Ehrenzeichen Volkspolizei

**HARRY THE MOLE** · 12-14-2020, 10:26 PM

This is probably one of the 'better' DDR awards as far as looks are concerned... nicknamed the 'Grim Reaper', the 'Ehrenzeichen der Deutschen Volkspolizei' was instituted on June 1st 1949. It was awarded for; 'outstanding achievements in the comprehensive construction of socialism', and also for acts of bravery. The award was usually made on July 1st: 'Day of the German Police', and again on October 7th: 'Day of the Republic', although further awards could be made immediately after accomplished achievements. One such case was the 1955 Uranium Ore disaster at SAG Wismut mine at Niederschlema where there were 33 miners killed and many injured. Eight members of the fire crews that attended the blaze received the award for their actions that day.

The first form of the award (1949-1955) was as shown in the pictures above, the badge came in a small square box and no interim spange was included. Each award was stamped with an issuing number and came with an Urkunde. Numbers 001 - 0700 were made in bronze, then from 0701 - 1500 in iron , with the final numbered awards from 1501 - 8000 again being in bronze. The second variant of this award numbered from 6001 -8000 (1956-1962) no longer carried the inscription in the flag, and the award number was engraved rather than stamped. From about 1959 onwards, the interim spange was also introduced. The third variation of the award (1963-1964) now carried the state coat of arms, and they were no longer numbered. From 1964 the pin was affixed horizontal instead of vertical. The final version of the award (1965-1990) took the form of a medal with five sided ribbon. The earliest Versions (1965-1970) had a smooth back, with the first variant being stamped with a number '1' on the back. Some sources have claimed that as the different variants of the awards came out, the older versions were expected to be handed in for exchange. Maybe that also applied to the documents, because finding an example with an early Urkunde is an almost impossible task. Aside from the 1965 Urkunde in the green folder that I have, the only other examples that I have seen for sale have been from the 1980's.

After 1970 the medals had a textured reverse, the first ones having a pebbled finish... and later on a 'hatched' finish. The colour of the ribbon was also lighter and the interim spange and miniature award smaller. By the 1980's, quality had gone out of the window - as can be seen in this example...

The 1964 variant with the horizontal pin is the rarest type, and consequently they can fetch quite high prices. Fraudsters have started modifying the early type of the fourth variant with the smooth back by removing the suspension loop from the top of the medal and soldering a horizontal pin on the back. Prospective purchasers of this variant should check the top edge of the award for any signs of tampering. There will usually be a small area where the gold plating is missing from the rim of the medal. The final pictures show the difference in size of the interim spange and the colour variation in the medal ribbons. The very last picture is from my recently acquired KVP/VoPo photo album, and shows a VoPo officer wearing the early award above his left breast pocket. Click on images (twice) to enlarge.

Cheers,
Steve