Kampforden fuer Verdienst um Volk un Vaterland (Combat order for service to the People and Fatherland)

[Watchdog]

I just added this one to my collection and wonder if anyone can clarify the award criteria for this medal?

Every reference I have seen states that this medal is awarded to "senior officers" but as you can see from the Urkunde this one is to a Stabsfahnrich.

This example has a pebbled reverse which is in keeping with the fairly late issue date whereas earlier pieces have a smooth reverse.

Any ideas?



Regards

Mark

PS I alays thought that "Combat Order" was a rather odd title for an award related to the maintenance and furtherance of aims or objectives but nothing really to do with "Combat" at all unless this is an interpretation issue?

[Stinkpotpete]

That's cool. That's the first paperwork I've seen for one of these. You don't see the medals that often either

[Watchdog]

That's cool. That's the first paperwork I've seen for one of these. You don't see the medals that often either

Thanks Paul,

Yes I think there are more unissued ones than issued but how would you know if it wasn't for the urkunde?
I have seen awards to Major rank as well which I still wouldn't desribe as a "senior officer". To me that kind of descriptive language comes into play no lower than Lt Col and more realistically at Brigadier!

Regards

Mark
PS Just looking at your signature block. Which Muenster is that and did you ever work with 287th MP Coy in Berlin?

[Watchdog]

Missed these pics;

Smooth reverse = earlier.
Pebbled reverse = Later

[Blitzvogel]

I think this was awarded to all ranks in the NVA and the Grenztruppen? I used to own a German reference book for DDR medals and I think that's what it said about this particular medal.

[HPL2008]

According to the 1983 GDR period reference Orden und Medaillen. Staatliche Auszeichnungen der DDR (which we can safely assume to be a reliable source), the Kampforden was awarded...:

"...for outstanding achievements and merit in increasing the fighting capacity and combat readiness of the Nationale Volksarmee, in the excecution of the mission of safely securing the national border of the GDR and the strengthening and perfection of Socialist territorial defense. [...] The order is awarded to members of the Nationale Volksarmee or the Grenztruppen der DDR, formations, units and facilities of the Nationale Volksarmee or the Grenztruppen der DDR, to persons who are not members of the Nationale Volksarmee or the Grenztruppen der DDR as well as to collectives of the aforementioned."

Naturally, many senior officers would have been among the recipients, but it was definitely not a requirement.

[Stinkpotpete]

Thanks Paul,

Yes I think there are more unissued ones than issued but how would you know if it wasn't for the urkunde?
I have seen awards to Major rank as well which I still wouldn't desribe as a "senior officer". To me that kind of descriptive language comes into play no lower than Lt Col and more realistically at Brigadier!

Regards

Mark
PS Just looking at your signature block. Which Muenster is that and did you ever work with 287th MP Coy in Berlin?

I was stationed in Muenster Nord-Rhein Westphalen. Unfortunately I never made it to Berlin. I wanted to drive from check point Alpha through East Germany, but I didn't trust my car for that kind of distance.

[Watchdog]

I was stationed in Muenster Nord-Rhein Westphalen. Unfortunately I never made it to Berlin. I wanted to drive from check point Alpha through East Germany, but I didn't trust my car for that kind of distance.

Haha! Small world.

This is off topic but very quickly, that is the one I was expecting. Right in the heart of the old British Zone. I worked in Dortmund as well as Sennelager and Osnabruck.
The other Munster (Munster-Ortze in Niedersachsen) formerly known as Munsterlager where the tank museum is, was also "in my area" when I served in Fallingbostel near Soltau. There are a couple of other "Munsters" in the former US Zone.
Yep, driving along the "Corridor" to Berlin was always intriguing. I did that regularly when posted to Berlin which is where I co-operated with my opposite number in the 287th Mp Coy.

Anyway, back to topic

Best wishes

Mark

[Watchdog]

According to the 1983 GDR period reference Orden und Medaillen. Staatliche Auszeichnungen der DDR (which we can safely assume to be a reliable source), the Kampforden was awarded...:

"...for outstanding achievements and merit in increasing the fighting capacity and combat readiness of the Nationale Volksarmee, in the excecution of the mission of safely securing the national border of the GDR and the strengthening and perfection of Socialist territorial defense. [...] The order is awarded to members of the Nationale Volksarmee or the Grenztruppen der DDR, formations, units and facilities of the Nationale Volksarmee or the Grenztruppen der DDR, to persons who are not members of the Nationale Volksarmee or the Grenztruppen der DDR as well as to collectives of the aforementioned."

Naturally, many senior officers would have been among the recipients, but it was definitely not a requirement.

Thanks Andreas,

That is what logic was telling me but I was puzzled by the references I keep seeing to "senior officers"

I guess this must be down to a slight misinterpretation of the concept of "Senior" with "Professional Soldiers" obviously being the more "senior" group when seen in the round along with conscripts. I think this might be equivalent to saying in English "senior to" as opposed to just describing a whole level of the rank structure as "Senior Officers" as is the usual vernacular when describing the ranks of Colonel upwards.

Makes sense to me anyway

Thanks again for the reference