Medal for the faithful service of volunteers in protecting the state border of the German Democratic Republic
The medal for the faithful service of volunteers in protecting the state border of the German Democratic Republic was a state award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was donated on December 5, 1986 in six stages by the chairman of the National Defense Council of the GDR Erich Honecker . It served to recognize and appreciate long-term, conscientious and faithful fulfillment of duties for all volunteers to protect the state border of the GDR, especially for volunteers of the border troops of the GDR and for volunteers of the people's police in the border area at the state border of the GDR. The following award model applied:
- I. level: for 5 year olds
- Level II: for 10 year olds
- III. Level: for 15 year olds
- IV. Level: for 20 year olds
- V level: for 25 year olds
- VI. Level: for 30 year olds
The first award of this medal took place on December 1, 1987, the day of the border troops of the GDR, as part of a ceremony. When it was first awarded, the medal and the certificate were awarded at the highest level, depending on how many years the entrusted had already served as a volunteer.
Award procedure
The medal was awarded to volunteers with the border troops of the GDR by the deputy minister for national defense and chief of the border troops of the GDR every year on December 1st. Volunteers working for the German People's Police in the border area to the state border were awarded by the Minister of the Interior and Chief of the German People's Police on the occasion of the Day of the German People's Police on July 1st.
Appearance and wearing style
The medal is round, has a diameter of 30 mm and is bronze-colored for the 5- and 10-year-olds, silver-plated for the 15- and 20-year-olds and gold-plated for the 25- and 30-year olds. In the middle of her obverse she shows the waving state flag of the GDR with the inscription below: FOR / TREUE DIENSTE . Both the lettering and the flag are flanked on the left and right by an upward-pointing oak leaf. The whole thing is enclosed by the inscription: VOLUNTARY HELPER (above) TO PROTECT THE STATE BORDER OF THE GDR (below). The reverse of the medal, on the other hand, shows the GDR's national coat of arms in the middle, surrounded by the inscription: FOR THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS AND FARMERS and two laurel branches. The medal was worn on the left upper side of the chest on a green covered clasp. In this band on the left side of the medal were a red one for 5-year-olds, two red ones for 10-year-olds, one silver-colored one for 15-year-olds, two silver-colored ones for 20-year-olds, one gold-colored one for 25-year-olds and two gold-colored ones for 30-year olds woven in vertical median strips. The corresponding interim brace was of the same quality.
Individual evidence
- ^ Regulations on the awarding of volunteers for loyal service in protecting the state border of the German Democratic Republic of December 5, 1986, printed in the GDR Law Gazette Part I, Edition 2 of January 27, 1987, pp. 9 and 10.