Martial arts needle of the National People's Army

The martial arts needle of the National People's Army from 1966–1968

The martial arts needle of the National People's Army , also known as the NVA martial arts needle, was a non-governmental award of the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was introduced on June 1, 1966 by the Minister for National Defense Heinz Hoffmann . Their award was set on November 15, 1968. The military sports badge of the National People's Army was the successor to the martial arts needle .

Award terms

The only specific requirement to be awarded was possession of the GDR's sports badge in silver or gold . In this case, all soldiers, NCOs and officers could receive the martial arts needle if they met the conditions for the martial arts needle in the course of one year. These disciplines consisted of:

• Storm railway or 30 km express march
• Hand grenade target and
• MPi or pistol shooting

The martial arts needle was awarded in bronze if it was fulfilled once, in silver if it was fulfilled twice and in gold if it was fulfilled three times.

Appearance and wearing style

The rectangular needle is 26 mm wide and 12 mm high, is made of non-ferrous metal and has a red enamel base. In the center of the rectangle to the left and right is a missile directed to the top left. These and the two oak leaves attached under the rectangle are bronze, silver or gold according to the awarded level. The martial arts needle was carried in the middle of the right breast pocket.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Klaus Feder, Jürgen Wagner, Ralf Swoboda: Military badges of the German Democratic Republic. Military publishing house of the German Democratic Republic, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-327-00523-0 , pp. 38–39.