Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany
Following the 1949 establishment of the German Democratic Republic the new state prohibited the wearing of all pre-1945 German decorations and created a new system of awards inspired in part by those of the USSR.
After German reunification in 1990, the wearing of East German decorations was not forbidden with the exception of those considered to be in breach of public order such as decorations of the Ministry for State Security, Border troops, Volkspolizei, Combat Groups, and Free German Youth.
Honorary Titles
State Prizes
State Orders
| Award | Ribbon bar | Name | Date of creation | Description |
Karl Marx Orden | 1953-05-05 | Awarded for exceptional merit in relation to ideology, culture, economy, and other designations. Additionally, citizens of other countries could also be awarded the order. | ||
Vaterländischer Verdienstorden | 1954-05-21 | Awarded for special services to the state and to society | ||
Banner der Arbeit | 1954-08-04 | Awarded for outstanding achievements over many years which stabilised and strengthened the country, and in particular for high results in work in the national economy. | ||
Stern der Völkerfreundschaft | 1959-08-20 | Awarded for exceptional merit in contributing to the "understanding and friendship between nations and preservation of peace". | ||
| | Blücher Orden | 1965-10-13 | Awarded for valour in time of war. | |
Scharnhorst-Orden | 1966-02-17 | Awarded for major contributions to the improvement principles of ideology of the GDR | ||
Kampforden Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland | 1966-02-17 | The medal was awarded in three classes:
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