Karl Marx Order

Karl Marx Order ; (highest award in the GDR)
	Medal on ribbon (obverse)
Founder:	Prime Minister of the GDR Otto Grotewohl
Foundation year:	1953
Strap buckle:
Carrying method:	left breast side

The Karl Marx Order , named after the theoretician of socialism and communism Karl Marx , was the most important and highly endowed Order of Merit of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in existence since 1953 .

Foundation reason

The Karl Marx Order was established on May 5, 1953 as part of the Karl Marx Year taking place in the GDR, the 135th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx and the 70th anniversary of his death by the Prime Minister of the GDR Otto Grotewohl in one level donated. Through the foundation of the order, the government paid tribute to the life and work of the "greatest son and most important scientist of the German people" in the language used at the time, in order to perpetuate his memory. In the same context, the Council of Ministers of the GDR decided to rename the city of Chemnitz to Karl-Marx-Stadt and the Chemnitz district to Karl-Marx-Stadt and to give the University of Leipzig the name "Karl-Marx-Universität".

Suggestion scheme

The Karl Marx Order was awarded to the Council of Ministers on the basis of proposals from scientific, cultural or social institutions in the GDR. The latter then recommended the award of the order by the President of the GDR, later chairman of the State Council.

Award group and award conditions

Award certificate to VEB Halbmond-Teppiche 1974.

The Karl Marx Order could be awarded to individuals , collectives , institutions , companies and social organizations in the GDR for special merits in the systematic development of socialism. Later on, associations, units of the armed forces and institutions of the armed organs could also be honored for outstanding services . In particular, the Karl Marx Order was awarded:

for outstanding services to the entire German people in the struggle for the establishment of a unified, democratic, independent and peace-loving Germany, for special services to the development and strengthening of the National Front of democratic Germany. ( This award point fell away in later years )

for outstanding achievements in the maintenance of the classic German cultural heritage and the creation of a new German culture, for the development of progressive German science and art

for outstanding achievements in the area of the systematic development of socialism in the GDR; for special merits in the uninterrupted growth and constant perfection of socialist production on the basis of the most highly developed technology

for such an activity which had produced excellent results in industry, agriculture, transportation, commerce and in collection actions by state and cooperative institutions, businesses and organizations

for special merits in strengthening the alliance of the working class with the toiling peasantry, for the development of agriculture, for achieving high crop yields and high results in animal husbandry, for special merits in the development and consolidation of the agricultural production cooperatives

for excellent experimental work that was groundbreaking and exemplary for the further upswing of the nationally owned economy

for the introduction of technical improvements and innovations of state importance in industrial and agricultural production, in traffic and communications, as well as for outstanding inventions in this field

for particularly outstanding achievements in the field of organizing national defense, for particular vigilance to secure the state and its institutions as well as socialist construction against hostile attacks under particularly difficult conditions as well as for the outstanding execution of special assignments in these areas

for particularly high achievements in the field of social sciences, especially in creative, independent, high-quality research work in this field, in particular for services to the elaboration of the history of the German people and the German labor movement

for outstanding achievements in the field of social work and health care, which were of extremely great importance for the entire population, especially in the field of scientific research

for exceptionally great merits in the maintenance and promotion of genuine friendly relations with the Soviet Union , with the other socialist states and all peace-loving peoples of the world as well as such relationships between members and organizations of these peoples with the German Democratic Republic

Appearance and wearing style

The Karl Marx Order consists of a five-pointed, gold-rimmed star of ruby red color (largest diameter 50 mm) on a wreath of oak leaves. A gold medallion in the center of the star shows the portrait of Karl Marx as a relief . The back is smooth. The points of the star are also red and edged with gold. The medal was worn on a wine-red pentagonal cloth clasp on the left side of the chest of the entrusted to conferences, May 1st, May 8th (Liberation Day), October 7th (Republic Day) or other particularly unusual occasions such as state acts or festive meetings . In the case of several orders and decorations, the Karl Marx Order was always worn furthest inside as the highest-ranking domestic decoration. The corresponding interim clasp is of the same quality, but also shows a golden oak leaf in the middle. Collectives that were awarded the Karl Marx Order wore it in the form of an embroidered banner on their (company) flag.

Withdrawal and return of the order

The Karl Marx Order could also be withdrawn again at the suggestion of the Council of Ministers, especially in the case of criminal prosecutions of a medium and severe nature. Furthermore, the order was withdrawn in the event of internal party disciplinary proceedings that led to exclusion from the party, dismissal from military service or downgrading. The Karl Marx Order, which was awarded to a person who subsequently died or was considered missing, had to be returned to the GDR Council of Ministers by the bereaved. If a person was honored with the medal posthumously or after he was missing, the medal also remained with the Council of Ministers. However, the award document was presented to the honorable's family.

