Medal for long-term fulfillment of duties to strengthen the national defense of the German Democratic Republic
The medal for long-term fulfillment of duties to strengthen the national defense of the German Democratic Republic was a state award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was donated on August 8, 1974 in four stages, bronze , silver , gold (2 times). The award took place after a certain number of years of service. In detail this meant:
- for 40 years of service: special gold level (men)
- for 35 years of service: special gold level (women)
- for 30 years of service: in gold
- for 20 years of service: in silver
- for 10 years of service: in bronze.
They were awarded to working people for long-term fulfillment of duties as well as exemplary performance in state- owned companies and institutions that were specifically engaged in the production of goods that benefited the national defense. Furthermore, also for the fulfillment of the military delivery and service tasks as well as social obligations.
Appearance and wearing style
The bronze, silver-plated or gold-plated medal with a diameter of 34.5 mm shows a square in the center of its obverse , which consists of vertically raised embossed strips, which in turn are interrupted by three smooth symbols. An ear of wheat can be seen on the left, an AK-47 in the middle and a hammer on the far right. This symbolism is encompassed by the inscription: FOR LONG YEARS OF OBLIGATION , which make up about 3/4 of the circumference. The rest is interrupted on the left and right by a small five-pointed star that completes the circle in the middle with the letters DDR . The reverse of the medal, on the other hand, shows in the center the coat of arms of the NVA, the state coat of arms with the inscription: FOR THE PROTECTION (above) OF WORKERS AND FARMERS POWER (below). The whole thing is enclosed by two curved laurel branches that are crossed at the bottom and open at the top. The medal was worn on a 25 × 14 mm gray-blue ribbon, the hem of which is formed on both sides by a 2.5 mm wide black-red-gold vertical stripe, with the color black always on the outside. For the award of the bronze level, the ribbon was left empty, with the silver level a 2 mm wide silver-white central stripe was woven in, which was golden yellow for the gold level. For the special grade awarded in gold, two 2 mm wide golden stripes in the middle were woven in to create a visual distinction to the gold grade. All steps were worn on the upper left side of the chest in the highest step awarded.
National defense loyalty medal in silver
Reverse of the national defense loyalty medal in bronze
Individual evidence
- ^ Frank Bartel, Jürgen Karpinski: Awards of the German Democratic Republic from the beginning to the present. Military Publishing House of the GDR, Berlin 1979, pp. 170/171.