Hero of the GDR
Hero of the GDR |
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medal |
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The honorary title hero of the GDR was donated on October 28, 1975 as the highest state distinction of the German Democratic Republic and was first awarded on November 28, 1975. In total, the title was awarded 17 times, with 11 people being honored.
Award terms
The honorary title could be awarded to people who, through extraordinary achievements and merits, had accomplished heroic deeds for the German Democratic Republic , for its development and all-round strengthening, for international recognition and authority and for its secure military protection. This required a high level of personal commitment and willingness to make sacrifices, as well as courage and audacity. In particular, heroic deeds could be honored that were accomplished in the areas of:
- Resistance fighters in the illegal and military resistance against fascism
- Member of the National People's Army and other armed organs of the GDR
- Citizens of the GDR in cooperation with armed organs of the GDR
- Citizens of foreign countries in individual cases
Medal and privileges
The title itself included the “Golden Star” medal, a certificate, a monetary bonus and the compulsory award of the Karl Marx Order from 1978 onwards. Both decorations were to be returned to the state after the recipient died.
Originally, an annual quota of ten titles was planned. A multiple award was possible, so that there were not only "simple", but also "double" heroes, that is, the honorary title was awarded twice.
Award practice
The newly created title was first awarded on November 28, 1975, to Army General Heinz Hoffmann on the occasion of his 65th birthday. The first foreign honoree was Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev , who was honored as a hero of the GDR on December 13, 1976. Brezhnev received this award three times.
carrier
Government members of the GDR
- 1975 and 1980: Heinz Hoffmann
- 1975 and 1982: Erich Mielke
- 1975 and 1983: Friedrich Dickel
- 1982 and 1987: Erich Honecker
- 1984: Willi Stoph
Government members of the Soviet Union
- 1976, 1979 and 1981: Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev
- 1985: Nikolai Tikhonov
Cosmonauts
- 1978: Sigmund Jähn
- 1978: Valery Bykowski
- 1978: Vladimir Kovaljonok
- 1978: Alexander Ivanchenkov
Web links
- Hero of the GDR on ddr-wissen.de ( Memento from October 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive )