Pestalozzi medal for faithful service
The Pestalozzi Medal for loyal service , named after the Swiss pedagogue Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi , was a state award of the German Democratic Republic . It was donated for loyal service on November 15, 1956 by the Council of Ministers of the GDR.
Foundation and award requirements
The Pestalozzi Medal was awarded to teachers and educators who have completed their pedagogical training, those in general schools, engineering and technical schools as well as institutions for vocational training and pre-school education, extracurricular institutions ( home education and youth welfare ), institutions for training and Further training for teachers, educators, engineering pedagogues, workers 'and farmers' faculties and adult education centers, as well as for teachers who have completed their master teacher training. It was also awarded to educators who had completed their training and who were active in political parties, state organizations or social organizations in the field of education and schooling. The medal was first awarded in bronze in 1957 (10 years of service), in 1966 in silver (20 years of service) and in 1975 in gold (30 years of service). It was worn on the upper left chest at the highest level since 1978. The award on the occasion of Teacher's Day , June 12, was made by the heads of the central state organs or by the chairmen of the district councils or the district councils. The years of service to be achieved were changed a total of three times until 1971; so there were the following relations:
- 1956 to 1965
- Gold level: 40 years of service
- Silver level: 25 years of service
- Bronze level: 10 years of service
- 1966 to 1970
- Gold level: 40 years of service
- Silver grade: 20 years of service
- Bronze level: 10 years of service
- 1971 to 1990
- Gold level: 30 years of service
- Silver grade: 20 years of service
- Bronze level: 10 years of service
Only years of service in the education system of the GDR since 1945 were considered to be years of service.
Carrier (selection)
- Lutz Dieter Behrendt
- Manfred Bensing
- Bruno Benthien
- Walter Bredendiek
- Helmut Faust
- Rigobert Günther
- Manfred Haak
- Helmut Humann
- Gerhard Lehmann
- Hans Lutter
- Hannelore Ploog
- Fritz Reichert
- Werner Spickenreuther
- Günter Spranger
- Heinrich Vogel
- Doris Weathercock
- Gerhard Winter
- Dietrich Zühlke
Appearance and wearing style
The bronze, silver-plated or gold-plated medal with a diameter of 32.5 mm shows on its obverse the portrait of Pestalozzi's head looking to the right, the head is enclosed by two thin laurel branches that are crossed at the bottom and bent upwards, which reach about halfway through the circle of the medal Inscription: JOH.HEINR.PESTALOZZI pass over. The reverse of the medal, on the other hand, shows the state coat of arms of the GDR in the middle, surrounded by the inscription: GERMAN. DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLIC . This inscription is in turn enclosed by a closed laurel wreath, consisting of two laurel branches, which are also crossed below and above. The medal was worn on the upper left side of the chest on a 24 × 11 mm blue-covered clasp, into which a two-millimeter-wide vertical central stripe was woven on both sides from the silver level, two millimeters from the hem. In the case of the silver level it was silver-gray and in the case of the gold level it was yellow.