Marshal of the GDR

[Taz]

a rank that, nobody achieved

Since the foundation of the national people's army (NVA) of the GDR in 1956 there were four general grades:

- Major-General
- Lieutenant - General
- Colonel - General
- Army General.

The grade Army general was reserved exclusively for the respective minister for national defense.

The rank of army general had:

Willi Stoph, minister for national defense from 19th. January 1956 – 1960.

Heinz Hoffmann, minister for national defense from 14th July 1960 to 1985.

Heinz Kessler, minister for national defense, 3rd December to 1989.

By order of the council of state of the German democratic republic (GDR) from the 25th March 1982 ( law sheet of the GDR (GBl)., part I, No. 12, p. 230 3GBl., part I, a. n.p) the Navy admiral who was to be equal to the Army General was introduced and also the rank of a Marshal of the GDR.

In the law sheet it says in addition:

The highest military grade in the German democratic republic is a Marshal of the GDR. The appointment Marshal of the GDR occurs in the defensive state or for unusual military achievements by order of the Chairman of the council of state of the German democratic republic.

This order came into effect on the 1st May, 1982.
In preparation of the introduction of the new rank 3 draft drawings and draft patterns were made. The draft drawings show a marshal's star which would have been worn on a red neck ribbon. These closely resemble the Soviet Marshal Stars.

Eddie.

Here are the 3 draft drawings, one of which would have been the Marshal of the GDR Star.

[Christophe]

Eddie,

Good information.
Is it possible to indicate us what is the source of the drawings ?

Many thanks in advance.

Ch.

[charlet]

these are the researches performed by Klaus-Ulrich Keubke (author of the 2 known editions of books about east german uniformology) aren't they?

[Taz]

Hi Christophe & Sebastian,

I found this article whilst looking for something totally different, by chance.
The original article was in German from Klaus H Feder so I translated it for our reference. The pictures were part of this article I hadn't seen any pics of the marshal Star before and thought they might be of interest.

Eddie.

[Christophe]

Eddie,
Many thanks. :)

Hi Sebastien ! Hope everything is fine. ;)

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Excellent, I got it : "Marschall der DDR - ein Dienstgrad, den keiner erreichte", from Klaus Feder, in "Militaria 5/2002".
Klaus-Ulrich Keubke is mentioned as one of the sources of the author.
A great article.
Thanks again, Eddie.

Ch.

[Taz]

Christophe,
that's the one! ;)
There is also an article on Marshals shoulder boards, if there is interest I would translate this and post it on the forum.

Eddie

[charlet]

I apologize! I mixed two great authors! kalus Feder wrote a nice book easily findable on ebay deustchland:
"auszeichnungen der nva der ddr"

[d-riemer]

Originally Posted by Taz

There is also an article on Marshals shoulder boards, if there is interest I would translate this and post it on the forum.
Eddie

Eddie,
I understand that Marshal shoulder boards were displayed in NVA barracks for information purposes. Collectors obtained these samples after the GDR collapse. Does your article say anything about that?

[Taz]

Hi Dietrich,
No mention that they were being displayed in NVA barracks, just that since the fall of the wall a lot of these Marshals shoulder Boards were faked. Where the Ruby was supposed to be there was paint and varnish.
The minister of National Defence, Admiral Theodor Hoffmann scrapped the ranks of Admiral and Marshal of the DDR in November 1989. When the new Dress rules came out on 20th March, 1990 they were no longer included.

Eddie.