Sports performance badge of the GDR
The sports badge of the GDR , colloquially just called the sports badge (of the GDR), was an award of the sports committee and the German Gymnastics and Sports Association (DTSB) in the GDR , which was donated in 1950 and awarded 268,000 times as early as 1951. It was consequently a mass award of the GDR.
Forms of production
First Form (1950)
The first form of the GDR's sports performance badge consists of a wreath of oak leaves , in the center of which is the relief of two athletes, a man and a woman , who are both standing in front of the waving colored flag of the GDR, still without the national coat of arms. Underneath these busts is the embossed inscription: READY TO WORK / AND TO DEFEND / OF PEACE . The waving flag goes beyond the upper edge of the oak leaf wreath. This is also interrupted in its lower center by a white oval on which the awarded level: I , II or III can be read in black Roman numerals . The badges in this series are 51 mm high, gold-plated and numbered on the back.
Second form (1951–1952)
The second shape of the badge is significantly smaller than the first. Its height is only 42 mm. Instead of the bust of the man and the woman, it shows them now in ongoing sporting activity in front of the waving colored flag of the GDR, also without the national coat of arms. The symbolism is still enclosed by a wreath of oak leaves, which is broken up by the flag of the GDR and shows the white oval of the awarded level in the middle on its lower side. In addition, the same badge was awarded to the disabled , but without the small white oval on the lower side of the oak leaf wreath. The inscription under the symbolism of the runners READY FOR WORK / AND FOR DEFENSE / PEACE has also remained the same. These two versions are all gold-plated like their predecessors. There is also a silver-plated version of the badge which is 35 mm high and was awarded as a youth badge. This is labeled: BE READY TO WORK / AND TO DEFEND / OF PEACE .
Third form (1953–1956)
In 1953, the GDR's sports badge was again slightly changed compared to its predecessor. For adults and the disabled, it still had the familiar appearance, but the white oval on the lower side of the oak leaf wreath with its Roman numerals and the numbering on the back had been removed. Instead, level II of the badge was now silver and level I was bronzed . Children and adolescents received a gold-plated badge in three age groups, each with two levels, which is 31 mm high and looked like this:
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Young pioneers : pair of runners in front of a waving blue flag with the symbol of the young pioneers and the inscription below:
- 1st stage BE READY / FOR PEACE / AND / PEOPLE FRIENDSHIP . The latter word laid out in a semicircle.
- 2nd level ALWAYS READY / FOR PEACE / AND / FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLE . The latter word is laid out in a semicircle.
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Thälmannpioniere : pair of runners in front of a waving blue flag with a white dove and the inscription below:
- 1st stage BE READY / FOR PEACE / AND / PEOPLE FRIENDSHIP . The latter word laid out in a semicircle.
- 2nd level ALWAYS READY / FOR PEACE / AND / FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLE . The latter word is laid out in a semicircle.
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Youngsters : pair of runners in front of a waving black-red-gold flag and the inscription below:
- 1st stage BE READY / FOR PEACE / AND / PEOPLE FRIENDSHIP . The latter word laid out in a semicircle.
- 2nd level ALWAYS READY / FOR PEACE / AND / FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLE . The latter word is laid out in a semicircle.
Fourth form (1956–1964)
In 1956, following a realignment of the award conditions, the sports badge Ready for work and defense of the homeland was reissued and the old previous form was completely discarded. The award took place in three stages to adults and the disabled. The badge now used consists of a 51 mm oval oak leaf wreath in the leaves of which the inscription: READY TO WORK AND TO DEFEND YOUR HOME is embedded. In the middle of the wreath are the intertwined letters: DDR can be read. Below on a curved tape : SPORTS BADGE . A new addition was the trailer for the sports badge, which was awarded from the I to VII . The pendant consists of two V-shaped oak leaves in the middle of which the Roman numeral of the repetition can be seen.
The badge for children (in bronze) and young people (in silver) was almost round and had a diameter of 38 mm. It looks like the new form of the adult sign, but shows the embossed group A for children or B for young people at the lower intersection of the oak leaves .
Fifth form (1965-1975)
In 1965 the fifth form of the GDR's sports badge was created. There were the following variants
- Adults
The 20 mm oval badge consists of a closed wreath of oak leaves, the lower end of which is connected with a stylized bow. The inscription READY TO WORK AND TO DEFENSE YOUR HOME has been omitted . The graduation took place in
- gold
- Silver and
- bronze
The back showed a vertical or horizontal soldered needle with a counter-hook or a longitudinal needle. However, adults were able to procure a 49 mm large patch badge at their own expense, which was far more decorative than the small pin.
- Teenagers
The 16 mm oval badge for young people is similar to that for adults, was only slightly smaller and was also awarded in the same grading, bronze, silver and gold. The badge was awarded according to the age classes I and II, the classes of which should be visibly emphasized by a corresponding tag. But they remained a rarity, which was probably due to the fact that they fell off the badge again and again due to inadequate suspension.
- children
The 16 mm not oval, but cross oval badge is of the same quality but was only awarded in silver and bronze. The badge was awarded according to the age group I, II, III and IV, the classes of which should be visibly emphasized by a corresponding tag. But they remained a rarity, which was probably due to the fact that they fell off the badge again and again due to inadequate suspension.
- Sports badge medal
In order to avoid having to hand over a pin every time ambitious athletes are awarded multiple awards, the sports badge medal was awarded for repeated acquisition of the badge based on a point key (from 18 points) . There were three points for repeated gold levels, two points for repeated silver levels and one point for repeated bronze levels. The medal , however, was held in the shape of a clasp, the bar 26.5 mm wide and painted blue or enameled. In its center, a 13.5 mm sports badge was placed in the awarded level. Two V-shaped oak leaves were attached underneath, the tips of which point to the ends of the clasp.
Sixth form (1976-1990)
From 1976 the sixth and last series of sports badges was issued. However, the appearance remained the same compared to the fifth series. The following were therefore awarded:
- for adults the high oval 20 mm pin in three stages
- for teenagers the oval 16 mm pin in three stages
- For children of age group I the 15 mm oval pin in two stages
- for children of age group II the 20 mm high diamond-shaped pin in two stages
Sports badge small in silver - children B - round
Sports badge small in bronze - horizontal oval
Sports badge small in bronze and silver - round
Sports badge small in bronze, silver and gold - high oval
The sports badge medal, however, has now been awarded for ten times the acquisition of any sports badge. Adults could still obtain a 49 mm badge at their own expense.
Web link
- Illustration of the certificate @ andreawitte.de
Individual evidence
- ^ Awards of the German Democratic Republic Bartel / Karpinski, Military Publishing House of the GDR 1979, page 193/194