Medal for services to mine rescue

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The medal for services to the mine rescue service was a state award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was donated on November 1, 1951 and carried the designation of honor until 1959 . On November 2, 1955, a silver and gold clasp was donated for the multiple award of the medal. The medal was awarded for personal bravery and selfless commitment in rescuing people and fighting accidents. Also for excellent performance in the implementation of scientific and technical progress in mine rescue and mine gas protection, but also for increasing the operational readiness of mine and gas protection services. The award was made to individuals as well as collectives, with groups of up to six people each receiving the medal and certificate. The maximum number of awards was limited to only 15 awards a year.

Appearance and wearing style

The first of bronze- aluminum existing coin with a diameter of 38 mm shows on its obverse centrally a pit Wehrmann with protective helmet, at the Bergmann suit a gas protection device depends. He is holding a pickaxe in his right hand. However, this is only shown in its tip and a small part of the handle, as well as the miner's feet, which only reach about thigh height. To the left and right of the miner is the mining symbol, a crossed mallet and iron symbol. The inscription reads: LUCKY ON! (above) where the two words are separated by the miner's head and GRUBENWEHR under the miner's thighs. The reverse of the medal showed a dove of peace until 1978 and then from 1978 the state coat of arms of the GDR. In 1978 the medal was made of bronze and from 1978 onwards it was also gilded. The medal was initially worn on a 30 × 21 mm bright orange clasp, in whose two horizontal 1.5 mm wide black central stripes were woven. In between was a brass-colored clip with the inscription: GRUBENWEHR . By 1970 the clasp was only 28 × 21 mm in size and its black central stripe was narrowed by 0.5 mm to 1 mm in width. The ribbon of the medal itself also changed from initially light orange to yellow. The above-mentioned clasp initially remained the same, but was 5 mm wide and also showed a 16 mm square standing on the tip, which was covered by the GRUBENWEHT lettering . Both the text bar and the square were embossed from one piece. The crossed mallet and iron lay in its two visible corners. For a multiple award these parts were silver-plated or gold-plated. The medal was worn like the interim clasp, which was of the same quality, on the upper left side of the chest.

Individual evidence

  1. Awards of the German Democratic Republic Bartel / Karpinski, Military Publishing House of the GDR 1979, page 147