Combat Order "For Merit To The People And Fatherland".

[Taz]

The Kampforden ''Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland'' was a State award of the GDR.
The order was instituted on February 17th, 1966 in the three classes, Bronze, Silver, Gold. And is issued with a bar in the ribbon colours with a crossed swords motive to correspond with the class.

It was awarded for "Outstanding achievements in improving the combat capability and combat readiness of the national people's army and tasks for the protection of the State border". Also for special merits in Socialist Government youth training, in the field of troop control techniques, in education and training, for personal commitment, maintenance and repair of technical equipment and armament and the development of military technology, development of military science, operations, actions which are for the development and protection of socialism in the GDR of great benefit and for strengthening of brotherhood in arms with the Socialist brother armies.
Awarded to members of the NVA , MFS or the border troops of the GDR, their associations, units, institutions or groups, but also non- members of these bodies,multiple awardings of the different classes could occur.

Awarding was by the Minister of National Defence on the Day of the Republic (7th October), the anniversary of the national people's Army (1st March), the day of the border troops of the GDR (December 1st) or immediately after accomplished performances. An award certificate and financial summe was given although not in the case of associations, troops or facilities.

Early orders made up until 1972 were solid Silver (900) and the first class was gold gilted, on the reverse at the bottom there was a 900 stamp mark. The third class Bronze medal, issued from 1966-1989 had either a smooth or pebbled reverse as did the later versions of the other two classes (1973-1990) Gold and (1973-1989) Silver. Orders with a pebbled reverse surface are generally said to be the later versions. Also Orders can be found with the word Muster on the reverse, these are rare and and were design prototypes.
Two ribbons are to be found on the Order, yellow and brown which were issued and yellow and red which were for the eventuality of war and never issued but produced.

And here images of the Kampforden in Gold, Silver and Bronze, Silver with a smooth reverse and Bronze pebbled.