Badge of the Soldier Festival of the Guard Regiment "Feliks Dzierzynski"
The badges of the soldiers festival of the guard regiment "Feliks Dzierzynski" were an award of the guard regiment Feliks Dzierzynski , which was formally subordinate to the Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). From 1960 to 1989, the soldier festival took place every year within the guard regiment, which was not a military but a cultural competition in the fields of artistic creation. In these and other competitions at public appearances, events and exhibitions, the winners were honored with these badges. The badges came in three grades: bronze , silver and gold .
Appearance of the badge
1st execution
The badge has the shape of a triangle with strongly rounded tips, the longest of which is directed to the right. The height of the badge is 31 mm and its width is 37 mm. Almost the entire area of the triangle is taken up by a soldier of the guard regiment in uniform and with a weapon in hand. His uniform collar is closed. A harp can be seen to the right of him . This symbolism is surrounded by the inscription SOLDATENFESTSPIELE (above) and WACHREGIMENT BERLIN of the MfS FELIKS DZIERZYNSKI . Behind the badge is a suggested oak leaf wreath that protrudes on all three sides of the triangle. The reverse shows a horizontally soldered brooch pin. The gold level of the badge is gold plated.
2nd execution
The second version is similar to the first version with one difference. The changed inscription is now WACHREGIMENT BERLIN "FELIKS DZIERZYNSKI" of the Stasi .
3rd version (1973–1989)
The third version is the same as the second, but in contrast to its predecessor, it shows the soldier whose uniform collar is now open and his shirt and tie are bared. The background was the change in dress code of the regiment, after the 1976 uniform jacket with an open style was born.
Appearance of the medal
The appearance of the medal of the first form is not yet known. It can be assumed that it resembles the pin badge.
2nd execution
The second version of the medal is 55 mm high and 63 mm wide. On her obverse it shows the described motif of the pin badge, but the collar of the soldier's uniform jacket is closed again and the inscription WACHREGIMENT BERLIN "FELIKS DZIERZYNSKI" of the MfS . An eyelet is stamped on the upper fragment of the oak leaf through which the ribbon for the medal was drawn. The reverse shows the six-line inscription OUR LOVE / OUR LOYALTY AND OUR POWER / THE SOCIALIST FATHERLAND / THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC / REPUBLIC! / "ART IS WEAPON" Below you can see two small crossed laurel branches.
3. Execution
The third and final version of the medal differs from its predecessor in two ways. On the one hand, there is no longer an eyelet on the upper edge. Instead, a hole has been drilled through the oak leaf wreath and, secondly, the collar of the uniform jacket is open again. The lapel is the same as the previous model.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Klaus H. Feder, Uta Feder: Awards in the Ministry for State Security of the GDR: 1950 to 1990 . 1st edition. Feder Verlag, Rosenheim 1996, ISBN 3-9805114-0-5 , pages 72-76