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Verdienstmedaille der Nationale Volksarmee
I couldn't see a thread concerning these medals so I left the grade off so that we can post examples of all three here as a reference.
There were three grades; Bronze, Silver and Gold.
It was established in 1956 and was awarded for "Outstanding merit and personal readiness in support of the combat preparedness of the NVA" so really an exemplary service award. In theory all grades were available for award to all ranks but typically the gold grade tended to go to officers of field rank upwards ie Major and above whilst the silver and bronze went to Officers of company rank ie Capt downwards and NCOs.
To put this in perspective a soldier who qualified for the Bestenabzeichen annually for seven years would attract the bronze grade so not many Private soldiers would get one!!
So please post any examples of all three grades here to form a reference to the whole series.
Regards
Mark
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares more about than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature with no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
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04-04-2020 06:14 PM
# ADS
Circuit advertisement
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I have all three with Urkunde... and all to the same man. Here's the link …
https://www.google.com/url?client=in...lofaEY7V_kZVLX
Cheers,
Steve
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by
HARRY THE MOLE
Nice examples Steve and great to have 3 Urkunden to the same soldier. You have early and late Urkunden which would be good to add here.
By my reckoning your medals should be;
Bronze 1963 4th variation without serial number and dots in the obverse inscription.
Silver 1973 either 4th variation with dots , no serial number and silver 900 stamp below the laurels or 5th variation, same as 4th but plated bronze.
Gold 1977 7th variation with dots, no serial number, plated bronze and slightly smaller 34.7mm diameter.
I am still learning about these and with NVA medals it is very hard not to get sucked into the variation thing.
It is my intention to go through the ones I have and post them in this thread and with help from others doing the same to end up with a reference to the series.
Please join in guys and lets add Urkunden too. The more the merrier.
Regards
Mark
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares more about than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature with no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
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