Time for research!

[Taz]

I know that that before 1990, cuban medals were made in East germany. Is it still the case ?

Hi Felix,

Do you have 100% confirmation that awards were made in the DDR prior to 1990?
This has always been assumed the case but I have yet to see hard evidence.

Regards Eddie.

[Felix]

I don't have 100% confirmation but I collect cuban and DDR awards and the construction is 100% identical. I read somewhere that they were made by the PREWA factory in East-Germany. I recently sold my cuban medals so I can't make a side by side comparision.

[Taz]

:mad: If wish I knew you were selling off your awards Felix

I'm currently trying to start a Cuban collection :)

Anyway down to the awards.... yes evidence seems to point that the pins of some Cuban awards are GDR made. I've written to the Staatliche Münze Berlin ex VEB Münze der DDR to see if they can help in any way about this question.

I don't have 100% confirmation but I collect cuban and DDR awards and the construction is 100% identical. I read somewhere that they were made by the PREWA factory in East-Germany. I recently sold my cuban medals so I can't make a side by side comparision.

I recieved this reply today from Frau Federlin the current manager of the firm.

der VEB Praewema hat für die Armeen verschiedener "sozialistischer Bruderstaaten" gearbeitet. Ob wir auch für Kuba Medaillen bzw. Orden gefertigt haben, ist heute leider nicht mehr nachvollziehbar. Tut uns leid, dass wir Ihnen nicht behilflich sein können.

Just to roughly translate, "VEB Praewema worked for different socialist brother states" however she couldn't confirm that Cuba was amongst them.

Regards Eddie.

[Felix]

That's not the answer we were waiting for but we could presume they worked for Cuba (and apparently other nations).

[Taz]

That's not the answer we were waiting for but we could presume they worked for Cuba (and apparently other nations).

Felix I received another Mail today :)

It says that its almost certain that an "abzeichen for Cuba was made there. Just what it is I can't say right now but isn't it nice that she has asked around for information.

The diameter of Orders should be from 40 mm to 45 mm, only in unusual cases it can be 50 mm.
Ribbons of Orders are to be 25 mm in width and placed on a suspension, made in the form of a pentagon:
top and bottom sides are 25 mm, and lateral 30 mm.
Diameter of medals is to be from 30 up to 32 mm, and the thickness should not exceed 3 mm.
Distinctions have the same sizes, as medals.
Orders and the distinctions having a ribbon and fastening to a suspension (also Order bars), worn on the left breast
Orders and distinctions without ribbons on the right breast side.

[Taz]

ANAP National Association of Small Farmers - Asociación
Nacional de Agricultores Pequeños

ANPP National Assembly of Popular Power - Asamblea Nacional
del Poder Popular

BET Student Labor Brigades Brigadas - Estudiantiles de Trabajo

CDR Committees for the Defense of the Revolution - Comités de
Defensa de la Revolución

CMEA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance - Consejo
Económico de Asistencia Mutua

CTC Central Organization of Cuban Workers - Central de
Trabajadores de Cuba

DRE Revolutionary Student Directorate - Directorio
Revolucionario Estudiantil

EJT Youth Labour Army Ejército - Juvenil del Trabajo

FAR Revolutionary Armed Forces - Fuerzas Armadas
Revolucionarias

FEEM Federation of Middle School Students - Federación de
Estudiantes de Enseñanza Media

FEU Federation of University Students - Federación Estudiantil
Universitaria

FMC Federation of Cuban Women - Federación de Mujeres
Cubanas

ICAIC Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry
- Instituto Cubano de Arte e Industria Cinematográfica

JUCEPLAN Central Planning Board - Junta Central de Planificación

M-26 July 26th Movement - Movimiento 26 de Julio

MINFAR Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces - Ministerio de
las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias

MININT Ministry of the Interior - Ministerio del Interior

MNR National Revolutionary Militias - Milicias Nacionales
Revolucionarias

MTT Territorial Militia Troops - Milicias de Tropas Territoriales

ORI Integrated Revolutionary Organizations - Organizaciones
Revolucionarias Integradas

PCC Communist Party of Cuba - Partido Comunista de Cuba

PNR National Revolutionary Police - Policia Nacional
Revolucionaria

PSP Popular Socialist Party - Partido Socialista Popular

PURS United Party of the Socialist Revolution - Partido Unido de
la Revolución Socialista

SDPE Economic Management and Planning System - Sistema de
Dirección y Planificación de la Economía

SEPMI Society for Patriotic-Military Education - Sociedad de
Educación Patriótico-Militar

SMA Active Military Service - Servicio Militar Activo

TGF Border Guard Troops - Tropas de Guardafronteras

UJC Union of Young Communists - Unión de Jóvenes
Comunistas

UMAP Military Units to Assist Production - Unidades Militares de Ayuda a la Producción

UNEAC Union of Cuban Artists and Writers - Unión de Escritores y
Artístas de Cuba

[Taz]

a well decorated cuban worker,

top right: Medalla "Jésus Menendez" , ????, Distinción "28 de Septiembre"


The middle medal on the top right is not in the ribbons list as far as i can see.

Eddie.

The Medal can now bw identifed as the Distinción "Epidio Sosa González"

[pride]

There are a couple of pictures about medals during an official parade. Hope they can be useful

[CtahhR]

With the changing situation between the US and Cuba it won't be long before we are absolutely flooded with Cuban awards. They're going to be even more available and currently most of them can be picked up for single digits so how low will prices go?

I'm certainly glad I didn't pay silly prices for the ones in the collection. Hopefully this new phase will bring in more chances of research too and greater cooperation.

More paperwork please!

[pride]

We have 2 books with Medal and Orders references:

- Guide to the Medals and Insignia of Socialist Cuba by Aivars Zvidris

- Condecoraciones Cubanas: Apendice Legislativo (1979-2011)
Arista-salado, Maikel