Award procedure

The award of the Karl Marx Order took place on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers by the President of the GDR, later by the Chairman of the State Council in a festive act. The awarding of deserving groups and personalities then usually took place on the occasion of May 1st ( International Fighting and Holiday of the Working People ) and October 7th ( Republic Day ) and for special occasions. Multiple awards were possible. In addition to the medal, the entrusted was presented with an award certificate. Individuals were also rewarded with a final endowment of 20,000 marks . At the very rare award of the honorary title hero of the GDR , the Karl Marx Order was also awarded and a total premium of 25,000 marks was paid in the end.

Bearer of the order (selection)

Postage stamp ( 1961 ) of the German Post of the GDR : German Titow receives the Karl Marx Order from Walter Ulbricht

1953: Otto Grotewohl , Walter Ulbricht , Hermann Matern , Wilhelm Pieck , Wilhelm Zaisser , Olga Körner , Otto Buchwitz , Hermann Duncker , Helmut Lehmann , Rosa Thälmann , Luise Kähler , Hermann Schlimme , Otto Franke
1954: Free German Trade Union Confederation
1956: New Germany Newspaper , Antonín Zápotocký , Wilhelm Koenen
1957: Erich Mielke , Josef Miller
1958: Josef Orlopp
1959: Wilhelmine Schirmer-Pröscher
1961: Alfred Kurella , German Stepanowitsch Titow
1962: Franz Dahlem , Herbert Warnke , Otto Winzer , Friedrich Heilmann
1963: Willy Rumpf , Karl Maron
1965: Paul Geisler , August Reitz , Anna Seghers , Hans Schaul , Otto Schön , "Einheit" Berlin, folder of working materials for the Karl Marx Order
1966: Helene Berg , Georg Stibi , Richard Stahlmann (actually: Arthur Illner)
1967: Karl Mewis , Wilhelm Kling
1968: Roman Chwalek , Kurt Seibt , Max Burghardt , Frieda Sternberg
1969: Lotte Ulbricht , Erich Honecker , Jürgen Kuczynski , Hermann Matern , Albert Norden , Willi Stoph , Paul Verner , Anna Seghers , Regina Becker , Frieda Loch , Franz Bolck , Paul Dessau , Walter Felsenstein , Fritz Selbmann , Ludwig Renn
1970: Heinz Hoffmann , Erich Mückenberger , Erwin Kramer , Bruno Apitz , Harry Tisch , Otto Braun , Max Burghardt , Iwan Ignatjewitsch Jakubowski
1971: Jacques Duclos
1972: Klaus Gysi , Kurt Hager , Max Fechner , Erich Honecker , Max Spangenberg
1973: Ernst Albert Altenkirch , Friedrich Dickel , Ernst Goldenbaum , Erich Mielke , Fred Oelßner , Gerhard Danelius , Günther Jahn
1974: Leonid Breschnew , Todor Schiwkow , Wittenberge sewing machine factory , Berlin Zoo , Alexander Schalck-Golodkowski , Willi Stoph , Markus Wolf , Walter Arnold , Jurij Brězan , Walter Buchheim , Fritz Cremer , Charlotte Schröder , Günther Rienäcker , Charlotte Haubold , Rheinmetall Sömmerda , streets -, Bridge and Civil Engineering Combine Halle / Saale , Marta Fischer , Walter Gorrish-Kaiser , Max Herm , Herbert Scheibe , Richard Wenzel , Josip Broz Tito , Arno Schimang , Karl-Heinz Bonin
1975: Edmund Collein , Horst Sindermann , Paul Wandel , Academy of Sciences of the GDR , Josef Streit , Werner Eggerath , Walter Hähnel , Karl von Appen
1976: Alois Bräutigam , Luise Ermisch , Wolfgang Junker , Günter Mittag , Werner Walde , Ernst Scholz , Paul Verner , Extended High School (EOS) "Karl Marx" Halle-Neustadt , Lea Grundig , Karl Raab , Hermann Große , Alwin Günter , Wilhelm Knigge
1977: Hilde Benjamin , Kurt Hager , Erich Honecker , Margot Honecker , Erich Mielke , Friedel Malter , Ruth Werner , Institute for Teacher Education (IfL) Weißenfels , Richard Staimer , Gerónimo Arnedo Álvarez , Josip Broz Tito , Black Pump Combine
1978: Werner Felfe , Hans Modrow , Joachim Herrmann , Hans-Joachim Hertwig , Elli Schmidt , Werner Krolikowski , Konrad Naumann , Elly Winter , Maria Torhorst , Hanna Wolf , Werner Schneidratus , Sigmund Jähn
1979: Horst Dohlus , Johannes Chemnitzer , Gerhard Grüneberg , Heinz Keßler , Peter Edel , Grete Groh-Kummerlöw , Werner Neumann (Fahrzeugbau Dresden), Erich Wichert , Erich Peter
1980: Heinz Hoffmann , Alfred Lemmnitz , Kurt Liebknecht , Siegfried Lorenz , Gerda Sucker , Frieda Krüger , Günther Jahn , Interflug
1981: Erwin Geschonneck , Peter Florin , Albert Norden , Gerhard Schürer , Friedrich Karl Kaul , Antonie Wohlgemuth , Alfred Rohde
1982: Alexander Schalck-Golodkowski , Kurt Hager , Erich Honecker , Erich Mielke , Paul Scholz , Erich Paterna , Ernst Hoffmann (philosopher)
1983: Lotte Ulbricht , Gerhard Beil , Friedrich Dickel , Egon Krenz , Oskar Fischer , Theo Balden , Gerda Stern , Wilhelm Ehm , Wojciech Jaruzelski
1984: Adalbert Dessau , Alfred Neumann , Willi Stoph , 6th Flotilla of the Volksmarine , Manfred Wekwerth , Hans Lutter , Charlotte Loebinger , Kurt Diederich , Josef Kiefel
1985: Horst Dohlus , Friedrich Dickel , Heinz Hoffmann , Erich Honecker , Bruno Lietz , Erich Mückenberger , Josef Schleifstein , Ilse Thiele , Maria Rentmeister , German People's Police
1986: Heinrich Adameck , Gisela Glende , Lea Große , Günter Mittag , Josef Streit , Erich Hanke , Heinrich Homann
1987: Hilde Benjamin , Margot Honecker , Werner Jarowinsky , Helmut Koziolek , Ernst Mecklenburg , Erich Mielke , Heinz Wedler , Markus Wolf , Annelie Löblich , Willi Bürger , Arnold Zimmermann
1988: Manfred Gerlach , Joachim Herrmann , Kurt Seibt , Nicolae Ceaușescu , Georgi Atanassow , Kristin Otto , Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler , Hildegard Gurgeit , Alessandro Natta , Gustáv Husák , Clodomiro Almeyda , Herbert Fechner , Günter Pötschke , Moritz Mebel , Wolfgang Reinhold , Bernhard Quandt , Jaime Perez
1989: Günter Schabowski , Willi Stoph , Günther Wyschofsky , Herbert Weiz , Kurt Bachmann

