Badges "Ready For Labour And Defence Of The Homeland".

[RussiaBoy]

Hello,
Got a quick question. What were the bronze, silver, and gold sport badges given out for?

Thanks.

[Christophe]

These are badges for "Labor" (Arbeit) and "Homeland defense" (Verteidigung der Heimat).
I'm not sure they are sports related.

Ch.

[RussiaBoy]

Iv'e always seen them referred to a sports badges, but i guess then that is incorrect. In that case, what were these "work and homeland defense" badges given out for?

Justin.

[Taz]

Justin,
it isn't actualy wrong to name them Sport Badges because in effect that is what they are.
They were awarded by the minister for fitness and sport (körperkulture und Sport) and so were State awards.
These badges were originally called " Ready for Work and for the defence of peace" (bereit zur Arbeit und zur Verteidigung des friedens") Instituted in 1950/51.
In 1956 the name was changed to "Ready for work and defence of the Homeland" ("bereit zur Arbeit und zur Verteidigung der heimat")
In order to be awarded these State sport awards a strict Sport programm had to be completed.
In 1965 the award critaria was renewed to meet the needs of varying age groups and male and female Sportsmen/women.
The different classes were awarded with a points system and included the following excercises:
Gymnastics, Ground-gymnastics, Apparatus-gymnastics, Athletics or Wintersports (Could be chosen), sporting games, Martial Arts (just men), swimming and questions about healthy eating and living.

There were the following awards:

For Children - In Bronze, Silver (and Gold?) (Flat Oval form)

In four age groups:

With pendant I (6-7 years)
With pendant II (8-9 years)
With pendant III (10-11 years)
With pendant IV (12-13 years)

For Juveniles - In Bronze, Silver and Gold (round form)

In two age groups:

With pendant I (14-15 years)
With pendant II (16-17 years)

For Adults - In Bronze, Silver and Gold (oval form)

In four age groups:

18-29 years
30-39 years
40-49 years
50 and over years

An invalid Sport badge was also awarded as the above although the last age group started at 40+

From 1956-1965 a repeat award was issued. And from 1965 a Sports Medal awarded. For the completion of the award criteria 20,25 and 30 times a diploma was awarded.

Here is the Cloth Badge version.

And the Gold version in it's award box with the sew on cloth badge.

Eddie.

[Christophe]

Eddie,

Great !! They finally seem to be sport related :p ... even if the wording could obviously be misleading :rolleyes: .

Cheers.

Ch.

[Taz]

Eddie,

Great !! They finally seem to be sport related :p ... even if the wording could obviously be misleading :rolleyes: .

Cheers.

Ch.

'tis a bit misleading sometimes. These badges actually resemble closely the WWII Third Reich Sport awards. And the idea came from the Soviet Sport award system apparently, ready for .... etc.

Here is the early version of these Sport badges. This one is the adults 1st Class from 1951-52

"bereit zur Arbeit und zur Verteidigung des friedens" Instituted in 1950/51.

And the reverse of a different version with s/n.

Eddie.

[bayoswede]

Hi all, here is a Certificate to a Police Woman working in Berlin, Treptow
I bought not less than 33 different certs to the same woman !!
She was a real multi person, singing in choir, competing in "kampfsport" ?
and even gardening... and of course got a lot of Long Service medals and so on. She got the Bronze sport badge in 1968, Gold in 1970 and Gold again in 1971.

Best wishes to all DDR collectors out there

Christer

[Felix]

'tis a bit misleading somtimes. These badges actually resemble closely the WWII Third Reich Sport awards. And the idea came from the Soviet Sport award system apparently, ready for .... etc.

Eddie.

This kind of badge was already used during the Weimar Republic. The first sport badges did have a "soviet" design, but like the the uniforms they were redesigned during the 50's with a german design, as the DDR, as the only "real" Germany must kept his traditions.