Achievement badge of the National People's Army

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Achievement badge of the NVA. 1956–1959 (left), 1959–1989 (right)

The achievement badge of the National People's Army was a state award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), whose status as a state award was withdrawn on January 1, 1978. The achievement badge of the National People's Army was donated on June 1, 1956 in a single step. It was awarded for exemplary performance or after successively and not uninterrupted acquisition of the best badge five times (from 1982). It was usually awarded at the end of a training section or immediately after the excellent performance on which it was based, to soldiers, sailors, airmen, NCOs, mates and officers up to the company commander, as well as on March 1st (NVA day) and October 7th (National holiday of the GDR).

Besides best badge , classification badges , sharpshooter and military sport badge belonged to the badges to the so-called "five soldiers Awards" of the NVA.

Appearance and wearing style

The bronze badge with a height of 45 mm and a width of 35 mm, each measured at the widest and highest point, shows in the middle a member of the NVA in uniform and steel helmet, who in his right hand up to the left a submachine gun of the PPSch type Holds -41 in the presentation handle. This soldier stands in front of the stylized representation of the German flag, which until 1960 was depicted without the GDR's national coat of arms. From 1960 the state coat of arms of the GDR was then also embossed. However, there are also specimens in which the state coat of arms was subsequently struck. The symbolism is surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves on both sides that is open at the top. The back of the badge still showed a stamped five-digit award number until 1960, which was later waived. The size of the badge of performance also changed slightly over time, so that badges are also available with a height of 46.5 mm and a width of 36.5 mm. The badge was worn on the upper right side of the chest.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Frank Bartel: Awards of the German Democratic Republic from the beginning to the present. Recordings by Jürgen Karpinski. Military Publishing House of the German Democratic Republic , Berlin 1979, p. 154.