literature

Günter Tautz: Orders and Medals. State awards of the German Democratic Republic. , VEB Bibliographisches Institut Leipzig, 2nd edition, Leipzig 1983.
Dirk Hubrich: Karl Marx Order of the GDR 1953 to 1990. Part 1: Awards . In: Orders and Medals. The magazine for friends of the phaleristics of the German Society for Ordenskunde , issue 109, volume 19. Gäufelden 2017. ISSN 1438-3772.
Dirk Hubrich: Karl Marx Order of the GDR 1953 to 1990. Part 2: Awards . In: Orders and Medals. The magazine for friends of the phaleristics of the German Society for Ordenskunde , issue 118, volume 20. Gäufelden 2018. ISSN 1438-3772.

Individual evidence

^ Ordinance on the Foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, introductory words to the declaration of foundation, p. 609
^ Ordinance on the foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, § 1, p. 609
^ Ordinance on the foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, §§ 3 and 4, p. 609
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 3, p. 610
^ Ordinance on the foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, § 2, p. 609
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 1, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 1 letters al, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 2, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 6, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 5, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 7, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 8, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 9, p. 610
^ Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 4, p. 610
↑ Under the leadership of the party - always ready for peace and socialism - 40th anniversary of the People's Police - Ministry of the Interior - Political Administration. Ag 106/0061/85 - page 16

Web links

Commons : Karl-Marx-Orden - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

[1] Ordinance on the Foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, introductory words to the declaration of foundation, p. 609

[2] Ordinance on the foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, § 1, p. 609

[3] Ordinance on the foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, §§ 3 and 4, p. 609

[4] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 3, p. 610

[5] Ordinance on the foundation of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, § 2, p. 609

[6] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 1, p. 610

[7] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 1 letters al, p. 610

[8] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 2, p. 610

[9] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 6, p. 610

[10] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 5, p. 610

[11] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 7, p. 610

[12] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 8, p. 610

[13] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 9, p. 610

[14] Statute of the Karl Marx Order of April 30, 1953, printed in the Law Gazette of the German Democratic Republic of May 5, 1953, year 1953, No. 57, No. 4, p. 610

[15] Under the leadership of the party - always ready for peace and socialism - 40th anniversary of the People's Police - Ministry of the Interior - Political Administration. Ag 106/0061/85 - page 16