Badge for good knowledge
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The badge for good knowledge was an award of the Free German Youth (FDJ) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was donated in October 1949 by the Central Council of the FDJ by its chairman Erich Honecker in three stages, bronze , silver and gold . The awards took place at the end of the FDJ academic years after successfully passing an examination.
Manufacturing variants
First variant (1949–1954)
In October 1949, the month of the foundation, the first members of the Central Council of the FDJ received the first variants of this badge, the badge for good knowledge . It shows an open book in the middle with the embossed two-line golden inscription: FÜR GUTES / WISSEN and was a hollow embossed badge, approx. 30 mm high and 22 mm wide. Behind it was a waving blue enameled FDJ flag. Starting from the lower edge of the book, a laurel branch curved to the left could be seen, which reached to the upper edge of the book or the beginning of the flag. This version is similar to the one shown here. The back of the badge, on the other hand, shows a vertically soldered needle with a locking hook and an embossed award number.
Second variant (1955–1956)
The second variant of this badge is similar to the first, only it was slightly larger and heavily embossed. It is now 32 mm high, 25 mm wide and also shows a blue ribbon on the laurel wreath on which the year of the award, 1955 or 1956, could be read in the color of the award level (bronze, silver or gold) . The reverse side of the badge, on the other hand, shows a vertically soldered needle with a locking hook and a stamped award number. Again, two variants are known. 1. the award number is stamped directly to the right of the needle, 2. the award number was stamped on a 15 x 7 mm metal strip which is soldered to the left of the needle.
Third variant (1957–1961)
The third variant of the badge for good knowledge returned to the origin. The embossed year of the award, including the tape on the laurel branch, disappeared; also the award number on the back, but still with a transverse needle and hook. The size of the badge also changed rapidly. It was now only 20.5 mm high and about 17.5 mm wide. The appearance with the symbolism remained the same.
Fourth variant (1962–1975)
The fourth variant of the badge brought about a change in appearance. While the size remained the same compared to the third variant, the book was now replaced by the head portrait of Karl Marx in a round medallion, which was still depicted in front of the waving flag of the FDJ. The back of the badge, however, shows a cross-soldered needle with a counter-hook.
Fifth variant (1976–1990)
The fifth and final variant of the badge for good knowledge was decided in 1976 by the X. Parliament of the FDJ. It showed another change in the design of the front. The badge for good knowledge was now 22 mm high and 15 mm wide and, instead of the head portrait of Karl Marx, now again showed an open red book with the three heads of Marx, Friedrich Engels and Lenin . The back of the badge, however, shows a cross-soldered needle with a counter-hook.
The laurel branch, the contours of the book as well as the book in the earlier versions of the badge and the outlines of the FDJ flag were always kept in the color of the awarded level, i.e. either bronze, silver or gold. The badge was always worn at the highest level awarded on the left side of the chest.
literature
Bartel / Karpinski: Awards of the German Democratic Republic . Military publishing house of the GDR 1979, page 189/190