Medal For Loyal Service In The National People's Army.

[Hagen]

As the title says! :)

[Ralph Pickard]

Nice late issue 20 year service medal.

[Taz]

Nice late issue 20 year service medal.

Just a little more info on this medal which comes in many variations depending on the year of manufacture.
The first 20-year medals were made in 1965, although the medal itself was established in 1956.

Type 1 - (1965–72) Silver "900", gold plated, flags on the obverse are enameled. The silver content stamp is below the crossed laurel branches on the reverse.
Type 2 - (1973–74) Bronze, gold plated, flags enameled.
Type 3 - (1974–75) Bronze, gold plated, flags lacquered over a pebbled finish
Type 4 - (1975–76) Same, lacquered over a smooth finish.
Type 5 - (1977–83) Same as type 4, with" -UND-", 34.7 mm in diameter.
Type 6 - (1983-86) Same as Type 5, 35 mm in diameter.
Type 7 - (1986-90) Same as Type 6, grain stalks in the NVA emblem are stylized and closed.

The only service medals that were serial numbered was the 5 Year Faithful Service Medal in bronze, this was because of the practice of serial numbering medals being discontinued in 1959.

Regards Taz

[CtahhR]

The Medal For Faithful Service In The National People's Army (Medaille Für Treue Dienste In Der Nationalen Volksarmee) was founded 1st June 1956 in three classes with the fourth being added 28th August 1964.

Here is a late 20 Years example that doesn't seem to have ever had the "XX" Clasp.

[CtahhR]

Here is the Ribbon Bar for the 20 Years Medal which has not had the clasp attached rendering it a 15 Years Ribbon Bar (even though it came in the case with the 20 Years Medal).

[CtahhR]

Here is the Silver Medal 10 Years.

[edwil777]

This is a 5 year Medaille für treue Dienste der NVA most likely from the 60s.

[edwil777]

This is a 10 year Medaille für treue Dienste in der NVA in .900 silver from the years 1960-1961, indicated by the silver mark being located at the bottom rim of the medal.

[edwil777]

This is the 15 year service medal in .900 silver which,sadly is missing nearly all of its gold plating, you can still identify if the medal is or was meant to be plated as it will have a small "Crescent" to the left of the silver mark.

This medal dates from around 1964-1966.

[edwil777]

This is a 5 year service medal from the years 1957-1960 as indicated by the lack of the staatswappen on the flag, and the number on the reverse,in this case its "007926".


I have heard rumours of there being an archive of the recipients of numbered ddr medals, including KVP medals etc, but wether this is true or not i cannot say,it would be great to research these medals in the same way we can soviet medals, but i wouldn't hold my breath on that.