarded for outstanding research and inquiry, emphasizing the genres of Sorbian art and literature. The criteria required for this prize included the following: long-standing cultural creativity, exemplary cultural-political achievements, specific scientific research work in the field of Sorbian culture, and be worthy of the award by exhibiting such merits that contribute to the socialist cultural development in and to the GDR. This medal was awarded in only two classes with the highest award in gold, then silver as second class. A single person or a collective could be recipients of this award. The gold medal, given to one person, came with an award document that included a 5.000-mark cash prize. Second class was silver and came with an award document and included a 3.000-mark cash prize.

There were two patterns manufactured with their perspective miniatures. The first pattern (1956–1972) consisted of a profile of Cisinski on the front. The reverse side reads, Myto j. Barta-Cisinskeho. The silver award was identical except for the silver composition. There were 1,000 gold medals made. There were 900 medals in silver made. The second pattern (1973–1978) differed in that across the bottom of the profile was Myto j. Barta-Cinsinskeho. The reverse was replaced with the DDR national coat of arms. Of the second pattern, 900 gold were awarded and 400 silver. First and second patterns measured 30 mm (1.18 inches) in circumference. The miniatures were 10 mm. Ribbon colors for all patterns were white, red, and blue.

Note: Sorbian Cultural History Hertford College-Oxford. The Sorbs are an officially recognized national minority of Germany. While they do not constitute a separate political unit, they maintain a distinctive linguistic and cultural identity. The name Sorb derives from Srbi in their own language, and it rightly suggests a relationship to peoples elsewhere called Serbs, but Sorb is preferable in that it is more specific. Similarly, ¹the terms Lusatian and Lusatian Serbs are imprecise. Wend was the term used for a long period for the designation of this group, but because it had negative connotations in their language, it is no longer in official usage.

The Sorbs inhabit the Lusatian region of Germany, which extends from approximately 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) southeast of Berlin to the Polish border on the east and the border of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic in the south. The Neisse River separates the easternmost Sorbs from their Polish neighbors, and the Spree River runs from north to south through the length of the territory. The region itself is divided into two separate territories, each distinct from the other both topographically and linguistically. Upper Lusatia, in the southern part of the region, is predominantly flatland and is the most fertile territory. Wetlands and forest dominated the Lower Lusatia. These two environmental zones are separated by the Serbska Hola (Sorbian heath), with its sandy soils, stands of conifers, and the brown-coal deposits that contribute importantly to the region’s economy. The two principal Sorbian towns are Bautzen and Cottbus. The Sorbian-speaking population in Germany estimated in 1976 to be between 60,000 and 70,000. Today, nearly all Sorbs are bilingual in Sorbian and German.

Cisinski Prize

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Rudolf-Virchow-Preis

Established November 10, 1960, the donated prize Rudolf-Virchow-Preis was awarded for outstanding achievements in research, science, and literature in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and medical technology, as well as in similar fields of expertise. The prize was awarded to young academic candidates and to scientific staff members that calibrated in scientific performance. The minister for health bestowed the award annually, on the birthday of Rudolf Virchow, October 13.

The cased 30 mm round medal is silver in color. The prize also comes in the form of a 16 mm stickpin. The front of the medal has a portrait of Rudolf Virchow on the front, as well as the stickpin with the added words, Rudolf Virchow Preis surrounding his portrait. On the reverse of the cased medal, the lower portion of the medallion depicts the DDR state emblem with laurel leaves on either side, and in the upper portion of the disc are the words, Rudolf Virchow Preis. From 1960 to 1972, the award and stickpin were to be made in 900 silver. Although some may exist, none was awarded. From 1973 to 1989, there were a total of 500 cased medals awarded with the initial 300 being produced in buntmetall with a silver wash, and the final 200 being made in buntmetall with a silver plating. As for the stickpin form, 80 were awarded initially and then a final 75, making 155 awarded with the material criteria being the same as the cased award.

Note: Rudolf Virchow (October 13, 1821–September 05, 1902). Virchow was an eminent pathologist and politician, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential physicians in history. Rudolf Virchow was also known as the Father of Pathology and was a nineteenth-century German pathologist and politician known for his significant findings in social medicine.