Scharnhorst Order
Encyclopedia
The Scharnhorst Order was the highest medal awarded to the East German National People's Army
. It was given for services to military or other strengthening of the German Democratic Republic
(GDR). Established on February 17, 1966 by the Council of Ministers of the GDR, it was awarded until the dissolution of the GDR in 1990.
, a Prussian soldier, military theorist, reformer and German patriot. Among his military achievements (He saw combat) were his military writings wherein he emphasized the importance of the "General Staff
" and their ability to work and plan war and battle strategy. Scharnhorst was considered by the GDR as a progressive military theorist and advocate for reforms in the Prussian military system, all foundations on which the National People's Army created. Scharnhorst also linked the NVA to the traditions of German Peasants Revolution of 1848.
To members, units, associations and other bodies (including civil facilities):
The Order was also presented to members of other institutions of the GDR, they did not necessary have to be involved in an armed organization. It was also presented to foreign military personnel. For example, the Maschall Viktor Georgi Kulikov of the Soviet Union
. The order was always presented with an elaborately crafted document along with a one-time cash prize of 5,000 Marks
.
. They were Army General Heinz Hoffmann
and Admiral Waldemar Verner
. Other recipients are:
Accurate measurements are difficult because of different versions and use of materials over the years. The sizes, therefore, are based on averages. They were:
National People's Army
The National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
. It was given for services to military or other strengthening of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(GDR). Established on February 17, 1966 by the Council of Ministers of the GDR, it was awarded until the dissolution of the GDR in 1990.
Scharnhorst History
The medal is named after Gerhard Johann David von ScharnhorstGerhard von Scharnhorst
Gerhard Johann David Waitz von Scharnhorst was a general in Prussian service, Chief of the Prussian General Staff, noted for both his writings, his reforms of the Prussian army, and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars....
, a Prussian soldier, military theorist, reformer and German patriot. Among his military achievements (He saw combat) were his military writings wherein he emphasized the importance of the "General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
" and their ability to work and plan war and battle strategy. Scharnhorst was considered by the GDR as a progressive military theorist and advocate for reforms in the Prussian military system, all foundations on which the National People's Army created. Scharnhorst also linked the NVA to the traditions of German Peasants Revolution of 1848.
Design
Klaus Bernsdor of Berlin was responsible for the medal's design. The portrait of Scharnhorst that appears on the medal was designed by sculptor Fritz Schulz, also of Berlin.Award Requirements
The order was given for outstanding:- Military services (primarily to Generals and Admirals)
- Contributions to the protection of the GDR and
- Strengthening the national defense of the GDR
To members, units, associations and other bodies (including civil facilities):
- The National People's ArmyNational People's ArmyThe National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
(NVA) on the anniversary of the Army on 1 March of the year. - The Border Troops of the German Democratic RepublicBorder Troops of the German Democratic RepublicThe Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic, in German Grenztruppen der DDR, were a military force of the GDR and the primary force guarding the Berlin Wall and the border between East and West Germany. The Border Troops numbered at their peak approximately 47,000 troops...
(Grenztruppen - GT) on the anniversary of the GT 1 December of the year. - The Civil Defense of the DDR (ZV) the anniversary of the ZD on 11 February.
- The Ministry of State SecurityMinistry of State SecurityThe Ministry of State Security is the security agency of the People's Republic of China...
(StasiStasiThe Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
), on the anniversary of the Stasi, 8 February of the year.
The Order was also presented to members of other institutions of the GDR, they did not necessary have to be involved in an armed organization. It was also presented to foreign military personnel. For example, the Maschall Viktor Georgi Kulikov of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The order was always presented with an elaborately crafted document along with a one-time cash prize of 5,000 Marks
East German mark
The East German mark commonly called the eastern mark , in East Germany only Mark, was the currency of the German Democratic Republic . Its ISO 4217 currency code was DDM...
.
Recipients
The medal was first awarded on March 1, 1966. There were two initial recipients of the award, which was presented by Walter UlbrichtWalter Ulbricht
Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and...
. They were Army General Heinz Hoffmann
Heinz Hoffmann
Heinz Hoffmann was Minister of National Defense in the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic, and since October 2, 1973 Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party .-Youth:Hoffmann came from a working class family...
and Admiral Waldemar Verner
Waldemar Verner
Waldemar Verner was chief of the People's Navy of the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic and brother of Paul Verner....
. Other recipients are:
- General Karl-Heinz Wagner
- Army General Heinz KesslerHeinz KesslerHeinz Kessler was an Armeegeneral in the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic ; Minister of Defense of the GDR; a member of the Politbüro of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany ; and a deputy of the GDR's Volkskammer...
- Willi StophWilli StophWilli Stoph was an East German politician. He served as Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic from 1964 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1989.-Biography:...
- Erich MielkeErich MielkeErich Fritz Emil Mielke was a German communist politician and Minister of State Security—and as such head of the Stasi —of the German Democratic Republic between 1957 and 1989. Mielke spent more than a decade as an operative of the NKVD during the rule of Joseph Stalin...
- Colonel General Fritz Streletz
- Klaus-Dieter Baumgarten
- Major-General Leopold Gotthilf
Production
There are three versions of the Scharnhorst Order:- 1st Version 1966-1972: Produced in 900 gold-plated silver, with 5 rivets on the obverse.
- 2nd Version 1973-1980: Produced in gilt Non-ferrous Metal, held to the medal with a central rivet on the obverse.
- 3rd Version 1980-1989: Introduction of a patterned smooth back with no rivets, medallion is glued on.
Accurate measurements are difficult because of different versions and use of materials over the years. The sizes, therefore, are based on averages. They were:
- Height, including eye: 45.45 mm to 46.37 mm
- Width: about 42.5 mm
- Total width of the daggers: about 30.2 mm
- Weight: 44g to 44.5 g