Commemorative badge for the anniversaries of the founding of the MfS

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The commemorative badge for the anniversaries of the founding of the MfS is a collective term for several non-governmental badges, which were awarded by the Ministry for State Security in the German Democratic Republic by Erich Mielke on the anniversaries of the foundation, for the first time on the 20th anniversary .

20th Anniversary Badge (1970)

The 40 mm and 27 mm wide colored or enamelled badge reflects the coat of arms of the MfS and is shield-shaped. In the shield there is the coat of arms of the MfS, a right hand holding a bronze rifle with a bayonet attached. A red waving workers' flag is attached to the rifle, on which a black, red and gold bar with the GDR's national coat of arms can be seen horizontally. At the top right end of the flag, the anniversary of the foundation can be read in the Roman letter XX . The lower part of the shield is marked by the inscription MINISTRY OF STATE SECURITY . The back of the badge is smooth and shows a brooch pin. The badge was only awarded to persons of the state and party leadership of the GDR as well as to selected foreign guests of the brother states. The corresponding award certificate in the leaflet (DIN A6) has the following wording:

  • Left side:
    • 20 YEARS / MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY
    • 20 YEARS / uncompromising struggle against the enemy / of peace and socialism
  • Right side:
    • On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of education / the Ministry for State Security of the / GDR, you will be presented with the commemorative badge / 20 years / Ministry for State Security / of the GDR / as a token of recognition of your services in securing peace and / socialism. Mielke / Minister / Berlin on February 8, 1970

25th Anniversary Badge (1975)

The 25th anniversary badge is the same as the previous badge, but is now 43 mm high instead of 40 mm. The width of 27 mm remained the same. According to the anniversary, however, this time, in contrast to its predecessor, it shows the Roman numerals XXV on the upper left edge of the waving flag . The awarded certificate has the following wording:

  • Left side:
    • 25 YEARS / MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY
    • 25 YEARS / successful struggle to protect socialism / and to secure peace
  • Right side for full-time employees of the MfS:
    • On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of education / the Ministry for State Security of the / GDR, you will be presented with the commemorative badge / 25 years / Ministry for State Security / of the GDR / as a token of recognition of your services in securing peace and / socialism. Mielke / Minister / Berlin on February 8, 1975
  • Right side for unofficial employees and social forces
    • On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of education / the Ministry for State Security of the / GDR, I take the liberty of giving you the commemorative badge / 25 years as a token of / external thanks for the great support / in carrying out the tasks set for us by the party and / state leadership / Ministry for State Security / of the GDR / to be handed over. Mielke / Minister / Berlin on February 8, 1975

30th Anniversary Badge (1980)

The badge for the 30th anniversary of the MfS is similar to the previous two versions and has the dimensions 43 mm × 27 mm. The only difference is the Roman numeral XXX , which is now above the top left of the flag . The awarded certificate has the following wording:

  • Left side:
    • 30 YEARS / MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY
    • 30 YEARS / successful struggle to protect socialism / and to secure peace
  • Right side:
    • On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of education / the Ministry for State Security of the / GDR you will be presented with the commemorative badge / 30 years / Ministry for State Security / the GDR / as a token of recognition of your services in securing peace and / socialism. Mielke / Minister / Berlin on February 8, 1980

35th Anniversary Badge (1985)

This badge is also similar to its predecessor model from 1980, has the same dimensions, but again shows the adapted Roman numeral for the anniversary XXXV above the upper left edge of the waving red workers flag. The certificate has the following wording:

  • Left side:
    • 35 YEARS / MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY
    • 35 YEARS / successful struggle to protect / socialism and to secure / peace
  • Right side for members of the MfS:
    • On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of education / the Ministry for State Security of the / GDR, you will be presented with the commemorative badge / 35 years / Ministry for State Security / of the GDR / as a token of recognition of your services in securing peace and / of socialism. Mielke / Minister / Berlin on February 8, 1985
  • Right side for unofficial employees and social forces
    • On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of education / the Ministry for State Security of the / GDR, I take the liberty of giving you the / commemorative badge / 35 years / as a token of / external thanks for the great support / in carrying out the tasks set us by the party / and the government Ministry for State Security / the GDR / to be handed over. Mielke / Minister / Berlin on February 8, 1985

40th Anniversary Badge (1990)

On the 40th anniversary of the founding of the MfS on February 8, 1990, another commemorative badge was to be awarded, which had already been completed. Due to the dissolution of the MfS, however, there was no longer any award. The badge is once again similar to its predecessor and shows the MfS anniversary above the top left edge of the flag, but no longer in Roman numerals, but as the Arabic number 40 .

Others

An exact breakdown of the number of awards is not available. However, since it was a matter of mass awards, which could also be awarded to unofficial employees of the State Security, the number of awards is in the high five-digit range per badge.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Awards in the Ministry for State Security of the GDR, Feder Verlag Rosenheim 1st edition 1996, Klaus H. Feder, Uta Feder, pages 47–53 ISBN 3-9805114-0-5