Medal of Merit of the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic

Merit medal of the border troops of the GDR

The medal of merit of the border troops of the German Democratic Republic was a state award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The medal was donated on October 25, 1977 in three stages. They were awarded to relatives and civil employees of the border troops of the GDR as well as related collectives for outstanding services and personal commitment to the constant and reliable security of the borders of the GDR. Also for political and military leadership as well as for education and training.

Appearance and wearing style

The bronze , silver-plated or gold-plated medal with a diameter of 35 mm showed on its obverse a GDR border post in the middle with a Kalashnikov pointing slightly upwards in front of it , which is surrounded by a curved laurel branch that is crossed at the top and is open at the top. The inscription reads: FOR OUTSTANDING VERDENSTE (above) BORDER TROOPS OF THE GDR (below) The reverse of the medal, on the other hand, shows in the center the large state coat of arms of the GDR with the inscription: FOR THE PROTECTION (above) OF WORKERS AND FARMERS POWER (below) as well as two curved laurel branches that are crossed at the top. The medal was worn on the upper left side of the chest on a 25 × 14 mm wide pentagonal red clasp in which three 3 mm wide green vertical stripes were woven. When awarding the II. (Silver) and I. levels in gold, a silver-colored or gold 2.5 mm wide central stripe was also visible in the middle.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Awards of the German Democratic Republic Bartel / Karpinski, Military Publishing House of the GDR 1979, page 176/177